How to Install Android Apps on SD Card, by Default & Move Almost Any App to the SD Card

How to Install Android Apps on SD Card, by Default & Move Almost Any App to the SD Card

By default, Android Apps will be installing on the device storage of your smart phone; but the trick explained, in this article, is to set the SD card as your default installation location. This trick is allowing you to move, almost, any App to the SD card and no root access is required. And this tweak requires Android 2.2 or later.

To change the default installation location, you should have to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) utility, a tool-kit, included in the Android Software Development Kit (SDK), which available with Google's Developer Console.

Enable USB Debugging: First, you've to enable USB debugging on your Android device. Open Settings > Applications or Developer options > USB Debugging.

Tap the USB debugging check-box to enable it. This will enable debug mode, allowing you to change the settings on your Android device from your computer. You should have to disable debug mode after completing this process.

Install the Android SDK: Now download and install Google’s Android SDK on your computer. If you don’t already have Oracle’s Java JDK installed on your computer, you’ll have to download and install it before installing the Android SDK. After you’ve installed both the JDK and Android SDK, launch the SDK Manager from your Start menu.

The ADB utility doesn't installed by default. This utility is included in the Android SDK Platform-tools package; so, select this package and click the Install button to download and install it.

When the process completes, connect your Android device to your computer with its included USB cable. Windows should locate the device and install the appropriate drivers, automatically. If it doesn’t, you may have to download and install the appropriate drivers from your Android device’s manufacturer. Do not mount the device after connecting it – just plug it in.

Using ADB: Open Windows Explorer window and navigate the folder .... android-sdk\platform-tools

On Windows, you’ll find this folder at C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools, by default.

Check C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools, if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows.

Now launch a Command Prompt window in this folder by pressing and holding the Shift button, right-clicking in the folder, and selecting Open command window here.

Run the adb devices command and you should see your connected Android device.

Run the following command to set the default install location to your SD card:

If you want to revert this change later and install apps to the internal storage by default, run this command:

2 represents the external storage, whether it’s an SD card or USB storage and 0 represents your device’s internal storage, which is default.

Moving Apps to SD Card:

Apps that refused to leave your system storage can now be moved to the external storage. For instance, below you’ll see screenshots of the Slacker Radio app. Before the change was made, the Move to USB Storage button was grayed out. After the change was made, the button is enabled and the app can be moved.

To move an App to the SD card, open the Settings screen, tap Applications, and select Manage Applications. Select the App you want to move and tap the Move button on its details screen.

A Warning: 

Some Apps shouldn’t be installed to your SD card and they remain installed on the internal storage. The external storage is unavailable when your Android device is mounted on your computer, so Apps that remain running all the time should be left on your internal storage. Widgets, launchers, animated wallpapers, and anything you want to use while your Android’s SD card is mounted on your computer should be left on the internal storage.

How to Check If Your Android Device Is Working Properly?

How to Check If Your Android Device Is Working Properly?

There are a lot of components, which make to functioning your smartphone, and if one of those is not working properly, it may throw off your whole effort.

But how do you pinpoint exactly 'what’s wrong with your device?'. May be the accelerometer seems a bit off when you play racing games, or when browsing the web on Wi-Fi / mobile data, you don’t feel the speed as fast as it should. 

Whatever the problem is, there are apps that can help you to figure out the wrong side and how to solve it. Even if you’re not having a specific problem, it might be good, as a routine work, to run through a little check-up on your phone to ensure everything is running smoothly.

1. Device Assist

The App, Device Assist, is from the Play Store, which does a lot more than check for issues. If you're a beginner, it will give tips and advices on how to take advantages to your Android device; but if you've Nexus or Moto devices, you should have to download the APK and install it manually.

When you boot up the App, it asks if you want Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced mode, and this can be changed, later, from the Settings.

Beginners will be told how to turn Wi-Fi on / off, or create folders on their home-screen (pictured above), whereas advanced users will learn about more obscure features like finding or remote locking your device (pictured below).

Navigation is simple, just scroll through the list of cards that Google displays for you. At any time, you can search for a particular issue in the top right, or tap the three-dot icon to see previous actions you’ve taken, change your settings, or view a range of information about your device.

You can even check the Wi-Fi or data speeds, and Google will tell you the results in plain English so that you actually understand the results.

Since the App is a part of Google’s services, it provides hints for other Google Apps too, like little tricks for Google Maps. All the tips are explained in easy-to-understand instructions and visual explanations in GIF form, if necessary.

So, this App is simple and offers good solutions, if your smartphone facing problems.

2. Test Your Android

Have you any idea on this App Test Your Android, which is also available in Google's Play Store and it tests your Android device, too. This powerful App having an attractive colorful interface that allows you to test everything from your screen's multi-touch capabilities to your built-in compass. You can also slide to Information tab to view your device information like Device Assist App.

A small ad can be seen at the bottom of this App while you use it, but it's easily ignored.

3. Phone Doctor Plus 

As the name imply, the App PhoneDoctorPlus diagnostics as a doctor for your phone. It allows you to run through all sorts of 'check-ups' to ensure that everything works properly.

As your expectations, this App allows to check-up the health and status of various aspects of your device such as CPU, memory, compass, battery and etc., When you completed the various tests, the progress bars will be filled-up.

The date on which you're tested the each part of device will also be noted. So, you always have a record for different aspects.

4. Z Device Test
This App, z device test is not the prettiest one, but it is so functional. It uses big 3D skeuomorphic icons with tiny text beneath them.


However, it provides very specific and detailed information about everything from accelerometer to GPS coordinates. It shows a big green check mark on sensors and features that your phone equipped, and a big red X mark through any that your phone is lacking.

Banner ads run along the bottom of the screen, and sometimes interrupting by full-screen. But if you need the kind of detailed information this app can supply, those might be worthful.

Fixing Pixels Of Defective or Dead
Above said Apps will help you to detect the problems and solve! But, if your device has a defective or dead pixel, they doesn't do anything in fixing it. Some stuck pixels are hardware related defects, and those can’t be fixed by any App, but others just need to cycle through their three options (red, green, and blue) enough times to refresh them.

If you find that your screen has a stuck pixel (or more) then there might be a way to revive it.

5. Dead Pixel Detector & Fixer

If you want to try through the App route, then you could use Dead Pixel Detector & Fixer, which gives you different color backgrounds to identify dead pixels, then shuffles the whole screen rapidly through colors to refresh any affected areas.

The best solution to solve this, is not an App, but through a website: JScreenFix, which works on Android or any other device with an LCD panel. It displays a pure black screen so that you can identify the stuck pixel, then it offers a little square that you can place over the area that quickly shuffles through colors. Developers suggest leaving it running for about 10 minutes.

What App Do You Use?

There’s a flurry of Apps available on Play Store for checking the health of your Android devices; but above said were the best and personally, we suggest Google's Device Assist to be the best option for most people, as others will need the detailed readouts, like Z Device Test.

The Best Productivity App! But We Just Don't Know It Yet!!

The Best Productivity App! But We Just Don't Know It Yet!!

A zillion productivity Apps are available and those help us to organizing our day, emailing more efficient way, remembering our grocery list and a lot of them are good; but let's be real: We won't ever use them!

Yes, our smartphones already come armed with basically everything you need to become a more productive human.

 

Whether you have an Android device or an iPhone, there's a good chance to use these things already without realizing their full potential. This article guides you to unlock the most productive feature on your smartphone, and no downloads are necessary.

Android
If you're not using "Google Now" App; and it's time to start. Hopefully, it's pre-installed on your phone; but you can also download the App, if you're missing it. (The same App is also available for iOS, though we'll explain later). 

The App can read your text messages for you, take down your reminders and deliver smart updates such as bad weather, traffics, flights, packages that you're expecting and so on.

The biggest thing we use, here is, for: REMINDERS. The way, we use, seems really stupid, but believe this function will be an enjoyable experience. Just pull up 'Google Now' App - either tapping it, or saying a voice command (on certain phones), and press down the 'home' button - then say "Okay Google." This will prompt the App to listen of your command.

Now, you can make better choices with simple reminders as follow:

• "Remind me to buy bubble wrap at Kmart"

And if you've allowed Google to track your phone's location, then Google gives a buzz when you pass the store. It's really a pretty awesome feature!

• "Remind me to pre-heat the oven when I get home"

Yes, it's also a kind of weird; but you should tell Google your home address to get specific location then you got reminders when you reach home after work!

• "Remind me to call Grandma this weekend" She loves you!

You'll absolutely look like a lunatic, when you're saying all of these things on your phone; but just whisper them very quietly into your device's microphone. The App will hear you just fine.

 

Above said reminders are just one very basic use for the App. But there are a slew of functions and other voice commands that are so useful. For example: you can ask it how to say "help me" in Spanish. It's pretty great!

There is also a major caveat: You have to be ready with turning your personal data over to Google. To get the most out of Google Now, you have to let it automatically dig through your Gmail and search for bits of information. Just decide, if that is worth for you, though you can always monitored what data Google is collecting via your activity page.

iOS

While you can download Google's App for many of the above features on your iPhone, and remember that the whole point is to avoid superfluous things you're not likely to use on your device. Think of your home screen as a beautiful zen garden of vital programs, if you must. We recommend trying to get more out of Siri.

The famed digital assistant can understand a lot of the same voice commands as the Google Now App. It can also remind you to pre-heat the oven when you get home - if your iPhone doesn't know your address, you'll be prompted to type it in. 

Like Google Now, it understand a ton of other voice commands that can increase your efficiency. Want to know what song is playing? Don't ask the human DJ or Google the lyrics. Just ask Siri and let it take a listen.

  

The big takeaway here is that you can probably get creative with the stuff that's already built into your smartphones to improve your life and avoid clogging your storage with other apps you don't really need. 

If you really must try other apps, there are a ton out there: for Android and iOS.

10 Things should be kept in mind while buying a Pocket Wi-Fi Router

10 Things should be kept in mind while buying a Pocket Wi-Fi Router

Internet, today, becomes a travel companion with every possible gadget is Wi-Fi enabled. However when you're traveling in a group and need connectivity on-the-go, it's best to use a Wi-Fi router and create a hotspot to connect multiple devices at one-go! 

 










A Pocket Wi-Fi Router is a portable - small sized device, with Wi-Fi Hotspot capability. You can connect this device to an Internet source and make it a Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows multiple devices to connect to the internet. Many of these devices are small sized and so easy to carry wherever you go!

In the market, different types of pocket Wi-Fi devices available with different capabilities. So, you may choose depending on your budget and, you can go for a minimum functionality device or really, a fancy device with lots of option. 

And before buying a Pocket Wi-Fi Router, 10 things should have to keep in mind: 

1. Data Plans: Several data plans are offered, by Internet Service Provider (ISP), under prepaid and postpaid.  So, check the data plans, which is suitable for you; because ISP offering the router at a very cheap price but the data plan will be expensive. 

2. Locked / Unlocked: It's one of the most important factor and have to know whether the device is locked to a specific ISP or not. A locked device can only be worked to a specific ISP and unable to use with any other ISP. If you're getting a device very cheap, then there will be very high possibilities that the router is locked to an ISP. The best choice, to investing your money, is an unlocked one, which allows to change your ISP whenever you need. 

3. How many devices able to connect at a time: Most routers has capacity to connect five devices at a time, which seem to be reasonable. But depending on your usage, for instance - a big family or a small office, you may choose the routers that allow higher number of connections. 

4. Compatibility of ISP: Keep in mind, every ISP doesn't have coverage signals in all areas, and every wireless router wouldn't be compatible with every ISP. So, check well before buying a portable wireless router whether it is compatible with your SIM, data-card and the ISP through where you're going to spent most of the time. 

5. Data Card supporting (3G/4G): To enjoying high speed Internet, ensure the pocket Wi-Fi router, which you're going to buy, supports 3G/4G Data Card.        

6. Wi-Fi Speed: Before buying a wireless router, you've to check its wireless speed standards, too. The standards are ranged as - 'b', 'g' and 'n'.
'n' is the next generation technology, which is newer and supports faster speed, with a maximum net data rate from 54 Mbit/s to 600 Mbit/s and operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. 
'g' gives, even, a better coverage and its wireless signal seems to be stronger around the house, which has a maximum data rate 54 Mbit/s or an average of 22 Mbit/s, with 2.4 GHz band.   
'b' has a maximum data rate 11 Mbit/s and, operating in 2.4 GHz band.

7. Router comes with Power Bank: The routers, nowadays, equipped with power bank, where you may getting an advantage of an inbuilt powerful battery, which not only gives continuous working time without the need of charge but allows to charging your smartphones on-the-go, too. 

8. Quick Start: It's also essential to know 'how quickly the router booting- up!'.  The booting time may vary from few seconds to few minutes. So, choose the routers that should get access to net in just 5 seconds without hassles of installation of drivers or software. 

9. Mobile Apps should be managed: Mobile Apps are more convenient, which simplifying one's net-life, today. So, the same should be accessible over the data connection, where the routers allow the users to download Android Apps and to manage anytime, anywhere. So the users could able to view their data usage, battery life and etc., The App is available on Google's Play Store for free of charge.  

10. USB 2.0 Ports: Some routers are coming with USB 2.0 Ports, which can  be great to the users, because they're helpful to share files with the connected computers.

How To Free-Up Space On Your Android Devices

How To Free-Up Space On Your Android Devices

Low priced Android phones and tablets doesn't come with more internal memory. If the device is running out-of-space for Apps or data then have to be freeing-up some space. This article explains how to freeing-up space on device storage and SD Card i.e., USB storage. The space on device storage is for Apps and the SD card storage is for other data.

By default, the Apps are installed on Android device's system storage. But they can be moved to SD card to free-up some spaces on device storage. Most Apps may work good when moved to SD card; but there are two options. 

1. You can move only the Apps to SD card, if the developer has include supportive for their Apps. 
2. When you connect the phone to a computer, along with SD card, then SD card storage will be disconnected and the Apps, which you installed on SD card, wouldn't be available because your phone's storage is mounted on computer. 

So, the Apps such as live wallpapers, widgets, and launchers must be installed on phone's internal storage, itself.

To Free-up Space: 
Setting > Applications.

Tap Applications to view the installed Apps. 

To know the Apps, how they're occupying space, tap Menu button then select Sort by size.

Now the phone reveals the largest Apps at the top of the list. 

Tap the desired App you want to move the SD card. 

From Apps detailed screen, tap the option “Move to SD card” (or “Move to USB storage”) to free up space of your system storage.

If you want to move multiple Apps, at a time, to SD card (or USB storage) then use the free App2SD or AppMgr.

To Clear App's cache or data: 
From the related App info screen, you can clear cache or data to freeing-up some space. 

Clearing cache means the temporary files that stored on your device will be cleared; but clearing data is different and more drastic that will set the application to its original state, which means erase all your custom settings of data.

If you want to clear caches for multiple Apps then use the App: AppCacheCleaner. 

To Uninstall Apps: 
It's obvious that uninstalling Apps is one of the best way to freeing-up space. The Apps that you're not using should be uninstalled, even the purchased App and it can be re-downloaded again, if you need.

To See Disk Usage: 
You can view the files that taking-up space on device storage. 

Using the App FreeDiskUsageApp, will give a graphical visualization to the files taking-up space. After installing, tap the folders then zoom-in and go deeper to see the contents.

Now from the contents, you can delete the files / folders by tapping Menu button and choose Delete to erase the selected item.

To Uploading Photos: 
Snapped photos are saved either on device storage or SD card; so, they're occupying more space and they have to be removed to somewhere like GalleryApp. There were plenty of free Gallery Apps available on Google Play and you may choose one of them then launch it on your device. 

Once you've installed, open camera's folder then tap Menu button and select one or more photos you wish to upload. Tap the Share button and choose, for example, Picasa, an image organizer and image viewer for digital photos, including photo-sharing website, to upload and share the photos. They’ll be stored on Google server and can be retrieved on your device whenever you want to view them. It's a good way to back up your photos. 

Further, if Google+ App has already been installed on your device then the photos on your device will automatically uploaded on your Google+; so, you can delete the entire photos from the phone and free-up the space. 

You may also move your photos from Android devices to the PC, connecting a USB cable or using the App AirDroid to transfer files over Wi-Fi.

Run Android And Make Your PC Dual OS

Run Android And Make Your PC Dual OS

Intel is now interesting to support Dual Operating System on PCs and other devices with Windows 8 and Android as well. You could able to run Android Apps and even Android OS on your current PC, which allows to use Android's ecosystem of touch based Apps for touch enabled Windows Laptops and Tablets. 

So, if you wish to run Android Apps on your Windows PC, you should have to install BlueStacks, a multi-OS with virtualization technology, where Apps developed for different OS and executable on the same computer. It doesn't replace your entire OS instead runs Android Apps within a window on Windows desktop. It supports multiple OS with user interface is fully configurable and the installation for Apps can be get from Google Play. Some similar applications like youwave, windroy are also work good but BlueStacks is better and stable for running Android Apps on Windows.

There will be a number of developers in Android community to experimenting Android OS. Few of them are: Android On Intel Architecture, Android-X86 and AndroidSDK.   

Android On Intel Architecture (or Android IA) is Intel's own distribution for Android to their new Intel based PCs with UEFI firmware. This project is not stable and presently supporting some selected devices such as ACER Iconia W700, Lenovo X220T and X230T and Samsung XE700T.  For further info check Quick Start and Devices pages.

                                                

Android-X86 is Google's Android Mobile OS to run on devices powered by AMD and Intel-X86 processors, which allowing to install Android on a laptop or tablet. 

Certain platforms, such as  ASUS Eee PCs/Laptops, Viewsonic Viewpad 10, Dell Inspiron Mini Duo, Samsung Q1U, Viliv S5 and Lenovo ThinkPad x61 Tablet, are officially tested at this time.

 

Bear in mind that this project is also not stable and needs extra caution when installing it on physical hardware.  

AndroidSDK is Google's official Android emulator, which designed for developers to build, test and debug their Android Apps. You can use it to run Android OS in a window on your existing system. It is useful to test Android's latest versions of Apps and it is rather slow and not a good choice for everyday use. 

 

To get Android Emulator, download Google’s Android SDK, open SDK Manager program, and select Tools > Manage AVDs. Click New button and create Android Virtual Device (AVD) with your desired configuration, then select it and click Start button to launch it. 

BlueStacks is the best choice to run Android apps on your Windows computer, and it is the easiest, slickest, most stable option.

Android: A Beginner Guide

Android: A Beginner Guide

Android is an operating system, based on Linux kernel, and designed for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Initially developed by Android, Inc., which Google backed financially and later bought in 2005. Middle of  2012, Android became the most popular mobile OS, having the largest installed base, and is a market leader in most countries.

Android is easy to use than Windows desktops! And lots more in Android to learn; but this article hopefully get started without overwhelming you, much!! 

So, if you're using an Android phone or planning to buy, then you should have to know some important advantages and this article helps you to understand and adapt a life with an Android. 

Android is Google's operating system and at least one Google account is linked with this OS. So, when you turned on your Android device, the first time, you'll be asked to enter your Google account details or create a Google account, if you don't have one. This is technical option from Google account, which will be used to back-up your phone's settings, keep tracks the installed Apps with their links such as G mail, Calendar, Contacts, Google+ and etc., However, if you're not enter Google account credentials, while setting up, then you can add the account later from Android's settings page.

Android phones has more features in common like computers and they can be used for web browsing, e mail, playing games, streaming videos, editing photos, writing office documents and much more. 

By default the Apps for phone and messaging were appeared at bottom of the phone's dock area; so, you may use these Apps to place a call and send / receive text messages. 

When turn on your Android device, you'll see the lock screen, where you can configure a code, pattern or password; so, no one can use your phone. After unlock the phone, you'll see the home screen, where you can keep icons for your favorite Apps and add widgets. If you're using G mail, frequently, then you can add G mail widget on your home screen, which enables to view your inbox without opening any Apps. And if you use other Apps, frequently, then you can also place their icons on home screen. 

To open the App drawer, tap the small squared buttons at the bottom of the home screen. The App drawer has the list of all Apps, which has been installed on your Android phone, and they can be viewed by swipe over the screen. To place an App on your home screen, long-press the App and drag it wherever you like to place.  

Depending on the model of Android phone, you can control the phone by tapping the buttons at the bottom of the screen. There's a home button, which instantly takes back to the home screen and a back button will take you back anywhere. You may also have a multi-task button to switch between open windows or menu button to open an Apps menu. If the phone doesn't has the multi-task button, then you've to double-tap or long-press the home button to bring-up the App to switch. This option will vary from phone to phone. 

Configuring an Android phone is easy and the configuration settings can be accessed from Settings App. Open the App drawer and tap Settings icon. After tapping on Settings icon, you can see plenty of options, through which you can configure the phone. You can also see the Settings icon at the right side of notification drawer by pull-down the drawer. Notifications can be accessed by pulling-down notification drawer with your finger and tap a notification to interact with or swipe a notification to the left / right to get rid of it. 

Installing Apps is also easy by opening Play Store App, either tapping on Play Store shortcut or tapping the shopping bag icon at the top-right corner of your App drawer. You can easily search the required Apps and install them on your phone. Search option is also performed by tap the widget of Google search box, which located at the top of your home screen. You can also use voice commands to search and perform actions without typing. 

The screenshots, using on this post, are probably look different to the devices, which you held.