Binoy Babu

Without the use of any Thrid party apps, you can easily find out the location of your Android device even it is miles away from you. GPS and location services must be enabled in your device to work with this. You will be unable to use this service if your device is rooted and use custom ROMs instead of Google Apps.Here’s how to do it.

Sign into your Google Account associated with your Android device.

Launch Google Chrome.

Type “Find My Phone” in the search box.

A map gets displayed above. This shows the location of your Android device. If you click on the arrow next to the name of your device, a brief history of all the device log-in’s is displayed that also shows  whether the device is currently active or not. Google will get you as close as possible to your phone by showing the exact location or the nearest possible.

  The post How to find the location of your Android device appeared first on Android Joint.

Recently, Google updated its Gmail app for Android by introducing two new options- block and subscribe in your settings menu. Before blocking spam emails, categorize your emails into spam and the automatic mails sent by companies that you require. Spam mails don’t stop getting delivered to you once you just mark them as spam. So here’s how to block Spam mails using your Android device-

Launch Gmail App.

Open a Spam mail.

Scroll down to the bottom of the mail.

Tap on ‘Unsubscribe here’ link. 

This will stop spam mails from that particular company being delivered to you. The link is present only if the company is legitimate. Do so for all the other mails you wish to stop being delivered to you. Unsubscribing to such emails will reduce the pain of categorizing mails as spam. Just marking a mail as spam is of no use as once it is marked it is up to Google to decide whether the company is legitimate or not and this will not stop spam emails being delivered to you.

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Most of the Android phones have a very low battery life. Your phone’s battery is all drained at the end of the day or in between even when you don’t use it much. Without the use of any third party apps, you can make your phone’s battery last longer by making a few simple changes mentioned. 

Reduce your screen’s brightness or use auto brightness.

Keep Display Screen’s ‘Sleep in’ time short.

Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use.

Use location services and GPS only when required by choosing ‘Accuracy’ in location settings.

Clear the apps running in the background when not in use.

Turn off notifications that are non-essential like Facebook Notifications.

Reboot you phone.

Use your phone in power-saving mode.

Switch off Background data which helps you save mobile data as well.

Don’t set your phone to vibrate mode.

Rebooting your phone once is one of the most efficient ways to make the battery last longer as it can solve many inexplicable battery problems. Even the best of best phones tend to become extremely battery draining devices as time passes by. So, it is essential to make a few changes to make sure your phone runs smoothly with a long-lasting battery life.

The post How to make your Android phone’s battery last longer appeared first on Android Joint.

Recently, Facebook rolled out the much-awaited update which includes the feature of Reacting to photos, videos, and posts with new emojis and not just by likes and comments. Many reactions are available like- Haha, Love, Sad, Angry and more.

So, here’s how it works-

Launch facebook app.

Find any post to react to- photo,status,video,event or more.

Tap and hold the like button for a few seconds.

Select the reaction you wish to add from six options that pop up.

You can change your reaction by repeating steps 3 and 4.

The thumbs-up icon gets replaced by the reaction emoji picked by you. Facebook is also be tracking your reactions for the user’s behaviour. The posts that appear on your newsfeed will be based on your reactions on other’s posts- sad or happy. You will now experience a more personalised facebook. With this new update, you aren’t restricted to just hit the like button anymore.

    The post How to use Facebook Reactions appeared first on Android Joint.

With Android’s quick drop down settings, you can easily toggle settings like Brightness, Wifi, Bluetooth and more. You can also add any other shortcut you wish to use a third-party utility. The app that is used to customize your drop down settings is ‘Custom Quick Settings’ that is available on the Google Play Store. This app works well with Android 5.0 and 6.0 devices only. You have to root your device in order to use this if you have any of the older versions.  ”System UI tuner’ must be enabled prior to using this app.

Download ‘Custom Quick Settings’ from Google Play Store.

Install and launch the app.

Tap on Edit Tile to add or edit any of the shortcuts.

This app includes step by step instructions which help you how to use it.  ‘Edit Tile’ option includes 4 categories- title, click action, long click action, and icon. You can toggles switches, open URL’s and launch the apps you wish to use by defining the tile well giving the necessary definitions to each category. You can also delete and removed the settings you don’t often use like hotspot with this app. You can use System UI  Tuner only to rearrange the existing tiles and delete them,but with this app, you can customize it as you like. Tap on ‘Quick Settings’ to access the relevant screen.  However, this app doesn’t affect your OS and works smoothly.

The post How to customize Android’s Quick Settings appeared first on Android Joint.

If you have a lot of apps, movies, photos on your device which exceeds your device storage, the ‘Insufficient Storage’ is an error message that gets displayed very often. No matter how many apps you uninstall or how many photos you delete, you can never get rid of this message for a long time. By clearing your cache,you can make sufficient space. The cache can be cleared for each app separately or all together at once. Many third party apps are available on Google Play Store that helps you clear your device’s cache like ‘Cache Cleaner’ which makes it quicker. But even without the use of third-party apps, it is very simple and easy to clear cache data to have sufficient storage.

Go to Settings.

Tap on Storage.

Tap on cached data.

Tap on ‘Ok’ when the prompt is displayed asking if you want to clear cached data.

This is how you can clear cache for all the apps. To clear cache data for individual apps- Go to apps and select the app whose cache data you want to clear. By doing so, you can get rid of ‘Insufficient storage’ error message and make enough space on your device as well.

The post How to get rid of Android’s ‘Insufficient Storage’ error message appeared first on Android Joint.

Installing a custom ROM is very easy and simple once you root your Android device. To root your device,your device should be able to access the USB debugging mode fo which the developer options must be enabled which is done by default. If it hasn’t been done, here’s how you can enable developer options on your device.

Go to Settings.

Tap on About Phone.

Tap on Build Number 7 times continuously.

After 2 taps, a popup is displayed that tell you that you are five taps away from becoming a developer. Continue tapping if you really wish to root your phone and enable developer options. The popup keeps appearing as you continue tapping with decreased number of taps. Finally, after the 7th tap, a popup appears that says ‘You are now a Developer!’

This way you can customize your phone as you like by rooting your phone and installing a custom ROM by enabling your developer options. Rooting your device has its own advantages and disadvantages as well.But is the best way to explore your device and use different apps.

The post How to Enable Developer options on your Android device appeared first on Android Joint.

Google Keep can be used to write and browse on the same screen on iOS as well as Android devices. Google’s note-taking app lets you write down as you are browsing instead of switching between many apps. Here’s how to do multitask with Google Keep on your Android device.

Launch Google Chrome and copy the URL of the webpage you wish to use.

Launch Google Keep and draft the document and tap on the 3 dots which gives a drop down menu.

Choose “Copy to Google Docs”

Launch Google Docs and start using the document.

Keep also supports multiwindow in Android N. With the combination of browser and keypad tool when you launch Android N, you can multiwindow easily.

Google Keep also has a great feature- Location reminders. When you arrive at a specific location, this app reminds you to work on a particular document if you have already set a reminder. Google Keep proves to be much more beneficial than Google Docs with many appropriate and useful features like multitasking and location reminders.

This article fetured earlier on- Tech Republic

The post How to Multitask with Google Keep in Android appeared first on Android Joint.

As we all know, YouTube gets paused once we switch to another app or navigate to another screen. There are many ways which let you play YouTube videos and run the app in the background. One of the easiest ways is to purchase the subscription for YouTube Red that is also ad free which cost US$9.99 per month. Here’s an app that lets you do so for free called as ‘Awesome Pop-up Video’ that is available for free on Google Play Store.  With this app, the video is played in a small pop-up window while you are navigating through different screens and using other apps.

Download and install Awesome Pop-up Video from Google Play Store.

Use your browser to navigate to a YouTube video and copy the link.

Launch Awesome Pop-up Video app.

Paste the copied URL in the text box.

A pop-up appears in the middle of the screen which can be dragged to any position you like on the display screen and continue using the phone to perform other activities. To close the video you can tap on ‘x’ icon that appears on top right of the pop-up window.

  The post How to run YouTube in the background appeared first on Android Joint.

A recorded call can be used as a proof if you are having trouble with your network or for any reference in the future. There are a number of ways to record calls on your Android device. It is much easier with the use of an app called ‘Call Recorder’ developed by Boldbeast that is available on the Google Play Store.  Follow these steps to learn how to record calls and save the recordings.

Download Call Recorder by Boldbeast from Google Play Store.

Install and launch the app.

Click the red button that appears on the display twice, without double clicking.

Tap the button again to stop the recording.

A dialog box appears the prompts you save the recording. Tap yes to save and no to discard the recording.

To record calls immediately

Launch the app.

Tap on settings.

Tap on call settings.

Tap on auto record calls and select ‘All’

However, Call Recorder records all the calls by default once it is installed. It is your choice to include or exclude the list or disable recording. All the recordings are saved in a hidden folder in the directory that can change as and when you wish to by going to App settings> Clip Saving folder.

Keep in mind, that in many countries call recording is illegal and you can be put behind the bars.

The post How to Record a Phone call on your Android device appeared first on Android Joint.

The need to keep track of all your call logs and SMS is very much required. In Android devices, the call log gets cleared after 30 days and vanishes away. At times, you might want to check a number you received a call from or dialed many months ago. Now, here’s an app that lets you keep a track of the call log and SMS sent or received ranging from few months to years ago. The following steps help you backup call logs and SMS on your Android device.

Download ‘Telephony Backup’ from Google Play store.

Install and Launch the app.

Tap on ‘Import data’ to import all your call logs and SMS.

Toggle the switch ‘Backup calls log’ and tap on ‘Next’

Toggle ‘Backup messages’ to backup messages and tap on ‘End’

This way all your call logs and SMS are backed up when you use this app. This is available for free on the Google Play store. Download the pro paid version to export this data into a file.

The post How to Backup call logs and SMS on Android device appeared first on Android Joint.

Every Android Device has a unique ID number which gives it an identity and differentiates from millions of other Android devices. It is very necessary to note this ID once you get you Android device as it very much required for future purposes. The ID is stuck at the back bottom, under the battery of the device or it is present in the device box if it is a newly purchased one. If you are using an old phone or if you have lost the ID , there is another way by which you can get your device ID. The following are the 3 different ways to get it.

First Method-Enter *#*#8255#*#* in your device dialer and the device ID is displayed in GTalk service monitor.

Second Method-

Go to settings.

Tap on About Phone.

Tap on Status

Third Method-

You can use an app called ‘Device ID’ that is available in the Google Play store that gives the ID of your Android device immediately.

      The post How to get your Android device ID appeared first on Android Joint.

The modern day smartphones housing so many sensors allow us to do a lot of interesting stuff with it other than just calling, texting or browsing the internet. You can even use your Android device as a metal detector with the help of an app. The app which is available for free on Google Play Store works by measuring the magnetic field around the location of your Android phone by using the magnetic sensor of your device. When it detects a metal, it is reflected in the measurement of the magnetic field strength on the phone’s screen and the color changes from green to red. If you have ever dropped metallic objects like a small screw, a needle or a paper clip on a thick carpet or on the grass and a hard time finding it out, the app will come handy the next time you get into such a situation.

STEPS:

  Download the Metal Detector app by Smart Tools co. from the Google Play Store

  Open the app and calibrate the sensor if needed. Normally, the magnetic field should read at around 45 microteslas. The measurement would shoot up and the horizontal bar would turn red if your device comes near any metallic object

Please note that the app requires your Android device to have an inbuilt magnetic sensor (magnetometer) to function. If the app is not working, check the specification of your device.

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Sticking to the same app for a long time on an Android device can be pretty boring. So here’s how you can change your default app without using any third-party applications. This is done just by changing your settings.

Install the apps you wish to use.

Go to Settings on your Android device.

Tap on Apps.

Go to Manage applications.

Tap on the new app you wish to set as default from the list of applications that are displayed.

Check ‘Use by default’ option when the prompt is displayed when you tap on the app.

If this method doesn’t work, an alternate exists. You can set the app to default directly. For Exampe when you open a link on Facebook a prompt appears that gives you the options to choose between different browsers. You can either tap just once to use it for once or tap on ‘Always’ to set is as a default app. The next time you open a link through Facebook or any other app, the page gets redirected to Chrome without asking you to choose. Once this is done you cannot repeat the same method to change the default app. You have to go to settings and follow the procedure mentioned to change the default app.

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A new study has lead to the discovery of a widespread vulnerability in Google’s Android OS popularly termed as “Android Installer Hijacking” . This is estimated to impact 49.5 percent of all the current android users. This new hijacking lets an attacker to modify or customize an Android app with malware and it affects only the users and apps downloaded from third-party app stores.The affected apps gain full access to the device using it.  Usernames, passwords and sensitive data can be accessed by these affected apps. Palo Alto Networks worked with Google and other major manufacturers on vulnerability and issue patches.

How was it discovered?

In January 2014, a new vulnerability related to times was discovered in Android OS that allows the attacker to hijack ordinary Android APK installation process. user view can be bypassed and malware can be distributed by this hijacking technique. Applications can be substituted. For example, “Subway Surfers” can be replaced by “Flashlight”.

Description

Most of the Android apps are downloaded via Google Play Store while some unauthorized apps are downloading using third-party apps. Google Play downloads Android packages(APK) and stores it in a protected space on the drive or the system. Third party APKs are stored in the unprotected local storage and can be installed directly unlike Google Play’s APKs. On affected areas, “Package installer” that is used to install both Google APKs and third-party APKS has “Time to check” and “Time to use” vulnerability. This resulted in APK being modified and replaced during installation without user’s knowledge. Protected space remains safe and the unprotected areas are at a high risk .

Exploitation

The latest vulnerability can be exploited in many different ways- Externally modifying APK and Self-Modifying APK.  This vulnerability destroys both the device and the app developers. Many confusions may start rising up while you download apps. Rooted devices are more vulnerable in this case. Android 4.3 versions are rumored to be affected by this vulnerability. Android 4.4 and later versions have fixed this vulnerability along with Amazon and Samsung.

This news was reported earlier by- Paloalto Networks Research

                                                                                      The post Android users at the risk of being explored to malware appeared first on Android Joint.

According to figures collected by a screen lock app, an average smartphone user unlocks his/her smartphone at around 110 times a day. And it is annoying to do so by typing in the PIN or password again and again especially when you are at home or any other place where there is no one else around to access your device. The Smart Lock feature in Android 5.0 Lollipop solved this problem by providing the choice of four easy to use security tools to help keep your device both secured from intruders but also easy to unlock when a security check has been made.

STEPS:

  Go to the SETTINGS menu on your device and select SECURITY

Scroll down to find Smart Lock. Enter your PIN/password/fingerprint to proceed.

You are now presented with the options Trusted devices, Trusted Face, Trusted places, Trusted voice and On-body detection. The options are self-explanatory and you can set them up according to your need to make unlocking your phone a lot easier.

Please note, the Smart Lock feature is available only on devices running Android version 5.0 Lollipop or higher. And the features made available might differ based on your device, e.g. I don’t see Trusted faces options on my Samsung Galaxy S5.

The post How to set up the Smart Lock feature in Android? appeared first on Android Joint.

If you have a great music collection on your iPod and wish to transfer it onto your Android device, you can easily do so by following step by step instructions. There are 2 different ways with which you can transfer iTunes Music onto your Android device.

Transfer files manually

Connect your Android device and iPod together to two different ports by using the USB cable.

Go to My Music>iTunes

Copy paste all the files from this folder into a file saved on your Android device folder.

Drag and drop.

By using Double Twist

Doubletwist is an app available on the Play Store that acts as an interface between iTunes and Android. It is free to download and lets you transfer all the music from iTunes to Android.  Your device should support USB mass storage mode to utilise this.

Launch the app.

Highlight and drag the tracks you wish to transfer, drag them into the sidebar and copy them to your device.

Go to Sync settings

Tap on sync to sync all your music.

This is more suitable for people with smaller music libraries.

Transferring all the files may be time-consuming but it is much more efficient and suitable for large collections.

  The post How to get iTunes Music onto Android appeared first on Android Joint.