Guide: How to Change Your Sounds and Ringtones Posted: 09 Feb 2012 03:09 PM PST One of the best things you can do to turn your Android device into a personalized smartphone is load it up with your own Ringtones and Sounds. Every Android Operating system comes with the ability to change the default ringtones, notifications and alarms. So whether you love waking up to some Metallica, or would rather simply change that facebook pop’ to a cowbell (and we all know the only cure for that disease is more cowbell), this guide will help you get the most out of your Android device, and truly make it your own! First off, you should know that there are many traditional ways of getting ringtones onto your device directly from the Android Market. If you open your Android Market app and search for “Ringtones“, you’ll see thousands of results. Obviously, you can skim through those, but you may find what you’re looking for a little faster by typing in some tailored searches. Try searching for “Star Wars Ringtones” and you’ll see there are still many to choose from. Most of the ‘message’ or ‘sound board’ apps you’ll find have a set of audio files pre-cut into small audio samples designed for short ringtones, notifications and alarm sounds. Also, most of these apps have the option built right in to save whichever sound you select as any of those sound options just mentioned. It’s quick and easy. Another way to get your sounds the way you want is to open up the application you want to change the sound for. If you want to change the way your gmail notification sounds when you get new emails, there’s a setting for that in your app settings. Simply open your app, press “menu” or “settings“, then “More“. There you’ll see your accounts. Press the gmail account you wish to change, then scroll down and press “Labels to Notify“, then “Inbox“. Now you’ll see “Ringtone“, where you can press it and choose from any available ringtones you have on your device. Other apps, but not all apps, have the same options. You can set facebook to a specific tone as well, so that when you hear a certain notification sound, you’ll know if it’s an email, twitter update, or facebook alert popping up. There’s many ways to get ringtones set on your device as you can see. Here’s how to get to your default Android ringtones and notification settings: Press “Menu” on your Home Screen, or press your devices “Menu/Settings” button, then press “Settings“. In the Settings list displayed, press “Sound“, then scroll until you see areas for “Incoming Calls” and “Notifications“. In this area, you can select the Phone, Video Call, and Notifications ringtones to change them to anything you like. Simply press the ringtone you wish to change, then in the list that shows, scroll and press the ringtone you wish. When you press on each one, it’ll play the ringtone for you, so you know what it sounds like before having to go back in and re-select one. Once you have decided which one you want, press “OK” at the bottom to confirm your selection. That’s it! Now that you’ve got your ringtones settled in, have a look at the Top 5 Apps to grab for your Android! Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Android 4.0 Port Running on Nokia N9 Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:41 PM PST The great thing about Android is that with enough patience and cunning you can get it on just about anything. It appears that this is a continued case as attempts at getting Android to run on Nokia’s N9 have been successful. Modders were successful in loading Ice Cream Sandwich on the MeeGo phone. Thanks in part to Alexey Roslyakov, the NITDroid project builds on previous work that ported Android to the Nokia N900. Even though this MeeGo phone saw its share of love from fans Nokia quickly shifted focus on Windows Phone after their deal with Microsoft. This phone is able to dual boot both Meego and Android and can easily be done by pressing the volume-up button during boot to load Android rather than MeeGo. If you are interested in reading the progress on this active development you can hit the source below. The biggest issue at the moment is getting N9′s hardware to cooperate with the functional Android Kernel. Getting OpenGL to work is an ongoing issue as well. However, progress as been made and here’s hoping we see some more progress made in the near future! source: maemo.org via:  SlashGear Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

HTC Adds More Phones to Official ICS List, Gives Specific Time Table for Sensation Upgrade Posted: 09 Feb 2012 01:59 PM PST With the announcement of Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich OS everyone was wondering if their current device would see it or not. Manufacturers were quick to announce as to what phones of theirs would see this brand new OS. HTC was no different as they announced what of their phones made the cut on their Facebook page way back in November. Well they continue their Facebook announcements by announcing specifics on upgrade timing as well as announcing other HTC phones that are going to make the cut. According to this announcement the HTC phones that made the cut include the HTC Incredible S, HTC Desire S and HTC Desire HD. They join the list of phones that will receive the update “later this year.” That’s right they join the likes of the Rezound, Vivid, Amaze 4G, EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G. HTC also announced that the Sensation, Sensation 4G and Sensation XE will see their upgrade by the end of March this year. The Sensation XL will see its taste of ICS “soon there after.” While you can get some unofficial ICS ROMs for those unlocked HTC phones it’ll be nice to see some of them getting it in an official capacity. Those with the Sensation, or a variation of, can look forward to some ICS goodness here in the next month and a half. Enjoy! source: HTC Facebook via:  ComputerWorld Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

DROID XYBOARD 8.2 And 10.1 Get Respective Updates, Improves Functionality And Enhances Stylus Support Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:49 AM PST   Looks like the Xyboard family is due for an update as Verizon just announced a maintenance update for the pair to improve the overall functionality of the device as well as support for a few additional tidbits.  The Xyboard 8.2 is receiving the 1.6.0M_279-MZ609 update and the 10.1-inch device is receiving 1.6.0M_279-MZ617. Both updates seem to be identical at first glance however, the Xyboard 10.1 is adding better support for the “Touch Response that includes Stylus enhancements.”  Pretty sweet if you ask me.  Maybe this will influence some of you non-converters to run out and finally grab the alternative input method now ($40).  If you’re ready to improve your device, hit the source links below respectively to get your update.  Don’t forget to report back with any issues if you have ‘em.  Feel free to report them in our new forum. Device Features Enhanced browser performance to improve scrolling. Improved Touch Response.  (Touch Response that includes Stylus enhancements for Xyboard 10.1) Maintain data connection when switching between Wi-Fi and the Verizon 3G and 4G LTE networks Verizon 3G and 4G LTE networks. Successfully connect to 4G LTE network and see the 4G LTE indicator. The Daily application now comes preloaded. Device is now capable of Global Roaming. Email & Messaging Successfully open links in email messages without device needing to reboot. Accessories Keyboard function supported in docking station source: Motorola 1,2 Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Motorola VP Says Hardware Is The Reason For Android 4.0 Upgrade Delay To Its Devices Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:39 AM PST So you own a sweet MOTO DROID RAZR/RAZR MAXX, DROID Bionic or other premium device, but are still aching for that ICS update? Well we know it’s on its way, but as of this time, there’s no estimated release date from MOTO at this time. Owners of the devices previously presumed it was because of customizing the (MOTO)BLUR skin on top of Android 4.0. However, the software development isn’t the hassle— it’s actually the hardware that’s causing a bit of a hassle and prolonging the eventual rollout of the update to the handful of MOTO devices. Christy Wyatt, Senior VP and general manager of Motorola’s Enterprise Business Unit makes that point clear: “When Google does a release of the software … they do a version of the software for whatever phone they just shipped. The rest of the ecosystem doesn’t see it until you see it. Hardware is by far the long pole in the tent, with multiple chipsets and multiple radio bands for multiple countries. It’s a big machine to churn. I would have to know that every single operator I have is going to want to upgrade every single product, and sometimes they’ll want to control the timing … it’s just not easy to make that blanket statement.” Motorola completely feels for its customers and wants to push out timely updates as quickly as possible, but it’s not at this point because of various factors involving hardware and mobile carriers. The problem is pretty straightforward: Motorola finds out if the hardware is compatible, throws on the custom skins like (MOTO)BLUR and waits to finally get re-certified by every individual carrier– which is a difficult process by itself. As tedious as the process is upgrading devices to Android 4.0, it’s a necessary one in order to ensure all aspects of the devices are running smoothly and without issues. All is not doom and gloom though folks. While highlighting the difficulties in updating the software for each phone, Wyatt added some understandable enthusiasm for Android 4.0 because it gives developers a single UI for phones and tablets: “That has to be one of the promises of Ice Cream Sandwich,” she said. “By bringing these UIs together, you solve the experience gaps and the ecosystem gaps between [phones and tablets].” Our sentiments exactly Christy. While additional tweaks such as the WebTop (laptop) mode needs to be worked out as well, expect MOTO and its great group of developers/engineers to figure out everything sooner than later. source: PC Mag  Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

TELUS Offering Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 With LTE For An Arm And A Leg Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:09 AM PST Telus is almost ready to flip the switch on their highly anticipated LTE Network and first up for devices to rock super fast speeds is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9.  You can check out our review of the Galaxy Tab 8.9 (WiFi Only) here if you haven’t already. We like to tout the device as being a happy medium for those wanting more than a 7-inch offering but less than a 10.1-inch model.  Either way, you can’t go wrong with this slim power-horse of a tablet.  Up until now, it was hard to find the prospective price for the almost released device but it looks like now we can expect it to be a whopping $649.99.  We’re surprised your first born is not required as well.  In any event, the device packs pretty impressive specs sporting a dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU on a beautiful 8.9-inch 1280 x 800 res display.  There’s also a 3 mp camera and 2 mp front facing camera accompanied by a generous 6100 mAh battery.  Your standard Wifi and Bluetooth are all there wrapped up in a 453 gram 8.9 mm housing.  Even with LTE on board, this thing is still one of the slimmest devices around.  The tab will come with Android Honeycomb 3.2 and also supports HSPA+ 21Mbps when you’re not in an LTE coverage area. source: Telus via: MobileSyrup Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Google Responds to Google Wallet Security Flaw Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:30 AM PST Google’s NFC chip that can turn your phone into a wallet has a major security issue.  The security firm Zvelo has found that Google Wallet can be hacked by an app that can be easily found online.  Our own Ed Caggiani gave you a detailed outline of the security flaw earlier today.  Keep in mind, though, that this security breach can only affect rooted phones.  Also, the rooted phone can only be hacked in person (for example, if you lost your phone), and using a PIN lock screen will keep criminals from accessing your phone. The Next Web contacted Google for a statement on the issue, and received the following response: The zvelo study was conducted on their own phone on which they disabled the security mechanisms that protect Google Wallet by rooting the device. To date, there is no known vulnerability that enables someone to take a consumer phone and gain root access while preserving any Wallet information such as the PIN. We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone. Google is simply encouraging people who have rooted phones to not use Google Wallet.  If they are working on a fix to this issue, they are not mentioning it. While it’s true that rooting a phone will disable the security features that Google has in place, Google also openly encourages people to root their phones and make it their own.  The easiest fix may be to have the PIN number stored by your bank, and not Google, but that would open a whole new can of worms, including changing Google’s terms of service.  We hope that Google will tackle this issue and come out with a security fix in the near future. source: The Next Web Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Motorola’s Xoom joins the ranks of AOKP Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:16 AM PST The relatively new ROM on the block, Android Open Kang Project, or AOKP, just added another device to its support stable. This time it’s the Motorola Xoom. Quite a few of you are running AOKP now on your Nexus phones and Galaxy Tabs and from the sound of it, a lot of people love this ROM, myself included. AOKP serves up Ice Cream Sandwich, with all the fixings. Built from AOSP 4.0.3, the ROM includes features such as custom power toggles, working Facebook contact sync, *deodexed app files, and much more. Flash the ROM in the usual way, Make sure you’re on the latest CWM MAKE A NANDROID Wipe data/factory reset in recovery — a must if coming from a stock-based ROM Flash ROM Flash Gapps Reboot You can choose to download either nightly “experimental” builds or stable “milestone” builds. Hit the source link for a list of more features. *For those unfamiliar with the term “deodexed,” check out our explanation here. via: AndroidCommunity source: RootzWiki  Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

What do “Odex” and “Deodex” mean? The All Inclusive Explanation Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:12 AM PST Show of hands, how many of you reading this have been browsing forums looking for ROMs only to come across a term completely foreign. Hey, it’s OK, I’ve been there too. In particular, the terms Odex and Deodex notoriously cause budding Android modders’ eyes to glaze over. So, what are they talking about? To better understand deodex, you first need to know about odex. Stock Android implements an odex file structure, with odex meaning “optimized” dalvik executable file. As your likely aware, Android apps on your device are packaged as .apk files. That all being said, what this means is that for pretty much all of your apks there is a corresponding odex file. This goes for the framework files in .jar format as well. For instance, on this non-rooted Galaxy Nexus you’ll find system/app/Phone.apk as well as system/app/Phone.odex But what exactly are these odex files? Well, when the Android OS needs to run your apps or utilize framework components, it has to parse (read/interpret) the compressed data stored in the .apk and/or .jar files. Having an odex file structure expedites this process by utilizing another file, the .odex file, which includes only the most critical data in an uncompressed format so the Android OS can quickly interpret that important information before parsing through the rest of the data held within the compressed .apks and .jars. Therefore, not all of the components of an app or framework are present in one file in an odexed sile system. I’ll elaborate on why I stress that in a moment. The goal of this scheme is to boot up faster,  and generally load applications more quickly and smoother. Ok so what is deodex? The odexed file structure works well as an optimization tool, except for in the case of theming. Odexed apps and frameworks present a unique problem to those wanting to theme because the aspect they want to theme is broken up into two files. Typically theming involves swapping out images for home made ones, however this is simply impossible in an Odexed environment. The solution is to DeOdex the file system and reunite all of the uncompressed critical data of an app or framework back into the compressed .apk or .jar file.  On this rooted Galaxy Nexus running a custom ROM we see system/app/Phone.apk but no longer the corresponding .odex file. The reassembled files become classes.dex So which should you run? The fact of the matter is DeOdexing is really only useful for theming. It won’t speed up your phone any.Technically it should slow it down, but in reality the difference is unnoticeable. In my experience, all custom ROMs come pre-DeOdexed, and they also zipalign your apps at boot. Zipaliging is the process of reorganizing the manner in which the .apk is packaged to optimize it for being parsed faster by the Android OS. The funny thing is, it is comparable if not better than the odex file structure, so you get the best of both worlds; a themed ROM and the speed of an optimized file structure. So really the only considerable difference lies in theming capability, and that’s where the choice is yours. Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

NVIDIA press invite for Mobile World Congress confirms Quad-Core phones Posted: 09 Feb 2012 09:48 AM PST Today’s “unsurprising” news is that NVIDIA will show off at least one quad-core phone in a couple of weeks at Mobile World Congress. The press invite clearly states “Quad-Core firsts continue at MWC,” and the picture is of someone holding a phone while riding a roller coaster. We’ve already heard rumors of the HTC Edge and the LG X3, but who knows, there might be something else up their sleeve. If you’re still a non-believer, don’t forget that NVIDIA told us that quad-core phones would come out by the 1st quarter 2012. Mobile World Congress is shaping up to be one spectacular event, and as always, we’ll bring you all the latest and greatest so stay tuned.