Android Authority |
- How to change fonts on Android
- Galaxy S4 root apparently achieved before launch, only for Exynos 5 Octa model
- Samsung Galaxy S4 priced at €690 in Portugal, pre-orders are live via Expansys
- 95% of the mobile users can be uniquely identified from location data
- Why we love the iPhone 5!
- ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 Review!
- Facebook Home to be the OS name of Facebook’s Android phone?
- YouTube to select best video ever, shut down tomorrow for 10 years
- Galaxy S4 Mini release date set for May/June after next week announcement, report says
| How to change fonts on Android Posted: 01 Apr 2013 02:40 AM PDT
In almost all cases, the default font on your Android phone or tablet suffices. It looks pleasant and is usually of the right size for comfort. But, there will always be Android users who’d prefer some other typeface, who’d want to stand out from the crowd. And, there will always be that small crowd of people who tinker with their Android device’s fonts just for the sheer pleasure of being able to. If you belong to either or both groups, you’re on the right page. The great thing about Android is that it is an extremely customizable mobile operating system; it even allows you to change the fonts used by its user interface. Font changing, however, doesn’t necessarily mean easy. In many cases, customizing fonts requires some technical know-how. In this guide, learn how to change fonts on Android. Two types of methods are discussed: one not needing root, and the other requiring root. (For a visual guide and summary, check our video at the end of this post.) Non-root methodsThrough custom OEM skinsStock Google Android doesn’t have native functionality for changing system fonts. You certainly can’t easily change the fonts on Nexus phones and tablets — at least not with some bit of hackery. On none of the Nexuses, for example, can you just go to the Settings page and tap an option there to change the system fonts. Not even certain AOSP-based custom ROMs such as CyanogenMod or AOKP has a built-in function for changing system fonts on the fly. But, when OEMs like Samsung and LG get their hands on AOSP code, they add extra bells and whistles– such as font changing — into their custom skins.
For instance, some Samsung Android devices such as the Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 10.1, and even the Galaxy Camera, let you change the font style. Samsung has preinstalled a few extra fonts besides the default, but you can get more online through the Google Play Store. There’s similar functionality on certain LG phones, too, and to fetch more fonts, you’ll be redirected to the LG Smart World instead of to the Google Play Store. Putting on a new font requires only a quick trip to Settings > Display > Font Style. Just tap the name of the font that you want, and confirm that you want to set it as system font. Font replacement is instantaneous. No need for rebooting. The selected font will be displayed throughout your device’s interface such as the time on the status bar, system menus, and even on your text messages. Through custom launchersOne non-root way to change fonts on Android is through custom launcher apps. Some custom launchers integrate the font-changing function, while most others will need you to install themes. One very popular custom launcher that provides a way to change fonts is GO Launcher EX. A downside to font customization in GO Launcher EX is that it doesn’t change the font in your apps and Android system menus. The font changes are applied only to selected parts of the custom launcher UI but not to the entire system. To change font styles in GO Launcher EX, do the following:
Changes will apply immediately. No need for rebooting. If you want more fonts for use with GO Launcher EX, download and install GO Launcher Fonts. iFont (for Samsung devices)The popular iFont app can also be used for changing fonts. Although primarily for Samsung devices (both rooted and non-rooted), the app can also work on certain rooted, non-Samsung devices. On non-rooted Samsung devices, use iFont’s Online tab to browse for available fonts. To use a font on the list, do the following:
You can also copy TrueType (TTF) fonts from your PC to the /sdcard/ifont/custom directory; the said fonts will appear on the Custom tab. But, to be able to install and use the fonts, you will need a rooted device. (For a guide on using this app on rooted devices, see the iFont subsection under “Methods requiring root.”) iFont is free and shows no ads. It worked quite well on several devices (including non-Samsung phones) that I tested it on. Methods requiring rootImportant noteIf you have root privileges on your phone or tablet, you will be able to alter system files and, in the course of doing so, you could render your device useless. So, be careful.
Font changer apps for rooted devicesAn easy way to change fonts on rooted Android devices is to use font changer apps that support use on rooted devices. There are several of such apps on the Google Play Store. Most of them also offer a preview function that lets you see how a font looks like. In this subsection, know more about two font changer apps that are worth checking out: Font Installer and iFont. Font InstallerFor rooted phones, Font Installer is a great free app for changing system fonts. It has a built-in font preview feature, so while scrolling up and down the list of built-in fonts, you know exactly how they look like once activated on the device.
This is an ad-supported app. Ads appear at the bottom. Remove the ads by purchasing a license. To install a TTF font file that you’ve saved to your device:
To install a new font from Font Installer’s online font collection:
iFontUnlike Font Installer, the iFont app can work on most Samsung devices even if they are not rooted. But, to be able to use it on a non-Samsung device, you will need root access. (Yes, you can also use it on a rooted Samsung device.) To download, install, and use a custom font using the Online tab:
If you want to use a local TrueType (TTF) file, just copy the TTF file to the /sdcard/ifont/custom directory on your device. Then, do the following:
The geeky waySo far, I’ve told you about the painless, sweat-free, and easy ways to change fonts on your Android. But, if you have the heart of a geek, or you just love the thrill of doing stuff manually, then you’ll find much fun in manually changing the fonts on your Android device. These manual methods require root because you’ll be tampering with a protected system directory, specifically the /system/fonts directory, where font files used by your device reside. There are two manual methods for changing fonts — through the Android Debug Bridge and through a root-level file manager app. Before I talk about those two, let’s talk about system fonts first. System fontsIf you are brave enough to manually change fonts on your Android, the font files that will be of great interest to you will be the following:
All of these fonts are inside the /system/fonts directory. For starters, you might want to play around with the Roboto-Regular.ttf file, as it’s the one that appears to be most used system-wide.
The overall general idea is to replace system font files with new font files having exactly the same file names as the originals but containing the new typefaces that you want to use. For example, if you want to use a TTF font file named Times_New_Roman.ttf in place of Roboto-Regular.ttf, you’ll need to rename the Times_New_Roman.ttf file into Roboto-Regular.ttf and copy the renamed (faux) file into the /system/fonts directory. VERY IMPORTANT: Always make a backup copy of the font files that you will be replacing so that if something goes wrong, you will have copies to restore. I usually rename the original file into something with a *.bak extension, or with “bak” within the file name (i.e., Roboto-Regular.ttf becomes Roboto-Regular.ttf.bak or Roboto-Regular-bak.ttf). This way, the original file remains in the same directory but under a different file name. It is also a wise idea to make backup copies on your PC hard drive and in a different directory on your Android device. Manual method using ADBYou can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to change fonts on Android. For this method, you’ll need the following:
In the steps, the font file called Times_New_Roman.ttf is used to replace the system font file named Roboto-Regular.ttf.
Manual method using file manager appThis alternate method accomplishes exactly the same thing as the ADB method, but this one’s easier because it doesn’t require typing commands at the terminal or command prompt. For this method, you’ll need:
The following steps illustrate the process of manually changing fonts on Android with the help of a file manager app. These steps use ES File Explorer; if you use a different file manager app, the steps may vary a bit. Just like in the ADB method, this method uses Times_New_Roman.ttf as the example replacement file.
VideoFor a visual guide and summary on changing fonts on Android, check out this companion video: ConclusionChanging fonts on Android is not an everyday task that majority of people perform on their phones or tablets. But, among those that do need to change the typefaces on their devices, it is heartwarming to know that (1) it is possible to do so and (2) there are several ways to do so. What font is splattered all over your Android device’s UI today? Have you ever changed it to something else? If so, did you use any of the methods discussed in this guide? If not, how did you change your system fonts? Tell us your story. The post How to change fonts on Android appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Galaxy S4 root apparently achieved before launch, only for Exynos 5 Octa model Posted: 01 Apr 2013 02:30 AM PDT
The Galaxy S4 is already available for pre-order in some markets, but it will be a few more weeks until we see it in stores. Even so, it looks like a first root method for Samsung's 2013 flagship handset is already available. Xda-developer forums senior member as i9000 has posted instructions that will help Galaxy S4 buyers root their devices once they're shipped. However, there's a small problem with this root version, as it will apparently only work on the GT-I9500, which happens to be the Exynos 5 Octa Galaxy S4 model. Most markets will receive (at least initially) the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Galaxy S4 version (model number GT-I9505,) which will need its own root. We'll be back with more details on that version when it's available. We're not encouraging you to root your Android devices and install any custom software on them, and you'll be the only person responsible for whatever happens with your handsets and tablets during such processes. If you do decide to go the root way, make sure you exercise caution and follow the available instructions (see Source link below,) especially if you're not comfortable performing such tasks. Backing up the data on the device is also in order before rooting the device. Will you use the Galaxy S4 as-is right out of the box, or will you root and further customize your experience? The post Galaxy S4 root apparently achieved before launch, only for Exynos 5 Octa model appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 priced at €690 in Portugal, pre-orders are live via Expansys Posted: 01 Apr 2013 01:36 AM PDT
Samsung's Galaxy S4 is official for quite some time now, but the pieces of the pricing and availability puzzles are falling into place rather slowly. Basically, the only things we know for sure is "the next big thing" will cost $249.99 with AT&T contracts, $99 outright plus 24 monthly payments of $20 on T-Mobile US, £530 and up in UK and starting at £0 with British contracts. Thankfully, the Portuguese branch of well-known retailer Expansys is now adding a little something something to the puzzle by revealing GS4's off-contract pricing in Euro. The 5-incher is listed on the seller's website at €689.99 ($884) in the 16 GB variant, both for the white frost and black mist flavors. We know, that's not exactly affordable, but it's not like we expected the S4 to be budget-conscious, did we? Also, you have to keep in mind that this just one retailer's price point and our guess is we will be seeing Samsung's latest flagship go for as less as €600 via other European sellers. The exact model listed by Expansys Portugal and available for pre-orders already is the one packing a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.9 GHz. As far as we know, the Exynos Octa version is not headed to Portugal, but that could change in the near future if Sammy manages to accelerate the CPU's manufacturing process enough. The shipping start date is kept under wraps for now, but we'll be keeping an eye out for all of you and come back with updates as soon as possible. All that being said, is the S4 on your shopping list despite the slightly extravagant pricing? Check it out in the flesh in our hands-on video below before deciding. The post Samsung Galaxy S4 priced at €690 in Portugal, pre-orders are live via Expansys appeared first on Android Authority. |
| 95% of the mobile users can be uniquely identified from location data Posted: 01 Apr 2013 01:09 AM PDT
The research is full of some heavy statistical analysis of around 1.5 million mobile phone users who had the location of their nearest cell tower recorded every time the they interacted with the phone network (by making a call, receiving an SMS and so on). The data was recorded in 2006 and later analysed. The researchers found that if the phone interacted with the carrier’s network once an hour it is possible to uniquely identify 95% of the individuals. The idea is basically this, if I am in location A and receive a call then the anonymous data shows approximately where the call was received and a dot is placed on the map. If I then move to location B and receive another call, that call appears as a new dot on the map. But the dot from location A has now gone. By tracking all the other dots and by a process of elimination it is possible to work out that the phone used to receive the call at location A is the same phone now in location B. If either location is a known address like my house or my office it is quite easy to use other data, like a voters list, to start linking the phone data with an individual. Worried? Let me know below. The post 95% of the mobile users can be uniquely identified from location data appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Posted: 01 Apr 2013 12:11 AM PDT
We here at Android Authority have just had an epiphany. We have finally realized that we do like the iPhone 5, why? you might ask. Because it’s fun to break!Happy April Fools’ Dayfrom your friends at Android AuthorityThe post Why we love the iPhone 5! appeared first on Android Authority. |
| ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 Review! Posted: 31 Mar 2013 09:43 PM PDT
Specs
Build Quality & DesignWhile it’s a problem with any device, shoddy build quality is especially noticeable in tablets, as any creakiness or flexing in the body is an order of magnitude more apparent due to the larger size. Luckily, neither of these is a problem with the ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10. Even trying to twist the device lead to no flexing, and throughout constant use there was none of the feeling of loosening up over time that I’ve noticed in some other tablets. DisplayIt’s easy to look at the specs up at the top and think “wow, 149 pixels per inch is pretty low.” I know I did, and while this is true when you’re talking about phones, it’s not all that uncommon with laptop screens and tablets. Yeah, we’ve seen a lot higher, but it doesn’t mean that the display on the Smart 10 is junk. PerformanceTo get a metric on the ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10′s performance, I started by running a few benchmarks. I ran AnTuTu Benchmark three times in succession and averaged the results, ending up with a final score of 12,774. I then moved on to the always fun Epic Citadel. In High Performance mode, the average framerate was 49.8 FPS, while the framerate took an small but understandable hit in High Quality mode, producing an average of 46.2 FPS. SoftwareThe ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 runs Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and, while it isn’t exactly heavily skinned, we’re not looking at stock Android here. An update to 4.2 is said to be on the way, and I did receive two software updates during testing, but so far the review unit is still running 4.1.1.
The Smart 10 is mercifully light on bloatware, with the few apps that are included being at least marginally useful. A file manager included out of the box is always appreciated, App Backup is certainly useful and, while I can’t see myself using it, I can see certain users getting some use out of App Locker. Press Reader comes preinstalled, and though not everyone will want to use it, it’s a useful inclusion. On the other hand, Glowball is just a link to download the app in the Play Store, which doesn’t make a ton of sense, but I’d rather see this than have the app included by default and unable to be uninstalled. CameraBefore we begin this section, I’d like for you to acquaint yourself with the phrase “for a tablet.” Now, make sure to insert it after nearly everything I say about the camera. Here, I’ll give you an example: the camera in the ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 isn’t bad, for a tablet. Sure, it often includes more than its fair share of visual noise, and low light performance isn’t the best, but in most cases the only time you’re going to be using this camera is when you don’t have access to anything else, and in that case, it does an admirable job. The front-facing camera is similar, though with its lower megapixel count, anything that is an issue with the rear camera is more of an issue here. That said, it will still do the job in a pinch. BatteryWith tablets, it’s much harder to really quantify battery life than it is with phones because it isn’t very likely that you’re going to be carrying a tablet with you and using it all day long. It’s even harder when you encounter a device that is as unpredictable as the Smart 10. During heavy testing, the battery seemed to drain fairly quickly, but with 24 hours of intermittent use, I still had around 30 percent battery left.
That’s where AnTuTU Tester’s battery test comes in. It may not explain real world use, but at least it’s a number that you can test your own device against. The AnTuTu tester battery score was 481. Unfortunately, I ran the test overnight and when I checked in the morning, the battery was fully drained, so other information about this particular test is now lost to the ages. I’ve definitely seen better battery life in other tablets, so it’s important to ask yourself how you plan to use your tablet and what you expect of it if you’re planning on picking up the MeMO Pad Smart 10. Video ReviewConclusionIf you have ever looked at a Nexus 7 and thought to yourself “I would be all over that if it was larger and had a few more ports,” you may have just found your new favorite tablet. Even if you haven’t, the ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 isn’t a bad choice for prospective tablet buyers on a budget. That said, if you need a little more and are willing to pay more for it, Google’s Nexus 10 or something in ASUS’s own Transformer line would likely be a better choice.          If you already own ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10, we’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below. If you don’t, are you thinking about buying one? If not, what would you get instead? The post ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10 Review! appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Facebook Home to be the OS name of Facebook’s Android phone? Posted: 31 Mar 2013 02:07 PM PDT
Facebook will reportedly unveil a new Facebook phone later this week, with the device said to be running a new Android user interface / fork which could be called Facebook Home. What appear to be two distinct sources suggest that Facebook Home is the name the social network is going with. A new 9to5 Google report reveals the Facebook Home name:
The same product name seems to be confirmed by a new @evleaks tweet:
Facebook will make everything official on April 4, and we'll cover the event thoroughly since it's Android-related. A previous report revealed that this supposedly HTC-made Facebook phone will run a forked Android version that will incorporate various Facebook apps and that the handset will look more or less like an iPhone and will offer competitive specs. Facebook and HTC are apparently already in talks with mobile operators to carry the handset, although we'll have to wait a few more days to find out availability details for the handset. On the other hand, a recent Wall Street Journal article said that Facebook only wants to take over Android devices by replacing the Home screen with a Facebook-based user interface of its own rather than actually creating a different Android fork like Amazon did with the Kindle Fire tablet family. While some OS modifications would be required to make everything possible, this wouldn’t actually be an Android fork. The name Facebook Home makes a lot of sense combined with this particular story. Would you replace your current smartphone with one running a Facebook-based Android OS version (whether it’s forked or not)? The post Facebook Home to be the OS name of Facebook's Android phone? appeared first on Android Authority. |
| YouTube to select best video ever, shut down tomorrow for 10 years Posted: 31 Mar 2013 01:28 PM PDT
YouTube has posted an unexpected video on its own channel earlier today, reminding everyone that for the last eight years the purpose of the website was find the best video around. Not many users are probably aware of this and many people have probably forgotten about the competition, but today is the last day for submitting your video and hoping for your chance of winning an MP3 player and a $500 stipend to go into your future creative endeavor. The prize will be awarded in 10 years from now, in 2013, when the site will reopen to only show the winning video. In addition to reminding users about the contest, YouTube further explained how the winning video will be chosen by its team of dedicated engineers. Apparently every video ever uploaded to the site will be reviewed by a team of 30,000 technicians who will choose a short list for the best video on YouTube. A final panel comprised of film critics, YouTube celebrities and prolific commentators will actually get to choose the best video and views won't matter that much. Whether is the official Gangnam Style video that got a bazillion hits or the video of a man feeding bread to a dog that got around 40 hits, they all have an equal chance to win the top prize. A bunch of well-known YouTube personas also appear in Google's official video, talking about their hopes of winning the top spot on YouTube, see for yourself: Naturally, since we have an established presence on YouTube ourselves, we surely hope that one of our videos will actually be selected as the winner. Sadly though, you won't be able to watch our videos after today – except for the one of them in case it does win the contest – so better grab a coffee and check them all out before Google deletes them. Note: yes, this is one of Google's April Fools Day jokes that hit the web a day earlier and yes, we’re aware it’s a joke. No, YouTube is not going anywhere, and yes, we'll continue to put out great videos for you to enjoy, so don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. And yes, those are Apple iMacs in the video above whose logos have been hidden. The post YouTube to select best video ever, shut down tomorrow for 10 years appeared first on Android Authority. |
| Galaxy S4 Mini release date set for May/June after next week announcement, report says Posted: 31 Mar 2013 12:08 PM PDT
Samsung's Galaxy S4 will hit stores in late-April but the device may be too big – it features a 5-inch display – for some potential buyers. Just like last year, the company also has a Galaxy S4 Mini in the works and a new report suggests that Samsung will unveil it next week. Sam Mobile says that its insiders have revealed that the Galaxy S4 could hit stores from the end of May or beginning of June following next week's announcement. The handset is expected to pack a 4.3-inch qHD display, 8-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, AGPS and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz on top. The phone will come in single- and dual-SIM versions, with the former (GT-I9190) reportedly sporting a quad-core processor, while the later (GT-I9192 or Duos model) will only pack a dual-core CPU. When it comes to color options, the Galaxy S4 Mini will also ship in Black Mist and White Frost, just like its bigger brother. It's not clear at this time where the Galaxy S4 will launch, and we wouldn't be surprised to see certain carriers skip the handset like they did with its predecessor. Interestingly, the publication notes that Samsung's decision to unveil the Galaxy S4 Mini so soon after its Galaxy S4 media event came after Galaxy S4 Mini pictures and specs hit the web in recent leaks. As always with unconfirmed reports, we'll tell you to hold on to your grain of salt until the company properly introduces the device, especially since tomorrow is April Fools Day. The post Galaxy S4 Mini release date set for May/June after next week announcement, report says appeared first on Android Authority. |
It isn’t hard to think of a dozen films where at some point in the story a tracking device is placed on a person, car or ship so that someone can keep tabs on them. Well, that might be fiction but the truth is that millions of people willingly carry around tracking devices every day – their mobile phone. New research published in Nature has shown that by cross referencing location data with other freely available data sources it is possible to track 95% of mobile phone users using what is meant to be anonymous location data!
The 
My review unit came in black, though the Smart 10 is also available in white, pink and blue. The fairly large bezel size is likely going to be a matter of contention for some. Like it or not, you need some sort of sizeable bezel if you want to hold a tablet without covering the screen, but it’s a very thin line between just enough bezel and way too much bezel. The MeMO Pad Smart 10 works for me, especially functionally, but it isn’t quite as attractive as it could be with a slightly smaller bezel. The sound pumped out by the speakers on the MeMO Pad Smart 10 is surprisingly loud and full sounding. This tablet definitely uses its size and construction to its advantage, as you can feel the sound vibrations through the plastic back while you’re holding it. The various software sound modes help this out as well, especially with movies or other video content. Music on the other hand sounds a little on the muddy side.
You’ll definitely notice pixelation in spots, particular text and icons, but when looking at photos or movies, the lack of sharpness isn’t very apparent. I watched a full movie on this tablet and certainly didn’t find myself noticing anything sub-par about the display. The display isn’t washed out, but colors weren’t quite as vivid as they could have been. The screen definitely isn’t the best feature of the MeMO Pad Smart 10, by a long shot, but it doesn’t drag it down either.
While real world performance was generally decent, some stuttering and less-than-smooth scrolling was definitely apparent from time to time, though this seemed to depend on what apps were running and other factors that couldn’t be ascertained. For example, I never noticed this issue in Comixology, and it rarely appeared when scrolling through the app drawer, but it was sometimes very noticeable in the YouTube app or when browsing web pages.
1080p video capture was similar when it came to color reproduction and image quality, though it was a little on the jerky side. Overall, you’re probably not going to find yourself relying on the Smart 10 for all your photo and video needs, but that isn’t really the goal here. If you look at the cameras as a bonus rather than a selling point, they’re certainly nice enough.
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