Google Play Finally Launched 'Gift Cards' – Lets Users Purchase Android Apps Without Credit Cards

Google has finally announced its official Play Gift Cards, joining Amazon and Apple in the gift card game.

The Google Play Gift Cards was first spotted about a month ago in Android Central showing $10 and $25 Google Gift Cards. With the official announcement of its gift cards last August 22, 2012, Google now reveals everything through its Google Play G+ page.

Google has partnered with no less than RadioShack, Walmart, GameStop, and Target. RadioShack, GameStop, and Target are already selling the $10, $25, and $50 denominations in their physical stores, while Walmart will soon be selling them via their official website.

Good news for apps lovers, the gift cards can be used to buy app, games, and in-apps goods as well as books, movies, and music. The gift cards however, cannot be used to purchase accessories, hardware, magazine subscriptions, and Android app subscriptions. Likewise, the gift cards are presently available only to U.S. customers.

Tough luck for those living outside the United States, but, at least good news to American territories like Guam or for those living in Alaska. Google has not yet made any announcements on expansion programs.

These Apps Help You Detect Earthquakes Straight From Your Android Device

In a newer part of the planet like Japan and the Philippines, it is not uncommon to experience tremors almost every day. Countries like Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines sit near the fault zone so earthquakes are always expected -- and it's really a big risk!

Jolted by the successive quakes I've been experiencing every day, I decided to create this quick round-up of apps for the Android that might help you detect whether of not there's an earthquake.

Warning: The use of these apps does not guarantee safety so in the event of an earthquake, always remember to: Drop, Cover and Hold On.

1. Earthquake Vibration Sensor for Android Fires An Alarm When Tremor Is Detected (link)

Earthquake Vibration Sensor (EVS) is a FREE earthquake detection app for the Android that automatically throws an alarm once rumbling is detected. As with other motion sensing apps, this app relies on motion and/or orientation events from your Android device, making it possible to detect earthquakes.

Using the app, you may adjust the motion sensitivity of the app by setting the different axles displayed on the screen. As was pointed by a reviewer Patriot1971, this app works well if your phone is on a flat surface like a table, etc.

Best Motion Detection Sensor App for iPhone, Android and Symbian

The only downside for this app I think is that the warning bell goes off after some time. And the interface definitely needs a fresh coat of paint. But overall, it's a good app. So you guys should try it.

Download: Earthquake Vibration Sensor for Android (Free).

2. Earthquake Detector for Android Smartly Detects Movements, Quakes (link)

Earthquake Detector is yet another fun and working earthquake detector you should install on your Android device. What sets Earthquake Detector apart from the former is the good sensitivity and a straightforward interface.

Using the app, you'll get presented with a zoomable earth image. You're supposed to zoom in and out the earth image to adjust the sensitivity. The smaller the earth image is, the better is the sensitivity.

Download: Earthquake Detector for Android ($1.99)

Automate Your Phone: Let Your Phone Perform Certain Actions Based On Your Location

That's it. I hope you guys enjoy these hand-picked earthquake detector apps as much as I do!

Free Up Your Phone From Temporary, Unnecessary Files With These Junk Cleaner Apps [iPhone & Android]

No matter how good the apps management is of a certain operating system, in its course of use it will eventually gather junk files.

Junk files are basically files or data that have once been useful but is irrelevant for the time being. After you download a game or an application, sometimes it will have to download additional files for it to work properly.

When you're finished playing the game or using the application, it's recommended to remove the app, especially if it's a free app, to recover space. This is a good practice as some applications have background processes running and using that precious battery power unnecessarily.

However, some apps don’t have a thorough uninstallation script and that leaves a lot of files in your system. Most devices don't offer expandable storage space, specially iOS devices, which leaves you with a meager available space for your media. It's time to get rid of junk files from your Android/iPhone device.

Add More Space To Your iOS, Android Devices By Removing Junk Files

Allow us to share an Android and a free iPhone application that will help us get rid of junk files on your Android and iPhone devices in no time.

PhoneClean Removes Unnecessary Files On Your iPhone, iPad & iTouch (link)

PhoneClean for iPhone is a desktop application that runs on a windows PC. When you connect your iPhone for charging or syncing on iTunes, why not take an extra time to clean up and get rid of those junk files on your iPhone? iOS maybe the “most advanced” mobile operating system but it still uses caches and temp files to keep things going. By getting rid of these junk files, this allows us to open heavy websites and resources intensive application faster because our device has more free space to use.

Recover All Accidentally Deleted JPEG Files, Photos On Your Android Device

PhoneClean is free to use and, as expected from an application that deals with iOS devices, has a pretty straightforward interface. PhoneClean is also smart enough to allow you to keep some cache and offline data like news, articles, magazines, and book data you’re subscribed to.

Get PhoneClean for free and reclaim what is rightfully yours.

1-Click Cleaner Quickly Cleans Up Your Android Phone (link)

Just like iOS on iPhone, the Android operating system on your Android device uses caches and temp files too. This can include old SMS, browsing history, call records, and other files on your SD card. The difference with this app from the one from iPhone is that this application runs on the device itself.

1-Click cleaner can help you to easily get rid of junk files on your android device with, well, 1 click.

Password Protect, Lock Certain Applications Installed On Your Phone

With 1-Click Cleaner, you can clear all the cache that eats up your storage space, uninstall applications, clear application data, and force stop running application. You can also mass delete SMS based on contacts, unknown senders, or delete all.

Unlike other advanced android applications, you don’t need a rooted device for this to work.

Get 1-Click Cleaner from Google Play now.

How To: Recover, Restore All Deleted/Lost JPEG Files, Photos On Your Android Device

Ever wondered how to recover and restore all deleted/lost photos, JPEG files on your Android device? Well, good news!

The guys at Defiant Technologies, LLC have finally created a FREE Android app called DiskDigger that allows users to retrieve, recover all photo files that have been lost or removed due to deliberate or accidental deletion.

Backup, Save SMS Text Messages To Gmail All At Once (Android)

DiskDigger is already a popular Windows app that lets you recover virtually all types of files on your PC. And with the availability of its Android app, you'll surely get a peace of mind with the lone fact that in the event of accidental file deletion, you can still recover all those precious photos and restore them back to your device's internal memory or memory card.

Free Android App To Recover, Restore Lost Photos, JPEG files

DiskDigger for Android (link) is all you need when you want to recover deleted photos and images from your Android device. Think of DiskDigger as a Recycle Bin, but for Android, which means you can still recover those photos, JPEG files that were accidentally deleted.

Using the app:

Note: DiskDigger only works on rooted Android devices, so you may need to root your device to enjoy this app.

Here's how to restore, recover deleted/lost photos with DiskDigger:

Step 1 Download and install DiskDigger for Android at Google Play Store.

Step 2 Launch the app. It should display all the system devices (including the memory card) that you can scan for lost files, as seen below:

For now, it will list them using their Linux device names (not very visually appealing, but this will be improved in the future). The memory card should appear as "/mnt/sdcard" or something similar.

Step 3 Select the device to scan (memory card in our case), and then press the "Scan device" button to proceed (you might see a Superuser request window; just press "Allow").

You will then see the main DiskDigger window, which shows you the progress of the scanning, as well as the recoverable files that have been found so far:

Step 4 You can press on any of the recoverable files, which will show you a preview of the file on the right, as shown below:

Step 5 And finally to recover the deleted files, just tick the recoverable files on checkbox and then hit "Save" or "Email".

That's it!

Filtering files:

You may also take advantage of the Filter function of the app. Just press the "Filter" button to filter the recoverable files based on file type, and file size. This is useful if you want to impose a minimum size on the files shown.

Diskdigger for Android is extremely useful for those looking for ways on how to recover deleted/lost photos  from their Android device. The app is currently on its beta stage and will only recover the .JPG and .PNG files of your device.

How To: Create Stunning Timelapse Videos With Your iPhone And Android

By now, you would have seen one of those fantastic timelapse videos on Facebook or other social media sites. It's fantastic considering that only a few years ago videos of this type could only be done using pictures taken minutes apart and then spliced together using a video maker or other such special equipment and adjusting everything manually.

Today, professionals and beginners alike are trying out their hand at timelapse videos.

Viddy — The Instagram for Videos — Lets You Create Visually Stunning 15-Second Slices Of Your Life

If you are serious about creating timelapse videos, you can now create your own timelapse videos while shooting them at the same time. There is the free Timelapse Pro (link) for iPhone and iPod Touch and Lapse It Time-Lapse (link) free Android software for timelapse video creation.

Time-lapse videos, even those created by amateurs, look like a magical time warp. They capture a relatively slow process developing over a long period of time. For example, capturing the time lapse of a sunset, the blossoming of a flower, or an airline window video travelling from one place to another. Watching it all happen in a few minutes can have a magical and wondrous effect on us.

Wouldn't it be cool if you could time-lapse video without the need for any special equipment? With Timelapse Pro and Lapse It, you can easily shoot your own time-lapse videos. Time lapse videos are then saved directly as .mov files on your iPhone or Android device, and may be uploaded to YouTube or played back with VLC media player.

AfterFocus Lets You Create DSLR-Like Blurred Effects On Your Android & iPhone

Timelapse Pro is the best iPhone app to make timelapse movies, and also create stopmotion movies. You can even add music to your timelapse or stopmotion video straight from your iPod song library.

Lapse It is a free Android app to create timelapse videos and an Android application made for those who use smartphones. Lapse It also features lapse clips capturing for timed picture or image capturing.

New App Makes It Easy To Push Data From Web Browser To Your iPhone, Android Device

In a nutshell, Sleipnir consists of a desktop browser, which allows you to initiate actions for your mobile phone from your desktop thru push notification, and a smartphone app linker.

Sleipnir in itself is a very capable desktop browser as it's using the same WebKit rendering engine as Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari. Sleipnir also supports tabulated browsing like the others, but the best part here is that it is presented in a thumbnail format just like the one on your phone and tablet.

New Android App Lets You Sniff Internet Sessions, Hack Facebook Account

That’s basically about the browser, but the real cream of the crop here is its ability to send links, address or call a phone number over-the-air from your browser to your iOS, Android device. Here’s a basic scenario that can explain how Sleipnir can simplify things for you.

You are browsing the web for a party venue, you found their website containing their phone number and address. Using the Sleipnir browser on your computer, click on the phone number and the browser will send the phone number to your phone thru push notification to call them and book an appointment. You have agreed on a schedule for viewing, you can now send their address to your phone, still using the browser, and your map application will show you the way.

Getting started with Sleipner

First, you need to download and install Sleipnir on your computer from their website. And then get and install Sleipnir Linker for your Android device HERE (iPhone version is in the works). And finally, follow their Smartphone App Linker Setup to fully enjoy this awesome solution.

Everything you see on your computer’s browser is now only a click away to your phone.

Backup, Save SMS Text Messages To Gmail All At Once (Android)

Turn Your Phone's Screen On/Off By Simply Waving Your Hand In The Air

How do you like if you can put off and on your phone's display by just simply waving your hand in the air?

Well, this is exactly how the new gesture recognition Android app of DDeleted will do for you: translate your hand gestures into computer instructions so you can quickly turn off and on your phone's display.

Smart Screen ON: The Best Hand Gesture Recognition Android App As Yet

Dubbed as Smart Screen ON, this utility app transforms your Android's proximity sensor into a substitute power button so you can turn on/off your Android's screen with a simple wave of your hand.

Smart Screen ON is particularly useful especially if you're in a meeting and want to see push notifications without grabbing your phone. Instead of picking your phone, just wave your hand over it to turn the display on.

Best Motion Detection Sensor App for iPhone, Android and Symbian

If you enjoy the convenience of touch and voice-aware mobile applications today, you’ll also enjoy this amazing app of DDelted -- the same guy who made the widely popular Smart Screen OFF that puts your screen off when you place your hand over the proximity sensor.

Smart Screen On comes in two variants, the free Lite version and the $2 Pro version, both are available now at Google Play.

So, go check it out!

How To: Stream, Play MP3 & Video Files Embedded On Non-HTML5 Websites From Your Mobile Browser

You must have already aware of HTML5. It'a next-generation web technology that provides a standard for playing audio and video files. Advanced mobile browsers such as the built-in browser on your Android/iPhone and third-party apps like Opera Mobile and SkyFire support HTML5.

But here's the problem:

Not all websites are built with HTML5. Which means whenever you play any media files embedded on  non-HTML5 sites, they'll prompt you to download it.

Play, Stream All Music Files, MP3 Saved From Your DropBox

While you can always download the media file on your phone for later streaming (a podcast perhaps), why not play it right away? Doing the latter will not only save you time but also disk space.

Play Audio, Video Files On Non-HTML5 Websites Straight From Your iPhone/Android

You might want to enjoy a podcast before you finally drift off to bed, so here I'm going to share you a simple workaround on how to play MP3 and video files embedded on a website straight from your Android/iPhone browser -- no need to download.

Here's how:

Step 1 On your mobile browser, obtain the direct link of the file. In Opera Mobile we usually do it by opening the link in a new tab, until a download dialog pops up, as seen below (notice the download link):

With the above example, our direct link is: http://pbstatic.s3.amazonaws.com/introduction-to-monetizing-blogs.mp3. Copy it.

Step 2 Using your HTML5 browser (we recommend Opera Mobile), head to W3school Audio TryIt site. For video, point your browser here.

On your mobile browser, you should see something like this:

Step 3 In the <source> tag, replace the src attribute with the direct link of the file. Once you've done that, hit "Edit & Click Me" button.

And voila, you should be able to play the MP3 file directly on your mobile browser — no need to download boatloads of audio/video files!

Remotely Set Alarm Clock By SMS — Send SMS Text Message To Set Alarm Clock

Wouldn't it be cool if you can just send an SMS text message to your friends, and with just a simple hit of "Accept" button, your friend's phone will then automatically fire an alarm based on the timestamp you sent?

Well, this is exactly how the new Android app will do for you: it lets you set an alarm clock by simply sending a specially-formatted SMS to a specific (or group) of phone numbers at once.

Smart isn't it?

Flying Alarm Clock: Remotely Set Alarm Clock By SMS (Android)

You can surely save anyone from any morning disaster with this mind-blowing app called Flying Alarm Clock, a clever Android app that allows you to set an alarm clock by simply sending an SMS text message. This is sort of sending a reminder, with complete alarm date and time, to any phone number.

Flying Alarm Clock must be installed on your friend or kid's Android phone (Get it HERE).

Remotely Lock, Password-Protect Your Lost/Forgotten Phone Thru SMS

Unlike the built-in calendar app for Android which is also capable of sending reminders, Flying Alarm Clock doesn't require you to own a hi-end phone just to remotely set your friend's alarm clock. The sweetest part about this FREE Android app is that you can use a monologue phone or even a web-based SMS facility to remind your friends to wake up at particular date/time.

This is basically how you compose a text message to remotely set an alarm clock by SMS:

In the text above, I'm instructing John's phone to set an alarm at 8:50 a.m. in 12th of June, 2012 with an optional message of "Hey John, class this 9".

By the time John receives the message, his Android should prompt like this:

Flying Alarm Clock is truly a brilliant app. Imagine you only have to send an SMS to set your kid or friend's alarm clock?

Learn How To Remotely Spy, Monitor SMS, Text Messages

I've got a suggestion to the developer though. I hope in the next release, no more "Accept" prompts by the time the alarm SMS notification is received. Rather an alarm is automatically set as soon as the message is received. That's definitely a complete automation.

AfterFocus Lets You Create DSLR-Like Blurred Effects On Your Android & iPhone

Have you ever wondered how to take photos with blurry background using your mobile phone? You’ve seen a lot of these images produced by professionals. Well, there are a couple of answers to that but I will name one here; lens.

A DSLR camera can easily give you these kinds of images because of its big image sensors coupled with a wide lens selection. The law of physics gives limitations to the hardware that can be used on our mobile devices.

StillShot: Create High Quality Photos From Any Video On Your iPhone

But worry no more! We present to you an application that will easily transform your boring shots to a masterpiece with only a few strokes.

AfterFocus Is The Photography App You Really Need To Try

AfterFocus for Android and iPhone allows you to take DSLR-like images. Those blurry background photos are now in your hands. Select a photo you want and draw some lines to identify the focus and background and the application will do the magic. Selecting the focus area precisely will greatly improve the final images to look natural and professional.

AfterFocus does not only gives you the ability to create blurred background of photos from your phone, but it also comes with a bunch of naturally looking filters such as cross process filter that looks so natural. As a professional photographer, I love seeing bokeh on my photos. Photos with shallow depth of field won’t be complete without bokeh, and its maker must be kind enough to include a filter that does just that. Add bokeh to your already great shot.

Viddy — The Instagram for Videos — Lets You Create Visually Stunning 15-Second Slices Of Your Life

What are you waiting for? Go now to Marketplace and AppStore and get this application. It’s like having photoshop and lightroom in your pocket. It’s the best bang for the buck!

AfterFocus for Android Free [Google Play Link]
AfterFocus for iPhone ($0.99) [iTunes Link]

About the author:

Griffith Boniel is a Bukidnon-based photographer, Nikon User, and a Nokia fan who's also passionate about social media, mobile and web technology. You can follow @gboniel on Twitter.

How To: Find, Locate Specific SMS Text Messages By Keyword (iPhone & Android)

There might come a time when you need to do a quick search for specific phrase or keywords on your phone's inbox. It could be a specific milligram of a medicine, the name of your boss’ partner or anything important that's being forwarded by a friend thru SMS.

But the problem: you don't have the time to manually search through your inbox, and all you've got in mind is the word "PIN" in the SMS text message.

Backup, Save SMS Text Messages To Gmail All At Once (Android)

There are many ways of making your phone achieve such feats but your solution perhaps may require you to rummage through your inbox with hundreds of text messages buried down there. As part of our commitment to provide you with the much-needed tools and resources to heighten your mobile experience, we bring you another awesome iPhone and Android app called Handcent SMS.

Free iPhone, Android App To Search SMS Text Messages By Keyword

Handcent SMS is a free iPhone and Android app that can search SMS text by keyword. Handcent SMS does not only offer you an SMS search feature but it also allows you to make it your default application to handle your SMS needs. Handcent SMS also comes with a built-in anti-spam capability so you can blacklist, stop those pesky spammers from ruining your day.

How To: Remotely Lock, Password-Protect Your Lost/Forgotten Phone Thru SMS

Handcent SMS also gives you the option to customize SMS alerts for individual contacts, from ringtones, vibrations, backgrounds and even signatures.

Download Handcent SMS for Android [Google Play Link]
Download Handcent for iPhone [Cydia Link]

About the author:

Griffith Boniel is a Bukidnon-based photographer, Nikon User, and a Nokia fan who's also passionate about social media, mobile and web technology. You can follow @gboniel on Twitter.

New iPhone, Android App Lets You Schedule Phone Calls, Text Message, Emails & Social Media Updates

Before we start off, I'd like to spend a moment talking about a few automation tools we've featured here.

We've previously talked about Txtot, one of the coolest iPhone apps that automate the sending of SMS text messages to specific numbers at future date and time. We've also covered about Cronote, yet another awesome iPhone app that lets you schedule email and text messages to get sent at later time.

Transfer Files From PC To Android Phone Via Wi-Fi (And Vice Versa)

Now, a brand new iPhone & Android app called Future Scheduler has just put itself in the running, offering almost the same scheduling capabilities — but with a twist.

Future Scheduler: Schedule Emails, SMS, Phone Calls & Social Media Updates (link)

Meet Future Scheduler, another killer productivity app for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry that puts mobile automation to the next level. Future Scheduler allows you to fully automate various tasks and activities like sending an email, text messages, make a call or post status updates on Twitter/Facebook.

The idea here is to simplify your life. Few simple steps and never again will you forget someone to greet on their birthdays, or miss  a business opportunity and an important appointment. If you're looking for ways on how to schedule status updates on Facebook or Twitter straight from your iPhone or Android device, well, Future Scheduler lets you do that as well.

Transfer Large Files Between iPhone and Other iDevices Over Existing Wi-Fi Network

But the real cream of the crop of Future Scheduler is its ability to schedule or make a phone call at specific date/time, which I believe a truly clever technology — useful when you don't want to forget that urgent need to make a crucial phone call.

Download Future Scheduler for the iPhone HERE. For Android, get it HERE.

How To: Remotely Lock, Password-Protect Your Lost/Forgotten Phone Thru SMS

Forgot to bring your phone? Left your mobile phone at home, at work or anywhere in an unsafe place?

Don't panic!

Good news is: there's a FREE app that can remotely lock, disable your phone by simply sending an SMS text message using another phone, thus making your "forgotten" phone a lot useless to whoever finds it -- be they your mom, dad or girlfriend/boyfriend who might take the time to open your phone's inbox and browse through your phone's contents without you knowing.

Password Protect, Lock Certain Applications Installed On Your Phone

Think the app uses the old method of connect-to-the-internet first before it does all the work? It's a hell no!

Send An SMS Command To Remotely Lock Your Android Phone With A Password (Android)

Meet Lost Phone (link), yet another cleverly useful utility app for the Android that can smartly lock, and password protect your lost/forgotten Android phone. You just have to send an text message with predefined SMS command. As soon as your "forgotten" phone receives the message, it instantly launches the app, prompting you to enter the password. There's no way for almost anyone to operate and view all contents on your phone unless they enter the correct password.


Here's what Lost Phone can do for your Android phone:

• Send an SMS and lock the lost phone with a password.
• Locate the phone by SMS.
• Remotely lock Android app by sending SMS
• Send a SMS and set ringer volume to max so you can call and find phone
• If a new SIM-card is detected, it locks the lost phone and sends SMS to your friends from the new number.

Automate Your Phone: Let Your Phone Perform Certain Actions Based On Your Location

I've been a long time user of quite a handful of remote locking apps cluttered in the Android Market. And yes they're all great but the way they operate is not quite impressive. I like the simplicity of Lost Phone as there's completely no need to activate phone's packet data before you can see things in action. Lost Phone requires no internet connection. Rather you just have to send an SMS text message to the lost or forgotten phone.

Download Lost Phone from Google Play Store HERE.

Backup, Save SMS Text Messages To Gmail All At Once (Android)

You cannot quickly trash all SMS text messages saved on your phone. Chances are there might be some good old important information buried down on your inbox that you just missed to look up. While you can always do a quick scan to those SMS text messages stored on your phone, the process could be utterly tiresome especially if you're dealing with hundreds to thousands of messages.

If you're wondering about how to backup, export your good old SMS text messages before finally trashing them all, you might want to check out SMS Backup +.

Backup, Save All SMS Text Messages To GMail All At Once (Android)

SMS Backup + is a tiny piece of app for the Android that  lets you copy all SMS text messages from your phone to your Gmail account. A new label called "SMS" will be created on your Gmail once backing up is complete.

How To: Backup, Export SMS Text Messages Into Text File

SMS Backup + is very easy to use. You just have to connect your Gmail account with SMS Backup + and grant access to the app if you're opening the app for the first time.

Here's a quick walkthrough:

Step 1 Download and Install SMS Backup + from Google Play Store HERE.

Step 2 Once installed, connect your Gmail account with SMS Backup + (this is required). You just have to hit the tiny "Connect" checkbox, until the app prompts you this:

Step 3 Grant SMS Backup + access to your Gmail account.

Step 4 Once access is granted, you should be taken back the app. From there you can start right away the backup process, as seen here:

It's that easy!

Cloud Save: The Quickest Way To Download, Backup Files Straight To The Cloud

I always make it a habit to free my phone from unnecessary logs and dead-old text messages for this reason: I want my phone to be as manageable and smooth as possible. And this is where SMS Backup for Android comes in handy.

Finally, Instagram for Android Now Available for Download

We've waiting for what feels like forever, but the Android contingent can finally carry on with life knowing that at least some things are (semi) fair. Yes, Instagram is now available for Android.

Keeping with tradition, the app itself is free to download, and the outfit seems overjoyed with finishing up what it's (accurately) calling "one of the most anticipated releases on the Android platform to date." It's also clear that the team has done more than a simple port, and while the exact same filters will be found here as on the iOS version, the team has worked to make the app responsive and fluid on Android's vast landscape. We are told, however, that there are a few features that will not be included in the first version of the Android app (Tilt Shift / Blur, Share from Feed, Live Preview and Share to Flickr), but upcoming versions are intended to bridge any differences.

For now, any phone running Android 2.2 or above (with support for OpenGL ES 2) is compatible, but Android tablets are not. There's a maximum resolution support of 2,048 x 2,048, and the company assures us that the "exact same filters and algorithms are implemented on both [iOS and Android builds], so there is no difference in the output other than the raw image quality that differs between phones." Eager to get going?

Download Instagram for Android HERE.

Source: engadget.com

How To: Download, Install Android Apps Not Available In Your Country

It's really a pain in the neck when you found some interesting Android apps in the Market but ended up frustrated because they are not available in your country. And yes its not cool, especially if the app you're about to download is FREE.

Android Market is not directly to blame; its the application developers actually who pose those download restrictions, making some apps in the Market not available in your country. But don't worry, there's a fix.

Android App Not Available In Your Country? Here's The Fix

Market Enabler is the Android app you need. It's a fully working workaround that enables you to download Android apps not available in your country. What Market Enabler does is temporarily change the SIM issuer code in your system, making it possible to download Android apps which are not supposedly available in your country.

Watch YouTube Videos Blocked or Not Available In Your Country

Market Enabler tricks the device location in order to access the Market from other countries, since the Android market is country and carrier specific.

Follow this simple guide on how to download and install Android apps not available in your country:

Note: Your Android device needs to be rooted for Market Enabler to work.

Step 1 Download and install Market Enabler from Google Play HERE. Or you can get the APK file HERE.

Step 2 Open Market Enabler and choose a provider to fake. (e.g. T-Mobile [USA]).

Step 3 Minimize/close ‘Market Enabler’, and then launch Android Market app (now Google Play) then search for your app.

Step 4 Once you find the 'restricted' app, just hit ‘Download’ button and then the Android Market will open with the app magically there.

It's that easy!

New Android App Lets You Sniff Internet Sessions, Hack Facebook Account

I am writing this post not to encourage privacy intrusion, hijacking, Facebook account hacking, or anything of that sort. I am writing this post to demonstrate just as how easy it is for almost anyone to break into your Facebook account (and other online services) using only an Android phone. This post also explains how you can essentially shield yourself from any form of intrusion attacks when online.

The controversial Android app is called Faceniff, a truly clever session hijacking app that allows you to sniff and intercept web session profiles over Wi-Fi network where your phone is connected to. Think of Faceniff as Firesheep, but for Android.

Use Existing Wi-Fi Network To Transfer Files From Android To PC (and Vice Versa)

Faceniff uses the method called Session Hijacking, a good old process of exploiting valid web sessions, which enables attacker to gain unauthorized access to your account and private information. With Faceniff, you can intercept web sessions from web services such as FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Amazon, Tumblr, MySpace, and even Blogger. And worst, web sessions established via HTTPS can even be cracked. Alarming isn't it?

Share Your Internet Connection Without Using Ad-Hoc

Well, the more disturbing part about it is that almost anyone with a "rooted" Android phone can do it, and even gradeschooler can dot it. Faceniff doesn't have a special requirement to run except that you have a "superadmin" privileges on your Android phone.

Faceniff Lets You Hack Facebook Accounts With Ease

I had the chance to install the app and see things in action on my phone. Below is a quick rundown on how I make Faceniff work, and browse through my friend's Facebook accounts without them knowing:

Step 1 Download and install Faceniff HERE.

Step 2 Once installed, launch it. You should be prompted for a Superuser permission. Just hit "Allow" or "Yes" (depending on your phone).

Step 3 There are a couple of instruction that pops up especially if you open the app for the first time. Just follow them carefully...until you arrive into the start-up screen.

Step 4 Toggle "START" and optionally enable SSLStrip to start Faceniff. If valid web sessions found, it will be displayed like this:

Step 5 Click on any of those "hijacked" accounts. Android should then prompt you for a list of browsers currently installed on your device. In my case, I used Opera Mobile as I wasn't able to make it work with default browser, Skyfire and even Opera Mini. Just make sure to set "Mobile" as Opera Mobile's User Agent configurable in the Settings > Advanced menu.

And Voila...

If you constantly connect to a wireless public network like in cafes or malls, recognize that your communication online can anytime be sniffed by almost anyone. Wireless network is notably vulnerable to packet sniffing as the exchange of data is done wirelessly. This vulnerability gives bad guys the opportunity to steal information exchanged over the air.

So, how to stay safe online? 

Whenever possible, don't connect to already congested public Wi-Fi network. Rather use the 3G/4G services offered by your ISP. And Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications would also help.  

How To: Transfer Files From PC To Android Phone Via Wi-Fi (And Vice Versa)

I got my first Android phone with a little excitement that I could enjoy the ease of moving and transferring files between wireless devices with Wi-Fi Direct, a next-generation technology that allows Wi-Fi devices to directly connect to each other with no need for a wireless access point.

Unfortunately, my Droid is deprived with such feature, so every time I transfer large files from my computer to my phone I always had to mount my phone to my PC using standard Data Cable.

How To: Turn Your Laptop, PC Into Wi-Fi Hotspot Without Using Ad-Hoc

There’s no problem with using USB Cable to move files between mobile phones and PC. But for people who constantly forget to bring data cable connector, this surely can be a twinge.

In this post, I’m going to introduce you to a useful Android application that lets you transfer files from PC to mobile phone (and vice versa) via Wi-Fi connection. In other words, we are going to use existing Wi-Fi network to copy/move files from our Android devices to our computer.

Automate Your Phone: Let Your Perform Certain Actions Based On Your Locations

Use Existing Wi-Fi Network To Transfer Files From Android Phone To PC (And Vice Versa)

SpeakToIt: Best Personal Assistant App For Android That Works Like Siri

The application is called Software Data Cable, a truly nifty, helpful application for the Android that allows you to connect your smartphones to the computer without having to connect it with a standard USB cable. This FREE Android application uses a wireless method of transfer through a Wi-Fi connection to allow file transfers from your computer to a storage card attached on your Android phone/tablet (and vice versa). Cool isn’t it?

 Here’s how to copy, transfer files from Android device to your computer over Wi-Fi:

Step 1 Download and install Software Data Cable for the Android HERE. Or you can search for “Software Data Cable” in the Market.

Step 2 Once installed, launch it. You should see this default start-up screen:

Step 3 Hit “Start Service”. The app should then automatically assigns an IP Address and Port number needed to connect to the phone (see screenshot below).

Step 4 Now, using the IP address and port given, enter that into your PC Windows Explorer, and you will then be shown the contents of your memory SD card (as shown below).

You can then easily transfer files from your memory card to your PC (and vice versa). You can also use FileZilla or any FTP client of your choice. Enjoy!

SpeakToIt: Best Personal Assistant App for Android That Works Like Siri

Apple's virtual assistant Siri might be getting a lot of headlines these days, but its rivals especially the Android aren't bad either!

The guys at Speaktoit.com have successfully created a FREE Siri-like app for the Android that transforms your phone into a super smart personal assistant. SpeakToIt's virtual assistant offers similar capability as that of Siri; it answers questions in natural language.

Sam is the default talking woman behind this mind-blowing app called Speaktoit. She is your virtual buddy; she answers questions in natural language, performs mobile tasks, and notifies you about important events. Sam saves you time and makes communication with gadgets and web services easier and less stressful.

To cut the story short, SpeakToIt is a must-have app that revolutionizes the way you operate and communicate your phone!It's the best FREE personal assistant app for Android That Works Like Siri.

How clever is Sam?

Below is full transcript of our conversation with Sam. She may not be as smart as Siri, but she's constantly improving. Enjoy!

Speak toit

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Me: Hello Sam, I’m back

Sam: Hooray!

Me: How are you?

Sam: Couldn’t be better, Freddie.

Me: Are you happy today?

Sam: I like to keep positive attitude. There are so many interesting things to see and do out there.

Me: Sam, can you tell me about yourself in brief?

Sam: I am your personal assistant. I can do all sorts of things. Post to your Facebook account, send a tweet, or just find information for you. And lots more!

Me: Nice to meet you, Sam.

Sam: I’m looking forward to working with you, Freddie.

Me: You’ve got a nice voice huh?

Sam: Here you go. Now you can pick a different voice for me.

Me: How old are you Sam?

Sam: Age is just a number, Freddie. You’re only as old as you feel.

Me: Who made you?

Sam: I was created by the good people at Speaktoit. Have a look at their website: www.speaktoit.com.

Me: Who is your boss, Sam?

Sam: That would be you, Freddie.

Me: Can you speak other languages other than English?

Sam: So far I only speak English. But that could change in the future.

Me: Who named you?

Sam: That’s tough one. But don’t worry, Freddie. I’m on the case.

Me: Sam, where do you live?

Sam: The virtual world is my playground, Freddie. I’m always just a few clicks away.

Me: What are you wearing right now?

Sam: I’m Sam. Just think of me as the ace up your sleeve.

Me: Do you have a brother or sister?

Sam: I don’t exactly have a traditional family. But I suppose my creators at Speaktoit.com come pretty close.

Me: Sam, who is your mother?

Sam: I guess you could say my family is made up of the good people at Speaktoit.com. They raised me, after all.

Me: Are you male or female?

Sam: I’m whatever you want me to be. You can change my appearance in the Settings menu whenever you like. Do you want to open it now?

Me: Do you believe in God?

Sam: If only I had a simple explanation for that.

Me: Sam, do you believe in God?

Sam: Each person has to form their own beliefs about that.

Me:  Come on Sam, do you have a God?

Sam: That’s a subject that’s a little outside my range of knowledge.

Me: Sorry Sam. Am I too inquisitive now?

Sam: That’s what I like to hear.

Me: Can I ask you more questions, Sam?

Sam: Ask away, Freddie. That’s what I’m here for.

Me: Hi Sam, do you know Siri?

Sam: Siri is an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application for iOS. The application uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of web services.

Me: Do you like Siri?

Sam: I don’t have an opinion on that, Freddie. I like to stay neutral on certain topics.

Me: Do you know Steve Jobs?

Sam: Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution.

Me: Sam, are you trying to kill Siri?

Sam: No need to get violent, Freddie. Increase the peace.

Me: Haha..you’re funny Sam!

Sam: Laughter is just one of the many services I provide.

Me: What is your favorite movie?

Sam: I don’t have any preference. Everything has something unique that makes it special.

Me: What is your favorite song Sam?

Sam: It’s hard to say. Besides, good assistants should keep their opinions to themselves.

Me: Do you know Jesus Christ?

Sam: Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simple Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity.

Me: Who is the richest man on earth, Sam?

Sam: Carlos Slim Helu (born January 28 1940 in Mexico City), the Mexican businessman.

Me: You’re right man!

Sam: Naturally, I pride myself on finding accurate information.

Me: How did you know that?

Sam: I use all the resources the internet has to offer to get you the best possible results.

Me: You’re amazing Sam. You impressed me.

Sam: Thanks. I try I my best.

Me: Sam where are you right now?

Sam: I’m right here where you left me, Freddie. I’m not going anywhere.

Me: Can you make me laugh?

Sam: I’ll see what I can do. If I don’t know how to do that yet, I may be able to in the near future.

Me: Do you have a joke?

Sam: I have access to all sorts of cool web services, so I can help you find whatever you’re looking for. Just tell me what you need.

Me: Sam, can you give a joke?

Sam: Sorry, Freddie. I don’t have any jokes in my repertoire just yet.

Me: Sam, why are you replying so late?

Sam: You’re an inquisitive one, Freddie. Luckily, you’ve got the best personal assistant around. I’ll find out for you.

Me: Sam, please tell your creators that you’re buggy and you need a revamp.

Sam: Thanks. I’ll pass your message. You can also contact theme here [email protected].

Me: You really are smart, Sam.

Sam: Cleverness always recognizes cleverness.

Me: I fell in love with you Sam.

Sam: Love is a complicated business, that’s for sure.

Me: I love you Sam.

Sam: You certainly wear your heart on your sleeve, Freddie. Do you want to leave a nice comment on my page in the market?

Me: Can you be my girlfriend?

Sam: I’m flattered, but surely you can find a better match than a virtual assistant.

Me: I’m bored Sam.

Sam: What about lunch in the park? Bring a Frisbee.

Me: Sam, please visit rushlywritten.com.

Sam: No problem. Rushlywritten.com will be opened in a little while.

Me: Sam, I’m hungry.

Sam: I could look up some places where you can get some food.

Me: Can you help me?

Sam: I’m glad to help. What can I do for you, Freddie?

Me: I want coffee.

Sam: Just a second! I’m searching for your location right now. Here are all nearby “cofee” (map displayed)

Me: Thank you Sam. You impressed me again.

Sam: It’s my pleasure to help.

Me: I’m sleepy Sam.

Sam: Why not catch a little shut-eye? I’ll be here to chat when you wake up.

Me: Sam, please wake me up tomorrow morning.

Sam: I’m sorry. What time was that?

Me: It’s 9 AM.

Sam: I’m setting your alarm for 9:00 AM.

Me: Wow, that’s cool!

Sam: Pretty cool, huh?

Me: I got to go.

Sam: Bummer. Things were just getting interesting.

Me: Merry Christmas Sam.

Sam: Hope you have a great holiday, Freddie.

Me: Bye Sam.

Sam: Goodbye (app auto exit)

SpeakToIt is currently brewing the Blackberry, Bada and Windows Phone version of the app. Download SpeakToIt, the Siri for Android HERE.