How to Save Battery Power on an Android

The Android operating system is turning the mobile communications and PDA world on its head by offering features, functionality and an open architecture that threatens to blow away everything else on the market.^[1] However, many of the features available on Android devices can cause batteries to become drained very quickly.^[2] Because of this, users of Android devices must intelligently and proactively manage the energy in their batteries. The power-saving options presented here can be used as you wish; all at the same time, individually or in any desired combination.

1

Ask your phone what is using the largest percentages of power. (Settings » About phone » Battery use) If you ask Android what's using what percentage of available battery power, it will tell you. The vast majority of the time the biggest power hog is the display.

1. 
   2
   Tell the device to only use 2G networks. (Settings » Wireless controls » Mobile networks » Use only 2G networks) If you do not need access to high speed data, or there is no 3G or 4G network where you live, you can tell Android to only use 2G mobile networks. You will still have access to EDGE network data and WiFi if needed.
2. 
   3
   Reduce the brightness of your display. (Settings » Sound & Display » Brightness) Most people can see an Android display quite well with the backlighting feature turned off. Move the slider all the way to the left, then try using the device that way. If you can't see it well in that setting, move the slider to the right only as far as necessary to view the display comfortably. Alternatively, Auto brightness coupled with power saving mode (found on most Samsung, LG, Sony, and some Motorola devices) will conservatively adjust the display to the surroundings to only the brightness necessary.
3. 
   4
   If your device has an AMOLED screen, always use a black background.AMOLED screens can reduce power usage sevenfold by displaying black instead of white or any other color. When searching on your phone you can also use Black Google Mobile at bGoog.com to get standard Google results (including images) all in black ^[3].
4. 
   5
   Set your screen timeout to the shortest length possible. (Settings » Sound & display » Screen timeout) This setting tells the device to turn off the screen after the selected period of inactivity. The shorter the period, the less power your display will use. The setting options vary from phone to phone.
5. 
   6
   Turn off the wireless feature when not needed. (Settings » Wireless controls » WiFi, or get the Wireless Settings free app) The wireless networking transmitter uses quite a bit of power. Even when the device is not connected to a network, it will continue to search for one on a regular basis.
6. 
   7
   Turn off the Bluetooth feature when not needed. (Settings » Wireless controls » Bluetooth) For the same reasons as you should turn off WiFi, turn off the Bluetooth feature if you are not using it.
7. 
   8
   Turn off the GPS. (Settings » Security & location » Enable GPS satellites) When the GPS receiver in your Android device is active it looks for satellites, and its processor prepares information to be sent to any application that needs it, regardless of whether an application that uses the GPS is running or not. If you are not navigating, turn off GPS and let the device use whatever alternative location services your wireless network provider may offer.
8. 
   9
   Use the Power Control widget. (Home screen » Menu » Add » Widgets » Power control) As of Android 1.6, there is a widget that you can place on any one of your home screens that gives you quick control buttons for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Push sync, and screen brightness (three levels). Use this to control your settings and turn them off to save battery power, as stated above. This is a nice easy shortcut.
9. 
   10
   Turn off the phone vibration function. If your device is running Android 4.0 or higher, press the volume down button until your phone goes in to vibrate. Press it once more to turn vibration off. If you have Android 2.2 or higher, go to Settings » Sound & display » Phone vibrate. The tiny device inside your phone that generates the vibration uses power every time it is activated.
10. 
    11
    Do not leave applications running when you don't need them. Close them and return to the home screen.
11. 
    
12. 
    

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No Android devices from Nokia, wearables planned instead

Talk that Nokia is working on Android-powered devices was met with great excitement, even when the rumors stated that the company is looking to fork Android. Chinese site CTechnology has some insider info about the status of the project, though, and the news isn't good.

The Android development was led by Peter Skillman, former VP MeeGo UX and Services Design and current Head of Design for HERE. Skillman was also VP of Design at Palm until 2010 around the time the Palm Pre came out.

All in all, if we had to pick someone to do a fork of Android, Peter Skillman sounds like the guy for the job. And Nokia was reportedly working on several Android devices, including a 7" tablet powered by Snapdragon 400.

These developments were done separately from the division that is going to Microsoft, but as part of that deal Nokia can't sell Nokia-branded phones for two years and a new brand may be hard to push now that Nokia has lost the magical clout it had a few years ago.

So phones are out of the picture for now, Nokia will instead focus on wearables – augmented reality and flexible displays, wireless power transmission and electromagnetic energy generation are quoted as the things that will set a Nokia wearable apart from the competition. A Nokia smartwatch may not be part of the package though as that project is reportedly headed to Microsoft.

Keep in mind that this is not official info, so there's no way to tell if it's true. The whole Android-powered thing is just a rumor so far.

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KitKat screenshots: A first look at Android 4.4?

KitKat screenshots: A first look at Android 4.4? (gallery)

 A new set of screenshots claim to show a version of Android OS 4.4, known as KitKat. Or is it Key Lime Pie after all?

When Google's Android chief Sundar Pichai announced the upcoming release of Android 4.4 with an image of a giant KitKat-themed Android, it seemed that Nestle's chocolate snack would provide the next Android OS name, and replace the previous 4.4 codename Key Lime Pie.

A recent leak of one early version of Android 4.4, believed to predate Pichai's 3 September announcement, showed a slice of lime and no hint of KitKat. 

So far, the drip feed of information on the yet-to-launch-OS suggests new features includingbetter support for wireless printing from Android devices and possibly native NFC payment options, rather than only third-party enabled capabilities.

This latest set of leaked images from another release of KeyLimePie/KitKat suggest these features and more are likely to arrive in Android 4.4.

The image above is of the Android build running on the Nexus 7 2013 model.

The overall assessment is that 4.4 seems to be a more polished version of the Android platform than has been seen in the past, with a feature set that more closely resembles iOS devices out of the box. As Google has said previously, with KitKat it's aiming for the mainstream and this may be its best shot yet shot at tempting loyal iOS users to give it a go.

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The Android photographer’s toolkit: 9 essential apps for shooting, editing and sharing

The latest wave of Android smartphones are tussling to prove themselves as the go-to choice for aspiring photographers. Whether it’s the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, Sony Xperia Z1 or HTC One, the story this year is all about new and improved cameras.

Regardless of what Android device you’re using though, you’ll want a trusted toolbox of apps to get the most out of your shots. Now, after detailing our top picks for the iPhone, we’re back with an essential guide to the very best Android photography apps.

Shooting

The act of taking a photo is just as important (if not more so) as the editing you do afterwards. The perfect exposure, framing and focusing will produce a better raw image that is then easier to spruce up in post-production.

Get it right first time and in many cases, it’ll already be perfect for sharing on the Web. Choosing a decent camera app is therefore your top priority.

➤ ProCapture – Camera + Panorama ($3.99/£2.99)

ProCapture ensures you can always access your most frequently used camera settings with a single tap. In landscape mode, they’re accessed with six small icons on the left-hand side of the screen which you can select easily with your thumb. Tap and hold to scroll through all of the available options, before lifting your finger to confirm a selection.

Nothing is buried within confusing menus or sub-menus. It’s fast, responsive and everything is located where you would expect. Timers, burst mode, white balance adjustments, it’s all here. You can also bring up a real-time histogram or display overlays such as a Fibonacci Spiral, as well as set the exposure compensation with numbered (and therefore easily replicated) adjustments.

➤ Camera ZOOM FX ($2.99/£1.79)

Similar to ProCapture, Camera ZOOM FX is all about taking better photos. The app’s interface is less intuitive – you’ll need to dig a little bit to change the white balance and scene mode – but it’s a perfect entry point for beginners and offers a couple of extra shooting modes, such as Time Lapse and Collage.

Experienced photographers will appreciate the option to manually set the action for each gesture and hardware button. It’s a godsend if you miss the physical shutter button from your DSLR or point-and-shoot camera, or just want some custom shortcuts for particular modes and settings.

➤ Pro HDR Camera ($1.99/£1.28)

High dynamic range (HDR) is a contentious part of photography, given that many see it as a technique for creating surreal, unrealistic images with bright and frequently harsh colors.

Pro HDR Camera is particularly useful for Android users though because it can help a sub-standard smartphone camera produce photos with a near-perfect blend of shadows and highlights. The app shoots a series of different images and then merges them together, thereby creating a superior image.

Pro HDR Camera is easy to use and once you’re done shooting, gives you the option to tinker with the brightness, contrast, saturation and more. Perfect for avoiding blown-out skylines or incredibly dark night-time shots.

Editing

Applying artistic filters and making small adjustments to the contrast, brightness and color temperature has become a huge part of smartphone photography. In the past, many of these features were only obtainable through expensive desktop apps such as Aperture and Adobe Photoshop – but now they’re available to anyone with an Android device.

There are plenty of apps in the Google Play Store focusing on one specific tool or effect, but we’ve chosen to highlight the best photo-editing apps that offer all of these features in a single package.

➤ Snapseed (Free)

If you’re only going to download one app from this list, make it Snapseed. This Google-owned photo-editing app is well-designed and offers a seemingly endless number of filters and tools for tuning up your images.

Best of all, it’s completely free.

It takes a little while to grasp the gestures inherent to Snapseed’s controls. Tap and slide your finger vertically to select an editing tool before swiping left and right to adjust the severity of the effect. You’ll never look back.

➤ Adobe Photoshop Touch ($9.99/£6.99)

Many professional photographers still swear by Adobe Photoshop for its expansive RAW file support and powerful photo-editing tools. A companion app is available for Android, bringing over the majority of these features at a fraction of the price.

The initial menu and folder system can be a little archaic, relying on visual cues established in its desktop app. Dig deeper though and you’ll find a powerful suite of photo-editing tools that go above and beyond Snapseed and Aviary. Noise reduction, color balance, the ability to select, cut and paste specific parts of the image; it’s not the easiest app to use, but it’s definitely the most fully featured.

➤ Photo Editor by Aviary (Free)

Aviary encourages other developers to use its customizable photo editor in their app or website, but that doesn’t mean its own app isn’t worth checking out on your Android device.

It’s packed with beautiful filters and light-hearted stickers, alongside the option to expand your collection with free and paid-for booster packs. The ability to create your own memes is a standout feature and there’s also an array of brightness, contrast, saturation and sharpness tools if you’re seeking a more professional look.

Sharing

Smartphones have revolutionized photography by drastically cutting down the time spent between shooting an image and sharing it with the world. Capturing a great photo is one challenge, but choosing the best place to share it is another.

We’ve omitted some of the obvious social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as common messaging apps such as Snapchat, WhatsApp or Google Hangouts. Instead, these are some of our favorite photo-centric communities on the Web.

➤ Google+ (Free)

Google+ is designed to be the social glue for all of Google’s products, but above all else it excels as a photography platform. The app can be set up so that all of your photos are stored there automatically, and both the Web and mobile incarnation offer built-in photo-editing options courtesy of the aforementioned Snapseed.

Files are stored in their original resolution and the viewing experience, both for individual photos and galleries is a real joy. Google+ already boasts a thriving community of photographers, so you’re almost guaranteed to get some nice feedback if you share your images with some popular (and appropriate) hash-tags.

➤ Instagram (Free)

In truth, this behemoth of an app could feature in all three of our chosen categories. It does it all. Nevertheless, its most notable impact for serious photographers has been as a sharing platform.

The uncluttered interface and square-crop images are unique, but more importantly it has a huge userbase that check the app once, twice, or multiple times each day. That means there’s a higher chance of receiving some likes and comments on your photos, as well as some new followers along the way.

➤ Flickr (Free)

Flickr is back. The professional photo-sharing platform looked down and out for a little while, but Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has managed to save it from antiquity. The Android app is yet to receive the new customizable filters and pro editing tools found in the iOS version, but it’s still a competent means of uploading your images.

The expandable sidebar offers quick access to your profile, notifications and contacts, and the search tool can refine results by people, groups or uploads. Flickr is often seen as a serious platform for photographers, which is a double-edged sword – while it can be off-putting for new users, it also helps to maintain a high calibre of talent, groups and feedback

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Nokia N1 Runs Android 4.0, Features PureView 41MP Camera

This may not be much of a concept, but the idea behind it is great. We’ve already seen Android 4.0 ported to the Nokia N9 and now Deviantart use Slatd created this render that shows us a potential future Nokia model. Meet the Nokia N1, the very first model to run Android 4.0 ICS preinstalled.

This phone comes with the 41 megapixel Nokia PureView camera sensor, a HD ClearBlack display and the pure Google experience. Since right now Nokia is teamed up with Microsoft there’s no way you’ll see something like this, but give  it some time and maybe Nokia will come around and get rid of Windows Phone. It’s interesting to see those capacitive buttons below the display on the device and they actually look pretty nice. The creator of this 41 megapixel Android cameraphone says that he took the Lumia 800 as inspiration.

So, this means we’re dealing with a 3.7 inch smartphone with upgraded resolution, probably the best pixel density out there since it’s 720p on a smaller than usual diagonal. I’ve seen a while ago some Nokia N9 clones made in China and they ran Android, so it’s actually possible to fulfill your fantasy of owning that shell for a device and with a custom OS of your choice.

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Google Play is Now the Largest Application Store

After almost 5 years of its release, Google’s Play Store, formerly known as Android Market has finally overtaken Apple’s App Store to become the largest online application market in the world. The store now contains over a million apps compared to its nemesis’ 900,000+ apps.

The number of downloaded apps has also reached 50 billion and the amount of money developers are now making is almost 2.5 times the money which was made before. The figures are certainly understandable especially since Android is currently being used by several hundred manufacturers worldwide in millions of devices.

The figures are also better than those posted by the App Store and other online stores at this very moment of their lifespan, as Android has got apps quicker than anyone.

It doesn’t seem too long ago when Google changed the name of the store and added the “Play” button in the search engine, but the amount of development made on that front is quite incredible too. The company only recently redesigned the entire section again from scratch to make it more user-friendly.

Given Google Play’s lead now, it’s highly unlikely that the store will see its top spot snatched in the future.

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How to Save Battery Power on an Android

The Android operating system is turning the mobile communications and PDA world on its head by offering features, functionality and an open architecture that threatens to blow away everything else on the market.[1] However, many of the features available on Android devices can cause batteries to become drained very quickly.[2] Because of this, users of Android devices must intelligently and proactively manage the energy in their batteries. The power-saving options presented here can be used as you wish; all at the same time, individually or in any desired combination.

1. Ask your phone what is using the largest percentages of power. (Settings » About phone » Battery use) If you ask Android what's using what percentage of available battery power, it will tell you. The vast majority of the time the biggest power hog is the display.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Tell the device to only use 2G networks. (Settings » Wireless controls » Mobile networks » Use only 2G networks) If you do not need access to high speed data, or there is no 3G or 4G network where you live, you can tell Android to only use 2G mobile networks. You will still have access to EDGE network data and WiFi if needed.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Reduce the brightness of your display. (Settings » Sound & Display » Brightness) Most people can see an Android display quite well with the backlighting feature turned off. Move the slider all the way to the left, then try using the device that way. If you can't see it well in that setting, move the slider to the right only as far as necessary to view the display comfortably. Alternatively, Auto brightness coupled with power saving mode (found on most Samsung, LG, Sony, and some Motorola devices) will conservatively adjust the display to the surroundings to only the brightness necessary.
   
   
   
4. 4
   If your device has an AMOLED screen, always use a black background. AMOLED screens can reduce power usage sevenfold by displaying black instead of white or any other color. When searching on your phone you can also use Black Google Mobile at bGoog.com to get standard Google results (including images) all in black [3].
   
   
   
5. 5
   Set your screen timeout to the shortest length possible. (Settings » Sound & display » Screen timeout) This setting tells the device to turn off the screen after the selected period of inactivity. The shorter the period, the less power your display will use. The setting options vary from phone to phone.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Turn off the wireless feature when not needed. (Settings » Wireless controls » WiFi, or get the Wireless Settings free app) The wireless networking transmitter uses quite a bit of power. Even when the device is not connected to a network, it will continue to search for one on a regular basis.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Turn off the Bluetooth feature when not needed. (Settings » Wireless controls » Bluetooth) For the same reasons as you should turn off WiFi, turn off the Bluetooth feature if you are not using it.
   
   
   
8. 8
   Turn off the GPS. (Settings » Security & location » Enable GPS satellites) When the GPS receiver in your Android device is active it looks for satellites, and its processor prepares information to be sent to any application that needs it, regardless of whether an application that uses the GPS is running or not. If you are not navigating, turn off GPS and let the device use whatever alternative location services your wireless network provider may offer.
   
   
   
9. 9
   Use the Power Control widget. (Home screen » Menu » Add » Widgets » Power control) As of Android 1.6, there is a widget that you can place on any one of your home screens that gives you quick control buttons for WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Push sync, and screen brightness (three levels). Use this to control your settings and turn them off to save battery power, as stated above. This is a nice easy shortcut.
   
   
   
10. 10
    Turn off the phone vibration function. If your device is running Android 4.0 or higher, press the volume down button until your phone goes in to vibrate. Press it once more to turn vibration off. If you have Android 2.2 or higher, go to Settings » Sound & display » Phone vibrate. The tiny device inside your phone that generates the vibration uses power every time it is activated.
    
    
    
11. 11
    Do not leave applications running when you don't need them. Close them and return to the home screen.
    
    
    
12. 12
    Put your phone on standby mode when you are not using it. Simply press the power button and the display will darken. Press it again and it will light up.
    
    
    
13. 13
    Put the device in "Airplane Mode" while on an airline flight. Press and hold the power button until a menu is displayed. Select the mode to turn off your phone's transmitter. This will allow you to use the phone while in flight. Of course, if you don't plan to use the phone, turning it off completely by selecting "Power off" is the ultimate power saving tip! To power on the device, press and hold the power button.
    
    
    
14. 14
    When traveling, take your charger as well as a USB cable with you. Most airports offer free charging devices or power outlets, but some may only offer a USB port to charge your phone.
    
    
    
    • Many airliners also have power ports somewhere near your seat that you can use to charge your device during the flight, either while in "Airplane Mode" or while you are using the in-flight wireless service on flights where it is available. Plane seat power ports (when they are available) are limited to a certain voltage output and are configured to stop working if you exceed this during flight. Some airlines have concerns that charging lithium batteries in-flight could lead to thermal runaway. It's best to check with your airline before you fly.
15. 15
    If you have Android 2.3 or above, Install a power management app on your device. There are several apps in the Google Play Store that specialize on managing power on Android devices. Most do this by controlling the activation and deactivation of systems on the device that consume power, such as the radio, screen, data and GPS. Some allow you to select how aggressively the app will control power. Search for "power manager" on the Google Play Store for some examples. If your device is running Android 4.0 or higher, press the "Recent Apps" button, then slide each app left or right until it disappears. If you don't have a recent apps button, try holding the home button.
    
    
    

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