How To Backup Android Device Without Root Access

There’s quite a difference to how you’d treat data backups on a PC and a smartphone. On a computer, the operating system itself might not need be copied to any location, since it’s retail available and can be always reinstalled. However, come to an Android smartphone and the game changes significantly. It’s not like the OS isn’t available for a secondary install; what makes people cautious is because they’d usually like to play around with custom firmware, AOSP builds, modified kernels and whatnot to unleash the true power of their devices. For those reasons, and others of the like, people prefer backing up the entire partitions, just in case something goes wrong. And they’re darn right in doing so – ask someone with experience.

When it comes to data backup – both at app-level and system-wide – there’s no shortage of capable tools and solutions that hardly need any introduction. With such competition, it’s hard to imagine a newcomer making notice worthy room for mention. However, developed by XDA member omegavesko, Simple ADB Backup certainly is a head turner. The app uses Android 4.0+’s native backup facility over Android Debug Bridge to save a complete snapshot of your device in its current state, providing a convenient and newbie-friendly GUI to the ADB backup function of Android.

Available for Windows and Linux platforms, Simple ADB Backup differs from all others of its kind in that it doesn’t require the device to be rooted in order to perform the data copy process. Popular alternatives like Titanium Backup and My Backup Pro both require a rooted device to function properly, so this comes as a bliss to all those who haven’t yet rooted the device (or don’t want to), but still would like to have data security. The application’s interface is really simple and easy to navigate, with big buttons indicating their purpose very clearly. It goes without saying that the application will require ADB to be setup on your machine, and USB Debugging to be enabled on the device itself.

Simple ADB Backup is a powerful and useful application, despite the fact that it’s still an open beta. It might not support all the devices, and would only work with those that are running Android version 4.0 or above. You may download the app for your respective platform at the source link below, as well as finding further technical details and assistance.

(Source: XDA-Developers forum thread)

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How To Root Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 On Android 4.2.2

We brought to you the how-to guide for root Galaxy S4 I9505 LTE version, courtesy of Chainfire Auto-Root, one of the best out there. The I9500 proved to be slightly more difficult, but it wasn’t long before that one was cracked, too. Today, we’ll guide you step by step on gaining root access on your Galaxy S4 I9500 International version.

Caution: In my experience nothing has ever gone wrong with rooting. There is always that slight chance something can mess up. Use caution and only do this if you want to. I am not responsible if anything happens (but I really don’t think anything will happen if you do everything right)  Also rooting voids your warranty but don’t worry, unrooting should give it back like nothing ever happened.!! Please read about Rooting here.

Note:

• The instructions in this guide are intended for use with Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 On Android 4.2.2. Applying these instructions on another device or model may produce undesired outcomes.
• The information in this guide is provided for instructional and educational purposes only. There is no guarantee that these instructions will work under your specific and unique circumstances.
• Use these instructions at your own risk. We shall not hold any responsibility or liability for whatever happens to you or your device arising from your use of the info in this guide.
• Read and understand the whole guide first before actually performing the instructions.
• This Procedure works for Mobiles having stock ROM only, and will definitely void your warranty, although the warranty can be claimed by un-rooting your device.

What you need to prepare:

• GT-I9500 Samsung Galaxy S4 and a PC
• Backup all personal data on your phone to make sure you have a copy of your personal data (e.g., contacts, SMS, MMS, Internet settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and the like) in case the procedure in this guide erases such data. Guide from here. You may skip this step.
• Make sure your device has at least 75% of phone battery charge.
• Cofface’s CWM Recovery & Root [download]
• Odin3 Flash Utility [download]
• Samsung Android USB driver for your Galaxy S4

Steps to root Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 On Android 4.2.2:

Step 1: Download the necessary files from above, and unzip them to a convenient location.

Step 2: Put your Samsung Galaxy S4 in Download Mode using the button combination. Power off your device, plug USB cable to your computer, hold down the Volume Up + Down combinations, plug in the USB cable to your S4 while still holding down the volume buttons.

Step 3: Launch Odin3 on your computer, and connect your device in Download Mode to the PC using USB cable. Odin3 will detect the connection and indicate a COM port on top.

Step 4: Under PDA, select the cofface_samsungI9500_recovery_en_0503.tar file to flash the recovery, which will later be used to root the device. Make sure that Re-Partition is unchecked, and don’t touch any other setting. Hit the Start button to begin flashing the new PDA.

Step 5: Once the flash is complete, the phone will reboot. Wait for boot to complete, and then power it back off.

Step 6: Reboot the phone into CWM recovery that you just installed by pressing and holding Volume Up + Home buttons whilst powering on the device.

Step 7: In Recovery, go to root your phone, followed by choosing any of the two methods. CWM Recovery will notify once the process is complete.

Step 8: Reboot your device once again, and you will have the Super User app installed on your Galaxy S4 GT-I9500. Please ensure to not update the su binaries after this.

Enjoy the root access!

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Download Complete Android USB Drivers For All Devices [Windows]

The question does arise, why would you need USB drivers for your Android smartphone or tablet? And, if they’re so important, how come you haven’t had to install those for most of your devices? The answer to this can be multi-faceted. For one, it depends on which Windows version you’re using. In the later iterations of the operating system, Windows update can serve USB drivers for many Android devices from reputable OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Then, since most of these devices connect, by default, in USB (mass) storage mode, a generic driver can suffice. At still other times, you may have installed an accompanying PC suite or like for your handset, and that, in turn, would’ve set up the proper drivers, too. As I said, there can be various scenarios, each with its own explanation.

However, things play out a little differently when you connect your Android device in USB debugging mode, an essential requirement for application development in Windows, and for modding and customization of your phone or tablet. It also provides a bridge for ADB connection between the droid and the computer. In these scenarios, the automated solutions mentioned above might not always work, and for that reason, most OEMs provide configurable driver packages for Windows based setups, so that you can get your device connected and communicating with the PC in an easy manner.

Now, all of this is pretty neat and useful, but the problem that most users often face is, where to locate these drivers. Since they’re not something you would usually find yourself in need of, they’re more obscure to locate. Beyond this point, I am going to list down the Android USB drivers for Windows download links for several popular OEMs (ADB and Fastboot), so you may use this as a reference point for your future needs.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, although it does cover the most common purveyors of Android devices. Also, these are not direct download links, but instead, may require you at times to perform a search for the driver for your specific device model. It should also be noted that if you’re using a Nexus series device, you require the Google USB driver, and not the one from the manufacturer of the device.

• Acer Android USB Driver
• Asus Android USB Driver
• Dell Android USB Driver
• Fujitsu Toshiba Android USB Driver
• Google USB Driver
• HTC Android USB Driver
• Huawei Android USB Driver
• Lenovo Android USB Driver
• LG Android USB Driver
• Motorola Android USB Driver
• Samsung Android USB Driver
• Sony Mobile Android USB Driver

Apart from the above mentioned USB drivers, you can grab the fastboot drivers from the ever-popular XDA-Developers community.

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The 5G Mobile Network Technology Already tested by Samsung With 1Gbps Download Speed

With mobile data becoming more and more integral to the way we consume information as well as being the cornerstone of many a business, the scramble for ever increasing mobile data speeds has seen development of 5G begin even while 4G is still a pipe dream for many. Samsung is one company poking its nose into the future with 5G, and it has today announced that it has successfully run tests that have achieved a whopping 1Gbps download speed, with more potentially to come.

The majority of the planet may still be trying to get to grips to 4G, and plenty of areas in technologically developed countries still don’t have even 3G, but that hasn’t stopped various carriers and smartphone manufacturers from working on coming up with the fifth generation of mobile data, or 5G.

The test, using the 28 GHz waveband and 64 different antenna elements, took place at a time that Samsung is claiming that the technology could theoretically achieve tens of gigabits per second, but we’ll settle for just the one right now!

To put that 1Gbps speed into context, the theoretical maximum we should expect from the currently rolling out 4G technology is around 75Mbps, and that’s generally considered to be pretty speedy! Samsung may not expect to get its G technology into the hands of customers until around the 2020 time frame, but we’re just happy to know it’s being worked on. The European Commission’s aim to have 5G ready around the same time fits in nicely, too.

Samsung isn’t the only one currently testing 5G data, with NTT DoCoMo announcing a few months ago that it too had performed successful tests of its own fifth generation technology. It claimed to have achieved 10Gbps using a car full of antennas utilizing the 400MHz spectrum. That’s two big players duking it out in the speed stakes, we wonder who’ll be next. Probably not T-Mobile or Sprint!

We’re still waiting for 4G to become prevalent across the globe, so we won’t count our chickens just yet. Still, any progress is good progress, so we’ll take what we can get. Just don’t expect the next iPhone or Galaxy S to have a 5G badge on it any time soon!

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Sony Xperia ZR, the Mini Version of the Flagship Xperia Z

Dubbed the Sony Xperia ZR, or the Xperia A SO-04E if you happen to live in Japan, the handset itself is rather fetching to look at, just like most of Sony’s smartphones are these days. The beauty is more than skin deep though, and the ZR is apparently waterproof all the way to 5 feet, making it scuba-safe.

Everyone likes it when new smartphones are announced, even when they’re just plain old, by the numbers Android phones. Thankfully, the latest handset to be announced by Sony isn’t plain at old. In fact, it’s actually rather cool. Check it out after the break.

If you’re brave enough to actually take your smartphone into the sea with you, then you’ll be able to film both HD movies and photos in glorious HDR thanks to its 13-megapixel camera and Exmor RS image sensor. The means super awesome 1080p video. Under water. With a smartphone.

The Sony Xperia ZR packs a punch in the specifications department beyond that camera, too. Sony has equipped the ZR with a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GH CPU, 2GB RAM and all the radios you would expect including NFC and LTE. And it runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Yup, an old OS.

All this sits behind a 4.6-inch 720p display that features an OptiContrast OLED screen with BRAVIA technology which promises to reduce glare even when in direct sunlight. That’s a bold claim, so we’ll take it with a pinch of salt until told otherwise. Still, the promise is there.

In order to show the device off, and the four colors it will be available in – Black, Blue, Pink and Cyan – the Japanese company has released two ads pushing its latest device, one of which features the smartphone being used for a spot of underwater filming in a swimming pool. We’re not sure we’d want to take the thing down to our local swimming pool for fear of being thrown out, but you get the idea!

Sony’s smartphones have taken an upturn of late, and the Xperia ZR appears to continue that trend, especially if you’re a fan of the waterproof smartphone idea and we have to say, it’s one good looking phone. There’s plenty of competition out there these days though, even if this is the only one that you can go swimming with!

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Facebook 6.1 For iOS Updates: Improved Places Editing, Faster Events, New Photo Viewer Button

Facebook for iOS is all about sharing, which is why the new photo viewer button is an important one. Users can now directly save and share photos to their heart’s content, as well as set images as their profile pictures should they so wish. We don’t think you’ll be doing that last one all too often, but it’s always good to make things easier to do on-device. New app updates are always exciting, and today saw a new version of the Facebook for iOS app hit the App Store. More details and the download link can be found right after the jump.

Facebook’s change log says that the update features a new photo viewer button and improvements to both Places and Events on the iPhone specifically. The update is free and available via the App Store right now.

Two iPhone-specific updates follow, with the first being improved Places editing when checking in. It might not sound like much on the face of it, but if you’re a heavy user of Places then it could be huge. Facebook is obviously trying to increase usage of its Places feature, and removing friction on Apple’s smartphone will no doubt go some way to helping the social network achieve its goal in that regard.

Faster Events are also part of this update, another improvement that will no doubt come as a welcome addition for many, especially on mobile.

Perhaps most interesting though is the change in icon. Well, sort of. See, not everyone is reporting the new icon being available to them, whilst others are reporting a new, decidedly beta-looking icon adorning their iPhone home screen. Think the standard Facebook icon but with a white border, and you won’t be far off. Others also seem to have received the new Facebook News Feed as part of this update, though that may be pure coincidence rather than a change by design. If you’re seeing either of these, we’d love to hear from you!

Facebook’s iOS app is no doubt one of its most important, and any update is a good update as far as we’re concerned. The Facebook for iOS app is coming along nicely, and is probably one of the most used apps on the App Store. Facebook will do well to keep the updates coming!

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Nokia Lumia 925 Officially Announced, Details Here !

Recently, we learned Nokia would be going all-out aluminum with the casing of its latest flagship, and judging by the press images, this is easily the most aesthetically pleasing device Nokia has managed to churn out thus far. Offering the same kinds of materials that give the iPhone 5 and HTC One their beauty was never going to be a bad move, and it has to also be noted that the Lumia 925 is also a great deal slimmer than the rather chunky Lumia 920.

Thanks in part to the limitations of Windows Phone, Nokia is quite some distance behind the major Android and iOS vendors in terms of market share and reach, and in an attempt to bridge some of the gaping gap between its fleet of smartphones and those of the Big Two, the Finnish company has today announced the Lumia 925 - which was teased yesterday in a rather mesmerizing video - at its planned London event. All of the details, as ever, are coming up right after the break!

Following the launch of the Lumia 820 and 920 late last year, Nokia went on to lose a five percent market share in the first quarter of this year according to numbers firm Gartner, but if this device is anything to go by, Nokia is certainly not ready to give up hope just yet.

First and foremost it, of course, runs on Windows Phone 8, and with the “brightest” display Nokia has produced spanning a 4.5-inch diameter, with a screen resolution of 1280 x 768, there’s plenty of real estate there for you to sink your fingertips into. That’s 334 ppi! And oh, it’s AMOLED, in case you’re wondering.

The aluminum chassis is easily the marquee feature here though, and with the device measuring in with an 8.5mm depth and weighing a svelte 139g, it should feel really nice to hold.

Of the camera, it will be another 8.7-megapixel affair, and as you’d expect, it’s of the PureView variety, and although one might presume Nokia to have simply recycled the 920′s (very, very good) camera, the company claims that this new device offers the smartphone world’s most advanced lens technology. With features like Smartcam, which takes up to 10 images in quick succession, it will automatically source the best shot. The lens comes from Carl Zeiss, as you’d expect and is accompanied with a dual LED flash, hence you can rest assured that your images will look bright and stunning even at night. With the capability to shoot 1080p videos at 30 frames per second, it’s safe to bet on the fact that the Lumia 925 is more of a camera phone than a smartphone, if you can’t manage to look past the camera features, that is.

As was the case with the Lumia 920, there’s also wireless charging thrown into the bag, and with a tidy Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, it easily slots in among the high-end smartphones in the market. And yes, it has wireless charging as well.

The Lumia 925 will hit the shelves in UK during the first week of June, and will slowly make its way to other markets including Germany, Italy, Spain, China and of course, the US.

Priced at just 469 Euros, it doesn’t really come cheap, but if you look at it’s photography and video prowess, then it might just be a bang on the buck!

Let's check the video here:

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