Android app review: Lock

Lock is another great application for those that want to protect their privacy. You can choose which apps to protect and which not, using a password or the Android pattern lock. Now, there already are a ton of these sort of apps in the Android market, but this one is one of the best I've used.

Lock also is a very easy to use application, you can choose which apps or files you want to protect, on either your internal memory or SD storage, with one simple touch on the screen.

There's a full and a free version available for this app, where the only difference is that the full version doesn't have ads!

To download it, scan this QR code:

(If you do not use the QR code to download it and can't find the app, try searching for "Lock" in your own language

AT&T and Verizon blocking tethering apps from the Android market

It appears that Verizon and AT&T are serious about not wanting you to use your current data plan for tethering, as they have blocked access to popular applications that enable it on the Android Market. There's a bit of conflicting information out there, as a few other sites have reported that all carriers, or that other carriers have done the same. We've found that T-Mobile and Sprint haven't blocked them, but Verizon and AT&T have, as shown in the image above.

It's no big surprise. To your carrier, tethering is something you are supposed to pay extra for, and that's in the agreement you signed. Using apps like PdaNet goes against that agreement, and they have every right to block them. Even if we don't much like it. It's their service after all, we're just lowly users.

The good news is that they can't block sideloading. You can certainly find those same apps at the developer's website(s), and download them and install easily. On a Verizon phone, just save it to your SD card and install from there, on an AT&T phone use theSideload Wonder Machine and you'll be fixed right up. There's also native tethering built into Android 2.2 and higher, as well as USB modem functions on many phones, built right into the OS. And of course, if you root and hack at it, anything is possible on most any phone. The option is still out there, it's just not quite as easy.

As several have mentioned, it's quite possible to keep carriers from meddling with your Android Market experience. If you have an AT&T phone, you can pop the SIM card out and use Wifi to browse the Market; and enabling Airplane Mode, then turning on Wifi works for both AT&T and Verizon phones.

source

Inactivity

Hey guys,

Because I am graduating this year I now am very busy with my exams and only have little time free for blogging. So I apologise for not making any new posts the last week. From now on I will try to be blogging a bit more, now that I have some more free time!

Thanks for the support! :)

Android 2.3 for T-Mobile G2X

The T-Mobile G2X is a fairly new phone manufactured by LG, though it released with Froyo 2.2 and nothing has been confirmed for it getting Gingerbread, after now.

TMobile USA has announced on their Twitter that Gingerbread is coming to the G2X soon, and that it won't be a long wait!

Source: Tmonews

U.S army to use Android Dev kit

the United States Army is getting ready to use a development kit for Android to create mobile applications for soldiers in combat situations.

"Using the Mobile/Handheld CE Product Developers Kit, we're going to allow the third-party developers to actually decelop capabilities that aren't stovepiped." said Lt-Col Mark Daniels. The military Android device is expected to be issued to Army and Marine ground units in 2013, and will initially come with Army applications, on which third-party developers will be able to develop more. Networking on these devices will be provided by military radios.

Source: Army
the register

App Review: PewPew 2

PewPew 1 and 2 are 2 great games available on both Android and iOS devices, where PewPew 1 is available for free, PewPew 2 costs 2.99 Euro's but it is definetely worth it.

both PewPew games are a multidirectional shoot em up, pretty much like the Geometry Wars series. This game also has retro graphics, a lot of different enemies and a perfect framerate on almost every Android phone.

PewPew 2 includes a campaign mode where you complete each level by doing a special task, such as evading bullets or killing every enemy when you can't move. All of these levels al extremely fun to play.

But ofcourse it also includes 7 other gametypes, in which getting the highest score is your goal.

In all of these gametypes you have to complete different goals, which sometimes can be a pain in the ass. Some Some of these gametypes are also available in PewPew (1), which is free, so if you are not sure of buying this, try out 1 first!

To find them in the market, scan this code :

Gingerbread for Galaxy S

The newest version of the Android OS can now be installed on most of the European Galaxy S devices. The Galaxy S has started receiving the gingerbread update in Europe on monday. To install it, synchronise your Galaxy S with your computer with the Kies program, and the update should automatically pop up.

The updates also fixes some of the Galaxy S' performance issues. And it will only be available with the TouchWiz interface.