Join us on June 19th at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern for a lively conversation on mobile and cloud moderated by Peter van der Linden, Android Technology Evangelist at Motorola Mobility and with guest speakers
Enterprise Mobile Security - What is your #1 security issue?
When implementing an enterprise mobile strategy the #1 security issue is?
- Doing a risk assessment
- Securing data communication
- Protecting data thru encryption
- Android security
- HTML5 security
Get the Sony UI in Non-Sony Apps on the Sony Xperia T, TX and V
Now that Google’s Holo theme has been around for quite a while now, it’s probably safe to say that a very large portion of apps, if not the majority, have adopted the Holo look. But as OEMs are, they like to keep things their way, and this is no different when it comes to Sony. But unlike some OEMs and their preferred interfaces, the aesthetic route Sony has taken doesn’t stray too much from Holo. This may have resulted many folks taking a liking for Sony’s UI, leading to XDA Senior Member BDFreak creating an interesting framework for the Sony Xperia T, TX and V.
As Xperia owners would know, the Sony UI can only be seen on apps made by Sony, such as the messaging app, Walkman, and the calendar. What this framework does however, is force the Sony UI to replace the UI of any non-Sony app, making the Sony look consistent throughout your phone. No matter which app you have installed, and what sort of theme they have, be it Holo or something made in MS Paint, the framework replaces every UI element with those of Sony.
If you’re unsure or wary of how this might turn out, BDFreak has provided some side-by-side comparisons of apps’ interfaces before and after installation of the framework to help you decide before diving in. Installation is very simple, merely consisting of downloading the appropriate zip file and flashing it through a custom recovery. There are also convenient zip files which revert everything back to they way they were before if you don’t like what you see.
If you would like to check this framework out, head over to the original thread for more details.
Sysfile Copymaster: A File Manager for Modders and Themers
One of the more mundane aspects of modding and theming an Android device is probably the testing phase. Consisting of either constantly creating and flashing test ZIPs through a custom recovery, or going back and forth copying and pasting files, a good file manager can definitely be of great help. In addition to this, manually setting the correct permissions for each file is just another chore modders and themers have to deal with.
But even if you are content with your current file manager app, it may still be an idea to give Sysfile Copymaster a go. Developed by XDA Senior Member Flextrick, Sysfile Copymaster is not your ordinary file manager. Rather, it’s a dedicated app especially for modders and themers and the boring things they must do.
How so? Well first of all, it’s user interface consists of two sliding panels, one called the ‘System section’ that displays all the files of a /system directory, while the other called the ‘Storage section’ displays the files of a predetermined directory in your storage. If you want to copy certain apps and files from the root directories to storage, simply select them and press the ‘Copy to storage’ button, and the files will be copied to the predetermined storage directory. Similarly, if you want to copy files from your storage directory, just select them in the ‘Storage section’ and press the copy button, and the apps will be copied to the specified root directory with all the correct permissions set. By doing this, Sysfile Copymaster cuts out the navigation, the copying and pasting, and the permissions aspects by doing them all automatically.
Flextrick has designed a very simple and straightforward file manager that many modders and themers will definitely find useful albeit not your conventional file manager. It’s compatible with devices running Android 4.0 and newer, and can be downloaded for free from the original post. So if you are interested, check out the application thread for more information.
Restore Your Moto X Back to ‘Brand New’ with the Moto X Restore Utility
So you’ve already cracked the screen on your beloved Moto X when it just ‘somehow’ fell to the ground, and you’re worried that Motorola will void the warranty because you’re phone is rooted. Developer editions aside, there probably isn’t much of a chance the tired and overworked device repairman will discover and immediately reject your device, but it wouldn’t hurt to refresh your device back to ‘brand new’ as a safeguard.
To help with this, XDA Recognized Developer mattlgroff has created a tool called Moto X Restore Utility, and it does exactly what its name suggests. It has three primary functions and they are pretty self explanatory, them being:
- Download the latest Moto X USB drivers
- Download the latest Moto X firmware (Android 4.4.2)
- Restore your Moto X
Additionally, mattlgroff has made the Moto X Restore Utility compatible with all three major PC operating systems – Windows, Mac, and Linux. To help new users get a grasp of the tool on their PC, mattlgroff has provided detailed written tutorial for users, as well as link two video tutorials for the Windows version. The tool however, only works with the two developer editions of the Moto X (who really have no need to worry), and those locked in with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon, so international users may be out of luck.
If you would like to give the Moto X Restore Utility a go, visit the original thread for more information and download.
Schedule Your Time with a Modern Looking Calendar
Time management matters, and that’s why many of us use calendars. Our memory simply can’t store all the necessary information in a short time span, so we jot down our schedules in calendars, stickies, and even napkins. Android devices can perfectly fit the role of a mobile calendar, but the standard Google calendar app lacks a few features that can be found in alternatives.
One of possible replacements to Google Calendar is ZDCal by XDA Senior Member ikaola. It’s an advanced schedule manager, which can be integrated with popular social networks like Facebook. With this calendar, you won’t forget about your friends’ birthdays, as they can be imported easily. This calendar could also be useful for women, as it supports menstrual tracking. The application has three separate tabs with default calendar, birthdays, and the aforementioned menstrual cycles. Of course, it supports widgets and is really good looking. Another interesting feature is navigation bar support, so that the week can be accessed even if your screen is locked. The application also shoes upcoming festivals in many countries such as USA, Germany, and China.
You can find more information about this calendar by visiting the application thread.
Schedule Your Calls with Call Planer
Time is more precious than any currency. Our lives are very fast-paced, and sometimes we need to contact many people at the same time. If you want to make more than a few calls, you might need an application to schedule them—like the one I would like to present to you.
A nice application to handle your calls was created by XDA Forum Member mjelinek. Call Planer is an application where you can schedule your calls by time and even sort them by priority. There is even an option to call your contacts who have a birthday, and this is much more personal than simply wishing them Happy Birthday via Facebook or Google +.
With this application, calls can be scheduled daily, weekly, or monthly, so you can stay in touch with your family, friends or coworkers. Call Planer simply notifies you about upcoming call and gives you a few options about what to do with the call. The application is good looking and doesn’t display any ads, which is also a good thing.
If you are calling a lot or simply don’t want to miss your mother’s birthday, you should make your way to the application thread and grab the newest version of Call Planer.
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