Written on 3/24/2011 03:39:00 PM by poison_ivy
For the last 24 hours, I've been trying and searching the net on how to access the Amazon App Store outside the US. For those not in the know, the Amazon App Store for Android has just launched and yes, while you can download the apk file from Amazon, you can't actually download any apps because Amazon set up a region restriction and currently, only persons in the US can purchase and download from the App Store.
I've tried everything, from setting up a VPN account, to rooting my phone and faking my SIM ID to read as T-Mobile's but nothing is working. I'm still getting that region error.
So why do I badly want to download the Amazon App store when in others opinion, the Android Marketplace is actually better? Three words: FREE PAID APPS. Yes, Amazon offers paid apps for free everyday. It's a different app everyday so it can certainly increase an Android user's app collection. I really wish there would be a website like freeappaday (FAAD) for Android and Windows phone 7 users. I think one of the reasons why the iPhone has such huge following is because of the availability of quality free apps and the fact that iPhone users can score paid apps for free for a limited time thanks to websites such as FAAD.
And so, with a deep sigh, I think I really do have to wait until Amazon allows us UK users access to their App store. Until then, all I have to do is look longingly at Angry Birds Rio.
Posted in
Android News
|
Written on 3/23/2011 05:21:00 PM by poison_ivy
As you may know, the HTC Desire Z or T-Mobile G2 has only an 800 MHz processor but it can actually be overclocked up to 1.4 GHz. The following instructions will guide you to overclocking your HTC Desire Z or T-Mobile G2 using only a temporary solution or Temporary Root. I prefer this method as it doesn't do any permanent changes to your handset and can easily be reset if you just reboot your device.
I got these instructions from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wToXNT3zIqY&feature=player_embedded but I ran into some problems so I'm documenting it here and hope it helps some of you.
What you need:
1) Visionary App (one click root)
2) Gscript (light or paid version) you can download it from the Android Marketplace
3) SetCPU, download from the Android Marketplace
4) Any File Explorer with zip function from the Android Marketplace, e.g., Astro, Androzip, etc.
5) Binary Original ROM OR Binary OTA, download from first post here.
6) OC.zip and CPOC.zip, download from this post.
Instructions:
- Make sure your phone is set to USB debugging mode by going to settings, applications, Development. Install Visionary App and run. Check "temproot on boot" and "set system r/w after root" and tap on "temproot now". Wait as Visionary roots your handset. I encountered a blackscreen for a while but I just pressed the home button and temproot again, Visionary should go back to the first screen after rooting.
- Download and install Gscripts. Connect your mobile phone to your PC via MicroUSB and transfer OC.zip and CPOC.zip to the gscript folder located on your microSD card. If the folder isn't there, create one. You can also transfer files via Bluetooth but make sure you've downloaded the Bluetooth File Transfer App from the Android Marketplace. Extract OC.zip and CPOC.zip on the gscript folder.
- Transfer the Binary Original ROM file (vision_oc.ko) to your microSD card. Make sure that the file is not in any other folder but just the root folder of your microSD card.
- Open gscript, press menu, select add script, press load file, select cpoc.sh and select save. Do the same for noreboot.sh, oc.sh, and oshittt.sh, be sure to load cpoc.sh first and noreboot.sh second.
- Go back to the main screen of gscript and load cpoc by pressing it, it should load successfully, then load noreboot.
- If you want your HTC Desire Z / T-mobile G2 to overclock to 1 GHz, load "oc", if you want it overclocked to 1.4GHz, load "oshittt".
- When you load either "oc" or "oshitt", there shouldn't be any error messages and you should go back to the main screen of gscript. If there's an error, you may need the Binary OTA file. Rename the Binary OTA file you have downloaded to vision_oc.ko and replace the one you originally placed on the root folder of your MicroSD card and then go back and redo step 5 and 6.
- Open up SetCPU. If you're successful, you should be able to set your handset to 1014 (if you chose OC) or 1420 (if you chose oshitt).
And that's it. You now have an overclocked HTC Desire Z or T-Mobile G2. I can tell you from first hand experience that the handset is noticeably faster and zippier thanks to the overclocked CPU. If you have to reboot you'll only have to temproot again and then open up Gscript and just load cpoc, noreboot, and oc or oshitt then open SetCPU to make sure it's running at your desired speed.
Posted in
How tos,
howto,
HTC,
Mobile phone how-tos
|
Written on 3/18/2011 08:07:00 AM by poison_ivy
Itching to get your hands on some dual core processor powered smartphones? Well, you have several options this year, we have the Motorola Atrix, Samsung Galaxy S II, and the LG Optimus 2x, all to be available this year. The Motorola Atrix is already available in the US but as you know, it's locked to AT&T and you really can't use it here.
There's no word as to when the Galaxy S II will be available, with rumors saying it will be around April. The LG Optimus 2x on the other hand, the first smartphone to be announced as having a dual core processor, is available for you to pre-order right now over at Expansys.com and will be coming March 21st so hopefully, it would be the first smartphone with dual core processor to be available in UK soil. Price is set at £449.99. Don't have the much money to spend on a sim-free phone? Don't worry, Expansys has the Optimus 2x available for free on contract with 3, T-Mobile, or Vodafone.
To refresh, the LG Optimus 2x sports a dual core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor, 512MB of RAM, 8 megapixel camera with the ability to shoot 1080p vidoes, 4 inch screen, and an HDMI port. You can head on over to Expansys to pre-order one today.
Posted in
Android News,
gadget news,
Latest Mobile Phones
|
Written on 3/08/2011 04:28:00 PM by poison_ivy
So, even though Windows Phone 7 may still be an infant OS, the good news is that Microsoft made sure that the marketplace will still have a few good apps and games. the problem is that even though its sorted between free and paid and even by categories, the top free games aren't sorted so you have to flick through a lot of bull. So let me help you sort through all those games and give you my list of what's the best in the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Omi Jump
This is by far my favorite. It has great graphics and a good gameplay. Its a lot like abduction! for Android and Doodle jump for iPhone. You can even choose from different scenarios. The object of the game is that you jump higher and higher by using platforms and tilting your phone. You can eliminate enemies by tapping on the screen while jumping. There's a paid version though the free game already has enough levels.
Solitaire, Hearts, Freecell by Jake Poznanski
Jake Poznanski's versions of Solitaire, Hearts, and Freecell are by far the best card games compared to other card games of the same title in the marketplace. The graphics are Top Notch, the UI fluid. He could charge for these games and I'm sure people would happily pay for it.
Bubble Birds
Another game with great graphics. Bubble birds is another bubble shooter game but the graphics made this game a worthwhile time waster especially since its free.
Text Text Revolution
If a Windows Phone 7 is your first touchscreen phone then you better try this game to hone your typing skills. The graphics ain't worth writing about but this is the only typing game I could find in the market and hey, it works.
These are just some of my favorites and I'll add more once I'm able to discover more of the marketplace but I hope that this list won't be necessary if only Microsoft would arrange the free section with a top 25/50.
Posted in
Mobile Games
|
