Overclocking Your Android Device:Guide

Overclocking your Android device:Everything you need to know

The Android based smartphones / tablets had become more and more similar with a notebook or computer in both performances and usability (you can use your device for watching HD movies, for taking high res pictures, playing games, develop apps, organize and plan your work strategy and a lot more), so now most of us rather choose to buy a tablet or a high end smartphone with a “generous” display, instead of using the classic notebooks. That’s why, when having an Android device, you should always find new ways for improving and upgrading the performances, as it’s really unpleasant (mostly you can’t afford it) to buy a new smartphone from time to time.

And since the best way for powering up the performances of your Android handsets is to apply complex and risky operations, you should always do a proper research before tweaking your gadget. Else, you can end up in bricking your phones and that’s not a good thing especially due to the warranty aspect: when performing unofficial methods, the warranty gets void. Anyhow, during the present tutorial we will discuss about Android overclocking; basically, by reading the following lines you will be able to find out everything that’s related with the overclock operation, from advantages and disadvantages to proper ways in which you can speed up your Android devices.

                                

You should overclock your Android smartphone / tablet if you want to obtain more power from it, as by overclocking we understand: increase the CPU frequency / speed in order to receive better performances. So, the overclock operation applied on a smartphone or tablet is similar with the one performed on a PC or notebook as both will increase the CPU frequency; the best is that is hard, almost impossible to burn your phone’s CPU (especially if you follow and use dedicated tutorials) by overclocking as the mobile CPUs are coming with more safety mechanisms to prevent CPU from burning up, this compared with computer’s CPUs.
So, is Android overclocking safe? Well, we can say yes, though you should overclock only 10-20% of your stock frequency, or else your device will encounter another issue: battery drain. Anyhow, let’s say you overclock your handset from 1 GHz to 1.5 GHz; now this doesn’t mean that your Android device will constantly run on 1.5 GHz, as that power will be used only when needed (running games, or multiple apps, showing HD movies or running 3D tools).
As already mentioned, usually, after overclocking the CPU, the Android users are complaining about battery drain issues. In order to increase the power and also keep the battery performances I recommend you to bump the CPU frequency only with 10-20% of your stock power.
Well, now you know what Android overclocking refers to. Furthermore, we will be checking on how to prepare your device for such operation and how to actually apply the same.

Overclocking – pre requisites

Of course overclocking the CPU frequency is an unofficial operation that has nothing to do with Android, Google or your phone’s company. Therefore, before completing this method you have to prepare your device. Unfortunately, here come the negative aspects, all being related to the warranty of your handset: it will get void. However, if you are about to overclock your device, first read and apply the tasks from the following list.

• Root your handset. Bumping the CPU performances can be performed only if you flash a custom Kernel; and for doing such thing you first have to unchain the system of your smartphone / tablet.
• By gaining root access you will also gain access to the internal system of your handset (the factory restrictions will be removed) so the warranty will get void.
• You can restore the warranty by downgrading to stock Android OS, or by updating with an official Android update.
• Replace the stock recovery with a custom one – like CWM recovery or TWRP recovery. The stock recovery can’t be used when trying to flash a custom Kernel, so the custom one must be previously installed.
• Take note that many custom ROMs are coming with custom kernel that supports overclocking; so if your device is currently powered by a custom firmware, then overclocking might be already enabled – in that case you don’t have to flash the custom kernel.
• It will be important to backup the data that is being saved on the internal storage of your Android device, because usually wiping operations are being required (when installing a custom ROM software or custom kernel).
• Also, it will be a good idea to make a Nandroid backup for saving the current ROM – you will be able to restore the same after overclockinng.
• A computer will be required, your handset and its USB cable.
• On the computer you will have to install the device’s drivers and there shouldn’t be running any security tools.
• You should charge the battery of your smartphone / tablet before beginning the process and you should also enable the USB debugging option from its system.

That’s all; you are now ready to overclock your Android device, so let’s see how to do that:
Well, as already stated several times now, a custom kernel is being required. Therefore, you will have to follow a suitable step by step guide that can safely be applied on your device; don’t install a custom kernel by yourselves as you can end up in bricking your phone.
Do remember that most of the custom ROMs are coming with kernels that enable overclocking. In that case you can skip the operation mentioned above.
Then, after enabling overclocking you need to download one of these apps: SetCPU, No-frills CPU Control, or IncrediControl; install the tool on your device and run the same. Follow the on-screen indications in order to increase the CPU frequency, reboot and that’s it.
So, that was all for today; now you should know almost everything about Android overclocking. Do use the comments area from below if you have questions or if you want to talk with our team (if you have problems with your handset try to resolve the same by using the guide from here) – we will assist you as soon as possible. Also, stay close because we will bring overclock tutorials suitable for almost all the Android based smartphones / tablets out there.


Video Tutorial: Overclock your Android device

        

OnePlus 2:The Geek's Review

OnePlus 2 Review

OnePlus 2 one ups the previous one.

Verdict

The OnePlus 2 is a solid follow up to an already successful handset.

Beautiful, bright display; Solid build; Customizable back covers; OxygenOS provides snappy performance

PROS:

• Beautiful, bright display
• Solid build
• Customizable back covers
• OxygenOS provides snappy performance

Heats up; Fingerprint reader questionable; Battery life untested;

CONS:

• Heats up
• Fingerprint reader questionable
• Battery life untested

                                     The OnePlus One was a surprise hit when it was first announced thanks to its powerful specs and affordable price point. It lived up to our expectations as an excellent device, leaving its successor with big shoes to fill.
So far, the OnePlus 2 has been doing just that. Its lovely screen coupled with its new Oxygen OS and familiar old features have made it an impressive device.
The low prices are back again as well. The 64GB OnePlus 2 will be available with an invite in India through Amazon.in from August 11 for Rs 24,999. The 16GB OnePlus 2 with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM will be available later.
Eager fans can visit one of nine pop up experience centers located around the world on July 31 to sign up for an invite and be one of the first to see the OnePlus 2. You can also tune in to OnePlus' social media channels starting August 1 for a chance to get an invite.


Specs and performance:

The OnePlus 2 will be shipping with OnePlus' own operating system, OxygenOS.
The OnePlus 2 is lightning quick thanks to a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chip. With up to 64GB of storage and eMMC 5.0 flash memory paired with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, the handset was able to show off just how snappy its interface was.

















































































Watch the review video here:OnePlus 2 review

Cyanogen OS 12 vs Oxygen OS:Fight for OnePlus One

Cyanogen OS 12 vs Oxygen OS comparison: the fight for your OnePlus One

OxygenOS has arrived, heralding a new direction for rising smartphone manufacturer OnePlus - which has already announced that its new in-house OS will come pre-installed on the eagerly-anticipated OnePlus Two. However, Cyanogen OS remains the default operating system for the OnePlus One, and it too has just received a major update in the form of Cyanogen OS 12.

Why are OnePlus and Cyanogen splitting up?

On the face of things, OnePlus' desire to have its own in-house operating system makes sense in terms of ensuring the OS integrates smoothly into the OnePlus hardware, delivering faster updates, and so on. Yet overshadowing this PR-friendly story is a bitter dispute between Cyanogen and OnePlus which is more likely the real reason behind their split.

A key part of the agreement between the companies was that OnePlus had non-exclusive rights to ship Cyanogen with their devices worldwide. However, when OnePlus tried shipping devices to India last year, it turned out that Cyanogen had already made an agreement with Indian manufacturer Micromax which gave the company exclusive rights to the Indian market.
This meant that the OnePlus One wasn't released in India with Cyanogen OS as planned, and that OnePlus had to come up with an alternative operating system to run on the OnePlus One in that market. Suffice to say, OnePlus wasn't pleased, while Cyanogen defended its agreement with Micromax, stating that it didn't expect it to affect the agreement with OnePlus.
And so, OxygenOS was born. It is set to become OnePlus' stock OS for the OnePlus Two, and is now widely available for the OnePlus One.

How do I get Cyanogen OS 12 and OxygenOS?

Cyanogen OS 12 is now widely available as an OTA (over-the-air) update for the OnePlus One. Despite the well-publicized falling-out between the two companies, a Cyanogen spokeswoman told AndroidPIT that, "there are no plans for changes as of right now. We are continuing to support OPO devices running Cyanogen OS".
OxygenOS, on the other hand, needs to be installed manually on the OnePlus One, and you can find it on the official OnePlus website.

You can now download OxygenOS from the OnePlus website. / © ANDROIDPIT, OnePlus

What's the difference between Cyanogen OS 12 and OxygenOS?

At first glance, both operating systems look quite similar, staying fairly loyal to the stock Android Lollipop interface. But dig a little deeper, and the differences between the two start showing.
Cyanogen OS 12 is all about customization, letting you tweak everything from the navigation buttons and battery icons, to the settings and status bar. It's also packed with hundreds of themes you can download, which can make Cyanogen look like a completely different operating system to Android Lollipop within seconds.

Cyanogen OS 12 has some great features lacking in OxygenOS, like Audio Maxx and a powerful camera app. / © ANDROIDPIT

OxygenOS is a bit more 'stock', and isn't as customizable as Cyanogen. While it has a selection of Lollipop and OnePlus wallpapers, it's not designed to be tweaked as much as Cyanogen, so may be more fitting for the casual user. It's only flourish of customizability is in the Quick Settings menu, where you can rearrange the buttons however you please. This is a nice touch, but certainly won't be enough to satisfy the more tinkery OnePlus One owners out there.
Cyanogen OS has some pretty powerful apps onboard, including Cyanogen Mail, the audio enhancement app Audio Maxx, and its own camera app which is capable of 4k recordings and RAW photos. OxygenOS has none of these features, though this is to be expected from a newcomer. Aside from that, both of the OSes come with the usual array of Google apps.

OxygenOS is Android Lollipop through and through, with only minor changes and few extra features. / © OnePlus

Which one should I get?

We're still playing around with both Cyanogen OS 12 and OxygenOS, though at this point it seems like the more established Cyanogen is the better option. It's more customizeable, more feature-packed, and there is little that OxygenOS offers at this point that makes it seem worth the hassle of manual flashing.
However, Oxygen has just arrived and is likely to improve with time, so we'll give it some time and dig deeper into it before making a final judgement on which we think is better.
In the meantime, if you've tried both Cyanogen OS 12 and OxygenOS, let us know what you think about them in the comments. Which one's your favorite?

Top 7 Best Custom Roms for your Android in 2015

Top 7 Best Custom ROMs for Your Android in 2015

When you buy an Android smartphone, you will love it but after a few weeks maybe, you will start feeling as if you are not using it to its full potential. You might not like the user interface of your device at all and that’s very normal because most of the Android devices come with a stock ROM of the manufacturer and you might want to tweak the user interface completely. So that’s why we use custom ROMs on Android. And if you want to know about the best ones out there then we have made a list of the best custom ROMs for Android in 2015.

Why do you need a Custom ROM? The answer to this question is very simple. The stock ROM that comes with your device doesn’t give you much room for customization and when you install a custom ROM, you will be able to change the look of your device completely. Moreover, by using a custom ROM, you will be able to get the current version of Android OS even when it’s not officially released by your device’s manufacturer.

Best Custom ROMs for Android Device

1. CyanogenMod

CyanogenMod will be my number one choice whenever I will need to install a custom ROM on my device. The reason for it to be on top is the amazing features the ROM offers – it comes with a great user interface and there are awesome developers supporting the ROM.
It is the most popular custom ROM for Android, the most stable and packed with a lot of features and customization options and amazing themes. The ROM is so popular that it comes as the default ROM in the new Yu Yureka smartphones. With the one-click installer option, you can easily install CyanogenMod ROM on your smartphone without any tech knowledge.
If you are looking for a way to customize your Android device the way you want and keeping it stable at the same time then CyanogenMod is the best custom ROM for you.
CyanogenMod Official Site

2. ParanoidAndroid

If there’s any ROM out there capable of competing with CyanogenMod then it is ParanoidAndroid ROM. The reason is simple as it also comes with loads of features, is updated frequently and the user interface is awesome.
ParanoidAndroid is considered as one of the best custom ROMs for Android as it allows you to apply several tweaks to your smartphone, changing the color scheme of the status bar and navigation bar of any app and giving your smartphone a complete makeover.
With the Hybrid Mode, you will be able to set apps to have the layout of the tablet on your smartphone. You can set privacy using the App Privacy feature, hide the status and navigation bars, HALO feature to access apps easily and the floating mode allows you to open a mini-version of any of your recent apps without leaving the current app.
ParanoidAndroid Official Site

3. AOKP Custom Rom

The third ROM on our list is AOKP – Android Open Kang Project. If you love stock Android then you might want to install AOKP to your Android device.
You will be able to find all the settings of the ROM in the ROM control tab the Settings Menu. The list of features is pretty much awesome as well – you can easily change the height of the navigation bar according to your needs, you can make the navigation and status bars transparent, you can pin your apps and shortcuts to the navigation bar and even add shortcuts to the navigation ring.
You can create a Ribbon of apps that can be pinned to notification menu or the lockscreen and also appears when you swipe from a certain side. You can also create a custom vibration for different tasks and you can even set various BOOT animation from Settings menu. Plus there are lots of other features as well.
AOKP Official Site

4. Slim Bean

Slim Bean is considered as the simplest custom ROMs for Android because it focuses more on providing a simple user interface without bugs to its users. Not only the interface, but when you use the ROM, you will find it a lot easier to work with it.
The best part about Slim Bean ROM is that it lets you update to the latest Android version with just one click and you won’t have to worry about downloading new ROMs. This custom ROM uses a custom Kernel as the processor so that you get better performance from your device and a better battery backup.
Slim Bean Official Site

5. PAC-man ROM

PAC-man ROM is considered as the all-in-one custom ROM because it packs the features of the best custom ROMs like CyanogenMod, ParanoidAndroid and AOKP and provides you with the best of everything.
The interface of the ROM is amazing and it is a stable ROM so you won’t face much problem with it. Since PAC-man packs the power of the three best ROMs for Android, I would surely recommend you to give it a try at least once.
PAC-man ROM Official Site

6. Carbon ROM

Carbon ROM can also be considered as a great custom ROM for your Android device. Not saying that it’s as awesome as the other ones above, but it sure comes loaded with some really amazing features. It’s an AOSP-based Android ROM and you can have some features like PIE, Chronus Clock Widget, various lockscreen options and customizable hardware as well as the software keys plus a lot more features. You should try out this ROM for a change.
Carbon ROM Official Site

7. Vanilla Rootbox

Vanilla Rootbox is another ROM that packs the features of both CyanogenMod as well as AOKP Custom ROMs. You can even get OTA updates when you have this ROM installed on your Android device so it’s worth a try if you are looking for a change in your smartphone.
Vanilla Rootbox Official Page


N.B:All roms have been tested and verified by our analysis team.So feel free to ask any doubts about any of the above custom roms. :)

Best Tweaks for Android Without Rooting

 Best Tweaks You Can Make To Your Android Without Rooting

It’s surprising how much you can customize a non-rooted Android. If you want to unlock the depths of Android and open it up to full-scale modifications, yes you’ll need to root. However, rooting has its dangers so it’s best avoided if you don’t want to risk destroying your device.

That being said, some of the more useful apps on the Play Store are only available for rooted Androids, so it may be worth the effort to properly root your device. For the rest of us, there are plenty of awesome tweaks we can still make without committing to that level of risk.

Tweaking Your Home Screen

The home screen is the most visited screen on any smartphone. If you want to personalize your device, this is where you want to begin. Nothing says “This is my phone!” more than a home screen tailored to your tastes.
Install a brand new launcher. A launcher is an app that handles the layout and launching of apps on your home screen. Different launchers provide different layouts, aesthetics, and functionality. Some are optimized for speed, others are packed with features, while others are minimal and simplistic.


The best advice is to experiment with several different launchers until you find one that you like. Take at least a week per launcher to give it enough time to see how you feel about it. Here are a few launcher recommendations to get you started. If those don’t suit you, here are a few more launchers to try.
Install an icon pack. One way to solidify the thematic feel of your home screen is to replace all of the app icons with a unified icon pack. It’s a small change that can inject a lot of life into your device. Some icon packs cost money but we’ve collected a list of the best free Android icon packs that you should check out.
Install a live wallpaper. No matter how beautiful they are, static wallpapers lose their appeal over time. On the other hand, live wallpapers feel dynamic and interesting. Try these awesome Android live wallpapers to see if it’s something you enjoy.
If you’re worried about battery life, you can relax. Except in rare cases, live wallpapers are relatively light on battery drain. Worse comes to worst, you can uninstall it if it proves problematic.
Install a few widgets. Widgets are interactive elements that reside on the home screen. Some make it convenient to toggle system settings. Others provide quick glance information, such as weather forecasts. Most Android music apps come with widgets that let you control playback from the home screen.
The possibilities are endless and there are dozens of them to explore. Get started with these must-have widgets before moving onto some of the more advanced widgets by Beautiful Widgets.

Tweaking Your Lock Screen

The next aspect of Android worth customizing is the lock screen — assuming you even use a lock screen to begin with (which you should). Wouldn’t it be great if you could interact with certain areas of your phone without having to unlock it every time?
That’s where lock screen widgets come into play. These widgets are just like home screen widgets except they reside on the lock screen. Simple enough, right? As it turns out, they’re just as useful.
We’ve rounded up some of the best Android lock screen widgets for your convenience. Check on your RSS feeds, respond to your text messages, or pull up your contacts without needing to punch in your passcode.
Wait a minute. Don’t widgets defeat the purpose of a lock screen? Not necessarily. Widgets allow you to pick which parts of Android should be exposed while keeping everything else safe behind a lock screen’s passcode. As long as you’re smart about which widgets you install, your privacy should remain secure.
Also, feel free to check out these great lockscreen replacement apps. Think of them as launchers, but instead of replacing your homscreen, they replace your lockscreen.

Tweaking Your Battery Life

Battery life is probably one of your main concerns and rightfully so. For non-rooted devices, there’s some good news and some bad news. First, the bad news: starting with Android 4.4 KitKat, most battery-saving apps require root privileges. The good news is that you can still tweak battery life without those apps.
Disable vibrations. While vibrations are less disruptive than loud ringtones, they actually use up more battery life. Depending on how often your device buzzes, you could end up wasting a lot of juice this way — so disable it. That includes haptic feedback when typing, vibrating notifications, etc.
Purge all bloatware. Bloatware describes apps that might be useful if they didn’t take up an exorbitant amount of resources, whether that means RAM, CPU, disk space, etc. Even if you don’t actively use these apps, they can sit in the background and impact performance or waste bandwidth.
At the very least you should disable all bloatware that you can. Ideally you would delete all of that bloatware but that’s not always possible without a rooted device. Want to learn more? Here’s everything you need to know about Android bloatware.
Use Airplane Mode. Airplane Mode disables all forms of network communication, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and WiFi. While disabled, those network components cease to drain battery life.
If you really need to squeeze extra juice out of your device, consider toggling Airplane Mode whenever there’s going to be an extended period of time where you won’t be using the network.

Tweaking Your Security

Smartphone and tablet security should always be a prime concern, especially if you have sensitive data stored within. In this context, sensitive data is anything that you wouldn’t want a stranger to see.
Always use a lock screen. Passwords are always the first line of defense against somebody who gains access to something that doesn’t belong to them. Would you use a debit card that has no PIN? Would you buy a car that has no key lock? If you want to protect your phone, lock it!
Still, there are right and wrong ways to do it. Take heed and check out these security tips for Android lock screens.
Install an antivirus app. Not all antivirus apps are made equal so make sure you install a good one. Malware and viruses are a big problem for all smartphones and Android devices are no exception. Do not neglect this! In case you do fall victim, here’s what to do if your Android is infected.
Consider anti-theft apps, too. Antivirus only gets you so far. What happens if you leave your phone somewhere? Or worse, if somebody picks your phone right out of your pocket? Without an anti-theft app, you may as well consider your phone to be gone for good.
Anti-theft apps help you track your phone in several ways: GPS positioning, security alarms, lockdown, and data erasing features just to name a few. That last feature can come in handy if you have secrets on your phone that nobody should ever see.

Tweaking Your Communication

Lastly, let’s tweak your communication settings to be as productive and pleasant as possible. When you’re browsing the web and sending out text messages all throughout the day, even the smallest improvement can wipe away your frustrations.
Install an SMS app. The stock SMS apps that come preloaded on Android models are usually basic and bland. Upgrade to one of these free alternative SMS apps for a smoother experience that’s complete with more features and customization options. And if you don’t use SMS, how about these free messaging apps instead?
Install a better keyboard. If you spend any time at all typing on your device, it’s worth upgrading to a dedicated keyboard app that replaces the default one. There are a few free ones out there, but this is one area where shelling out a few dollars for a paid app can make a difference.
Need help deciding? Check out our comparison of Android keyboard apps.

Enjoy Your Tweaked Android!

With all of these changes, your device should feel like a brand new product in your hands. If anyone tells you that you need to root Android to start personalizing it, show them your revamped phone and flash a smile
Courtesy: MakeUseOf.com