Sunday, 6 March 2016
How to Run Android On Your PC with Remix OS
Remix OS, is a killer Android variant that brings a slick desktop-style interface to Android. Now, you can install it on a USB stick and try it out on your computer.
Android isn’t exactly built for a keyboard and mouse, but that hasn’t stopped some of us from trying. RemixOS, from developer Jide, wants to change that by adding a desktop, windowed apps, and more to Android. Here’s how to try out the very experimental alpha.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD- http://goo.gl/oIkbac
Disclaimer: According to Jide’s website, this OS is “for developers and early adopters who don’t mind a bug or two.” In our testing, there were considerably more than two bugs. While RemixOS is an awesome concept and it’s fun to play around with, don’t expect this to replace your current computer anytime soon. However, if you’re into being on the bleeding edge, tweaking your computer, and playing around with experimental software (which might explain why you’re reading TechRockerz), by all means, continue.
What You’ll Need
By default, RemixOS runs on a USB stick. You can use it in either Guest Mode, which will start fresh on a new desktop every time you run it, or Resident Mode, which will save all your apps and files on the USB stick, so you can resume your session later on any computer. To create your RemixOS USB stick, here’s what you’ll need:
- RemixOS for PC package: You can download the installer package for RemixOS from here. The package is just shy of 700MB, so if you’re on a slower connection, start the download and then grab a snack or something.
- An 8GB+ USB stick with 20MB/s write speeds:RemixOS requires a minimum of 8GB of free storage to install and run. If you plan to use Resident mode to keep your desktop persistent, you’ll obviously want more. Also, Jide recommends a stick with 20MB/s write speeds (the previously recommended SanDisk Extremeshould work very well). In my testing, I found that a stick with less than 10MB/s write speeds worked, but it threw an error and took a while to load. Note: Creating the RemixOS drive will wipe your USB stick, so be sure to backup any files already on it.
- An x86-based computer: RemixOS is an x86 variant of Android and, as such, it only runs on computers with Intel and AMD processors. ARM-based computers (such as many Chromebooks) and older Macs will not work. You’ll also need a Windows PC in order to create the USB stick.
- Boot-from-USB enabled: Most computers these days have the ability to boot from USB, but check your BIOS or model to make sure. You can find more info on how to boot from USB in Lifehacker's guide here.
Creating the bootable USB stick will take less time than most OS installations, but it will still take a little while, so be prepared for some waiting around. Once you have everything you need, it’s time to get started.
Create Your RemixOS USB Stick
First, you’ll need to create the bootable USB stick that RemixOS will live on. Once you’ve downloaded the RemixOS installation files, follow these steps:
- Plug in your blank USB stick.
- Extract the files in the RemixOS for PC .zip file.
- Launch the RemixOS USB Tool executable file.
- Next to “ISO” click the Browse button and choose the RemixOS .iso file.
- Next to “USB Disk” choose the drive letter associated with the USB stick you plugged in.
- Click OK.
The installer will begin creating your RemixOS USB stick immediately. This process will take a few minutes. Once it’s done, you can plug it into your computer and boot from the USB. As we briefly mentioned above, you will have two options when you first boot into RemixOS. Here’s how they work:
- Guest Mode: This allows you to preview how RemixOS works. Any apps you install, settings you change, or files you download will be erased as soon as you turn off your computer.
- Resident Mode: This will treat your USB stick like a portable computer. Any settings you change will be remembered, no matter which computer you plug it into. Apps you install and files you download will be written to the USB stick. This means the bigger your USB stick is, the more space you’ll have to install things.
Keep in mind that even though RemixOS adds a lot of software on top of Android to make it more mouse and keyboard friendly, most of the apps are still designed for a touch interface. They may not work very well, no matter what RemixOS does. Android apps work pretty well with a traditional interface, but you should still expect some bumps along the road.
Install Some Applications (Like Google Apps and the Play Store)
Despite how the promotional material looks, RemixOS does not come pre-installed with the Google Play Store, or any of the related Google apps. Previous limited release versions of RemixOS did, so it’s unclear if this is an oversight, or if Jide simply doesn’t have the license to distribute the Play Store publicly.
Fortunately, you can still download and install applications on your own. APK Mirror is an excellent site that has recent versions of tons of popular apps, including Google services. To get apps for RemixOS, follow these steps:
- Search APK Mirror for the app you want to install.
- Ensure you have the correct version, where applicable. For reference, RemixOS runs Android 5.1.1. (To install Google Play Services, you’ll need versions ending in 270, per APK Mirror’s instructions here.)
- Open the Settings app, click Security, and enable installing from “Unknown sources.”
- Launch the Downloads app and click the APK you downloaded, then follow the prompts to install it.
In my testing, Google Play Services installed, but many functions still failed to work properly in Guest Mode. Some apps like Chrome launched and worked relatively well, while other apps like Netflix failed to launch at all. Again, none of these apps are designed to work with RemixOS, so if an app doesn’t work, don’t blame the developer.
So, How Is It?
After all that, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth going to all the trouble. Well, here’s the short answer: kind of? I’ve played around with it for a few hours since the release last night and I’ve run into enough problems that would keep most casual users away. But that’s okay! It’s a developer and enthusiast-focused alpha. What does work, however, paints a pretty rosy picture for Android on the desktop.
For starters, RemixOS has tweaked Android’s basic interface to feel a lot more at home on the desktop. There’s a taskbar at the bottom of the home screen for launching apps, a Start-like menu for searching your files and finding other apps you have installed, and a system tray for things like Wi-Fi connections, date and time, and a slide-out notification tray. Frankly, it looks a lot more like a clone of Windows 10 than it does Android.
Android apps also scale pretty well. RemixOS allows you to arbitrarily resize windows, much like you do on Windows and OS X. That might seem like a no-brainer, but keep in mind that Android apps were never designed for this kind of interface. Despite that, the feature works pretty flawlessly. If you make a window small enough, the app will default to a phone-style interface. Larger windows will use tablet-style interfaces, where available. This means that the app experience on Android is still only as good as Android support for tablet apps, which isgood, but not stellar.
Ultimately, the problems with app compatibility means that RemixOS is unlikely to replace anyone’s daily driver. However, given that Android was never intended to be a desktop operating system, RemixOS does a remarkable job of convincing us that it could be
Saturday, 27 February 2016
All you need to know about the upcoming iPhone 7
The upcoming iPhone 7 is almost certainly ditching the headphone jack at this point. What at first seemed like a ridiculous stretch is now shaping up to be the most credible rumor about the next-gen iPhone so far
The latest whispers indicate that, while the headphone jack is out, wireless charging and a waterproof design are finally in.
Fast Company reported today that an anonymous source confirmed am these rumors. Apple wants to make the iPhone 7 even thinner than the iPhone 6 and 6s, and the only way to do that is to ax the 3.5-mm headphone jack.
That means two things will very likely happen when the iPhone 7 launches.
The first is that every iPhone 7 will ship either with a pair of Lightning-connected EarPods or wireless, Bluetooth-enabled EarPods to replace the current ones that ship with the iPhone.
Second, customers who want to use third-party wired headphones will have to purchase new ones that connect via Lightning port. Some manufacturers have already begun shipping Lightening headphones, albeit for a pretty steep price. Apple could also theoretically release some crappy 3.5-mm headphone-jack-to-Lightning adapter, too.
The future is still very bright, though. The source tells Fast Company that the new audio system in the iPhone 7 will have built-in noise-canceling functionality. The next-gen handsets will work with the new earphones to block out background sounds when you’re listening to music or on the phone.
Plus, the iPhone 7 should finally be waterproof and charge wirelessly. Waterproofing will presumably come via a simple hydrophobic coating inside and outside of the device, but it’s not yet clear how Apple plans to execute the wireless charging feature. Many Samsung smartphones charge on a wireless charging pad, so unless Apple has an unforeseen trick or two up its sleeve, Cupertino should just follow suit.
Don’t worry about buying your new pair of headphones just yet, though. Several months still separate us from the iPhone 7. Plus, people who generally stick with Apple’s own headphones shouldn’t need to buy anything new.
As always, the device is due out in the summer or fall.
The latest whispers indicate that, while the headphone jack is out, wireless charging and a waterproof design are finally in.
Fast Company reported today that an anonymous source confirmed am these rumors. Apple wants to make the iPhone 7 even thinner than the iPhone 6 and 6s, and the only way to do that is to ax the 3.5-mm headphone jack.
That means two things will very likely happen when the iPhone 7 launches.
The first is that every iPhone 7 will ship either with a pair of Lightning-connected EarPods or wireless, Bluetooth-enabled EarPods to replace the current ones that ship with the iPhone.
Second, customers who want to use third-party wired headphones will have to purchase new ones that connect via Lightning port. Some manufacturers have already begun shipping Lightening headphones, albeit for a pretty steep price. Apple could also theoretically release some crappy 3.5-mm headphone-jack-to-Lightning adapter, too.
The future is still very bright, though. The source tells Fast Company that the new audio system in the iPhone 7 will have built-in noise-canceling functionality. The next-gen handsets will work with the new earphones to block out background sounds when you’re listening to music or on the phone.
Plus, the iPhone 7 should finally be waterproof and charge wirelessly. Waterproofing will presumably come via a simple hydrophobic coating inside and outside of the device, but it’s not yet clear how Apple plans to execute the wireless charging feature. Many Samsung smartphones charge on a wireless charging pad, so unless Apple has an unforeseen trick or two up its sleeve, Cupertino should just follow suit.
Don’t worry about buying your new pair of headphones just yet, though. Several months still separate us from the iPhone 7. Plus, people who generally stick with Apple’s own headphones shouldn’t need to buy anything new.
As always, the device is due out in the summer or fall.
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Xiaomi Mi5 launched
Xiaomi has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Mi 5, at a global launch event during Mobile World Congress 2016. The event was held in conjunction with Qualcomm and the start time on the invitation was marked as 8:20, as a clue about the processor at the heart of the Mi 5. In case you didn’t get the clue, the Mi 5 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Supporting the processor is 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and up to 128GB of flash.
In terms of display the Mi 5 comes with a 5.15 inch Full HD 1080p display with a 16 LED light backlight technology which gives a brighter picture (600 nits) but that is 17% more power efficient. The Mi 5 will be available in 3 colors: Black, White and Gold and in three different models, a 32GB model, a 64GB model and a 128GB model.
The top of the line model with 128GB of flash, which Xiaomi is calling the Mi 5 Pro, comes with a ceramic back rather than the glass back like the other two models. The ceramic used is some of the hardest materials available and scores an eight on the Mohs hardness scale. For some context diamond scores 10 and steel 4.5!
For the first time Xiaomi has included a fingerprint reader on one of its devices and a home button. During the launch event Hugo Barra went into quite some detail about how Xiaomi invested a lot of time in adding a home button and fingerprint reader, but without compromising on the position of other components (like the camera) or without increasing the thickness of the device.
Talking of the camera, the Mi 5 comes with a 16MP Sony IMX298 sensor with PDAF autofocus and a pixel-to-pixel isolation technology to stop light bleed from one pixel to another. It also has 4 axis OIS, a first for a smartphone. On the front there is a 4MP front camera with large pixels, for better low light pictures.
The Mi 5 is just 7.25 mm thin and weighs just 129g. This is quite amazing when you consider that it contains a 3000 mAh battery. The battery support Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and according to Xiaomi you can go from 0 to 80% charge in under a hour. In fact, just a 10 minute charge will give you enough power to watch a two hour movie!
As for software the Mi 5 comes with MIUI 7 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and it will receive weekly updates.
The price of the Mi 5 is quite amazing. The three models are priced (without taxes) at:
- Mi 5 Pro – Snapdragon 820 (2.15GHz), 128GB flash, 4GB RAM, ceramic back: $360 (2699 RMB with tax)
- Mi 5 64 – Snapdragon 820 (2.15GHz), 64GB flash, 3D glass back: $310 (2299 RMB with tax)
- Mi 5 32 – Snapdragon 820 (1.8GHz), 32GB flash, 3GB RAM, 3D glass back: $265 (1999 RMB with tax)
The good news is that those in China won’t have to wait too long to get hold of the Mi 5. It will go on sale on March 1st viami.com. Next comes India and then after that other markets.
Here is a gallery of some of the images from the launch event:
What do you think, does a Snapdragon 820 device with 128GB of flash, 4GB of RAM, a ceramic back, 4 axis OIS and a 3000 mAh battery for $360 sound good to you?
Monday, 22 February 2016
SONY UNVEILS NEW XPERIA X PHONES AT MWC 2016
Sony just held its press conference at the MWC 2016 in Barcelona. The company today unveiled its new Xperia X lineup of device that consists of the Xperia Performance. X and XA. Sony launched the devices stressing on a more connected world, with improved and smart technology. Along with this, Sony also launched the Xperia Ear, Eye, and Projector as smart accessories that allow for a more hands-free way to connect with your smartphone.
Sony didn’t reveal too much about the specs of the devices. The X Performance sports a 5-inch 1080p Full HD display and is powered by Snapdragon 820. The device, which is the bigger of the three has a premiu metal finish with a rectangular chasis and rounded edges and a 2.5D curved glass on top. The X Performance comes with a 23MP rear camera with a Predictive Hybrid Autofocus, 5x Clear Image Zoom and ISO 12800 sensitivity, and a 13MP selfie shooter.
The Xperia X and XA also feature Predictive Hybrid Autofocus tech that offers motion tracking. The mid-range devices are powered by the Snapdragon 650 hexa-core processor, run on Android 5.0 Lollipop and come with a 2.5D curved glass on the front and a metallic rear for a premium feel.
The device looks really slim and you can see the Xperia logo at the back with the camera on the top left and the LED flash just below. Along the right side, you have the power button, volume controls and a dedicated camera button as well. Up in front, you have a large display with exceptionally thin side bezels and a 2.5D curved glass.
Sony also showed off the Xperia Ear, a earpiece that informs you of your schedule, news and weather. It responds to voice commands, and can make calls, search the internet, read and respond to emails and messages or navigate to a location. Pricing has not been revealed as of yet. Sony confirmed that the devices will start shipping in Summer this year. We’ll know more about the devices and new connected products in the weeks to come.
SAMSUNG S7 EDGE VS S6 EDGE : HERE'S WHAT’S CHANGED
The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is here, and it’s come to the party with a high-end smartphone featuring great design, premium materials and impressive under-the-hood specs. Samsung with the S7 edge has done well to listen to its user base and improve on the flaws of the last year’s S6 edge. Today we put these two up against each other, and do a quick comparison to show how much really has changed in this new handset.
Display and Design
The S7 edge has a bigger 5.5-inch form factor and comes with a QHD Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 534 ppi compared to the 5.1-inch QHD 577 ppi screen that we saw on the S6 edge. The display though not an upgrade in terms of resolution does come as a welcome upgrade when it comes to size. To Samsung’s credit, it has managed to cut down on the screen-to-body ratio and bring a bigger display to the S7 edge without adding significantly to the phone’s dimensions.
To Samsung’s credit, it has managed to cut down on the screen-to-body ratio and bring a bigger display to the S7 edge without adding significantly to the phone’s dimensions. The phone’s display also comes with an intelligent “Always-On” feature which figures out when the phone’s display is not face down on a surface or kept in a pocket and stays lit up to show important notifications and time.
The phone also comes with more rounded edges which combined with the rounded edges at the back provides for a far better grip to the user. Samsung claims it has “made the camera nearly level in the S7 edge which carries forward the premium glass and metal design scheme of the S6 edge while incorporating IP68 waterproofing, and dust resistance, capabilities which provides safety up to 30 minutes while submerged under 1.5 metres of water to this latest iteration by sealing the metal chassis of the phone from the inside.
Under-the-hood Specifications
The S7 edge is available in two versions with two different processors. The first will see a 64-bit octa-core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad) processor, the other will come with a 64-bit quad-core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual) processor. The device that makes it to India is expected to carry the Octa-Core Exynos 8890 SoC. This will be an upgrade over last year’s 1.5 Ghz Exynos 7420 Octa-core SoC present on the S6 edge.
The S7 edge also gets one up over the S6 edge when it comes to RAM on board. The S7 edge comes equipped with 4GB of RAM while, the S6 edge came only with 3GB on board. In terms of inbuilt memory, the S7 edge comes in only 32GB and 64GB options as compared to the S6 edge which had a 128GB variant too in its arsenal, but what makes the S7 edge a clear upgrade over the S6 edge is the fact that the former houses a microSD card slot for memory expansion.
Camera
Samsung pulling out of the Megapixel race has decided to jump into the fray with a ‘Dual-Pixel’ 12-megapixel camera at the back, and a 5-Megapixel front camera both with F1.7 aperture. Galaxy S6 edge on the other hand, came with a 16-megapixel rear camera with OIS and a 5-Megapixel front camera.
Samsung claims this is the most advanced camera to date that it has used on its phones and that the pixels in its camera are around 30 percent bigger than the competing phones such as the iPhone 6s Plus and thus allow for sharper, clearer pictures, even in low-light surroundings.
The company claims that the dual-pixel technology which it has incorporated works like a human eye and results into 100 percent of the pixels being used to focus allowing for a faster focus while taking a picture.
Battery & Gaming
Samsung S6 edge was notorious for it’s short battery life, and Samsung has looked to correct this basic flaw with a significantly bumped up battery pack in the S7 edge. The new phone features a 3600mAh battery pack, which is a cool 1000mAh over its predecessor.
The S7 edge also comes with new Air-Cooling tech to help keep the temperature of the phone down, and also adds to the mix wireless and fast charging capabilities. One thing that Samsung did miss out on was the widely expected USB Type-C port.
The mobile phone gaming market is emerging as an important space and Samsung is making a very strong push for it with the S7 edge. The S7 edge will be the first device to use the Vulkan API which Samsung claims will provide users the ability to experience PC-quality gaming on the S7 series devices with lower battery consumption. The company has also added a new ‘Game Launcher,’ to enable users to better manage
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