Chapter 1 - Jailbreaking my iPhone iOS 7

What’s the biggest flaw with an iPhone? You can’t send files over bluetooth. What’s the fix? Jailbreak your phone!

(Jailbreaking is kind of like hacking into the phone and making changes to the system files, which is not recommended by Apple, so that you'll have more control over your phone. You'll lose warranty after Jailbreaking. Apple wouldn't help you with anything if your phone is Jailbroken!)

This is how I ended up jailbreaking my iPhone 4s a year back. It was all good in the beginning. You can now send and receive files over bluetooth using an app called Airblue Sharing. You can change themes and there are hundreds of themes out there which are stunning (A custom theme on iPhone makes other iPhone users surprised and excited!). Also find tons of third party apps which was otherwise not installable on your phone. There was an app called Cleaner which would find and delete unwanted files on the phone and saves huge space. Have complete control over your Control centre, add your favourite shortcuts. Life was good.

Image courtesy Apple iOS 8 logo

Chapter 2 - Beginning of the fall

Then problems started to occur. First one, I suppose, was with locking the screen. When I press the lock button the screen goes dark (like normal) and then it turns back on itself. So I’d have to press the lock button twice every time. Then my battery began to drain quickly (I am not sure whether it was due to Jailbreak or some hardware issue, I changed my battery just before I removed jailbreak, so can’t say it for sure). Also I had some issues with syncing my iPhone. It wouldn’t sync properly nor it would backup the files instead iTunes was only able to backup my settings. Custom themes weren’t as fluid as the default theme. So I removed all custom themes from my phone.

I was still okay with all these as I can send and receive files from my friends and I use bluetooth way too often for that. It was then apps like Xender and ShareIt hit the app store. These apps support file sharing over multiple platform at lightning speeds (like 3mb/s, approximately). My bluetooth app (which could never even get to like 500 kb/s) has nothing more to offer.

Chapter 3 - They won’t let me back in!

So I’ve made up my mind! Jailbreak has no more purpose for me. I’d go back. So I waited for iOS 8 to release. I’ve downloaded the OS and tried to update my phone. A bunch of errors came up. When I looked up the errors online (using error codes), it was due to faulty cable. Then I replaced the cable and tried again and still errors came up. Many websites said these issues happens sometimes and you should edit some system files or use applications like TinyUmbrella alongside to successfully update. And it was totally annoying. Apparently, iPhone has a mode (in which it is neither on or off) and to get to that mode you have to press your home button and lock button simultaneously for some seconds… And to update my iPhone with TinyUmbrella I have to put the phone to that mode, which is called DFU mode. What’s the big deal? my Home button is broken (I use Assistive touch, i.e. Home button on display screen which I can’t use when my phone is not really ON).

So I fixed my home button (which i determined not to fix!). I tried again, no use!

I gave up! I was now stuck with my iOS 7.0.2 which wasn’t able to install many awesome apps in the App Store. 

Chapter 4 - A Last try!

After a few months, I purchased an Apple Macbook Pro 13 inch. So I thought to give it a try to update my phone to, iOS 8.1.x, then latest version. Similar errors struck me. Also, TinyUmbrella’s latest version seemed to have some issues with me. I was let down, one more time.

Life went on. I wanted to get my hands on an iPhone 5s or at least 5c (I don’t have the budget for iPhone 6, unless I sell my left lung, and I don’t think it has any feature, which isn’t available on iPhone 5s, that is that awesome. I thought about it, my iPhone can run the latest OS technically. For some reason I downloaded iOS 8.2, the latest version, tried to update my phone. I didn’t have the slightest hope that it would work. But it did!

“Hello!” was shown on my screen. For the first time, I said hello back to my phone screen. It was finally done! I have iOS 8.2!

Features of iOS 8.2

I love iOS 8. It has so much more features than iOS 7. Both looks almost the same. But there are at least 5 or 6 features I fell in love with. It would include Widgets in Notification centre, Shortcuts on Multi task screen, upgrades in universal search etc. I could not live with iOS 7 anymore. So what’s next? It’s time to jailbreak iOS 8.2. Just kidding! 

Now that I have the latest iOS installed on my old iPhone 4s. I think I’ll hold on to my 4s for a little longer. After all, it does everything I wants it to do. I like the 3.5 inch screen as well, was never a fan of big screens.

After updating all my the previous problems, like double pressing the lock button, vanished.

Now I can install many apps which were only available for iOS 8 (or 7.1 versions of iOS 7) like Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, EyeEm etc. I should also check out Siri as I have hear it has much new features now.

One tip for normal iPhone users (because hardcore users knows better than me) - Don’t Jailbreak your iPhone.

By the way, my Home button broke again. My lock button is also starting to have problems. Though I blame Apple for making low quality buttons (as many of my friends had same problems), I am glad that they gave us an option to control them on screen. I suppose I can’t put my phone to DFU mode any time soon!

I’ll be writing an article about the awesome features of iOS 8 soon.  

Just a month ago Google has launched the latest version Android 5.0 called lollipop. Right now not all android devices will get the update for this latest Android version. Only few latest phones and other phones that used to get directly updates from Google like Nexus, Android One, etc. got this update. Other users have to wait till their mobile companies give the updates for the same.

With this latest update Google have done lots of new changes in Android operating system in compare to their older versions. Especially you will get whole new cool look with awesome animated transition in every action you done in your phone, for example, opening page, closing page, pressing any button, opening notification, etc.. I am sure everyone will love the new look. I have Android One android phone which recently got the latest update android 5.1. So I would love to share all those new features and new experience I had with this Lollipop android. Let’s see the new changes.

New features and Changes in Lollipop Android

Lock Screen: Let’s learn about what changes have been made with lock screen with this latest android version.

First of all they have change whole system how we unlock our phone. In older version you have to swap the circle to right to unlock your phone. But now you can swap upside anywhere on the screen to unlock your screen. By swiping right anywhere on screen you will open dial pad and similarly by swiping left on screen you will get camera.

Not only that with these latest android version you will get all your notifications like messages, whatsapp, missed call alert, etc. directly on your lock screen. You can access all those notifications directly from your lock screen. To directly open that notification you can double click on it. To just ignore you can clear them by swiping it right or left. To expand the notification to reply it back you can swipe it down.

So with latest version, lock screen got lots of new and important functions those were missing in the older versions.

Notification Panel and Quick Settings: Let’s learn about changes made in notification section.

Whenever any notification comes you will get one new tab on the upside of the screen unlike older version. In older versions we used to get notifications on status bar. To open the notification panel it is the same process as last one. Just pull down from status bar and it will open for you. But you will surely see changes in it. Now you will found whole notification transparent. I mean it will only open till notifications are available. 

Now for quick settings, in last versions you have to click the right top corner icon, but here after opening notification panel by swiping down, you can again swipe down to open quick settings. Here you will see complete new look. Not only that this time quick setting feature is smarter than all previous ones. You can open window for extra features for each icon (app) available on quick settings directly into quick setting panel. No need to go deep inside settings and all that. For example, you can on Bluetooth by pressing Bluetooth icon from quick settings but in extra, you can also see available Bluetooth devices by pressing Bluetooth text available below icon. Means you will found extra features related to that icon when you will press its text. Unlike previous version you can add extra apps and icons in quick settings and mange them by long pressing any of them.

With quick settings icons you will now see extra feature of torch. You can use flash light of your phone as torch directly from quick settings. No need to install any extra app for the same.

Recent Apps Window: Recent applications window also get some important changes. 

In latest version of Android you will found recent application list with larger icons in compare to older version of android. It also gives little bit 3D effect. With larger icons you can recognize any application with more ease. So it is now easier to find out applications from the list.

In the older version of Android, to close any application from the list you need to swipe them right or left from the list. Here you get the same option to close them down with extra button for the same thing. You will found close button at right top corner of every window in the list. So you can also click them to close the windows.

There is another important feature now available with the latest android version. Now you can pin the windows from the list so that only pinned window can be access until you unpinned it. Means suppose your friend or kids asking your phone for particular app or game. So you can give your phone by pinning that particular app so that they can’t access other stuff and applications on your phone.  Until you unpinned that app you can’t access any other thing even can’t access status bar. You can access notification and you can’t see anything on status bar in this mode. So it is important feature now available for our security.

For accessing pinning feature you need to on this feature from ‘settings’ and then ‘security’. In security you will found ‘Screen Pinning’ option, just on it and then you will able to see pin option directly on recent apps window.

Launcher: You will also get the latest Google Now Launcher with this latest android version. Now you will get faster and smooth launcher in compare to past. Also look wise it is quite impressive. You can see cool animation stuff when you press app drawer button. It will open menu icons like in white cards so that you can recognize icons more clearly. Transition pages in app drawer are quite simple but it is fast and smooth. 

Material Design: The main change which gives whole new look to this latest android version is material design. They have given cool transition effects in every section and with cool animation stuff at every work, even at pressing any button. Now with this latest version of Android you will see change in the color of status bar with every new application. It will change the color of status bar with respect of color of the application. So now look wise this android version gives really cool impression. At least I am enjoying this new look for now.

Settings Window: You will also see changes in Settings page. Now no more black window, here with this Android version you will see white background in the settings page. It is different thing that with lots of features now you will not have to open the settings page again and again. 

Smarter Dialer: Dial screen also get little change in compare of Kitkat version of Android. Now you have more professional look in compare to any older version of Android. It also contains white background with smart dial feature. You can dial your favorite numbers much faster in compare to previous dialer application.  You can swipe right or left on the screen to move to next windows of Speed dial, Recents and Contacts.

This is it. I guess here I have explained all major changes have been made in Lollipop Android version. As per experts, this is the most advanced android version with so many important changes made every. As I said right now not all users will going to get it but soon big companies will gives update for the same. 

Image Source: By me

Typing in any touch screen phones is little difficult part as you can make more mistakes in compare to normal keypad. In android phones by default keyboard application is not that good. I mean it not provide any extra features and functions than just normal typing. You need something extra and intelligent stuff for typing fast which is missing in the normal default keyboard application. But no worries, you can always download third party application from Google play store. So you can also have free and more intelligent keyboard application for your android phone. Let’s see which better options for keyboard application available on the market which can make our typing experience good.

Keyboard applications for your Android:

Go Keyboard: This keyboard is best to personalize itself. If you are bored with normal looking keyboard then you can go for it. Here with this keyboard you will get different options for personalizing it with different themes, emoticons, key tone, etc. There are thousands of themes online available for this keyboard so that you can get different looking keyboards. So that’s why main attraction of this application is to personalize it with different themes. You can download this application for free on Google play store. Just search its name and get it for free.

Swiftkey Keyboard: This is award winning keyboard application among several applications. In past this application was paid but now because of its popularity you can download it for free from the play store. Yes now there is free version of this application which is ad free too available on the play store. 

This keyboard application provides you some smart feature that is not available on your stock keyboard on your android device. It will provide you smarter autocorrect option in compare to stock keyboard. It also provides more emoticons in compare to stock keyboard with emoji prediction function which is unique itself. 

The main function of this keyboard application is that it provides fast typing experience with its swipe function. Because of this function it became more popular. You just need to swipe on the keyboard among those keys and its smarter function will auto predict your word and type it for you. So it can make your typing experience faster. With all these unique features this application also provides themes option which provides you beautiful themes to change look of your keyboard over stock keyboard.

Google Keyboard: This is from famous giant company Google itself. In latest android phones it comes preinstalled. But for better experience you have to update the application. If you are missing this application on your phone then you can install it from Google play store.

The key fey features of this application are the latest version of this application provides material design themes which are available in latest android lollipop version. It also provides smarter personalized suggestion with auto correction mode. It gives popup animations when you press the keys on keyboard which looks cool. It also provide gesture typing mode with dynamic floating preview using which you can type really fast and accurate. 

So this is it. Here are few good options and alternatives for exchanging stock keyboard which can help you in fast typing. You can have additional features with these applications for typing and make your typing more interesting and entertaining. Now just after installation they will not directly available as keyboard on your phone. You have to choose them from the settings and make one of it as your default keyboard for further use. Let’s learn how we can make such third party keyboard as default keyboard.

How to use third party keyboard application on Android?

For using any third party keyboard application on your android phone, first you have to make it as default keyboard. You have to make it as default and change from stock keyboard to the new one. 

For that first go to setting page on your android phone. Then find the option ‘Language & input’ and open it.  In that window you will found ‘Default’ option under ‘Keyboards and Input Methods’ section. Now just click on that ‘Default’ option and you will able to see the list of available keyboards on your android phone. In that list you will also found the keyboards you have downloaded. Just select the one you want to keep it as default. That’s it. Now whenever you go for message or something the new keyboard will appear instead of old stock keyboard. 

This process may sound complicated but it is quite easy when you will done it. So go for it. Just follow the simple steps and it is done.

So this is it. By this way you can change the default keyboard. By this way you can use your downloaded keyboard on your android phone. Default keyboard have not more functions. But this third party applications provide really well features and functions like emoticons, better auto correction, smart recognize function, voice typing feature, theme option and many more. So if you are also bored with your stock keyboard then you can also go for such innovative keyboard applications. Try it and enjoy.

Rooting any android phone means to access its system folder so that you can make changes in system files. It is a complex thing and one should only try this rooting stuff if he or she has enough information and knowledge about it otherwise you can brick your mobile phone anytime. Many people root their phone for different purpose. Some of them want to install custom android ROMs on their phone for getting more features than normal android version and some people root their phone so that they can use some applications which are very useful and have amazing features but they can only work on rooted phones. In this article we will see about some great applications which requires rooted android phone and they have some amazing features which we can’t get from any normal applications. So if you are interested in rooting and developing stuff keep on reading for more details.

There is big list on play store of applications which requires rooted phone but I will tell you best of them (as per me) among them. I will start with my favorite application Titanium backup.

Titanium Backup:

As I said it is my favorite because it is having very unique features of backing up different things on your android phone with other features too. Let’s learn about features of this great application.

Backing up applications: You can easily backup your all applications which you installed on your android device using titanium backup. You will say what is new in this and why it requires rooted phone for something like this as there are many apps available on play store which can do similar thing without rooting requires. Well, unlike other applications titanium backup also backup applications data which can be restore with the applications when you restore them. Means suppose you are playing some game and you are on ‘x’ level on it. Now you are backing up it with titanium backup application. Now when you are restoring its data and app using the same app then you will get this game on your new phone with all its data, means you will on the same ‘x’ level where you left. So it is also backing up your application data and for that it requires rooted android phone.

Delete system applications: If you are using android phone then you must have noticed that there are some applications on it which can’t be uninstalled. For example, there are some apps given from mobile company and some other are default ones like messaging app, calling app, camera app, etc. Those applications are installed on system storage and that’s why they can’t be uninstalled in normal way like other applications. But sometimes those mobile companies give extra apps which are not required at all and they are just wasting your extra phone space. Now titanium backup offers you a feature using which you can uninstall such system applications from your phone. As this application gains the root access it can access the system folder and delete those system applications easily.

Convert apps into system app: As I said above titanium backup can delete your system applications easily. Same ways they can also convert your normal application into system application so that they can’t be uninstalled in a normal way. So you can save your important apps from getting deleted or uninstalled accidently by you or other. Of course you can delete them from titanium backup and you can also convert them back to normal from the system application.

Gravity Box (requires xposed installer):

Gravity Box is the application which requires Xposed Installer to work on your phone. Gravity Box is one of the modules available in the Xposed installer application among several modules. But Gravity box is quite popular and offers you several features, so that’s why I am mentioning it here. As this topic is about applications which require rooted phone, so yes this application also requires root access of your phone. Gravity box offers many cool features which are mostly available on Custom ROMs. You can customize many things on your custom android ROM, same way you will also get customization features on your stock ROM using gravity box. You will get features like below:

Status bar tweaks: You can have many tweaks for changing stuff on your status bar. Using gravity box you can change color of all status bar icons. You can also change the position of status bar clock with extra functions related to it. You can also change your battery icon from available list. You can get internet speed indicator on your status bar using the same.

Make your stuff transparent: Using Gravity box you can make things transparent on your Android phone. You can make status bar, navigation bar, notification bar, lock screen, etc. transparent on your phone. Yes it will give you feel like upgraded phone for sure.

Other stuff: There are many more extra features available on gravity box and it is surely hard to explain them all. Still here are some of them.

• You can get clear all button on recent app window with available free RAM bar.
• You can change the number of rows and columns in menu on any launcher.
• You can get CRT screen off and on effect using it.
• You can change lock screen wallpaper separately, this feature is not available in many android phones by default.
• You can add extra apps and features on quick settings panel using gravity box.
• You can hide your soft navigation button from your android screen and also use PIE controls to navigate your android phone. By hiding soft navigation button you can get full screen too.

So this is it about Gravity box. I may have forgotten many things to describe as there are many things available on it. Let’s move towards another useful application.

Viper4Android: (Enhance Sound Quality)

This is another good application for music lovers which also requires rooted phone for its usage. This application enhances the music quality in different way of your android phone. Trust me it surely affects music quality of your phone. I am not talking about external speakers but it will surely improve music quality when you hear the music from your headphones. Just install this app and install its drivers from your phone and you can feel the magic. It can improve the bass effect a lot. It can also improve surrounding effect. You can set the ratio of all features from the settings. There are many other such applications (requires root) made by developers. But personally I enjoy this one most. I am sure the one who love the heavy bass effect during music will love this application. Don’t worry you can decrease it too. Have fun.

Greenify (Battery Booster):

This application has gain popularity in very short time. It provide most useful feature and it is battery saving on your android. I am sure all of you know how quickly battery drains in smart phones. Using this application you can hibernate all non wanted applications on your android device. Now what is hibernating application? In android phones even you close or exit any application, some of them will still keep doing back ground process and eat up your battery. Hibernating them means this application will make them sleep when you are not using them. Means they will not able to do any background process. Iphone is having this same functionality and we all know in iPhone battery stays more in compare to android phone. You can’t hibernate all apps as by doing hibernate apps like whatsapp, you will not receive messages until you open the whatsapp, so that’s why you can hibernate each app individually and you think that are not necessary to run in background. You can make exception for app like whatsapp. Now this application also requires rooted phone so that it can greenify apps when they are not on automatically. The new version of this app also support non rooted phone but you will not able to put application in hibernate mode automatically. You have to greenify all apps manually after to use them.

Wakelock Detector: (Detect background running apps)

This application also requires rooted phone to work. Let me tell you combination of this application and Greenify application (I mentioned above) is the best. Because this application keep watches on another application which keep doing their process/running background. Means this application will tell you which other applications are keep running in background and leaching your mobile battery. It will give you the list of the applications which are using your phone CPU and the one which are using the display unnecessarily when they are not on. That’s why I tell you that this application and Greenify app makes good combination. As you can make list of applications on the basis of this application and greenify them to put in hibernate mode.

Mobile Uncle Tools: (Install custom recovery)

This is another good tool which offers few good features for your android phones. Let me tell you, this app is more useful to those who love developing stuff on their android like installing custom ROMs and other stuff. First of all it can provide the complete device information to you including whole hardware. Sometime such information can be helpful to you in different ways. You can also explorer engineer mode of your android phone from where you can change settings of your phone. The most useful feature is that you can easily flash custom recovery on your android phone using this tool. You just need to put .img file on your SD card and using this tool you can install it directly. Using this application you can also backup your IMEI numbers and you can restore them back using the same. These all features can be used by people who do developing stuff with their phone.

So this is it. I guess I have explained many apps with very detailed information. For me many of them are very useful to me. And all of them offer very unique features which you can’t get with normal applications. So this may gives you good reason to root your android phone as well. Some functions and features are base on system files; you can’t use them unless you have access of system folders. That’s why rooting phone is important. So if you are not aware of advantages of rooting the android, then above applications give show you enough advantages for the same. Try yourself to know more about them. Have fun.