Even though version 4.0 of the Android operating system was released last year, there are still very few phones in the US running on the platform. Many cell phone manufacturers have recently announced that they will be releasing phones on 4.0–also called ice cream sandwich–within a few months. So it’s a good time to review the new features that will come with Android 4.0. 4.0 will be easier to use than ever Android 4.0...

A new study looked at Android’s top 5 apps and the effect they had on battery life. The researchers used a custom app to measure the battery drain of the top 5: Angry Birds, the New York Times Reader, MapQuest, Free Chess and the Android web browser. Click through to find out how each app scored.The apps were scored on overall battery drain, as well as the energy demands of specific actions within the app. The results showed that...

The first touch-free touchscreen phone is just weeks away from being available in stores. The Sony Xperia will be the first phone released in the US market to feature this technology. What will touch-free touchscreens mean for the future of your Android experience? Click through to find out. Sony Xperia sola comes with touch-free control The Sony Xperia sola features a 2.3 inch screen and runs Android 2.3. The key selling point for the sola...

In Part 1 of Android App Permissions we started to explain the Android OS’ many permissions and how they can potentially access sensitive information on your phone. Click through to see part two of the permissions list.Here is part two of the Android Permissions list, along with potential ways these permissions can be used by malware or hackers. Read Synch Settings: lets the app know if background data synch is on or off. A low...

Applications installed on your Android require certain permissions to fulfill the app developer’s intent. Before you install an app, you will see a list of permissions it requires. Make sure these permissions make sense considering the stated purpose of the application. For a more detailed explanation of the different permissions, click through. Here is part one of a list of Android application permissions, along with their legitimate...

Here are some things you can do to keep your Android running quickly and without crashes. 1. Clear your messaging database monthly Look through your message thread, and find something you need to keep. Long press on it and choose forward. In the address field, use your phone’s Gmail account address. The message will get forwarded back to you through your Gmail app. Then wipe everything else to clear space on your device. 2. The same...

SuperOneClick allows you to root your Android in one click (hence the name). SuperOneClick is a Windows/Linux based application that runs on you desktop/laptop. Click through to find out more about one click rooting. Here’s a list of devices that have been confirmed to work with SuperOneClick: ·         Acer Liquid Metal ·         Dell Streak ·         HTC Magic (Sapphire) 32B ·         HTC...

Looking to extend your Android phone’s battery life and go even longer between charges? Click through for five new ways to get the most out of your Android battery. 1. Disable Adobe Flash. Although it’s great that Android phones can run flash (cough..iPhone…cough) this plugin consumes battery life. Go to Settings > Enable Plug-ins and set it to On Demand. 2. Reduce the size of your Microsoft Exchange email folder. If...