WARNING: ROOT REQUIRED – Dont bother commenting below that “It needs root!.. this article is crap.. blah blah

Disclaimer: Any damaged caused to your phone is your problem… If you lack confidence, buy a nokia This may work on any Samsung

• Buy/Download Root Explorer
• Go to the ROOT of the file system.. keep pressing back or up.. till you see /
• Scroll Down to SYSTEM
• Inside here copy the CSC Folder and the two files that follow ending in CSC to your SD CARD
• Flash your new ROM or Restore the New ROM from your Nandroid backup
• Open Root Explorer
• Navigate to are you saved you CSC files on the SD CARD
• Copy them and navigate back to the root / and then to /system
• Switch the system at the top so that it is in MOUNT R/W
• Paste Files

Relentless Appz Has released there 2nd Generation of Android ROM Kitchens and this time, its took a whole new approach. The 1st Generation was aimed at solely the beginners in its design but still allowing some great customisation to your phones look and feel. This however has gone that whole lot further. If you were one of the ones to purchase the original software this is the perfect move onto further developing your own ROM’s. The interesting thing about this Android ROM Kitchen, is that it allows you to practically customise everything you see virtually on any Android Device, it does this by creating tools which have been specifically designed for customising certain parts of your ROM and makes customising a whole lot easier and faster in development, so its perfect for designers, developers and even the curious beginner. The picture below is of the software’s new simplistic look.

To name its features we will need a list so, it will allow you to:

• Take any Android ROM and prepare it for Customisation
• Add and Remove any Applications installed on the ROM
• Change the Font to anyone of the 30 Funky pre-installed examples or to one of your choice

• Add Compatibility automatically between different ROM’s so that you can use for instance a G1 ROM on a HTC Magic
• Create or edit any of the scripts with the ROM
• Change the Boot Screen which loads when you turn on the device, you can choose one of the pre-installed or create your own
• Customise Any Applications you desire, edit the graphics,the layout, everything and this tool will unpack, edit, re-pack and sign the app all for you
• Customise the Framework-res, the heart of the device. This is done in a special method which allows you to edit it without breaking the unique security signature of the Framework, without this special method, its impossible to edit, but with it you can edit all the resources like the smiley faces in your sms

• Add extras like, unique features such as bluetooth fileshare, wifi tethering, file explorer, APN lists, Apps2SD and Super User Capabilities
• Customise the ROM information so that you can state you created it, you can also set up all the default structures like ringtones etc
• ZipAlign this is a great new function which will go through every single APK application and optimise it so that it uses less RAM on the Device so overall provides better performance. The great thing about this funtion is that its all done for you at a click of a button
• Last but not least the packaging up of all your customisations into a tidy archive and then signing it so that you can flash it to your Android device for use

The great thing is, once you have finished creating your custom ROM you can if you have it, then use there other application the Relentless Command Centre to get it flashed onto the device. Although this is not necessary you can obviously just boot into recovery and flash in the normal way and enjoy.

I have created many ROM’s with this software and they all work very well indeed, its on sale at the Relentless Appz website for less than a fiver and the best of it is, if you have every purchased from the Relentless Appz website before, for one of there Automatic Rooting Solutions or the 1st Generation ROM Roaster then you are eligible for a whopping 50% discount, so you get all this software for just £2.49….Crazy

so if this takes your interest go along to there website now

http://www.relentlessappz.com

Well it didn’t take long for the Hero replacement to come. More interestingly, it didn’t take Meteor Ireland to get a hold of theirs weeks before most of the international mobile networks. Kudos to them and their magic working commercial director.

Since they launched the Hero, I have had one and loved the phone so much. Between apps and features, it keeps me “busy” all the time. But can it be better? Hmmm, well can it rain and snow in Ireland at the end of March…….?

So what can we expect?

The camera is the same 5.0 as the Hero. It maintains the same overall shape, which I love. Makes it easier to hold. But it has the new 2.1 Android OS whilst keeping the HTC Sense UI. This brings with it the new FriendStream widget which I love and is a big improvement on the separate Twitter/Facebook widgets.

The screen is AMOLED so it improves on an already sharp high quality screen. The memory department has seen some improvements also. The internal memory is dropped from 512 to 384. I dont understand this one however Apps2SD will sort this out. However, the memory card slot now supports up 32gb.

Here are some of the specs from Meteors site

A sculpted alloy body houses some advanced tools, including seamless integration between your online and offline contacts. It’s bursting with powerful features, and driven by useful functionality.

The good stuff

• High resolution touch screen
• Social networking integration
• 5.0 MP camera with video
• Expandable memory
• Quadband

Display

Memory

Battery

Music

Camera

Ringtones and Downloads

Messaging

Other features

I hope to secure a HTC Legend soon. When I do, I will do a full review and hands on for you. In the meantime, check out Meteors site for pricing details.

Recently we looked a little at the pending release of the Dell mini 3. Here is its big brother the Mini 5 or possible release name of the Streak. Here is a little more detail from apparently “leaked” documents. Either way there are some pictures to get you motivated.

Current Specs We Know Of

• 5-inch WVGA (800 x 480) touchscreen,
• 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash,
• capacitive touch front buttons,
• front-facing VGA camera (for video chatting)
• the 30-pin docking connector
• Colours to choose from
• launch with an Amazon content partnership

So if it does launch with all this loveliness and along with a built Amazon MP3 and eBook store then it is sure to fly. No price or date yet.

via Engadget

I saw over on Engadget this new tablet made by Freescale. It is capable of running Android, Chromium OS and Linux. This screenshot isn’t really a great example cause the colour is UGGGLY!!!

Specs

• 7 inch Screen
• Multi-OS compatibility
• ARM Processor
• $200

But the other colours are fine. I am so putting one of these on the kitchen wall. How cool is that? Anyway there is a geeky video for you to watch, to see it in action showing “not the most rehearsed” presentation, but still you’ll get the idea. The biggest concern is that in the video it demonstrates a resistive touch screen in stead of the normal Android friendly capacitive touch screen. This may mean the Android version may be more expensive.

I recently told you about RelentlessAppz and their fantastic software called Relentless Command Centre. Well shortly after that was released, Sean Marsh contacted me about his newest “invention”. I have been playing with it for a couple of weeks. Its called RelentlessAppz ROM Roaster. Cool name, huh?

The idea is really simple. If like me, you are constantly on the look out for a decent ROM for your Android handset. You will find that every ROM you try is almost right. Just not exactly how you like. For example, being in Ireland, it always annoys me that I have to re-enter my APNs to get my data connection going whilst most others have them preset. Or when I reflash, the most essential app for me is Titanium Backup. Some chefs add them, some don’t.

Well, if you relate to all that and feel like having a little fun, then this is for you.

Relentless Appz ROM Roaster

This is a review of the software. Later I will write, not so much a how to as its pretty simple, but more of a tips and tricks of the software. Whilst Sean doesn’t get a gold star for his Photoshop skills  , he does get bonus stars for making something that is usually out of the reach of the everyday user in to a simple click click affair.

Features

• Add your own APN list
• Add a custom boot screen and Launcher
• Add your own fonts
• Enable APPS2SD
• Choose where apps get installed
• Install specific keyboards
• Add Social networks, Music apps and File sharing apps
• Fine tune control over what apps get added at the beginning
• Add superuser app
• GREAT FUN!!!
• 32b Compatibility Mode -E.g Use a Hero ROM on a Dream/Magic

This is your control centre.

You need a base ROM to work with and load that into the interface. Then as you move along you add and remove features that not completely your liking. When you are done, you hit the turkey and flash your device.

If you need reminding on flashing devices just use the search button on this site.

PRICE: £4.99

I have a daughter, aged 1.5 years. I guess watching me play with my phone, on my desktop clicking and tapping, on my laptop doing the same, all resulting in beeps and screen flashes captures a child’s interests and imaginations. So what can you do when they are this young but insist they need to use the PC. Lots, actually. And none of the solutions damage your settings or files. After all you want to encourage them as much as possible.

First up, BabySmash!

This is a program that gives them instant gratification for all their random and wild clicks on the mouse and taps on the keyboard. It takes up the full screen and locks them out of any of the desktop items.

Features Smash on any keys Draws letters, shapes, numbers Keeps babies happy Won’t harm your computer New features added often

It offers a settings dialog so you can tune the “experience”. You may need to buy a new keyboard after a while though if your child is like mine. Or dig out an old one for them.

Its really good for hand-eye coordination. She is learning to control the mouse movement better and realize each key is different for a reason.

Soon she will be writing on the blog.

Its a free download and you can get it here – Baby Smash!

Secondly, Animal Sounds for Android

The desktop is only one part. So you need something for your phone too. I use Animal sounds to teach her the spellings, sounds and images of a particular animal. It doesn’t lock out the screen but has taught her what a touch screen is and how to use it with swipes.

Its an effective way of keeping her entertained and learning at the same time.

There is of course an options screen, again where you can fine tune things a little. Especially the sound control.

To get it, search for Animal Sounds on the market place and its free.

Here is their website – Linkedin Profile

Thirdly, Baby Go for Android and Blackberry

This one is good because it locks out your mobile screen so they can only learn and play. The creators website is fantastically designed. Below are the feature differences between the paid and free version. For me the free version is enough for now. I am sure she will grow out of it though and I will have to get the super version.

The site doesn’t indicate that its available for Android but a market search will show it up.

I hope these have been useful and if there are some better ones out there, let me know in the comments.

Archos has just announced its brand new 7- and 8-inch Home Tablets, which both run Android and cost €149 ($203). For that layout, you’ll get a 600MHz ARM 9 processor, which won’t be breaking any (positive) records, but the Archos 7 you see above is a very svelte 12mm thin and weighs only 350g, making it an ideal web reading device if not a particularly potent multimedia consumer. You also get WiFi, 2GB of integrated memory on the cheaper versions and a battery that will last for seven hours of video or 44 hours of audio playback. The Archos 8 (pictured after the break) comes with a huge old bezel, hinting at its ability to double up as a picture frame, while sharing the 7′s other features, including price and thickness. The smaller device will be coming out in Europe this April, to be followed by its larger sibling in May.

….Or iPhone for that matter. Symbian S60 v4 will be here in the next six months with handsets being released in the Q3-Q4 of 2010. They have made the much needed changes to the interface and this is, in my opinion, Nokia’s last chance to wow us. Why? Well around the exact same time, Microsoft are releasing their flagship ground breaking OS. Or will it be?

That’s a lot of pressure for both companies, especially given the ground Apple and Android have gained so quickly. With that in mind, it will a regular feature to see both companies “leaking” videos of each stage of development to keep interest. Here are two videos.

Relentless Command Centre

What’s Wrong With It?

The Good Stuff

• Designed for every Avid Android user that has ROOT
• Most useful Fastboot & ADB commands in one centre.
• Backing up of all your apps,
• Restoring all of your apps,
• Push single apps to your device in one click,
• Format your EXT Partition,
• Flash a new custom ROM to your device,
• Fastboot a new ROM or Recovery Image to test it first- a bit of a try before you buy thing,
• Flash a new Recovery Image
• A host of rebooting options

Flash A Recovery Image To Your Android Handset

How To Flash A Custom ROM

Backup of Apps

Backup of Data

Backup of Market Entry

Free and Paid Versions

Other Features

Important Information

A clever dude called Brandon Roberts has achieved a way of installing or making Android with alongside Maemo on the N900. Maemo is a Linux based software, so I guess it wasn’t a far stretch to get Android running too. At the moment, he calls this a proof of concept. Either way, its very exciting.

There are many hurdles to clear so that all things will work correctly like the camera and other hardware, but I am sure this is a matter of time. Engadget have stated, interestingly, that this is the first somebody has done this with Android. However they are completely wrong. Connect_UTB had Android running on Windows Mobile for the past 9 months. I was using it for nearly six months on my HTC Touch Pro before I bought an Android phone.

Here is a video showing the boot happening.

If you followed my original post on How To Root Your HTC Hero and now want to undo it… here is how. I looked this up because I learned that once I installed a newer ROM I couldn’t apply the latest Recovery Mode which has lots of new features and is up to 1.5.2. So if you want the same, you need to downgrade, apply the recovery mode rom using my original post and upgrade again. Yay!..

I found this over on theunlokr.com

Here is how to get back to the original Hero ROM. You can use this to unroot for warranty purposes OR you can use this if you have the latest Hero ROM (which blocks rooting) and want to downgrade so you can root and re upgrade.

1. Download the follow file and save it to your computer:

Hero Original RUU

SPRINT Hero RUU

2. Download HTC Sync and install it on your computer (if you haven’t already). You can download it from HTC here:

HTC Sync

3. Plug in the phone to the computer via USB cable (HTC Sync should be running and automatically connect to the device).

4. Once HTC is done syncing, double click the RUU file and follow the onscreen instructions.

5. That’s it!

Now if you want to root your phone again, just search our site for Hero Root and do that procedure and then the How To Load a Custom ROM one as well.

Reported Issues

Issue: I get Wrong Customer ID…

Solution: This is because you have a branded HTC Hero (T-Mobile G2 for instance). Here is a link to the appropriate RUU for your device, just replace the one we provide with the one that fits your phone from here:

WWE: (World Wide English)
RUU_Hero_HTC_WWE_1.76.405.1_R3_WWE_release_signed_ NoDriver.exe
RUU_Hero_HTC_WWE_1.76.405.6_WWE_release_signed_NoD river.exe

RUU_Hero_HTC_WWE_2.73.405.5_WWE_release_signed_NoD river.exe (CANNOT ROOT THIS FIRMWARE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO DOWNGRADE TO ONE ABOVE IT TO ROOT AGAIN)

RUS: (Russian)
RUU_Hero_HTC_RUS_2.73.411.5_release_signed_NoDrive r.exe
RUU_Hero_HTC_RUS_2.73.411.17_release_signed_NoDriv er.exe

SEA: (South East Asia)
RUU_Hero_HTC_Asia_SEA_WWE_2.73.728.5_release_signe d_NoDriver.exe

Providers:
Orange UK
RUU_Hero_Orange_UK_2.73.61.5_release_signed_NoDriv er.exe

T-Mobile UK
RUU_Hero_T-Mobile_UK_2.73.110.26_release_signed_NoDriver.exe

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We’ve already seen it in China and Brazil, now Dell’s first modern smartphone — the Mini 3 — is headed to the US in the loving arms of AT&T 3G. We expect the specs to remain pretty much the same: 3.5-inch 640×360 display, Bluetooth, 3 megapixel auto-focus camera with flash, microSD, and GPS, though we’ll have to wait to get that confirmed. And from the looks of that pic of a prototype supplied by Direct2Dell, this Android handset will be custom skinned for AT&T. Look for it to hit sometime in the first half of 2010. Bonus pic after the break.

Courtesy of HTC Source

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1. Taskiller – Free

2. Dolphin Browser – Free

3. Feedr – 99c

4. Handcent SMS – Free

5. Market Enabler – Free

______________________

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I know posts have been a little quiet lately but there is little happening this time of year and I always try to only post relevant news. This however is relevant and important. Many of you are most likely going to unwrap an Android phone this year. And for a couple of days you’ll have lots of fun.

However, you are going to quickly learn that you handset is limited. Yes, I know it has great specs and does amazing things, but you’ll realized you’ve been locked out of certain features and add-ons. Now the “people” will have you think that this is for a good reason… so you don’t break anything. And maybe they are right in certain respects but my experience has proven that if you read, read and read again, then follow each step closely, this is a walk in the park.

It’s not so scary!!

I’ll be straight up.. I was scared to do this to my lovely new HTC Hero. I have flashed plenty of windows mobile handsets 100′s of times. I’ve unlocked some of the most difficult handsets and forced upgrades on renationalized phones. But, I thought, what if I muck up.. ah.. my phone!! But then, I remember that this is what is fun and said SO WHAT!! Well that was all for nothing.

First of all, what does it mean to root your phone? Its akin to having a Windows desktop and not having administrator privileges. Yes, you know what that’s like – frustrating!! Rooting allows you full rights over everything and means you can install anything.

Why would you do this?

• Because you can
• Because its most likely still stuck on 1.5
• Because you can use other software like Market Enabler
• Because HTC’s stock ROM sucks after ten minutes and slows down so much

This is the most important tip: BACKUP!

Nandroid is a fantastic piece of software for backing up everything. A Nandroid restore puts the handset back to EXACTLY the state it was in before you flashed a new ROM. So if you don’t like the new ROM, then ten minutes later, its like you never touched it. I’ll explain later how to do this.

Although the rest of this information is based on my personal experience, I got all my help from theunlockr.com who did an article on this very subject.

First – Watch this video but note the change in the instructions from step 6.

Second - Go back and watch the video if you didn’t already! I mean it!

Third - follow these steps:

I. Read Before You Begin

1.This ONLY works on the HTC Hero and the Sprint Hero!
2. Also, if you have already Rooted your HTC Hero without using the  1 click method, then do one of the quick unrooting procedures before beginning to start fresh. Head to their site for more info on this.
3. Your Hero MUST be on Cupcake to proceed, use the Magic unrooting process to get to a fresh cupcake install!
4. IF YOUR HAVE FIRMWARE 2.73.x.x OR ABOVE, PLEASE USE THIS PROCEDURE HERE BEFORE YOU DO THIS ONE.
How To Downgrade Your Hero (So It Can Be Rooted)

II. Let’s Get Started

1. On your phone, goto Settings, Applications, and make sure Unknown source is checked ON.

2. On your phone, goto Settings, SD card and phone storage, and click Unmount SD card.

3. Then click Format SD card (it should automatically remount after this).

4. Plug the phone into the compuer via USB, then pull down the notification bar and click on the SD card notification. Then click mount.

5. Download this APK and recovery image and save it to your computer:

FlashRec.apk (Updated 09/26/2009)
Amon Ra’s Hero Recovery Image (Updated 11.18.09)

6. UPDATE: Do NOT follow the video instructions from this point on (use them as a visual aid only!) We have recplaced the Cyanogen Recovery Image with the Amon Ra one so when it says anything about the Cyanogen Recovery Image, just ignore that and put the Amon Ra one in it’s place. This is VERY IMPORTANT when typing into the FlashRec program. You will NOT be typing what is written in the video, type what is written here in this procedure instead!

7. Save both the Recovery-RA-HERO-v1.2.2.img and the FlashRec.apk to your computer, then copy them both to your SD card (do NOT put them inside any folders on the SD card, just put them on the SD card itself).

8. Unplug the phone from the computer once they are downloaded to the SD card.

8. Goto the Market and download Linda File Manager or any file manager program if you do not already have one.

9. Open the file manager and goto SDCard and then find the FlashRec apk file and click it. If asked tell it to use Package Installer to open it. It should automatically install the apk.

10. Open the FlashRec program and click on Backup Recovery Image and wait for it to finish.

11. Once done, click on the empty text box in the FlashRec program and type (again remember we have replaced the recovery image from the one in the video so type what is written here, NOT what is written in the video!):

/sdcard/Recovery-RA-HERO-v1.2.3.img

Then click on the Flash Custom RecoveryImage button and wait for it to finish.

12. Turn off the phone and turn it on into Recovery mode by holding down Home and Power to turn it on (keep holding until the recovery screen comes up has a bunch of text on a black background). So long as that screen comes up, you have done it correctly and can now go on to the How to Load a ROM video for your appropriate device!

13. To get Root access you MUST go to the next video mentioned above and load a custom ROM.

Okay… so that wasn’t so hard… but what now… Well you need to get hold of a decent ROM.. I am using the Eclair 2.1 ROM from here and it is really fast and superb. But when you get to the stage of turning off your phone and pressing Power + Home to get to the recovery menu, MAKE SURE YOU RUN NANDROID.

Once you’ve done that, then flash away.

Please note this disclaimer: I am not responsible in any way if you damage your handset. I have pointed out that this is easy to do, however I have a lot of experience with this stuff. I offer no warranty whatsoever on this information. I am happy to answer any questions you have on this. Have fun.

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I thought you may find it helpful to have it detailed on how to add the settings to your Android handset. You probably already know I have a HTC Hero, so my information is based on setting up the Hero but it should apply to any Android handset. You should probably bookmark it for future reference.

Why? Cause if you play around with your Hero like I do and then do a wipe handset or reset…BOOM!! Settings gone. Then you will try to ring the network and they will probably do the usual… “Hmmm, we don’t seem to have that phone on our system”… and then you’ll say something like… “But I bought it in your store”…. and so on and so on…

Image via Wikipedia

So here goes and in fact these settings may and will work on many other phones.

To input them.. Goto > Settings > Wireless Controls > Mobile Network Settings > Access Point Names > Press Menu > Add APN > Enter the below settings > and at the end make sure you press Menu and Save (Not Back!!!)