Reviews and Articles

The first step you need to take if you're going to use a custom ROM on a Nexus device is to unlock the bootloader. All bootloaders -- even on a Nexus phone -- come locked. The big difference is that a Nexus phone's bootloader can be easily unlocked with just a few commands. Here's how to unlock the Galaxy Nexus bootloader. Note:  This will erase everything on your Galaxy Nexus , so if you think it's something you'll ever want to do, we suggest doing it when you first get the phone. You'll need to download and install the  Android SDK . If you're using Windows or Mac, you'll need the Fastboot tool. ( Download for Windows , download for Mac .) If you're using Linux, you can  make your own Fastboot tool . (And if you're using Linux, chances are you already know how to do all this anyway.) Stick it in your sdk tools or platform-tools folder. Reboot the Galaxy Nexus into the bootloader/fastboot mode. The easiest way to do that is to turn th...

So  Android 4.0.2's starting to roll out  to the GSM version of the  Samsung Galaxy Nexus . But maybe you don't want to wait? (We sure don't.) Here's how to easily flash the update to your phone,  same as we did for the volume bug update . Note that this won't erase anything, and it's really no different than if you sat back and waited. Note that this is for stock phones, and for people who want to update without really doing any real  hackery but don't mind a little command line work. Nothing we do here is permanent, other than the update itself. If you've already flashed CWM, then you probably already know what you're doing anyway. And with that ... Thanks, Scott, for the OTA location The prerequisites: You need a GSM Galaxy Nexus with the product codename 'yakju'. NOT the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, or 'yakjuxw', or 'yakjusc' or  any of the other variants  we've heard about. Check your product name before you beg...

Statistics we've just made up show that the perceived superiority of Apple devices for storing, managing and playing MP3s is one of the leading causes of iPhone envy. If you're an Android user, there's no need to suffer in silence while your iPod- and iPhone-owning counterparts wallow in glorious sound. The Android Market holds a treasure trove of apps for music fans like you -- apps that can do everything from downloading free music to syncing your Android phone with iTunes. Whether you want to manage multiple music libraries, stream tunes or jam to your playlists from a cool interface, we've got ten wonderful Android applications for you. As always, use the comments to let us know which great music-related Android apps we missed!    1. Pandora     Rating : 5/5 stars,  Price : FREE,  Downloads : >250,000  Pandora  is a perennial crowd favorite for fans of streaming audio. This app allows you to create personalized radio stations bas...

[ Updated : February 21st] The year 2011 was all about “dual core”, becoming the standard for high-end smartphones. And we just witnessed what superphones like the Samsung Galaxy S II, DROID RAZR MAXX, and others are capable of. These phones are five times more powerful than anything released last year, and for this upcoming generation of devices, even more. So, what next? This year, chip-makers have come forth with quad core processors supporting mobile multitasking comparable to the performance of a desktop computer of a few years ago, powered by Tegra 3 SoC’s and TI’s OMAP equivalent. More cores equal more power and a faster smartphone; certainly they are likely to offer increased power savings and a performance increase in the range of 300-500%. And, they actually have power saving features embedded in them too. NVIDIA Tegra Product Roadmap And the players include HTC, Motorola, Sony, Samsung, LG, and Meizu. We will look at the devices they are bringing to market o...