Softpedia News - Help guides, tweaks and facts

Root Exploit Already Available for Galaxy S 4

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:41:01 GMT

Starting today, users in various markets around the world can purchase Samsung’s latest Android-based flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S 4, as the device becomes available through both carriers and third-party retailers.

In the US, for example, the smartphone landed at AT&T, Sprint, and US Cellular, and should be released on shelv... (read more)

How to Update Galaxy Note N7000 to Android 4.1.2 XXLT4

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:11:00 GMT

Samsung Galaxy Note, the first handset in Samsung’s family of large smartphones, has received a new firmware upgrade in Germany recently, one that provides users with the possibility to install software version XXLT4 on their handsets.

The ROM is based on the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system, the same as the pre... (read more)

How to Update Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 to PR1.1

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:01:02 GMT

Yesterday, Nokia and Microsoft announced the availability of a new software update for the owners of Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 devices in the United States and Canada, providing them with a variety of enhancements and new features.

Initially available only for the Lumia 920 and 820 at AT&T in the United States and for the Lumia 920 at R... (read more)

How to Make the BlackBerry App World Icon Appear After Update

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:51:02 GMT

One of the common issues that BlackBerry users encounter on their devices is the missing BlackBerry App World icon from the screen after an update.

Apparently, the issue appears with more than one native application from Research In Motion, yet there are a few ways to resolve it.

Users who have had a beta ... (read more)

How to Install Windows Phone 7.8 on Lumia Devices from NaviFirm

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:10:00 GMT

Today, the Windows Phone 7.8 platform has been spotted in NaviFirm for Nokia’s devices powered by Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 OS, suggesting that it should not be too long before users receive it officially.

However, those who would like to update their smartphones before that happens can already do so, ... (read more)

How to Start a Voice Chat in BBM 7

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:31:01 GMT

The latest version of the Blackberry Messenger arrived in the BlackBerry App World with a brand new feature, long awaited by many, namely BBM Voice.

The enhancement provides users with the possibility to easily start a voice chat from a BBM text conversation.

The feature is currently available in BBM 7 for all devices running under ... (read more)

How to Root Samsung’s Galaxy S III Mini I8190

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:31:01 GMT

Samsung’s Galaxy S III Mini I8190 smartphone, released for those users who would rather purchase a smaller device than go for the flagship Galaxy S III handset, has been rooted too.

Although featuring the same name as the predecessor, the Galaxy S III Mini smartphone is a bit different from it, but the rooting process appears to ... (read more)

Root Available for DROID DNA Ahead of Official Release

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:51:01 GMT

DROID DNA by HTC, the 5-inch full HD smartphone that Verizon made official earlier this week, is set to arrive on shelves on November 21, yet it has been already rooted.

The smartphone has been previously reported to arrive on shelves with an unlockable bootloader, a feature that should be welcomed by many users, who can now t... (read more)

Root Now Available for Google’s Nexus 4

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:11:00 GMT

Google made its new Nexus 4 device available for purchase two days ago, and the first units started to arrive in users’ hands today, with all the goodies that Android 4.2 Jelly Bean can offer to them.

However, those who managed to purchase the Nexus 4 can now do a bit more with the device, as a rooting method has been already discovere... (read more)

How to Sync iCloud with Your Android Device

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Mon, 5 Nov 2012 07:25:00 GMT

Switching between different mobile operating systems could be a real pain sometimes, especially when it comes to syncing all the contacts and other content from a device to another.

Moving from Apple’s iPhone to an Android handset could pose similar problems sometimes, yet solutions to make the transition seamless are already avail... (read more)

10 Tips to Get the Most from Your Nokia Lumia Smartphone

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:51:01 GMT

Nokia’s Lumia smartphones, those who run under Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system, have some great features to deliver to their users, but not all of them are known to all people out there.

Many of those who chose a Nokia Lumia device previously owned an Android or an iOS device, and they might not be com... (read more)

Setting Up the New Local Windows Phone Marketplaces

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:19:00 GMT

Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace is currently available for owners of devices running under the company’s mobile OS in 13 new countries.

The Redmond-based software giant has just announced the availability of the storefront in these markets, but pointed out the fact that it might take a while before applications... (read more)

How to Install Gingerbread Update on LG Phoenix (AT&T)

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:01:02 GMT

One of the most popular budget-friendly Android smartphones available on the market, the LG Optimus One already received its Gingerbread upgrade a long time ago.

However, several carrier-bounded Optimus One models have been left out from the initial deployment of the upgrade. One of these carrier-branded models is AT&T’s LG... (read more)

BlackBerry Bold 9900 ‘No Sound’ Issue Gets Fix

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 20:01:01 GMT

There are many BlackBerry fans who purchased one of the latest BlackBerry 7 smartphones unveiled by Research In Motion (RIM) last year, namely the Bold 9900. Some of them experience problems with the phone, which renders the device unusable for phone calls.

How to Manually Install the Official Ice Cream Sandwich on Nexus S

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:01:02 GMT

Google has just started to deliver the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system upgrade to Nexus S devices on its network, offering a brand new experience for all those who purchased the first Google phone from Samsung.

The update will be pushed out to all Nexus S users over the air during the coming mont... (read more)

Nokia N9 Tips and Tricks (II)

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Sun, 6 Nov 2011 11:17:00 GMT

It's been almost a month since Nokia N9 hit shelves and the excitement built around the MeeGo device brings more fans to the Finnish company.

Nokia created almost the perfect symbiosis between a smartphone and a mobile operating system. The way a user interacts with the N9 is simply fabulous, different from anything that's been thrown at users in the last ... (read more)

How to Take Screenshots on Nokia N9

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 20:01:01 GMT

Recently launched on the market, Nokia N9 comes with a brand new operating system based on Linux, MeeGo.

Even though it took Google quite a long time to make it possible for basic users to take screenshots on their Android devices, it appears that Nokia N9 received this feature at launch.

Obviously, the feature does not come embedded in ... (read more)

Nokia N9 Tips and Tricks (I)

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:01:02 GMT

Although Nokia confirmed that the N9 will be its first and last smartphone based on the MeeGo operating system, the Finnish company announced it will support the device with software updates and apps until at least 2015.

Nokia N9 comes with a brand new operating system based on Linux, and features a unique user interface, which seems to be based on a single... (read more)

How to Manually Install Android 2.3.6 on Google Nexus One

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:01:02 GMT

The venerable Nexus One handset is about to get the latest Android 2.3.6 update far ahead other modern smartphones.

In fact, Nexus One is the second smartphone to receive this update, after Google pushed Android 2.3.6 to all Nexus S devices about three weeks ago.

Unfortunately, Nexus S owners who updated to Android... (read more)

DROID Bionic Can Already Be Rooted, Here's How

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:21:02 GMT

Motorola's latest high-end smartphone, the DROID Bionic, hit Verizon's shelves on Thursday, and it already got rooted, the latest reports on the matter suggest.

Apparently, this is the same rooting process that was used for some other Motorola handsets that landed on shelves this year, including the DROID 3 or the DROID X2, or older... (read more)

How to Update Nokia N8, C6-01, C7 and E7 to Symbian Anna

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:51:02 GMT

Last week, the new Symbian Anna mobile operating system flavor was made available for download for handsets launched on the market with the Symbian^3 OS on board, namely the Nokia N8, C6-01, C7 and E7.

The Finnish phone maker announced at the time that users can download and install the new OS upgrade on their devices using diff... (read more)

How to Speed Up Your Galaxy S II Usage

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:45:00 GMT

Samsung's Galaxy S II is one of the most appealing mobile phones that arrived on shelves with Google's Android operating system on board, with over 3 million units sold in less than two months after its official release.

The handset comes with powerful and fast 1.2GHz application processor inside, complemented by 1GB of RAM, and can deliver in... (read more)

How to Delete a Desktop Contact List from a BlackBerry Smartphone

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:01:01 GMT

It appears that BlackBerry smartphones are plagued by an annoying issue that makes Desktop Contact Lists to duplicate every time someone moves or re-adds a BlackBerry user to the Blackberry Enterprise Server without wiping their device before reactivating.

Although users will be able to select a single address book... (read more)

How to Upgrade Samsung Showcase to Android 2.2 Froyo

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Wed, 6 Jul 2011 19:01:02 GMT

Cellular South has finally released the highly-anticipated Android 2.2 Froyo software update for its rebranded Galaxy S.

Dubbed as Samsung Showcase, the smartphone was initially delivered with Android 2.1 (Eclair), but the latest EE25 update will bring the phone's firmware to Froyo.

The update is available via Sa... (read more)

How to Upgrade Cincinnati Bell Motorola Milestone XT720 to Android 2.2 Froyo

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Mon, 4 Jul 2011 19:01:02 GMT

Although Motorola decided against pushing any major software updates for the Milestone XT720, it appears that Cincinnati Bell will offer its customers a non-Motorola certified Android 2.2 Froyo update.

It is unusual for a carrier to deploy an unapproved software update, but Cincinnati Bell considered that ... (read more)

20 Years Since the First GSM Call

Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) — Fri, 1 Jul 2011 13:40:00 GMT

Today, the world celebrates two decades since the first GSM call in the world was made, on July 1st, 1991, in Finland.

The very first call on GSM was made on the airwaves of Radiolinja, which has become Elisa in the meantime, on a network infrastructure provided by TeleNokia and Siemens, which is known today as Nokia Siemens Network.
read more)

How to Take Screenshots on Windows Phone 7 Smartphones

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:01:01 GMT

Until Microsoft will enable Windows Phone 7 smartphone end-users the capability of taking screenshots of their devices, we're left with a simple emulator tool that take marketplace-compatible screenshots.

This is only useful for developers who wish to post screenshots of their apps in the marketplace, but there's no functionality... (read more)

General Tips and Tricks for BlackBerry Users

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:01:01 GMT

Even though RIM's market share plummets, while Android and iOS continue to skyrocket, BlackBerry smartphones remain the bread and butter of business customers.

The nemesis of the whole lineup of Blackberry devices is the fact that most of them look alike, while software differences are minimal.

However, this might also be ... (read more)

Shortcuts and Tricks for BlackBerry Smartphones

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:01:02 GMT

Although a BlackBerry smartphone is by definition a business device, there are several lesser-known functions that can help make users' experience more enjoyable and entertaining.

Most of them have little to no use in the business world, but others are very useful for those who wish to tweak their handsets and give them an original... (read more)

Tips to Improve Your Android Smartphone's Battery Life

Softpedia News (Cosmin Vasile) — Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:01:00 GMT

One of the biggest issues with Android smartphone is the low battery life, which seems to plague almost all models regardless of the battery's capacity.

Either it's a 1900 mAh or a 1500 mAh battery, they are drained almost at the same pace by Android phones partly because of the hardware that requires high amounts of energy somet... (read more)