How To Make Your First Android App

This is one of the contentions frequently used to make the Android conciliatory sentiment: the system is open and permits anybody to take part by making their own applications. As per him, it's basic, however appearances are misleading on the grounds that it is not that simple to make an application. Find in this article how to make a Hello World!

Also Read:

• Take Control Of Your Smartphone's Battery With This App
• 13 Simple Steps To Setup Your Android Smartphone For The First Time

Sometimes we hear that it is easy to make an application on Android. Simple? All is relative. With some experience, it is not very confounded, particularly in the event that you utilize programs that do the vast majority of the work for you. Nevertheless, it is important to have a few bases. We will make the first year of the project students: bring up a text on the screen that says Hello World. As we are not in school and that our world is the world of Android, we will post Hello EnTech .

Installing the programs needed

Android development is mainly done in Java, one of the most used computer languages. If you already have experience with other languages, especially C ++, you should have no great difficulty to understand.

Anyone can learn to make an Android app, but this is not an easy task

The development environment is that we will use Android Studio, recommended by Google itself. 

Let's start with Android Studio download from this link . After downloading the setup, open it and follow the on-screen information, it is very simple. At the time of installation, it is likely that the application asks you to install the software development kit (JDK 7), you can obtenirà from this link. Once installed JDK, Android Studio installer will ask you where to find jdk, it should be at this address C: \ Windows \ System32.

Once Android Studio is installed, launch it and let's get to work!

Create new project

After starting the software, you get to the screen below. You can imagine, create an application can be a real site and does not fit on a single document, so the term is proposed . So click the first button: Start a new Android Studio project .

Then click Next, and you will reach a new window. In the first input field, you can type the name you want for your application. For example, let's call it "HelloEnTech". The second line is for us little importance. The third is where your project will be saved.

The following window will let you choose which platform and version your application is supposed to work. In our case, we pigs Phone and Tablet because we have no interest in creating an application for a smartwatch, a TV or other connected devices.

Choose on which your application will run. © EnTech

After clicking Next you arrive in a new window. She asks you roughly speaking what type of application you want to create to suit your choice, choose Blank Activity .

You now have before the last window of project creation. Go just a name of activity, such HelloEnTech, the rest should be filled automatically. Of course, you can customize it.

Choose a name for your business, the rest will fill alone. © EnTech

Then wait a moment while your project is created. The software will then load the interface, which can be quite long.

Edit Text

Once fully open software, you can click Project , all left vertical. You should now have the following screen before you. 

This is the window from which we can modify the application. © EnTech

We left the root that will allow you to access the file containing the project. Toward the middle we find the range that will enable us to make changes such as, for example, adding text. Under the palette you can see a Design tab and Text tab, by clicking on it you will have access to the code that, for some, may be more useful than the GUI. To the right of the palette, you see a real-time overview of the changes you make on your project. For example, if you add text, you ule will appear in this menu.

In the root, go to res> layout> activity_helloentech.xml . As you can see, Android Studio chewed we work: Hello World is already displayed on the screen. We want to show EnTech Hello and as we have no fear, we will not only change the text but recreate it. So click Text Fields in the palette, as shown below.

Click Text Fields can delete the text. © EnTech

You can now click on the text Hello World, which now has a blue outline. Press Delete (or Del, depending on your keyboard) to delete the text. Now that this ugly text left your screen, you can put a new one. To do this, go to the palette and then click Large Text and then position it on the preview to where you want.

Of course, you can also go through the code. You can also use other commands such as gravity for vertical or horizontal center your text, etc.

Be careful though. Once you create your text, you can see at the top right a small icon next to textView is a symbol of warning (Warning). It is not a mistake but a reminder that there may be a problem. In our case, it is enough to click on it and then click the arrow and click the first link, as shown in the image below.

The Warnings are not error messages, only information. © EnTech

Function that is not particularly helpful in our case because we all just display text on the screen: you can preview your application on different models of different sizes. By default, you have the Nexus 4, but you can select the one you want.

Select the device you want. © EnTech

Then connect your phone to your computer. To start your application, you just have to click on the small triangle symbol. representative reading, or Play, which is found on all videos (eg on YouTube). In the window that opens, click on your phone and start the procedure. Your application should then embark on your phone.

Advice from a developer EnTech

We have several developers here at EnTech. Anibal Camunas is one of them and graciously helped create this tutorial. He shares his experience and has a message for our readers who are interested in programming, whether professional or amateur.

"Before asking if we can do an application on Android, it must be asked what we felt the first time we had a phone in her hands. When I got my first smartphone, I was a web developer but once I had the camera in hand I realized that the future would involve smartphones. It's been three years since I turned toward programming on smartphone and I have never regretted my choice.  Create application has advantages and disadvantages. The feeling that we feel when we see people use our application is indescribable, and we are happy to say that these are the lines of code that has been written that made ​​it all possible. But on the other hand, one must have nerves of steel when a problem comes out of nowhere and only appears on some devices, these are days and days working to resolve this issue.

If you feel a creative soul, so do not hesitate and try your luck .  "

So feel free to get started. We start with a Hello EnTech and we end up with an app that attracts millions of users. Contact us if you have problems.

- See More at: http://summitautoinsurance.com

[How To] Uninstall Native Apps From Your Android

When you buy a smartphone, purchase from a number of standard software that possibly will never use. One of the most widespread advice to get rid of native applications of Android, called bloatwares , is the device root. However, this tutorial will teach you to remove these applications with and without the device root.

Also Read:

• How To Root Any Android Phone
• 5 Things You Shouldn't Do With Your Android Device

How to uninstall Android native applications - WITHOUT root

To accomplish the removal of bloatwares your Android device without root, we will use the application to Windows: Debloater. Follow the step by step below:

• Download the Debloater on your computer.
• Connect your device via USB cable and install the debloater on the computer.
• Enable USB debugging function. To do this simply go to Settings> Developer options> debugging> USB Debugging. 

 If the "Developer options" is not enabled, go to settings> about phone> look for the "version number"> tap repeatedly on her until a warning you are now a developer to appear

• With activated debug mode open debloater on your computer.
• Press information.
• Click on "Read device packages".
• Select and review the packages you want to remove
• Click on "Apply"

Note : Pay close attention to the packages you want to eliminate as many of them may have names that are not easily recognizable, and some may affect other applications.

Rescue

If you have deleted any application that does not want to remove, do not go into despair. The Debloater does not erase anything definitely, simply blocks the process that stops running on your device. If you made a mistake, just unlock it by clicking "Unblock All Packages" and all native programs will be restored.

How to uninstall Android native applications - COM root

Prerequisites:

To get rid of this type of "stop" in this way there are some prerequisites:

• Administrator privileges, in other words, have root access on your device;
• Download and install Titanium Backup Root application:

How To Backup Your Android Phone And Keep All Your Date Safe

Titanium Backup ★ root Install on Google Play

Removing native apps from your Android

If you have completed all the prerequisites, get to work! But before that, I recommend a backup of device data , because if you end up uninstalling any system package required for the use of your phone, you can recover it through the backup . Otherwise, you must reinstall the original device ROM.

When opening the Titanium Backup Root program for the first time, you need to allow superuser access by clicking on the option "Allow", as indicated in the image below. Then you will be directed to the first app screen with three tabs: "Overview" , "Backup / Restore" and "schedules" , select the "Backup / Restore" :

As you can see in the picture above, all applications installed on your smartphone will appear in the list and all you need to do is find the program you want to uninstall and click on it. The program will show details of the App and offer options . "Backup", "Freeze" and "Uninstall"  Choose the button "Uninstall" and the application no longer will make part of your device's software:

If you are in doubt as to the removal of a complete application, the Titanium Backup root also provides the ability to just disable the app by clicking the "Freeze".

As you can see, the removal of native system applications is not a difficult process to be done, but requires administrative apparatus access the second option, which can cause you to lose the warranty of your smartphone. This process is recommended above all for domestic appliance with storage problems.

Which applications to uninstall?

As mentioned earlier, Android smartphones come with completely unnecessary applications, which in many cases even worsen the performance of your device. Now that you have learned how to do, I indicate, then the five applications you should uninstall for various reasons such as excessive battery consumption, stratospheric usage data plan, useless functions or outdated services.

Facebook

The Facebook application is a social networking tool loaded functions, with which you can make much of his public life. It keeps you informed when you're tagged in an image when a friend's birthday or when someone comments on your photo. This range of features makes a series of services to run in the background, which costs a lot of battery and RAM of your device. Give up some notifications and functions can bring a lot of autonomy for your Android. Thus, it is a good idea to uninstall the Social Network app.

Instead of the application, you can set up the Facebook site as the initial window of your favorite browser. Open Facebook in your browser, log in and when you are on the main page, open the menu on the Address Book button and select Add to Home Screen . When you close this tab, Facebook simply to consume your battery and data plan.

Another option may be to try Facebook Lite, an alternative app Facebook much lighter use, saving RAM to load images with lower resolution:

Weather.com (or any other weather app)

Widgets or applications climate and weather not only take up space and consume a lot of data, updating their forecasts at regular intervals (you like it or not). For the time right place at the right time, you do not need specific application: just ask Google! This option saves, working memory, internal memory, data volume and battery.

If you prefer to give up other services and stay with a time app, check our list of the best kind of applications:

360 Security (or any other antivirus app)

Your Android device and the Play Store already have good native services to prevent the installation of viruses and malware. In addition, anti-virus applications often have an anti-theft function, which requires administrator access. Thus, if any of such companies is attacked by hackers, your device may be blocked permanently at bay. Google already offers a service type (Android Device Manager) and the Play Store has efficient filters to prevent virus apps are available in the store. Of course, the story changes a bit when you often download apps from unknown sources.

Clean Master (or any cleaning application)

Cleaning applications promise more space on your device 's memory. It's true: when you delete apps, some residual files remain on your smartphone, and many applications "clog up" its internal memory to cache data. However, we do not need applications to perform cleaning. Go to the Android Settings> Storage and points as data in cache or other business you can delete the cache and manually wipe useless files.

Services such as Clean Master and company operating regular cleanings, but also consume more battery and your data plan with advertising. Also, Flash memory cells have a limited number of write cycles, so not worth delete the entire cache of certain apps to begin to store information from the beginning.

Default Browser

We chose Chrome, Firefox or another browser? So get rid of the default browser. It is based on an old engine, which does not receive security updates and makes it vulnerable to your internet surfing. To protect your passwords and private data, always choose a current browser. Our list below provides the best services for Android:

To get rid of the default browser, go to Settings> Applications> All and disable the service. The advantage of alternative browsers (in addition to higher security) is the option that many bring data economy, as well as synchronization with the possibility equivalent service on the desktop.

And then he managed to lose your Android all unnecessary bloatwares? You have any other application that you think should be eliminated once and for all? Comment here.

How To Stop Your Smartphone From Heating

Heat wave! Both external and internal factors, your smartphone can reach extreme temperatures, and some applications may fail, or the camera, or even might let you not put maximum brightness. We explain why this happens and how to fix it with a few applications.

First, you need to understand that all smartphones are heated at certain times. This has to do both with the ambient temperature and with the internal processes of your phone. Obviously, if there is a heat wave with 40 degrees on the street, your smartphone will arrive before heat levels that prevent you to perform certain tasks. If your device overheats often and sometimes seem to take lava pocket, you need to find the cause and remedy for this problem.

Also Read:

• [How To] Save Battery Life On Your Android SmartPhone Device
• How To Backup Your Android Phone And Keep All Your Date Safe

The first thing to recognize is the part of the phone that is radiating heat. This will determine where is the problem and help us find the solution.

You call hell on your phone? We have the solution / © EnTech

Battery Problems

If the area of your smartphone warming is most often the back, it is possible that it is a battery problem. To check if this is the case of your terminal, you can use the USSD code  * # * # 4636 # * # * for information on using your phone. Some smartphones, such as the Huawei brand, do not accept this code.

Once inside this menu, go to the section 'Battery Information'. Here you will find, among other things, the temperature of your terminal. The normal temperature of a phone at rest should be around 30 ° C, but if we have been using more powerful applications, such as video games, it is normal to rise to almost 40 ° C.

The 'Battery Status' section will also help us to know if there is a problem. If shows us anything other than 'Good' (eg 'status unknown'), restart your phone and turn it back check. If you continue to receive the same message, our battery may be defective and needed to replace it.

Problems with charger

If overheating is especially true when loading the phone and is particularly noticeable in the part where the charging plug is, it is more than likely that the problem is the charger you are using. This can happen when we are using a charger that is not approved by the manufacturer. Try to use another and see if the problem persists. If not, get rid of the old charger.

Performance Issues

If none of the solutions explained above seems to work, or if overheating occurs in other areas (the screen, the handset, the top ...) it is possible that the phone is overheating for other reasons.

Video game

Today, some of the games available on Play Store have an unimaginable quality for a terminal the size of our smartphone. Unfortunately, this also means that in order to make them work, we need our phone has certain characteristics (mainly a powerful processor), so if the specifications of our smartphone are limited, not only the gaming experience will be much worse, but our device will likely be charged.

Still, even the most powerful terminals may become warm after hours of play. No matter how good the specifications of our terminals, they also have their limitations, so it is necessary to be aware of how to use the application correctly.

Background Applications

Moderated by the number of widgets that are active and applications running in the background on the terminal. Animated wallpapers, several widgets of time, time and date, media players ... When all of these work at the same time, our CPU is forced to overwork and, as a result, the temperature of our phone will rise.

Hardware

The size of your terminal, type of processor or any part that has replaced the phone can determine the heat emitted by your phone. If the sobrecalemiento has begun after replacing a piece of the terminal, this could be the cause. Please report the site repairs for more information.

Applications to control the temperature of your smartphone

There are different applications in Play Store designed to monitor and optimize the temperature of your phone. These are some of the most popular:

Coolify

Coolify  is an application for root users that applies a series of process changes that allow phone keep an optimum temperature to ensure proper operation. The use of this application is very simple, since it has only one function: to keep the terminal at low temperatures.

Coolify Install on Google Play

TempMonitor

This application shows you which phone proceses that are causing the warming are. Similar to menu 'Battery use' in Android settings, but with temperature.

TempMonitor Lite Install on Google Play

CPU Gauge

Another service to monitor real-time CPU and battery usage in Android. CPU Gauge also notify us when the battery reaches high levels.

Cpu Gauge Install on Google Play

The controversy Snapdragon 810

One of the problems he had to face chipmaker Qualcomm was the strong criticism it received its Snapdragon 810, and its supposed effect of overheating in some terminals. This chip was included in some of the key smartphones last year, as the HTC One M9 or the LG G Flex 2 . 

It has never been known for sure if these criticisms were well founded, since the opinion of phone users with this processor was divided. Qualcomm's vice president, Tim McDonough, explained that this was totally false, revealing that it was merely a strategy to focus Samsung undecided buyers in the launch of its Galaxy S6 .

Did you served this guide help?

Setting Up Your Android Smartphone

Following our series Android for Beginners, start the tutorials with the basics, that is, how to configure and change the settings of your Android, either the first time or after a factory reset. Check out how to perform this process.

Also Read:

5 Things You Shouldn't Do With Your Android Device

[How To] Save Battery Life On Your Android SmartPhone Device

When starting a new device, or after a factory reset, the device itself follows a set pattern. However, after a while of use, if you want to change these specifications will have to follow some steps. These tips are valid for both smartphones, as Android tablets.

Remember that each phone is different and that each manufacturer adds little extras to their devices in order to make them different from other competitors. But as we all run with the OS from Google, the settings are quite similar.

Go straight to the point you

• Set the SIM card Set date and time
• Setting the language of your device and keyboard 
• Download the Google Play store
• Setting up a Wi-Fi network 
• Personalizing Your Android
• Set up or log in with a Google account 
• Set up notifications and sounds
• Check for updates 
• Transfer data from an old device to the new

Set up your SIM card

The first step to configure a device is to insert the SIM card on your Android smartphone. It is important to consider that some devices use different size cards: SIM card, micro-SIM and nano-SIM. So often an adapter is needed (micro-SIM to SIM) or a smaller chip (SIM to micro-SIM).

After insert SIM card, connect the unit. At this time, the system prompts you for your PIN number to unlock it.

You can change the PIN on your SIM card once you have installed it. To do this, go to Settings> Security> Set up SIM lock> Change SIM card PIN.

Setting the language of your device and keyboard

You can choose the device language from the input screen, the first settings of your Android. Go to Settings> Language & input> Language. This process will change the language of the system on your smartphone automatically.

Unlike the language of your device, the default keyboard can be configured in multiple languages. This is especially helpful if you have friends or professional contacts from other countries.

To set the keypad of your phone, go to Settings> Language & input> Keyboard Input and methods (eg Google or LG Keyboard)> click on the chosen keyboard> Language> select the languages ​​you want to have.

Some devices have a limit of languages ​​that can be active at the same time.

Setting up a Wi-Fi network

If you are within range of a wireless network, connect to it. Simply click on the Settings Menu> Wi-Fi> Activate> Select your network> Enter the password, if required> Connect.

This step goes for every time you want to connect your device with a new network. The closed networks, namely that need password appear with a lock signal side. Open networks appear with nothing.

The signal strength is easily identified by the number of bars in "bold" in the Wi-Fi signal, next to the name of the network.

Set up or log in with a Google account

To use Google applications and services, you need to have a Google account. For example, if you want to download from the Google Play store. If you already have a Google account, you can login and enter your data right on the settings input stage. Then you will be asked to agree or disagree with Google services, such as location data sharing and backup option of your information.

If you do not have a Google account, just follow the system requests and choose a username and password. Be sure to save your password in a safe place so that you can come to use in the future. That is to say that you do not necessarily need to have a Google account to use the phone, the only issue is that you will have much less resources available.

To add or change the Google accounts on your device, just go to Settings> Google and change what you want in your profile.

Set up your Google account also allows you to change functions such as backup photos, location apps connected to an account, Google searches and more.

Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, ask for the registration of an extra account, linked to the company. This is only necessary if you want to use some special services like download from manufacturer Store apps. If you are not interested, just skip this step.

Check for system updates available

Whenever possible, make sure the manufacturer of your device has already released an update of the same software. How many devices hit the market running versions of Android prior to the present - which today is Android 7.0 Nougat. You can check if your device has received a system update by going to Settings> General> About Phone> Update Center> Software Update.

These updates provide new features to the system of your device, and arruman failures of previous systems. However, the new OS updates also bring bugs and flaws can, and in some cases, in older devices, the upgrade is not worth it. Check the news about each update on our website.

Set date and time in Android

Set the date and time on your device is very easy. Go to Settings> System> Date and Time> Set Date and logo, set time. For more comfort, you can trigger the automatic date and time option, ideal for those who travel a lot, and also auto time zone, thus avoiding confusion with daylight saving time.

Download the Google Play store

After the initial setup of your smartphone is already complete, it's time to check what are the applications that come pre-installed on your phone or tablet.

To get an overview of the apps present in your phone, take a look at the apps drawer, or in the application menu that appears when you press the icon with several comics on the home screen of your device. In some devices this drawer is no more, but you can view the pre-installed applications on your device on the home page or by scrolling the pages right and left. In it, you can see a list of icons for all applications present on your phone.

If you have not found the application you want from the native apps of the system, access the Google Play Store, find the apps you want and download them to your Android device. We'll talk more on how to download, update, and remove applications, in an exclusive article series.

Customize your Android

The coolest thing to have an Android, are the customization possibilities of it. As mentioned in the first article of the series, the Android is an open source system and therefore can be changed almost completely.

For example, if you do not enjoy the background image from your mobile phone, do not despair - all smartphones offer a selection with different possibilities. These options change according to the manufacturer, just go to Settings> Display> Home Screen> Wallpaper.

If you wanted to use a shortcut, commonly, long pressing the home screen, a menu opens with options to enter New screens, Applications, Widgets and Wallpapers. Here it is worth remembering that live wallpapers or wallpapers that move, consume more battery. Also, you can add photos from your gallery of images as wallpaper.

On some devices, you can still change the font style and symbols. If you are not satisfied with your smartphone interface, you can still flirt with applications that add a new launcher alternative applications to the device, as the New Launcher, the Aviate and Google Now Launcher.

Configuring notifications and sounds

In this step you will be able to configure all of the sounds and notifications on your device. The part of this, each application has its own sound settings and notifications.

To change the general settings for calls, messages and other sounds and notifications on your device, go to Settings> Sound & notification. On this screen you will find several changes you can make in your handset as ring volume, ring tone, alarm volume, media volume, enabling and disabling vibration.

The Do Not Disturb feature allows that only the applications you authorize sending notifications while the feature is enabled.

On the phone Touch, you can choose between the standard device sounds, or search for a song that you have passed previously to your device.

You will find many other functions that can be changed to your liking.

Transfer data from an old device to the new

The transfer of data from one device to another can be very complicated, especially among different operating systems. To make your life easier, we have prepared tutorials with step by step, and the best ways to transfer your data from an old to a new Android, you find here. And a tutorial on how to transfer data from an iPhone to an Android here.

But before you start any process to transfer data from your old device to the new, back up all of your device.

• How To Backup Your Android Phone And Keep All Your Date Safe

So, could set everything you needed on your Android? Or have any questions?

How To Root Any Android Phone

Rooting is a national pastime in Android land. It brings people together, challenging but rewarding those who partake. If you're yet to be taught how to root on Android, sit back while we explain the pros and cons of rooting an Android device, how to root Android for each smartphone manufacturer and how to tell whether your phone is rooted.

Gaining root access is easier on some devices than others. / © EnTech

What is root?

The term "root" comes from the Linux world. The root operation in Android is much the same as it is there: it gets you full access to the entire file system, making you a "superuser". This allows you to make profound adjustments and changes to the software.

But for novice users, it also poses a risk, because very important system files can be just as easily deleted as less important files. This is one of the main reasons why Android smartphones are not rooted by default: to avoid innocent but catastrophic mistakes.

Root access is often gained by using a script that you install in Android's download mode, which automatically executes itself, granting root access in the process. This script often uses a vulnerability in the operating system kernel by performing a so-called "privilege escalation".

SuperSU Install on Google Play

As we said above, root privileges turn you from a regular user into a superuser with access to the full Android system. The simplest way to extend superuser permissions to apps is with a tool called SuperSU.

You can do this on a case-by-case basis, for specific situations, or on a more permanent basis, to allow an app to help you take complete control over your Android. You can withdraw superuser permissions at any time, too.

Will I lose my warranty if I root my Android?

Generally speaking, rooting your Android will void your warranty, but it's not always so clear cut. Some devices, such as those in the Nexus line from Google, are pretty much designed to be rooted and modified by Android developers in order to advance the platform. You can't expect the same leniency from all OEMs. 

Manufacturer positions vs carrier positions

HTC is the only manufacturer we contacted that was accommodating when it comes to rooted phones. HTC famously decided to provide all HTC devices with an unlockable bootloader that would not affect the warranty. 

Unfortunately, networks including AT&T and Verizon refuse to honor HTC's pledge by generally not stocking retail devices with bootloaders capable of being unlocked, preferring instead to offer Developer Edition devices that can only be bought outright, off-contract and unsubsidized.

HTC has a list of HTC devices with unlockable bootloaders but notes that any future repairs you require might not be covered under warranty.

HTC is the only manufacturer to wholeheartedly support system modifications. / © EnTech

So unlocking your bootloader or rooting your phone will not necessarily void your warranty, but, as HTC told us: “If a defect is proven to be attributable to a changed software environment with regards to root, then the warranty claim will be void.”

LG recently enabled unlocking the bootloader on three devices. However, rooting an LG phone immediately voids the warranty.

Sony is less hard-line: “We look at these cases individually. If a modification [like root] is detected in the workshop that is not related to the defect being claimed, we tend to side with the customer.”

Samsung was less accommodating in its response: “Since rooting modifies the device in ways that aren't allowed, Samsung won't grant any guarantees in these cases. As for the warranty agreement between the customer and the retailer, legal regulations apply, independently of Samsung's guarantee regulations.”

Is rooting Android legal?

That depends entirely on where you live. In the US, the modification of digital things like the software of mobile devices is covered by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Critically, some exemptions to that law exist courtesy of the US Copyright Office and they include things like rooting.

So, while rooting in the US is technically illegal under the DMCA, one such exemption to the DMCA makes rooting Android devices legal “at least through 2015”. While this was a big win for fans of digital freedom back in 2012, the legalities of the act are still to be completely ironed out even now, in 2016.

For those in Europe, the case is much clearer: the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has worked intensively around the root issue and, after a detailed examination, came to the conclusion that rooting a device and installing unofficial software does not impact your rights to a hardware warranty.

According to EU Directive 1999/44/CE, even when rooting and installing custom ROMs, the owner of an Android device can make claims under warranty for up to two years after purchase. This ruling, however, only applies to claims made regarding the hardware of the device, and if a retailer or manufacturer can prove that the software modification caused the defect then you may find yourself out of luck.

The good news for those in Europe is that the burden of proof lies on the retailer or manufacturer to prove that it was a custom ROM or the root process itself that caused the problem.

In the US, things are much less well defined and basically come down to a mishmash of manufacturer, carrier and retailer positions. The simple answer is that you shouldn't root unless you're happy to void your warranty.

How do you know what has been done to an Android device you just bought second hand? / © EnTech

How do I know if my device is rooted?

If you've bought a second-hand Android device and want to know if it was previously rooted or modified, the simplest way is to check for root with a simple, free-to-install Android app. Fortunately, there are a couple of great apps for checking root access.

Jared Rummler from JRummy Apps is responsible for Root Check, a great app that not only tells you if your device is currently rooted or not, but also provides a nice glossary of terms and links to other good root apps by JRummy.

Root Check Install on Google Play

Root Checker, from the developer Joey Krim, is the most popular root-check app. Root Checker does pretty much the same stuff as Root Check, but some features are reserved for the pro version. The free version still provides you with an explanation of things surrounding root and links to other root apps.

Root Checker Install on Google Play

Benefits of rooting Android

There are myriad reasons to root: access to the best root apps on Android, the power to uninstall pre-loaded bloatware apps and the world of custom ROMs are the most common reasons. Backups are also easier with root access. With root, you will be able to grant a backup app like Titanium Backup root-level permissions and make complete backups of your system periodically, so no matter what happens to your phone, you'll always have an up-to-date backup waiting to be restored.

Titanium Backup ★ root Install on Google Play

Root access also allows you to change the tiniest details in the Android system. Sure, you can flash a full-blown custom ROM for a complete makeover, but you can also make minor tweaks with Xposed Framework. Maybe you just want to flash a new boot animation, tweak some audio settings, or overclock your CPU a touch. All of this is possible with root.

With root access, you can also get better battery life out of your Android, by undervolting your CPU or using automatic app hibernation with apps such as Greenify. As mentioned above, removing pre-installed apps also lessens the demands on system resources, improving battery life further.

Ad blockers and full system automation with Tasker are two further reasons to root Android, but your reasons to root will be about as personal as the things you can do once you have root. Maybe you want to change everything, maybe just one thing. No matter how deep you want to go, rooting will get you there.

Tasker Install on Google Play

Why you shouldn't root Android

There are a few reasons: that it will likely void your warranty, it can be complicated and dangerous, and that in many cases you'll no longer get automatic over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Once you're rooted, it is also much easier for a malicious app to take advantage of the permission level root grants. Allowing an app root access should be handled with much more care than blindly hitting Accept in the Google Play Store when the permissions list pops up. This is a responsibility you should take very seriously.

Greenify Install on Google Play

If you're capable of rooting your phone, you're more than likely capable of updating your system software manually, too, but it is still inconvenient having to do this.

There are also more potential complications when updating a rooted Android device than when updating a non-rooted one. Again, these are perfectly workable, but are potentially more annoying than root is worth to the average person.

How do I root my smartphone?

Because the process used to root individual devices varies so greatly and changes so quickly, there's little point in providing dedicated links to tutorials on EnTech. The simplest thing to do is hit the search button and look for a current guide. But read on for some general rules.

How to root Samsung devices

Because Samsung devices are supported by the excellent Odin software tool, rooting Samsung devices is generally very simple. All you need to do is download the Odin program on your computer and flash the latest Auto-Root tool from the developer Chainfire.

Other root methods for Galaxy devices frequently come up and occasionally CF-Auto-Root takes a while to appear for a new Galaxy device, but it's generally one of the better and more reliable methods if you're at all unsure about the process.

It should be reiterated here that Samsung includes a flash counter on its devices. This means that if you root your Galaxy device and flash anything on it and then have to return it for repair, Samsung might refuse your claim due to modifications being made that are not covered under warranty.

It's easy to root a Samsung Galaxy phone with Odin and CF-Auto-Root. / © EnTech

How to root LG devices

LG devices don't need a third-party program like Odin to root. All you need is a computer and some ADB commands with which to run a script or you can use a tool called One Click Root, if you're a little scared of the whole ADB thing.

LG notably provided official instructions for unlocking the LG G4 bootloader back in the middle of 2015 but with the caveat that you'll be voiding your warranty if you do so. 

How to root Sony devices

Depending on which kind of Sony phone you have – one with an unlockable bootloader or not – the root process will be slightly different for you. If your bootloader is officially unlockable it's much easier to get a custom recovery on your Xperia and then make further modifications by flashing zip and image files.

You simply need to check Sony's list of Xperia devices with an unlockable bootloader and, if your device is on the list, find a custom recovery for it. We'd recommend TWRP, which has a convenient supported devices page to make the search that much easier. From here, all you need to do is grab a SuperSU exploit and flash it through recovery.

How to root Nexus devices

Google is in the business of helping developers and enthusiasts do what they want, so you don't have to request an unlock code or anything like that for a Nexus bootloader. Simply enable OEM unlocking in the Developer settings (if it appears on your particular device), connect to a computer via a USB cable, enter Fastboot mode and apply a simple Fastboot or ADB command (depending on which Nexus you have).

How to root other Android devices

There are plenty of other ways to unlock your bootloader and root other Android phones. Motorola has an official support page to guide you through the bootloader unlock process and a quick search in Google or XDA Developers will provide the very latest root method for your particular device.

As mentioned above, HTC officially supports unlocking the bootloader and provides information for doing so on its website. Unfortunately, rooting HTC devices can be a tricky business, with a bricked phone one possible outcome if things go wrong. Again, we advise you to trawl through the XDA Developers root directory for the latest surefire root methods. 

Conclusion: should I root or not?

As you can probably tell by this point, rooting Android is not for the faint of heart. You need to be willing to risk voiding your warranty, be prepared to manually apply Android updates, accept becoming more exposed to security risks and you will have to research the latest root method and apply it perfectly to your device to avoid any potential problems.

But the benefits of rooting Android are manifold. You'll have complete control over your system, can uninstall bloatware, apply millions of system tweaks and create complete backups automatically. If you've got this far and can't wait for the next stage, hit that search bar, do some digging in XDA and start the next phase of your Android education.

Post your questions or rooting success stories in the comments below. 

How To Pick The Best MicroSD Card For Your Android Phone

As we find out each time a major manufacturer decides to release a flagship phone without a microSD slot (we're looking at you, Galaxy S6), Android enthusiasts remain passionate about our options to expand internal storage. But how well your microSD card performs depends on its class and speed, as well as the capabilities of your phone. Here, we tell you everything you need to know to help you pick the best microSD card for your Android device.

First, make sure your device supports microSD cards

Unfortunately, as we mentioned above, many smartphones don't have microSD slots and instead claim the on board internal storage is sufficient. And though from our perspective this seems ridiculous we need to ensure our device has a microSD card slot. 

You can inspect your device and see whether there is a microSD slot. If you need to, consult your phone's manual to open the device (or to find whether there is a microSD slot). If there is no microSD slot then, well, you can't use a microSD card. If you want a phone that supports microSD take a look at the phones linked below.

What's the difference between SDHC and micro SDXC?

When buying a microSD card, you'll notice that it's either a micro SDXC or SDHC card. The difference between these two microSD formats is simply the amount of data they can store. SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) stores up to 32GB of data, while SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) handles 64GB and above. 

Many lower-end devices don't support SDXC microSD cards, so it's crucial that you check your phone's compatibility before buying one. Most SDXC cards go up to 128GB, but in March 2015, Sandisk revealed the world's first 200GB microSD SDXC card.

Make sure you know the types of microSD cards before purchasing. / © EnTech

What does 'class' mean on a microSD card?

This one's important. MicroSD cards come in several different classes - Class 2, 4, 6 and 10. While these numbers may mean nothing to you (and leave you wondering what happened to the other numbers up to 10), they in fact simply reflect the minimum rates at which these cards sustain data transfers. So a Class 2 card reads and writes data at 2MB/s, while a Class 10 card does so at 10MB/s. Suddenly it's not that complicated, right?

SDHC and SDXC speed classes

CLASS                         MINIMUM SPEED

2 2 MB/s

4                                         4 MB/s

6 6 MB/s

8 8 MB/s

10  10 MB/s

The 'Class' number directly reflects the minimum write speed of the card. However, top-quality cards can run much faster than this, with some of the best ones out there clocking read speeds up to 95 MB/s. One such card is the SanDisk Extreme Pro, which can be picked up for $33 at Amazon.com or £34 at Amazon.co.uk.

What does UHS mean on a micro SD card?

Since 2009, certain microSD cards are also UHS-1 or UHS-3-compatible. While in theory UHS cards can reach data transfer speeds of up to 312 MB/s, you are realistically only likely to attain the minimum transfer speeds listed below, because no smartphone currently supports the UHS standard. As such, UHS will make little difference to your micro SD card speed at this point.

UHS speed classes

UHS class Minimum speed

1                   10 MB/s

3                   30 MB/s

Will a better microSD card speed up my phone?

The most important question is whether picking one microSD card over another will improve performance on your phone, to which the short answer is 'Yes'.

If you store apps and photos on your microSD card (what else would you use it for?), then a higher-speed micro SD card will save photos faster, improve data transfer speeds when moving files between devices, and open apps stored on your micro SD card faster. Note that opening apps on microSD cards may be a bit slower than if you were storing them on your phone's internal memory, because there's an extra layer of communication between your phone and micro SD card that needs to be carried out.

MicroSD cards might not necessarily speed up your phone. / © EnTech

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of things to consider when buying a microSD card, and hopefully the above guide will give you an idea of which one to buy. It's also worth sticking to reputable brands for microSD cards, such as SanDisk, Samsung and Kingston. Use the prices of these brands as a guidelines as well - if you see a microSD card from another company that's five times cheaper than these, then you should be wary of its quality.

Do you use a microSD card? Let us know in the comments.