CyanogenMod Privacy Guard updated and merged with CM10.2

Google introduced a feature called ‘AppOps‘ along with Android 4.3 and as such, it looks like CyanogenMod has something similar. In terms of Cyanogen, the feature is called Privacy Guard and while this is not yet available for all users, that appears as if that will soon be changing. In short, Cyanogen has updated Privacy Guard and also announced the new features have been merged into the early CM10.2 builds.

Anyway, according to details coming from the CyanogenMod posting, they have “merged an update to Privacy Guard for 10.2 code that implements AppOps.” And perhaps a bit more important for those already familiar with Privacy Guard, further details mention how “you will still see the familiar UI from Privacy Guard, just with additional power and customization hidden within.”

Oppo N1 announced with rotating camera & official support for flashing CyanogenMod

While we’d heard Oppo would be bringing a new high end smartphone to the masses, it has finally been made official. It’s the Oppo N1, a 5.9 inch smartphone with a Snapdragon 600 processor sitting inside. This unique device features a 13 megapixel rotating camera that can be horizontally swiveled for up to 260 degrees of range.

Thus, it acts as both the rest and front camera, and any other angle you might need. The unique sensor features a 6-element f/2.0 lens that’s supposed to be able to deliver stunning imagery, though we can’t vouch for that promise ourselves just yet.

The self diffusing LED flash means you can use it to create ample lighting for not only rear images, but front ones, as well (we’ve always wanted a phone with front-facing flash). The camera can be awakened at any moment simply by twisting the lens a bit, giving you the ability to quickly launch the thing in situations where you don’t have a ton of time to waste. Oppo is also interesting their O-Touch and O-Click technologies. Simply put:

Sony tired of leaks, looks to contain them with signage at workplaces

It looks like Sony is getting a bit tired of all the leaks they’ve had to put up with. Their phones are often fully detailed and revealed weeks and even months before we get an official announcement. They want to put an end to it, though, with some “strict” rules and set of protocols for using unannounced devices ahead of their unveiling.

The sign above has reportedly been spotted in various areas of Sony workplaces with the following messages:

• Do not use phones without protective cover
• Do not show phones to individuals outside of Sony Mobile (unless NDA is signed)
• Do not upload any pictures to social networks, public web pages etc.
• Do not use 3rd party benchmarking applications

Download Android Commander for PC

Android Commander is a small, fast and very useful tool to manage mobile devices (Android enabled) directly from Windows. With it, you can perform various operations on files, which, for example, copy / move data between your mobile device and your computer. The program is ideal for organizing and cleaning the internal memory or an SD card installed in your mobile device. Users can wholesale move, delete and modify files and folders, check the batteries of your mobile device and read about the most important information and specifications.

Affordable Android Phone: Motorola Atrix HD

For about the same price as the LG Optimus G, you can also get yourself a Motorola Atrix HD. We know, Motorola hasn’t really been active around these parts lately, but that doesn’t mean that the old Atrix HD is any less of a must-have for it.

Part of the Motorola Atrix HD’s list of features are a 4.5-inch HD display, an 8MP camera with 1080p video recording capability, and support for 4G LTE. But its most interesting feature is probably its Dupont Kevlar construction, which makes it very sturdy. Combined with a splash guard coating, this makes the Motorola Atrix HD one of the few inexpensive choices for people who lead an active lifestyle.

As mentioned earlier, it can be purchased for only $49 with a contract. But if you’d rather use a prepaid SIM card, its price tops off at just $350 without one. For more about cheap Android Phones, visit my website! 

Using VPN on Android Tablet

Virtual Private Network adds additional security protocols which allows connection to a private network.

VPN is usually offered by corporations, schools, etc. to allow users to connect into the internal private local network while not physically on location.

There are several ways to secure a VPN network. Before you can connect to a VPN network for tablet, you must get the security information from your IT people that set up the VPN network.

Working with secure certificates

If the VPN connection security uses secure certificates, you must get the certificate information and add them in your tablet’s secure credential storage, before you can configure VPN access on your tablet.

If you need to download the certificates from a web site, you’ll be asked to setup a password for the credential storage when you download the certificates. If get the certificates in some other way, you will need to use the Security & location settings to set a password for the credential storage first.

To add a VPN:

1. From the home screen, touch Apps.
2. Touch Settings.
3. Touch Wireless & Networks.
4. Touch VPN Settings.
5. Touch Add VPN.
6. Touch the type of VPN you want to add.
7. In the screen that opens, follow the instructions from your network administrator to configure each component of the VPN’s settings.
8. Touch the menu icon located at top right corner of the screen and Touch Save.

The VPN is added to the list on the VPN settings screen.

To connect to a VPN:

1. From the home screen, touch Apps.
2. Touch Settings.
3. Touch Wireless & Networks.
4. Touch VPN Settings.
5. Touch the VPN you want to connect to.
6. In the dialog that opens, enter any requested credentials and touch Connect.

When you’re connected to a VPN, you receive an ongoing notification in the status bar. If you are disconnected, you receive a notification that you can use to return to the VPN settings screen so you can reconnect to it.

Android VPN

VLC for Android APK

Android: If you've been waiting for news on an Android version of VLC, wait no longer. The media player finally launched an Android beta today, and it brings VLC's trademark play-anything goodness, multi-track subtitle support, and even whole-library management tools to Android devices, but be warned: the developers make no bones about the fact that it's a beta, and there's a lot of work to be done on it.

The first thing worth noting is that the VLC for Android beta is a port of the iOS version, largely to get a framework in place where the VLC mobile team can work from. They point out that everything about the app will change as it gets updated, including the UI and major features, and hardware decoding only works on a few devices at the moment. Even so, it's still VLC, can play just about anything (including network streams), supports multi-tack audio and video with subtitles, has a home-screen widget for audio control without launching the app, and it supports headsets with in-line audio controls.

The developers point out that "It might kill your kitten, destroy your house and start the mayan apocalypse," and warn you to "Use at your own risk." They also point out that this version is for "power users and hackers," so while it worked great on the devices we tested, make sure your device is supported before trusting it with your media. It's definitely not as polished as our favorite media player for Android, MoboPlayer, but Android has no shortage of great media players, and hey—this is VLC! If you give it a try, let us know your experience with it in the comments below.

VLC for Android APK