Did you know that there are developer options hidden inside Android? Here's some tips and tricks with some things you can do with them!

Developer options are enabled by default, so many people may go their entire Android experience without knowing that they exist. Once enabled, you are greeted with a plethora of different settings and many of them may seem like gibberish to the average person. However, there are many of them that are very useful for day to day use. Check out these 5 “secret” tips to help you optimize and make your smartphone run faster. 

Enable developer option

First and foremost, you need to enable the developer options on your Android. To do this, head intoSettings > About Phone / Tablet. From there, head down to Build Number and tap it 7 times. Don’t worry about keeping an exact count of the number of times that you’ve tapped it, as when you get close a little notification will pop up. If you’ve already enabled the developer options in the past, you’ll also received a notification when you tap on the build number saying that you’ve already enabled developer options.

After you’ve completed this, head back to the Settings main menu and you’ll find the Developer options under the System subheading.

Speed up animations

This is probably one of the most talked about improvements you can tweak in the Developer options. You can completely disable the animations, which would make your phone load applications as fast as your hardware permits, or even make the animations twice as fast. In day to day usage, I prefer to use the latter since I enjoy having the animations still in place but have them load faster at the same time.

Head to Developer options and scroll down until you see Window animation scale,  Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale. If you want the fastest animations, put all three to “0.5x” and if you want no animations, put all three to “Off”. If your device has a good processor inside of it, you will see load times and general use improve drastically.

Force 4x MSAA

This option allows you to improve the quality of graphics in games and applications that run OpenGL ES 2.0. While this does increase the demand on your performance hardware and consume your battery faster, you will notice that some games and applications will run smoother. This is done by smoothing the pixels via the Multi Sample Anti-Aliasing 4x technique.

Enable USB debugging

This is another extremely handy option that can be used by anyone. It allows programs to access your device when it is connected to your PC via USB cord. It is a necessary step prior to rooting your device, unlocking your bootloader, and installing a custom ROM. As well, this will allow you to make a backup of your device information on your PC.

Password protection for computer backups

If you’ve enabled USB debugging as we talked about above and created a backup on your desktop computer, you can go a step further and make sure it is protected while it’s on your computer. By enabling this option, you can encrypt your copy with a password of your choosing. However, take note, if you forget the password, you won’t be able to access the backup information stored, so make sure that you’re using something you won’t forget or write it down somewhere.

Allow mock locations

By enabling this option and using an app such as Fake GPS Location, you can make your device “spoof” your location to different parts of the world. While somewhat impractical, this will cause all applications that use location based information in them to believe you’re near whatever location you’ve spoofed: from the deserts of the Sahara one minute to the beautiful Rocky mountains the next.

Something to be aware of: don’t go playing around with all the settings in Developer options if you don’t know what they do. In any case, if you’ve managed to enabled/disable an option that you’re unsure of, you can reset all changes by switching Developer options to “Off” in the top right corner of the menu.

Let us know in the comments if you like this tricks

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Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Thursday unveiled what it said was the first smartwatch capable of making and receiving calls without a mobile phone nearby, in the South Korean firm's latest effort to find a new growth driver.

The world's biggest smartphone maker has been pushing hard to develop the wearable devices market as it looks to counter slowing earnings in its mobile division, which led to weaker-than-expected second-quarter earnings.

Samsung is hardly alone in pushing wearables, which have yet to catch on with consumers. Rival Apple Inc is expected to launch its own device later  this year and LG Electronics Inc on Thursday announced its new G Watch R smartwatch featuring a circular plastic OLED screen, a stainless steel frame and leather strap.

Samsung's new smartwatch, called the Gear S, differs from its predecessors with a bigger 2-inch (5 cm) curved display and offers features like WiFi connectivity, pedestrian navigation and a built-in GPS. This device will run on Samsung's nascent Tizen operating system.

Samsung said the Gear S will start selling from October. It did not give details on pricing or where it will be available.

LG said its G Watch R will launch in key markets in the fourth quarter, without indicating a price.

Samsung Gear Solo specs The Gear Solo has shown up a few times this month in the rumor mill as it was rumored to make calls and have a curved display. Both those rumors are true as you can see the curved panel in the photos, and the Samsung Gear Solo does indeed have 3G capabilities.

The Samsung Gear Solo specs don’t quite measure up to LG’s new smartwatch as it has a dual-core 1GHz chip and 300mAh battery compared to the R Watches Snapdragon 400 and 410mAh battery. The storage and memory are the same, but the Gear Solo has a larger 2-inch curved 360 x 480 curved display of the Super AMOLED variety. Both wearables are thankfully water-resistant.

The differences continue when it comes to software, as the Samsung Gear Solo will run on Sammy’s Tizen platform instead of Android Wear. It can also handle calls, texts, and other info without being tethered to your smartphone thanks to 2G/3G capabilities. As you’d expect, the Solo also has Wi-Fi and Blueooth.

In terms of features, the smartwatch’s various sensors will track your fitness along with the GPS and S Health. It’ll work with Nike+ and has a UV sensors and heart rate monitor thrown in for good measure. In other words, it should be a very solid gadget for the fitness crowd.

LG Circular G Watch R

The LG G Watch R has a circular P-OLED display, and it’s the first company in the world to use the Plastic OLED displays on a watch.

That P-OLED display comes in at 1.3-inches and is said to remain bright in the sun and at various angles. The rest of the specs are impressive as well considering the LG G Watch R will have a Snapdragon 400, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. It’s basically a mid-range handset on your wrist and it’s powered by a 410mAh battery. Impressed?

On the design side of things, the smartwatch will come with a suite of watch faces that can be swapped out with the push of a button. The body is made from stainless, and it has a 22mm calfskin band. It’s also water-resistant to a degree and can handle apps from the Play Store. Want to keep tabs on your fitness? It can handle that as well thanks to a pulse rate sensor.

LG really spilled the beans on the LG G Watch R, and we know everything there is to know about the smartwatch… except for the price. Hopefully LG will announce that at IFA along with a firm release date as all we have to go on at the moment is early Q4.

Are you blown away by these Wearables?

Apple Confirm New iPhones Sept. 9 event

Apple Inc invited media to a "special event" in its hometown of Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9, when the iPhone maker is expected to unveil the latest versions of its best-selling smartphones.

Apple's typically cryptic invitation read: "Wish we could say more." It came on a simple black-and-white background dominated by the company's familiar corporate logo.

The launch date had been widely reported. Apple was expected to unveil larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens for iPhones, a move thought to be driven in part by the success of larger devices by rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. Tech blog also reported Apple may introduce its long-awaited smartwatch.

Apple uses its September events to showcase its most important products. The iPhone accounts for half its business and is gaining more prominence as tablet sales falter.

The company that defined the smartphone industry has not introduced a new product since the iPad in 2010. CEO Tim Cook has promised new product categories for 2014. Software chief Eddy Cue has called Apple's product pipeline the best he's seen in decades.

But it remained unclear whether the company has another groundbreaking gadget up its sleeve.

Much of the pre-event speculation has centered on the use of "sapphire" display screens said to be more scratch-resistant. Separately, some suppliers have told the media about screen production snags that have raised questions about availability at launch time.

Beyond the hardware, the next generation of gadgets will incorporate new software features such as HomeKit, which will help manage connected devices within the home, and HealthKit, a central repository of health data and services.

Apple has been discussing its "HealthKit" data service with health providers and apps developers, people familiar with the discussions say. They said HealthKit, while still nascent, will become the lynchpin in a broader push into mobile and digital healthcare, a fertile field that rivals Google and Samsung are also exploring.

Shares in Apple have rallied in past months in anticipation of the event. On Thursday, they were up 0.4 percent at $102.55 in afternoon trade.

Just recently, researchers have found a big loophole in Gmail and are quite very conducive to hacking – raising alarm in its million users. This particular vulnerability in Google’s mainstream Android working framework that lets them hack into Gmail accounts with a 92% achievement rate.

As indicated by the subtle elements of the exploration, the hack — as you may expect — depends on a malware application acting like an authentic bit of programming, so you ought to be protected on the off chance that you take a great mind over what’s permitted to run on your handset. Once the vindictive code is set up, it can utilize a cell phone’s imparted memory to bounce into different applications, including Gmail.

The hack greatly depends on having the capacity to anticipate what the client will do next and timing capture splendidly, so a few applications demonstrated more powerfully than others. Of the seven applications tried, Gmail was the most effortless to get to, while the Amazon application was the most troublesome for the malicious program. The exploit was run on an Android gadget, however the scientists say the same standards can possibly be connected to both iOS and Windows Phone operating systems.

The hacker will be able to get access by bringing in a client to introduce an apparently innocuous application, for example, wallpaper, and uncover a newfound open side station that doesn’t oblige benefits. This peculiarity permits methods to impart information, productively and is very basic, since all phones’ downloaded applications connect with one working framework.

On the account of the techniques set up to shut and find malware, the helplessness reported here shouldn’t stress the greater part of clients. In any case it’s a working exhibit of how a gadget’s imparted memory might be abused, and an alternate update your application introduces — especially in case you’re on a rooted phone.

As what Google’s spokesperson said, users should be more vigilant with they are particularly downloading – apps, music, and other files. They have to make sure that they are downloading from trustworthy sources – and not in any bogus websites and app stores. A routine checkup should be made of your apps – most especially if you have children who are using it. If you can see questionable apps that may have appeared from nowhere, you have to immediately uninstall and delete in on-site. You have to clean your phone or tablet from time to time to make sure unnecessary apps are also deleted.

Samsung Electronics has officially announced the availability of its new flagship tablet today, the Galaxy Tab S, in Nigeria, adding a new, premium device range to its highly popular Galaxy Tab series. 
According to the company, the Galaxy Tab S combines an advanced high definition display technology with a full range of premium content, aimed at providing consumers with an unrivalled entertainment experience. The device was unveiled in Lagos. It is already on sale at all Samsung Experience Stores, Operator Stores and at accredited dealer stores nationwide.

The Galaxy Tab S is Samsung’s thinnest and lightest tablet yet. It features a 10.5-inch screen alongside the most advanced super-AMOLED display on the market, with a resolution that is twice the high-definition standard associated with other devices in its category. The Galaxy Tab S is also powered with enhanced productivity features for effortless multitasking, all elegantly housed in a beautifully crafted premium design.

At the heart of the new tablet range is a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button, a feature that made its debut in the Galaxy Tab S’s smartphone sibling, the Galaxy S5, the objective being to provide consumers with a safe, biometric screen-locking feature. In addition to this standard phone-locking function, the scanner lets users authorise payments from the device with their unique fingerprints. Up to eight people can use the feature to log into different profiles on the device when it is in multi-user mode.

Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, said the Galaxy Tab S will redefine how technology innovation enhances the quality of life.

He said, “Tablets have evolved significantly in the past few years in function and purpose. Building on the heritage of the Galaxy S smartphone line, the Galaxy Tab S delivers on our commitment to bring meaningful innovation that our customers cherish most. We know consumers want the best screen when purchasing a tablet, and as the undisputed leader in display technology, we have brought our industry-leading super-AMOLED screen to the Galaxy Tab S for an unrivalled viewing experience.”

Kim underscored Samsung’s growing share of the global tablet market, which has grown from 7.6 percent to 22.6 percent in just three years.

“We have made a major commitment to the tablet because we strongly believe in its market. We have devoted substantial resources, not only to hardware excellence, but also to content towards providing our consumers with a wholesome communication experience. With innovation at the core of our mission to lead the tablet segment, our launch of the Galaxy Tab S will further propel us in this growing category and facilitate ground-breaking success,” he said.

Also speaking at the launch of the device, Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa’s Information Technology  Mobile Division, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas described the Galaxy Tab S as a device that draws the line between the tablets that are currently available in the market and what comes next.

“The tablet is becoming a popular viewing device for enjoying content, which makes the quality of display a critical feature. With the launch of the Galaxy Tab S, Samsung is setting the bar higher for the entire mobile industry. The device will provide its users with a visual and entertainment experience that brings colour to life and also enhance their overall communication experience,” he said.

As it did with the Galaxy S5, Samsung has loaded the new Galaxy Tab S with over $1,000 worth of free premium content via its Galaxy Gifts application, offering consumers a collection of services and tools designed to make their experience more enjoyable and more productive. With the Galaxy Gifts application, users can access up to 50GB of free Dropbox space valid for two years; three months access to LinkedIn’s premium business account; six months subscription to Livesport TV and Hancom Office Suite, alongside subscription to the Wall Street Journal, Vogue Magazine, GQ Magazine and much more, all free of charge.

The Galaxy Tab S delivers an unmatched selection of enhanced productivity features that provide users with the ability to multitask effortlessly. The device allows its users to surf the web, watch videos, share content and make calls simultaneously without having to worry about closing one application in order to access another. Users can also make and receive calls directly from the device using SideSync, which links the Galaxy Tab S with devices in Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphone series, even when the phone is not within easy reach. Once paired, the tablet mirrors the phone’s screen in a smaller virtual window, letting users take calls via its speakers and microphone. In addition, data can be transferred from the Galaxy Tab S to another device by simply dragging and dropping files via SideSync. With its Quick Connect feature, the Galaxy Tab S is able to quickly find and connect to nearby devices for easy content sharing.

Other key features of the Galaxy Tab S include an Adaptive Display that provides consumers with the best visual experience by intelligently adjusting colour saturation and sharpness based on the application that is being viewed; an advanced outdoor visibility technology that makes on-screen content easy to view even in bright sunlight; a longer lasting battery, an Ultra-Power Saving mode that lets consumers enjoy hours of entertainment without having to worry about recharging their device and a specially designed ‘Kids’ Mode’ with its own dedicated interface and kid-friendly applications. According to Samsung, the device’s battery can power 11 hours worth of video at a go, making it a must-have for business travellers as well as business and enterprise users. The tablet is available in Samsung’s proprietary Titanium Bronze and white colours.

Samsung also unveiled a comprehensive suite of mobile accessories to maximize the capabilities of its latest tablet. These include the Book Cover accessory, which can be configured to three different display angles to provide the most comfortable position to read, type or watch videos; the Simple Cover accessory for users that are desirous of the same protective structure of the Book Cover but also require a slimmer design, and a new, ultra-slim Bluetooth Keyboard, made specifically for the device.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display

8.4” (212.8mm) 2560x1600(WQXGA) Super AMOLED

Data Bearer

Wi-Fi Model

- Wi-Fi Only

LTE Model

- LTE : 800/900/1800/2600+850/2100

- 3G : HSPA+42.2 850/900/1900/2100

- 2G : GSM/EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

Memory

3GB RAM, 16/32GB Memory, MicroSD (up to 128GB)

Camera / Flash

8M w/ Flash LED + 2.1M

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO

WiFi Direct, BT4.0

GPS

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou (Not supported in USA, Canada)

Dimension, Weight

Wi-Fi Model : 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm , 294g

LTE Model : 125.6 x 212.8 x 6.6mm , 298g

Battery Capacity

4,900mAh

OS / Upgrade

Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Video

H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8

Recording : FHD (1920 x 1080) @30fps

Playback : WQHD (2560 x 1440) @30fps

Connectors

USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear jack.

(ACCRA ) - Ghana company Surfline Communications launched the country's first 4G data network on Tuesday in partnership with French technology company Alcatel-Lucent, making Ghana the sixth nation in sub-Saharan Africa to get the high speed service.

The wholly-owned company invested more than $100 million for the first phase of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, which has 300 cell sites, according to Chairman John Taylor, who owns a string of oil-related businesses, and wholly owns Surfline.

The pre-paid data-only service is available in the capital and the nearby port city of Tema, but Taylor said Surfline aimed to go nationwide within two years.

"We want to fill the void by providing high speed connectivity to facilitate e-education, e-commerce and facilitate long distance activities especially by people living outside the cities," Taylor said.

South Africa's MTN is the dominant mobile phone company in the West African state, less than 20 percent of whose population uses the Internet. Rapid cell and internet growth across Africa is making it an increasingly attractive proposition for companies looking to sell data services.

Surfline Communications is the first to officially offer LTE network services in Ghana, but other companies are also preparing to launch the next-generation network in the country.

Earlier this year, a partnership agreement with Alepo Technologies and BLU Telecommunications (BLU).
In statement it was reported that Alepo would provide policy and charging control for a 4G/LTE network to BLU in Ghana.
And BLU’s LTE services is expected to include data, voice, IPTV and Wi-Fi hotspots for residential and commercial customers, the statement noted.

If you lived in accra which is now 4G connected, please tell us more about the Surfline Communications services compare to other mobile telecom companies.