Trying To Delete A Media File On Your Android Device? This Is How!

Sitting in his armchair, my dad throws his phone to me. “I just can’t get rid of it,” he says, shrugging, “it’s taking up space that I want to use, but how can I delete it?”
He’s talking about an MP3 of the rarely heard track from Bob Dylan’s eponymous 1962 debut album in which he performs ‘House of the Rising Sun’ (a song made famous by The Animals a couple of years later). There’s no reason for Dad to keep it on his phone, a Sony Xperia E, but he can’t seem to find a way to delete it.
I handle the phone, shaking my head. He’s clearly having another of his “senior moments”, and I’ll have it deleted in a moment.
Ten minutes later, it’s still on his phone. Why can’t I delete it?!

Manufacturer ROMS & Functionality

Initially it seemed as though unfamiliarity with the Sony ROM was the issue, but soon it became apparent that actually, there is no obvious way to delete an MP3 — or any other file saved to the phone.

My first attempt at deletion (and several subsequent ones) involved using the file browser within the MP3 player app. Unfortunately no long-tap or menu option offered the choice to delete.
In contrast, my custom ROM (I’m using OmniROM) has a couple of MP3 players installed, both of which enable MP3 deletion. It also has a file manager. So why doesn’t the Sony Xperia E make it simpler to delete files?
Clearly there is a need by the manufacturer to stop standard users accidentally breaking their phone’s software. However, blocking deletion of files added by the user seems short-sighted.
So just how would you delete a file in this situation?

Delete A File Using Your Desktop Computer

This is actually the method we used. All it takes is to connect the Android device via USB to a desktop computer (we were using a Windows 8 device) and wait while the drivers do their thing.

Once connected, you can browse Windows Explorer to find the phone listed (usually under its model name) as a device, double click to open and then browse the contents. Note that Android devices are locked down to prevent you deleting anything important (unless you’ve rooted your phone).
After you’ve found the file you’re looking for (photos will usually be in the DCIM directory, downloaded images in Pictures and everything else, including MP3s, in Downloads) just select and tap the Delete key on your keyboard. Make sure that you only have the file that you want to discard — and the correct one at that — as deleting from an external device doesn’t add the file to the Recycle Bin. If you get this wrong, the data is lost forever.
You may be interested to find that there are many other methods available for connecting an Android smartphone or tablet to a Windows computer. Oh, and a Mac, too.

Deleting Files From Android With An App

Various file management apps are available that can help with finding and deleting an app on any Android system where native file management has been restricted.

Probably most popular is ES File Explorer (although other Android file managers are available). With this app, you can browse your phone, find the data you’re looking for (see the previous section for an idea of where to find the data) and simply long-tap to select and then tap Delete from the menu bar to discard.
Should you make a mistake deleting data from Android with a file manager, there is no option to restore (unless this is a specified feature of the software). However, you might employ a data restore app designed to scan your phone’s storage and retrieve the file you inadvertently rejected. Apps capable of doing this include Dumpster Image & Video Restore and Restore Deleted Files.

Don’t Overlook Removable Storage!

One last thing to consider is whether the data has been saved to a removable drive or the phone’s internal storage. If you’re short of the necessary USB cable but have the files you’re trying to delete on your Android’s microSD card, then unmounting it (Settings > Storage > Unmount) and inserting it into your computer’s card reader (using a microSD to SD adapter) is the best alternative. You can then use your desktop file browser to find and eliminate the rogue file.

Having demonstrated the ease with which media files can be discarded on Android, I’ve solved a problem for my dad, and hopefully for you too. If you’ve any questions about any of this, or suggestions for better apps, please leave your thoughts in the comments.

How To Remove, Change, Or Set Default Apps In Android

Android is renowned for how customizable it is. The tweaking and choice is one of the good reasons to go Android over iPhone. But have you ever tried setting and changing a default app in Android? It’s a mess. But we’re here to make it easy.
The Google Play Store has a whole bunch of great apps now, with new ones being launched all the time. If you like a new app, you should be able to set it as your default for a while and then switch quickly if you want to revert. For example, Justin thinks Boomerang for Android is better than Gmail as a default mail client. A short while later, the popular Mailbox came to Android and you might have wanted to use that as the default, just to see what it’s like.
If you didn’t like it and wanted to go back, the process is painful. You have to find the current default app, clear it from Android settings, and then choose this new app — and do the whole thing all over again when you want to go back.
Well, no more. An app called Better Open With is the best option from now on. Just like how AppChooser cleans up your Share menu, this app makes it easier to adjust your default file associations.

How To Remove Default Apps In Android

The first step is still going to be finding what the current default app is for any file type and changing that. Hopefully, you already know that, but if you don’t, then Default App Manager Lite can show you. Download the app, check what the default is, and then you’re ready to go.

1. Go to Settings
2. Go to Apps
3. Select the app that is currently the default launcher for a certain file type.
4. Scroll down to “Launch By Default”.
5. Tap “Clear Defaults”.

Repeat the above steps for every default app you currently have. This is important, it can’t be skipped. It took me about 10 minutes to finish this, so it’s not time-consuming.

Set Up Better Open With

After clearing, before you do anything else on your phone, start the Better Open With app. You’ll see a list of different file association apps:

• Audio
• Audio Stream
• Browser
• Ebook
• Email
• Geo Location
• Images
• PDF
• Text Files
• Video Files
• Video Stream

Tap any file type and choose the app you want to associate with it. For example, tap Browser and then tap Chrome (the star icon will turn blue) to set it as your default. What you are essentially doing is telling your Android, “When I tap a link anywhere, open it in Chrome.” Incidentally, there’s good reason to choose Google Chrome since it is the fastest browser on Android.

The browser section is more customizable than the others. You can choose different apps for different types of links. For example, for a Twitter link, you can choose to open it in Tweetings, one of the most customizable Twitter clients for Android. Similarly, you can choose other options for YouTube, Reddit, Wikipedia, Google+, and the Play Store.
Set a default app for each of the file types before you exit.
Now, open the above file types one after another. A dialog will prompt you to choose a default app. In this, choose Better Open With and select “Always”. And just like that, you’ll never have to go to Settings to clear defaults again.
You see, the next time you want to set a default app, you just need to go to Better Open With and select that app as the default in there. Boom, it’s immediately your default app, no further steps needed. The original step of clearing all defaults for an app is gone now, as is selecting a new default app after that.

Other Advantages Of Using Better Open With

Not only does Better Open With make it easy to change your default app, it also gives you the option to start a different app. In the settings, you can choose a delay of a few seconds between tapping a file and opening an app. In these few seconds, you’ll see the other apps you can open the same file with; if you don’t tap anything, the default app opens the file. Yes, it’s a small delay, but that’s not a choice you get with any other app. I’ve been using Better Open With for some time now, and I’d recommend starting with the default 5-second delay, but you can later scale it down to two seconds without an issue, since you anticipate that dialog box.
You can customize whether the apps appear as a grid or a list, whether it’s icons only or text, and use a light or dark theme.

What’s Missing In Better Open With

While you get to set several default apps using Better Open With, it doesn’t work for all scenarios.
Case in point, we looked extensively for the best contacts and dialer app for Android to settle on Contacts+. But when Truedialer came out, we wanted to switch to this great smart dialer app with a crowd-sourced phonebook. Unfortunately, Better Open With has no option to select the default app for phone calls or contacts.
Similar, there are great free alternatives to replace the default Android SMS app, but you can’t do that with Better Open With.
Hopefully, in the future, the app adds the ability to change any default app association on Android. But right now, it’s limited to file types only.
Still, that doesn’t make it any less useful, especially when you consider that it’s completely free. So go ahead and grab it from the Play Store.
Download: Better Open With (Free)

Is Better Open With yet another example of why Android users love the customizability of this platform? Is it the type of app that stops you from switching to iOS or Windows Phone? Share your thoughts in the comments.

So You Want To Make iPhone Apps? 6 Projects For Beginners

When you’re trying to pick a programming language to learn, it’s easy to gravitate toward the big ones that developers use to create masterpieces of digital content — things like Java, C++, Ruby, and Python. But there are a lot of programming languages out there (including some very weird ones), and they each excel at different things. Why not try learning Swift, the language that will let you create iPhone and iPad apps? These six projects will walk you through it.

Getting Acquainted with Swift

If you’re not familiar with Swift, it’s a language developed by Apple for creating iOS and OS X apps. It borrows ideas from a wide range of other programming languages, but is most similar to Objective-C. In fact, you can mix Swift, C, Objective-C, and C++, and your apps will still work. However, Swift was designed to be concise, making it a bit easier to learn and more efficient to use. It was also designed to be harder to derail with coding mistakes, another factor that makes it good for beginners.


For the tutorials listed below, it’s good to have some basic programming knowledge, but very little is necessary. If you have any experience with C-based languages, you should have no problem. If you’d like to spend some time getting acquainted with Swift before taking on a project, you can check out a wide range of videos and guides, as well as sample code, at Apple’s Swift resources page.            

12 Apps To Help Forgetful People Remember Things

“A place for everything, and everything in its place.”
This saying is great in theory but for forgetful types, organization can prove tricky. I’m the kind of person who’s constantly forgetting where I last set down my phone, regularly second-guessing where I parked my car, and who occasionally swaps out the milk for the cereal in the fridge.
When it comes to managing my daily to-do lists, if I don’t have my blogging ideas and rough drafts saved in highly organized and labeled folders, I’m likely to forget about them completely.
So from one forgetful person to another, here are 12 awesome apps that can help you remember pretty much anything.

Evernote (Web, iOS, and Android)

For the creative mind looking for a one-stop app that covers to-do lists, notes, pictures, articles, etc., this is the one for you. This well-known app allows you to store anything you might need and then search through your database of stored items to quickly find the things you want to remember.
When an important task slips away from memory, reminders in Evernote can help. Pin notes to the top of your note list and also add a timed alert to prompt you when the note is due, via in-app notifications, a badge on your mobile app or an opt-in email.Ticking off checklists is also a handy tool against forgetfulness.
Evernote is great for remembering articles that you wanted to read, writing short notes to yourself or snapping pictures of things that inspire you. It also allows you to write long, detailed notes; so if you’ve been meaning to publish a novel or write a screenplay, Evernote will help you remember those ideas, too. From smoother note-taking to managing meetings, Evernote is a heavy-lifter.

Instapaper (Web, iOS, Android)

With busy lifestyles and work schedules, it’s easy to see an article you want to read but then forget to return to it on your free time. Instapaper allows you to save the articles that you want, which makes keeping up with news and cultural happenings a breeze. The app even allows you to download the article via the Internet and then view it offline later when Wi-Fi’s not available.
Using Instapaper is one way to crack information overload with deferred reading. It also lets you highlight phrases and sentences so you can nail key discussion points and find important parts of the articles more easily. Rather than being the quite guy (or gal) in the corner, you can join in on whatever conversation your coworkers or family memmbers are discussing.
You can also get a premium account for $2.99 a month, or about $30 a year.

DataVault (iOS and Android, $9.99)

With so many required characters, numbers and symbols, passwords are getting more and more sophisticated. This may be great for security purposes, but it can make remembering passwords a challenge. DataVault securely maintains all of your passwords in one tidy app, allowing for safe (and less stressful) account management.
You won’t have to play the which-password-did-i-use-for-this-account game, which means no embarrasing “too many wrong passwords” messages and no wasted time.

Remember the Milk (Web, iOS, Android, Free)

This free task manager with an easy to use interface truly lets you keep track of the items on your to-do list with ease. Not only can you list each responsibility and mark it complete as you go, but the app also allows for prioritization among tasks and notification features.
By prioritizing all of your to-do lists in one place, you can better manage everything you have to do for work, home and in between (aka remembering milk on the way home from work). What’s more, Remember The Milk has an easy Evernote sync feature so you can track your notes across multiple platforms.
You can also get the Pro version for $25 a year.

CleverCards (iOS and Android, Free)

This app syncs with your Facebook profile and notifies you when your friends’ birthdays are drawing close – but it also takes the Happy Birthday messages one step further. CleverCards uses Facebook photos to create custom birthday cards, which you can then print and mail, or send via email in time for the big day.
Additionally, CleverCards can track the Events you are a part of on Facebook and create custom greeting cards for those, too. Not only will you be able to remember your boss’s birthday, but you’ll also remember to send a card for the next coworker’s baby shower, your friends’ sister’s college graduation and your cousin’s housewarming party.

ScatterBrain (iOS, $0.99)

If the idea of labeling and organizing items is what helps you remember them best, but your brain is just too overloaded to make this a reality, ScatterBrain is a recommended app. ScatterBrain lets you color code, label and search within all of those important deadlines, obligations and notes. Its attractive interface makes the process all the more enjoyable, while helping you stay on top of your game.
Have to-do lists you need to get through for various clients at work? Color code them by company and manage each client’s to-do list from the palm of your hand. This is ideal for people who travel a lot or are constantly on the go to different meetings and work-related events.

Do It (Tomorrow) (iOS and Android, Free)

If you love putting things off until tomorrow, this app was designed with you in mind. Procrastinators will revel in Do It (Tomorrow), which allows you to postpone tasks until the next day, sync databases and continue to put off those obligations like a pro (without forgetting them altogether).
While it’s best to try to realistically set your goals for each day, sometimes it’s just not possible to make it through you entire to-do list. With Do It (Tomorrow), you can simply shuffle items around to the next day, feel good about what you accomplish today, and still complete those less-important items tomorrow.

Countdown+ Event Reminders Lite (iOS and Android, Free)

With so many little details to remember each day, those big events can sometimes fly right under the radar. Fortunately, this app keeps track of those approaching life moments for you. Featuring a countdown format that helps you stay aware of nearing birthdays, anniversaries, parties and whatever else you need to remember, this resourceful app keeps your social life and career in check with no fuss.
Not only will you not forget important events with Countdown+ Event Reminders, you’ll also be more aware of how many days are left until said event, which means you’ll be able to better manage gift-buying, card sending and event planning, too.

bytNotes (Android, $0.99)

If you’re always struggling to remember that important thing you just had to tell someone, fret no more. bytNotes allows for a simple reminder to pop up on your phone when the person contacts you, helping you to remember those vital details with ease. When you create a note in bytNotes, you then have the option ot link it to multiple contacts in your address book, so you can remember exactly what you wanted to tell those people, or what you wanted to remember about them.
If you’re like me and are especially bad with putting names to faces, bytNotes could also be a super handy tool for remembering that “coworker on the third floor with the office plant” is named Chelsea. Esentially, whatever you want to remember about whomever is possible with the help of bytNotes.

TripList (iOS, Free)

Vacations are incredible, but packing for them? Not so much. That’s why this app is so useful. TripList allows you to document everything you’ll need on that cruise or retreat, making the process of packing far less stressful.
No more showing up at the hotel only to realize your phone charger is still on the coutner, or that check-in time is actually still three hours away. With TripList, you can cut out the frantic running around the house at the last second by making your vacation list well in advance, and then camly packing for it in the week leading up to the big day. You can even set notifications and reminders to alert you to when you need to start packing.
TripList also offers a Pro version, available for $2.99.

Check (iOS and Android, Free)

Keeping up with bills is a daunting task, and this app allows you to breathe easier and rest assured that you won’t overlook any due dates. The app tracks your bills for you and sends reminders when bills are due.
In addition, you can pay your bills through the app with a simple click. The app also conveniently notifies you if funds are getting low or if your credit is reaching its limit to avoid any related hassles.

Wunderlist (iOS and Android, Free)

This app is perfect for anyone who loves a good to-do list. Not only can you make the lists you need and set up helpful reminders on an easy interface, but you can also share lists with friends, family members and coworkers. The people you share your lists with can also collaborate on your lists with you, so planning surprise parties and office events is easier and more well-rounded.
Wunderlist also allows you to set reminders so the app will notify you when deadlines are approaching or when you need to act on one of your lists. After all, lists are fun, but they won’t do you any good if you forget the deadline of what you’re planning.
Wunderlist also has a Pro version, available for about $5 a month or $50 a year.
Tackling our brain’s weaknesses has never been easier thanks to the advent of these apps (and even memory training apps). It’s okay to be forgetful, but it does have its inconveniences. As long as you can remember to download these apps, many of those inconveniences will now be a thing of your past.

What other apps do you use to help you remember things? I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below!

Get the AT&T branded Nokia Lumia 635 for $39.99 from Radio Shack

You know that Nokia Lumia 635 for the AT&T GoPhone service that you've been wanting? Now would be a great time to pick it up from Radio Shack. The struggling retailer is selling the Windows Phone 8.1 powered handset for $49.99. Give the retailer your email address, and they will knock another $10 off the price to make the bottom line $39.99. And shipping is free.

The Nokia Lumia 635 features a 4.5-inch screen, offering a resolution of 480 x 854. A quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 CPU can be found under the hood with the Adreno 305 GPU crunching graphics. 512MB of RAM is on board along with 8GB of RAM. A 128GB capacity microSD slot adds additional memory for those who need it. The rear-facing 5MP camera is the only snapper on the device, although it does not have a flash, and an 1830 mAh battery keeps the lights on.

Speaking about keeping the lights on, there has been talk about Radio Shack filing for bankruptcy. While such a filing most likely wouldn't affect this deal, you might still want to take advantage of this pricing while you can.

What Is The Best Dating App For Android?

At first, online dating was mocked. Then, it exploded in popularity. Now, we’re seeing the next evolution of it: mobile dating apps. When all it takes to find a potential partner is the swipe of a finger, I think it’s safe to say that dating has never been easier (not that it’s easy, mind you).
It’s true that there are several scam apps in the Play Store and some dating apps do fall under that category, but not all dating apps are suspect. A few of them actually work pretty well, all things considered. Here are some of the best ones that may lead you to what you seek, whether that be everlasting love or a one-night hookup.

Tinder

Despite being such a young app — it debuted in late 2012 — Tinder has soared in popularity amongst youngsters and oldies alike. It’s easy and intuitive but, most importantly, it works in such a way that there’s no fear of rejection.
The process is simple: you sign in and Tinder begins searching for other users around your location. When presented with someone’s profile, you can swipe right to indicate that you’re interested or swipe left to indicate no interest. These decisions are anonymous, but if two people are interested in each other, they’ll be notified that they are a match.
People who are matched can send messages to each other, allowing them to learn more about each other or to just skip the online small talk and set up a time and location to meet. While it is straightforward, Tinder is not perfect. Avoid these common Tinder mistakes in order to get the most out of it.

OkCupid

OkCupid is probably the first name that comes to mind when online dating services are mentioned. Having initially launched in 2004, OkCupid deserves some praise for being one of the pioneers of online dating and bringing it to the forefront of the masses. The fact that it’s still alive and strong a decade later is a testament to its strength.
What sets this service apart from its competitors is its firm foundation in mathematics. Developed by a group of ex-Harvard statisticians, OkCupid is a top contender for finding matches that last. For more details, check out our in-depth review of OkCupid and its matchmaking algorithms.
The Android app is a great way to take it on the go. The interface is clean, sleek, and painless to navigate and performs well even on older devices. Our OkCupid on Android review will say all you need to know about why we think it’s a great choice for any online dater.

Plenty Of Fish

POF, also known as Plenty Of Fish, has long sat amongst the most popular online dating services. It has a registered membership of over 75 million users and has even boasted an estimate of over 1 million babies born as a result of all the relationships that came together due to the service they offer.
Unlike apps like Tinder, POF aims to be a platform for “meaningful relationships” rather than one night stands and temporary flings. You can still find casual dates and relationships of a less serious nature here, but if that’s what you want, you may be more successful with another app.
Free accounts can get matched and send unlimited messages so it’s completely functional if you don’t pay a cent. However, for $19 per month, you can upgrade to premium membership: view extended profiles, see who visited your profile and viewed your messages, know when users last logged on, and get priority ranking for your own profile.

Mamba

Mamba is a location-based social network with over 23 million users, making it the largest “social dating network” at this time. It’s used for sparking all kinds of relationships: friendships, casual flirting, or serious long-term matches. Mamba helps you find people nearby and gives you the chance to invite them to meet you.
One thing that might be a dealbreaker: Mamba requires that you input your phone number in order to register. This is their way of fighting spam bots and joke accounts, but if you’re wary of giving out personal details, then feel free to skip over Mamba.

Badoo

Like Mamba, Badoo is a “social dating network” that you can use for casual conversations or to find romantic partners. In a similar way to Tinder, it presents you with potential matches from your area and gives you the option to like or dislike them. Conversations can only start between two users who like each other.
One cool feature is that Badoo tracks how often you “bump into” other Badoo users by letting you know which members were in your proximity over the last 24 hours. Even if you aren’t interested in romance, it’s a great way to expand your social circle.
While it’s possible to register without using your Facebook account, you’ll miss out on a few features that rely on the network of friends provided by Facebook. Badoo also comes in a premium version for $2.99, though there’s nothing special about it. Buy it if you want to support the developers.

Final Thoughts

Online dating can be tough, especially if you’re looking for niche interests. For example, online dating for gamers isn’t always easy, but don’t give up. These apps will maximize your chances of finding what you’re looking for. Once you’ve struck up a relationship, you may find these digital relationship tips useful.

Do you use mobile dating apps? Which ones have brought you the most success? Which ones failed miserably? Share your experiences with us below!

How To Transfer Files From Android To PC

There is a photo on your Android phone or tablet, and you need to get it onto your PC. What method do you use? You might use a USB cable, rely on Bluetooth, or use cloud syncing. Alternatively, you might use an app like AirDroid or PushBullet. Perhaps you’ll resort to emailing it.
Put simply, transferring files from Android to a Windows PC isn’t difficult (in fact, it’s just as simple as transferring data from Android to Mac OS X); there is a wealth of alternatives, each of which we’re going to outline for you below.

Transfer Files With A USB Cable

Equipped with just a phone and a PC? Got the original USB cable that shipped with your phone handy? (It’s always preferable to use the original to avoid any possible issues.)
This is transferring files from your Android device to your PC in its most basic form. Connecting your phone to your PC with a cable may not have the slickness of using an app over WiFi, but it’s certainly effective.

With the devices connected, select the USB tethering option in Settings > Tethering & portable hotspot (a notification should appear that will give you quick access to this setting). From here, turn your attention to your Windows computer, open Windows Explorer, and search for your Android device, which should be labelled by model name.
Note that if you’re connecting these devices for the first time, Windows will attempt to install the relevant drivers. This might include some dedicated data-syncing software, which can prove useful, although it might also be considered bloatware, so don’t install it if you don’t think you’ll use it.

PC To Android Via Bluetooth

Is your PC Bluetooth enabled? Perhaps you have a Bluetooth USB dongle, or your device has Bluetooth built in. Either way, sending data via Bluetooth from Android to Windows is an option. (Albeit a particularly slow one!)

Begin by enabling Bluetooth on both devices, and then pairing with the Windows computer you aim to send your file to. With a connection established, use your chosen file browser in Android — or your Gallery app — to select the file you wish to transfer. Use the Android Share button to use Bluetooth to share the data, selecting your PC in the subsequent list. Meanwhile in Windows, find the Bluetooth icon in the System Tray, right-click and select Receive a file, and click Next to commence transfer.
Once the data has transferred, you should receive notice that the file transfer has completed successfully. The data will appear on your Windows computers in the Public folder, although it’s worth mentioning that there seems to be some stability issues with this method across Android devices, so we wouldn’t advise relying on it.

You Can Even Use WiFi Direct!

For the past couple of years, Android device manufacturers have been adding WiFi Direct support to their devices. A similar concept to sending data by Bluetooth, WiFi Direct is far quicker.

Should WiFi Direct not work natively, you might employ an app to take over. SuperBeam | WiFi Direct Share is a free option but you’ll need the PRO version to send the data to your PC as required.
With the app installed on Android, you’ll need the Windows companion app (Linux and Mac OS X are also supported) downloaded and installed which requires Java Runtime Environment to run. With the app installed, run it, select Receive and use your PC camera to read the QR code, or enter the key. The data will be transferred relatively quickly, depending on the size and speed of the destination drive.
Although primarily used as a WiFi Direct app, SuperBeam also supports NFC, sharing via QR code scanning, and also using existing WiFi networks to share.
If WiFi Direct isn’t an option however, there are some apps you can employ instead.

Move Files From Phone To PC With AirDroid

An increasingly vital app for Android users, AirDroid is free (root required) and can be signed in with Google+, Facebook, or Twitter if you don’t have time to setup a new account. As well as the various notification and tethering management tools, AirDroid can be used for a quick and easy file transfer to a Windows computer on the same WiFi network.

Begin by opening the app. Next, head to the URL displayed, http://web.airdroid.com and download the desktop client from the link that is displayed. Unfortunately, you cannot share files from your phone to your PC via the web app. If you’re not prompted to sign in, select one of the icons or menus to prompt for your details, choosing the same credentials you used to sign in with the mobile app.
On your phone, browse to the file you’re sharing, select it and use the sharing menu to find AirDroid. Choose the file and send it.
AirDroid has been a great desktop console for sharing data between a PC and an Android device since it was first launched so if you haven’t tried it already, now is the time.

PushBullet Pushes Data From Phone To PC

Another service that thankfully lets you sign-in with Google, PushBullet is designed to send Android notifications to your PC desktop, so you don’t miss anything sent to your phone (such as phone calls, app updates, messages, etc.). This permission must be assigned manually, however.

Once you’re setup and have opened the PushBullet.com website in your desktop browser (and signed in with the same Google account), it becomes a sharing option.
Select the file or image you wish to send, tap the sharing button and find A New Push. Select the browser you are signed into the PushBullet website with, set a subject and message if necessary, then tap the send icon.
Almost instantaneously, if you’re on the same network, you’ll see the file appear in your browser window. We’ve featured PushBullet several times on MakeUseOf, but Ben Stegner’s guide is probably the definitive tutorial to this great app and service.

Send Data To Windows From ES File Manager

If you’re using ES File Manager and have your Windows library folders shared on your local network then you should be able to easily copy the data you want to transfer from Android to Windows within this file manager.

After opening the app, tap the menu button in the top left corner (three horizontal lines) and expand Network. Tap LAN then Scan, which will be across the bottom of the display. A few moments later, your Windows computer should be displayed, labelled with its IP address on your network.
Tap to explore the folders, and use the contextual menu in ES File Explorer to paste the data into your preferred directory.

Copy To SD Card And Read From Your PC

A way of keeping it simple and not bothering with apps or wireless networking protocols is to copy the data to your phone’s microSD card. This is a particularly useful option if you don’t have a USB cable and the other options aren’t available, but you will need a microSD to SD card adapter.

This is essentially the modern interpretation of the old “save to floppy disk and copy to another computer” only with physically smaller devices and media.
Naturally this will only work if you have a suitable card reader for your SD card, but in the absence of other options it can be effective. Just make sure you put your microSD card back in your phone when you’re done! If your phone doesn’t have a microSD card slot, most modern Android devices support USB OTG, so you can use a USB storage device as long as you have an OTG cable or adaptor.

Cloud Sharing & Email

As a last resort, you can take advantage of two applications that are synonymous with computing these days, cloud storage and email.

With cloud services such as Dropbox, Box, and Google Drive — as well as Microsoft OneDrive — it is remarkably easy to have data transferred from your Android device to your computer without you even knowing about it. A case in point is Dropbox’s automatic Camera Upload tool; as long as you have Dropbox on your computer, photos snapped on your device will be synced to your Dropbox account, and mirrored on your PC.
Similar features are available with the other cloud services, and even if it isn’t a photo you want to sync, you can copy data to the cloud folder on your Android device and see it synced to the corresponding directory in Windows.
Email was probably the first method of non-disk data transfer between devices and remains a useful option in some cases. All you need to do is attach the data you want to view on your desktop computer to an email on your phone and send it to yourself (any of your personal email addresses will do). Once received and downloaded to your computer, you’ll be able to open the data.

Need To Transfer Files From Android To PC? It’s Easy!

With so many different methods of transferring data of any size from your phone or tablet to your Windows PC, you’re really spoiled for choice. The only problem you might have now is deciding which method you prefer.

Of course, there is a chance that we’ve overlooked something. Can you think of a different method? Do you use an app that we haven’t included? Perhaps you’ve run into problems — whatever your question or observation, use our comments box to start the conversation.

6 Cool Watch Faces For Your Android Wear Smartwatch

If you’ve read our guide to picking an Android Wear smartwatch and have a shiny new toy on your wrist, congratulations! While Android Wear hasn’t really become a must-have yet, it has lots of cool functions that are only getting better as time goes on.
No matter which device you’re rocking — perhaps the LG G Watch (our review) or the Moto 360, which we’ve also reviewed — Wear allows you to set a custom watch face. The default ones are cool enough, but you go with Android because you want to customize, right? Let’s take a look at the coolest faces for your watch.

Secret Agent Watchface

Fans of the N64 classic Goldeneye 007 will recognize this one right away. Coming from a licensed video game that’s actually good, this face duplicates Bond’s watch that serves as the in-game pause menu.

In Goldeneye, the bars on the left represent the player’s health, while the right shows your body armor. This is cleverly implemented into the watch; the left bars show your phone’s remaining battery life and the watch battery shows on the right. Otherwise, there’s a digital clock in the center with a faded analog display behind it, along with date display. The developer also plans to feature Google Fit integration when it’s available by showing your progress towards your step goal in the bars at the bottom.
Video game fans will obviously love this face, but even if you’re not a gamer, this is a cool choice. You can grab it on the Play Store for free.

Fallout Round

For this one, you’ll need to install the watch face manager Facer, available for $1 in the Play Store. Once it’s installed, you’ll have access to a variety of user-created faces and can even make your own. There’s even a Facer subreddit if you need some inspiration.

Another gaming-themed watch, this one borrows from a scene in Fallout 3, where you have a basic watch on your wrist instead of your Pip-Boy computer. It features a simple design with Vault Boy’s hands as the hands of the watch. The date is displayed in typical watch fashion, too.
If you’re not a big fan of Fallout, this probably isn’t your best choice. Lovers of the series, however, have probably been waiting for a while to finally get to wear this watch, and it’s awesome to see it finally realized with Android Wear.

Matrix Face For Android Wear

This Matrix-themed face features the animation code from Neo’s computer screen in the movie, giving it a sharp look. It doesn’t include any information other than the time, but it’s still a cool and eye-catching option. This is a great choice for showing off your new watch to friends, and it’s the only one on this list that is animated.

The Matrix is no stranger to computer customization; it’s also available as a screensaver for Windows (as well as a WordPress theme), but it no doubt looks cooler on your wrist.

Minimal

Another option from Facer, this one doesn’t reference any pop culture. Instead, it features a no-frills design with words instead of numbers. The date and current battery life are listed at the bottom, so all the info you could need is accessible to you at once.

Watch purists won’t be happy with this one, but if you’re willing to try something a bit different, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Plus, the black background means you won’t be blinded when you use your watch in the dark.

Aviator Watch Face

The most standard watch face out of the group, the Aviator watch face mimics the full-featured watches pilots relied on in the early days of flight. It brings not just the time, but also a battery indicator, date and day of week dial, and the current weather and temperature. You’ll feel like a real pilot!

Even if you aren’t into aviation, this face still features a slick, modern look, and will be more appropriate in formal situations than some of the above. If you aren’t willing to compromise on style for your smartwatch, this is the choice for you. Aviator Watch Face is $1 on Google Play.

Rebecca Minkoff Watch Face

Featuring another classy style, this watch face is clean and doesn’t show anything more than the time. By using “studs” instead of numbers, it creates a chic look, so it’s perfect if you have a fancy band on your watch. The Minoff design is also more feminine than the others, if that’s a consideration.

Got The Time?

These six choices are far from the only offerings that Android Wear offers for telling time in style, but they’re a good sampling for everyone. Google is rolling out a big update to Android Wear which means even more watch faces will be popping up soon. For a sneak peak at some of the first, check out the new page on the Play Store devoted to watch faces.

More interested in function over form? Check out the details on how wearable technology works.

Google and Verizon sign a global patent license agreement

Google and Verizon Wireless entered into a patent cross-license agreement. The long-term deal between the search giant and the Big Red covers a broad range of products and technologies.

Unsurprisingly, avoiding future patent litigation is the main reason behind the deal between the two companies. A cross-license agreement will allow both Google and Verizon to focus on innovation.

Both tech giants are interested in reaching similar arrangements with other companies.

Apple halts online sales in Russia due to currency fluctuations

According to a report in Bloomberg, Apple has halted online sales in Russia. Extreme fluctuations of the local currency are the reason for the drastic measure.

The nose dive of the Russian ruble, coupled with the massive interest rate increase by the central bank in the country have caused the Cupertino giant to review its pricing. In an email today, Apple spokesperson apologized to customers in Russia for any inconvenience.

Analysts find Apple’s decision to pull back from Russia for the moment as a wise move. All sales the company realizes will need to be converted in dollars and euros, so a depressed rate will significantly hurt its bottom line.

OnePlus gets temporarily banned from selling devices in India

After Xiaomi it's OnePlus' turn in India to face the banhammer. The Delhi High Court has banned the Chinese company from importing and selling OnePlus One in India.

Although the ban comes shortly after the Xiaomi case (which has been temporarily resolved), the two are for very different reasons. While Xiaomi was found infringing upon Ericsson's patents, OnePlus has been banned for shipping devices with CyanogenMod on them despite Micromax having an exclusivity deal with Cyanogen. The complaint was naturally made by Micromax, following which OnePlus has been temporarily banned from selling and importing devices with CyanogenMod in India, although the company can sell its existing stock.

We have heard before from OnePlus that the company is working on its own Android ROM, which was expected to be made available later this month. Following this ban, the company will have to expedite its work on the ROM if it intends to continue selling phones in India.

Honor 3C launches with impressive screen at low, low price

The Honor 3C has officially launched in the UK for the bargain basement price of £109.99 - not bad considering this handset is rocking a 5-inch 720p display.
This is the second handset from the new Huawei sub-brand, following on from the flagship Honor 6.
You also get an 8MP rear camera and 5MP front snapper, which are almost unheard of at this end of the market, and they may see the Honor 3C appeal to those wanting a cheap handset which can double as a capable camera.
The 2300mAh battery is sizable, with a power saving mode too boot, plus there's a surprising amount of power under the hood with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM.

Too good to be true?

There's no 4G connectivity, so you're stuck with 3G, and you only get 8GB of internal storage, but thankfully there's a microSD slot which supports cards up to 32GB in size.

It's not all good news as the Honor 3C runs the ageing Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system with Huawei's Emotion UI 2.0.
Apart from that small blemish though the 3C looks like a highly attractive smartphone at the bottom end of the market, but we won't know for sure until we've put it through our full review process.
The Honor 3C will be available for pre-order on Amazon from today, with the handset expected to ship from November 24.

HTC One M8 edges LG G3 and iPhone 6 as TechRadar's Best Flagship Phone

Few would argue that mobile phones have become the most important technological tool we possess. And over the last 12 months, the world's biggest manufacturers have given us the most powerful, best looking and most feature-packed handsets to date.
We've spent all year testing and debating all of them, and have arrived at our conclusions forTechRadar's Phones of the Year 2014. We've awarded titles to the top phones in four different categories: Best Flagship Phone, Best Phablet, Best Compact Phone and Best Budget Phone.
Overall bragging rights go to the HTC One M8, which takes the title of Best Flagship phone from the likes of the LG G3 and Apple iPhone 6.
Elsewhere, we've looked at which brand performed the best over the course of the year, how to buy the perfect smartphone and what the future may hold for our devices. All things considered, it's looking pretty positive for 2015.
You can find the full list of winners, as well as our thoughts on the smartphone market and the biggest and best devices of the year on our.

Moto X (2014) vs. Sony Xperia Z3 - Dogfight!

Cam compares two of the best-looking Android phones on the market. Sony's flat, slim all-glass Z3 and the customizable, metal-framed Moto X. Both are an improvement on the previous generation, both sport 5.2-inch 1080p displays. But which is the best phone? Cam's Moto X is the black model with a leather-covered back and blue trim. While the Z3 is the picture of elegance with its obsydian-like glass and gray chassis. In the comparison, Cam goes over design, display, camera, audio and performance to come out with a verdict on which is the better all-round device. Both personal opinion and objective comparison shared.

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime Now Available Online at Rs. 9,275

Samsung's new budget Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy Core Prime, soon after being officially listed by the company, has gone on sale in India.
The Samsung Galaxy Core Prime smartphone is now available to buy at eBay India, priced at Rs. 9,275.
Notably, the South Korean company is yet to announce official availability of the new smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy Core Prime earlier this month was claimed to launch soon in India by an established Mumbai-based smartphone retailer, Mahesh Telecom, who said the smartphone would be priced at Rs. 9,599 in India. Prior to this, the handset was also seen listed on Flipkart, an e-commerce website, in October at Rs. 8,499.
The Android 4.4 KitKat-based Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is said to feature dual-SIM support, a 4.5-inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) PLS (plane-to-line switching) TFT display, and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM.
It comes with 8GB of inbuilt storage, and supports expandable storage via microSD card (up to 64GB). The Galaxy Core Prime is said to include a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera, and a 2-megapixel front camera. There is a 2000mAh battery onboard. The connectivity options on the handset include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and 3G.
The Galaxy Core Prime includes an accelerometer and proximity sensor, apart from measuring 130.8x67.9x8.8mm and sporting a matte body finish with metal sides. It is currently listed in three colour variants - Charcoal Grey, White, and Silver.
Last month, Samsung's dual-SIM variant of the metal-clad Galaxy A5 was listed on company's China website. Listed on Samsung's China website as the Galaxy A5 (SM-A5000), the smartphone came with dual Nano-SIM support, and packs the same specifications as the single-SIM Galaxy A5.

Facebook's Zuckerberg Says Dislike Button Is a Bad Idea in Second Q&A

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not in favour of the much-requested 'Dislike' button.
In response to a query during his second Q&A session on Thursday at Menlo Park, Zuckerberg said that the Dislike button is not a good idea and Facebook isn't working on any such thing.
"Some people have asked for a dislike button before [..] they want to be able to say that a thing isn't good and that's not something that we think is good for the world. So we're not going to build that. I don't think there needs to be a voting mechanism on Facebook whether posts are good or bad. I don't think that's socially very valuable or good for the community," said Zuckerberg.
But one thing that he specifically pointed out was that Facebook thinking about alternative ways to express emotions, apart from the existing and only Like button. For example - the Like option for the death of loved one or an unfortunate incident seems inappropriate.

Post by Q&A with Mark.

"We've been thinking about it for quite a while [..] what's the right way to make it so people can easily express a broader range of emotions, to empathize. Or to express surprise or laughter or any of these things. You can always just comment. But there's something that's so simple about the like button [..] I think giving people the power to do that in more ways with more emotions would be powerful. But we need to figure out the right way to do it so it ends up being a force for good and not a force for bad and demeaning the posts that people are putting out there."

Facebook had announced the second Q&A session back at the end of last month, and asked users on the dedicated Q&A with Mark page to post questions. Apart from the reason for the continued absence of the Dislike button, several other questions were answered by Zuckerberg at the Q&A, where he also took questions from users at the event.

The first Q&A saw Zuckerberg answering some interesting questions, from why the standalone Messenger app was forced on users for chats, to why he wears the same shirt every day. Zuckerberg also finally expressed his opinion on The Social Network movie, which had controversially pictured the events around the creation, founding and initial success of the firm.