How to root you Android Device - A beginner's guide

I remember the first time I decided to root my Android device and actually managed to do it on my first try. I had the HTC Desire HD back then and I wanted to install one of those cool looking ROMs on my Android device. Rooting sounds so cool when said out loud, and no matter how tough it looks, it is really very easy. 
Therefore I have decided to write a walk through guide for you guys today, so just follow my lead and you'll be rooting your phone or tablet in no time.

A little introduction to rooting

Rooting is basically jail breaking into your Android device and let's the user dig deeper into the device and have full access to the Operating System. So you can customize it to the fullest, overclock it, replace the firmware and well the list goes on and on. 

Why should you root your device?

The question that rises in everyone's mind at first is why you should root your device? Well why wouldn't you? Rooting your Android device lets you install custom apps and firmware, flash custom ROMs, completely change the appearance of your phone or tablet and stand out from the rest of the crowd quite frankly, and to to mention show off in front of your friends. 

Why shouldn't you root your device?

Well as there are merits for everything, there are some demerits as well. 

First of all rooting renders your device's warranty void. Carriers often give the excuse of a suspended warranty by determining rooting to be the cause. But keep in mind that you can also un-root your device so make sure you do that if you want it repaired. 

One other thing is to make sure not to tamper with the process too much and follow the instructions very carefully as there is a minor chance that you mind end up bricking your phone. 

How to root your Android?

Now let's come to the fun and exciting part, how to actually root your phone or tablet. There are several rooting programs out there to hep you with the process so you don't really have to do much apart from a few keyboard strikes from time to time. 

Two of the most noteworthy programs that have received a lot of reputation are Towelroot and KingoRoot. Both will root your device in literally the amount of time it takes you to wash your hands. 

Before installing there programs on your computer or the app on your device, first make sure that your device is compatible. Here is a list of the devices compatible with Kingo. Unfortunately, if your device isn't compatible then I advise visiting the XDA Developer's Forums, which would definitely help you out. 

Preparation for rooting

Completely backup your phone or tablet before starting even backup the current stock ROM installed on your device. Here is how to do that. Also ensure that your device is fully charged before you begin.

You will also need to enable USB debugging on your device which you can do by going to Settings>About Phone>Developer Options>and then check box for USB Debugging. You might also need to install additional software on your computer such as Android SDK Tools.

Unlocking Bootloader

You will also need to unlock your device's bootloader. Bootloader is a program that basically determines what apps will run on your device's start-up. Several manufactures have provided ways on how to unlock their respective device's bootloader which you can follow below.

• Unlock Bootloader for HTC
• Unlock Bootloader for Sony
• Unlock Bootloader for Motorola

Unfortunately, some manufacturers don't allow this but you can definitely find a way on XDA Developer's Forum. 

Kingo Android Root Method

This method is perhaps the most easiest ones out there and is my personal recommendation. This method requires you to connect your Android device to your computer while the program does the job by itself, however make sure to check if your device is compatible with the program as mentioned earlier above.

If yes then go ahead and download Kingo Android Root. Once you have connected your android device to your computer through a USB cable with USB debugging enabled, install the program and run it.

The program will then detect your device and ask you to root your device, select 'root' and then wait. It will only take a short time before you enter into the untapped world of rooted android devices. 

Don't be discouraged- Try and Try again

If the above method doesn't work for you then don't be discouraged as there is no universal way to root your device. You can try forums such as Phandroid Forums or XDA Developer's Forums both of them have easy-to-follow guides for your devices. However, you can also ask me if you need any help.

Things to do if you succeed which you will

Download Root Checker

If you want to check that your device successfully has been rooted and that you have Super User permissions then i advise downloading the Root Checker App from Play Store.

Download SuperSU

It is also essential that you install a root management app such as SuperSU after you have successfully rooted your android phone or tablet in order to ensure that your device stays secure and that you are protected from security threats. 

How to Unroot your Android

So if you've had enough of the rooted control over your Android device you can revert back to the original state. Unrooting is easy as SuperSU easy allows you to unroot your phone by selecting the "full root" option.

If you have already experienced a rooted device, let us know in the comments below. 

Happy Rooting- Cheers!

Hang on there guys!

Will be posting new content soon guys. Halted due to some academic intervention. Hang on! 

Regards
Googleoid

Android Update - Android Lollipop 5.0.2 Update for Nexus

Google has recently launched the latest update for its Android Lollipop operating system. Android Lollipop 5.0.2 has been released for Nexus 7 2012 Wifi editions and is expected to roll out anytime soon on your Nexus Devices.

Android Lollipop

As mentioned in my previous article The Comparison between Android Lollipop and Android Kitkat, Google launched its latest Operating System for Mobile platform Android Lollipop on last year's June 25th and was consequently available to users around last November. Android Lollipop's first update Lollipop 5.0.1 came soon after for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9 and Nexus 10 but didn't release for Nexus 7 (2012).

Nexus Update - Android Lollipop 5.0.2

Google launched its Android Lollipop 5.0.2 update recently but as we can see it's been released only for Nexus 7 (2012) Wifi editions yet. The update appears to be a very specific one in order to make amends for the users who were left out. But it might also be frustrating for user of devices such as Nexus 7 3G 2013 and others as they are still running the KitKat operating system.

So if you're all excited about the latest update then I would advise you to take a step back unless you happen to proudly own a Nexus 7 (2012) Wifi. But all this difference between updates for different devices and the fact that Android Lollipop is still not available on a wider device base in 2015 can leave some people quite restless.

Anyways be on the lookout for the Over-the-Air update as it coming slowly but surely.

Lollipop Bug - Memory Leakage

One of the recent and most frustrating bug found in the new Operating System is a software bug that is apparently leaking your device's memory. 

Say for instance if you're running more than say 3 or 4 apps your device will automatically determine that you are on some sort of a memory threshold limit and it will instantly and abruptly close some apps to save some space. 

The software bug affects your RAM memory and simply leaks from time to time. No matter what your device's memory is, it will still show that the device is out of memory which is extremely frustrating. 

The only thing that you can do is wait patiently for Google's next Android update Android Lollipop 5.0.3.

If you've experienced any issues or bugs while using Android Lollipop on your device be sure to drop a comment below.

Cheers!

Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison - Do they really feel different?

With the new year already in its course lets take a look at how fare Google's latest OS for their Android devices, Android Lollipop is doing as compared to its predecessor Android 4.4 Kitkat. 

Google already launched its latest Android OS at Google I/O 2014 along with several other releases and was available to devices such as the phones and tablet series of the Nexus, Motorola and a few others through OTA updates in the following weeks. I have installed Android Lollipop on my Nexus 5 and have noticed some major changes to how Google sees their devices.

So how well is Android Lollipop doing compared to Android 4.4 Kitkat? We will be looking at just that here by reviewing every inch of both these Operating Systems.

Design - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

Perhaps design is the most significant change brought forth by Google for their promise of a "Materialistic Design". This is probably the biggest change Google has made in their OS for Android devices since the Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich released back in 2011. Android Lollipop boasts new features and an overall new look which includes animations, more shadows and light for the system's appearance. Android Lollipop also changes app interface color according to the displayed content on your device. 

LockScreen - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

The locksreen is the first feature that you would notice feels a lot different. Google is calling their new lockscreen feature the "Smart Lock". You can access your notifications directly from the lockscreen and can also access other features through the drop down menu from the top. For unlocking you swipe up to unlock your device, swipe right to select the dialer and left to access the camera which was already present in the KitKat version. Below are screenshots with left showing Lollipop and Right showing Kitkat.

HomeScreen - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

There are a few changes in Android Lollipop as compared to the Kitkat version. The one most significant are the new substitutes of the 'back', 'home' and 'recent' icons which are now a triangle, circle and a square respectively.

MultiTasking - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

The 'recent' navigational operation has changed a lot by introducing a new 3D style tab list which can be swiped up or down seamlessly in a rotatory motion. This feature really makes the one on the KitKat feel a bit outdated. Another new feature is that several tabs opened in Google Chrome will now be displayed here as separate cards. You can also swipe the cards left or right to close a certain app or can tap the 'X'.

Notifications - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

The drop down notification screen also had a makeover related to the 'Material Design' proposed by Google. For starters you swipe down to access the notifications screen where you can tap a notification to view it or swipe either left or right to discard it, here is where the difference comes, you can also swipe down another time to access the notification bar which now includes a brightness setting slider, Cast Screen and also the Flashlight which comes built-in with the OS.

Performace - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

As far as the Design is concerned, there have been massive changes all around but that is not all. Google also declared that they have switched from Dalvik to ART (Android Run Time) which they say is twice as fast. Andoid Lollipop gives quite a smooth feel all around but not much of a change since KitKat wasn't any less smooth. 


Battery Life - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

Perhaps the most important aspect of an Android device and Lollipop provides a much more concrete performance upgrade. One of the updates is the ability to see which app is draining battery life and the remaining time. Another important feature which is new to Android Lollipop is the Battery Saver mode which extends your device's battery life upto 90 minutes. Personally I have tested the feature myself and it showed a staggering result of 100 miutes. 

Security - Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison

Added security features include Proximity and Location based unlocks sort of like in the Android Wear Devices. These features will allow you to unlock your Android device if you are near your device or it will unlock itself in your home our office. 

So that's that for the Android 5 Lollipop VS Android 4.4 Kitkat Comparison. If you already have Android Lollipop on your device do let us know what you feel and what are your personal expereinces?


*Update - Google has already launched Android Lollipop 5.0.1 which includes some minor bug fixes and improvements. Will be posting about it soon. 

Android Easter Eggs in your Phone by Google

Ok so not many people know about this neat little trick on Android though it is very easy to find. Google had secretly placed an Easter Egg in your phone that you can explore - probably in your free time.

Here are the steps to discover the hidden Easter eggs. 

1. Go to the "Settings" on your Android device and navigate down to your "About Phone"

2. On the "Android Version" tab, repeatedly tap a few times and oh!

3. The Easter Egg appears in the form of a hidden animation. Based on different Android O.S there are different Easter Eggs.

4. For Lollipop 5 which I am using on my Nexus 5, by long-pressing the animation a Flappy Bird game pops up which you can play endlessly.

*screenshots taken with a Nexus 5

Even Google Finds a Way To Wish You A New Year!

With the new year underway, Google decided to wish all their Android Mobile Users through a very nifty trick. 

In order to be wished, simply follow these steps:

1. Navigate to your Google Calendar App on your device.

2. Select Schedule View.

3. Drag to the date 1st January, 2015.

4. And Voila! There is an animated firework celebration waiting for you.

*Screenshots taken with Nexus 5. 

A Happy New Year

It's a brand new start!

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all!

And what good way to start it off than to go forth on a venture together for the Android and Google Community. Dear readers, I have decided to start a blogger service just for you so that I can share my knowledge of all things Android with guys. It is my promise to you and my New Year Resolution as well to make sure you get quality content and benefit from the worthwhile read. 

Be sure to stay tuned for exciting Android news, gadget information, firmware updates and more Google!

Stay Blessed,

Googloid