Top 5 Document Scanning Apps for Android

Top 5 Document Scanning Apps for Android

Scanners are much too cumbersome to fit in a pocket, but with the use of just one application, you can replace all that bulky hardware with your Android smartphone and take it with you wherever you go. All you need to do is find the scanning app that fulfills your needs. Here are our five favorites that are good for business pros and average joes alike.

1. Microsoft Office Lens

The most notable feature of Microsoft Office Lens is its ability to scan your document from various angles and perfectly crop it once it's done; if you need to make adjustments, you can crop it yourself afterwards. It's simple and it gets the job done well. More info here.

Pros:

• Simple interface
• Smart scanning
• Smart cropping
• Easy to use

Cons:

• No annotations
• Limited filters and color correction

2. Evernote

The scanning feature in Evernote offers a great formatting tool with the ability to add on to scans and tweak the image with useful filters. Additionally, you can also annotate scans by using the Evernote Skitch companion app.

Pros:

• Formatting tools
• Annotations (with Skitch app)
• Keyword searches through scanned documents

Cons:

• Can be confusing at first if new to Evernote
• Need of additional app for annotations

3. CamScanner - Phone PDF Creator

After scanning an item, CamScanner provides plenty of filters to make your document more detailed or defined, and if none satisfy you, you can adjust the image yourself. Additionally, in conjunction with the companion InNote app, you can annotate your scan or include a watermark.

Pros:

• Cloud backup
• Plenty of filters
• Post-scan tools
• Annotations
• Batch scanning

Cons:

• Annotations require additional app
• Does not crop image for you

4. Genius Scan - PDF Scanner

The first thing you'll notice about Genius Scan is its Material Design interface. While all this app does is scan, the cropping function is much easier to use than its competition.

Pros:

• Material Design elements
• Easy cropping
• Straight-forward scanning function

Cons:

• Lacks additional features

5. Scanbot - PDF Document Scanner

The great thing about Scanbot is that you can unlock all the paid features by simply enabling ads, and the "smart scanner" walks you through the process so you can ensure a good clean document.

Pros:

• Tons of free features
• Cropping made easy
• Smart scanning
• Annotations
• Reminder function
• Signature feature
• Wonderlist and Evernote integration

Cons:

• No marking feature

Final Thoughts

All these applications can perform basic scans with your camera, so it all depends on what you're looking for in terms of extra features. If you need something simple, then Genius Scan is a great option, but if you want to mark up a document and make annotations, you'd probably want to look into Scanbot or CamScanner.

How to Set Up an Android Smartphone for an Older Family Member

How to Set Up an Android Smartphone for an Older Family Member

By now, a mobile phone that isn't "smart" is about as hard to come by as a TV that isn't high definition. As a result, members of older generations who were previously reluctant to purchase a newfangled smartphone have no other choice but to cave into the more recent trends when their old device finally breaks down.

When someone who is entirely unfamiliar with smartphones crosses that threshold, all of the capabilities that their new gadget offers can be overwhelming. So if you have an elder family member who is currently going through this rough transition, I'll go over six tips you can use to help get them started with their new Android smartphone.

Tip #1: Install an "Easy Mode" Launcher

One of the easiest ways to make a smartphone more approachable is to replace the stock home screen app with an "Easy Mode" launcher. Some devices will have one of these built in that you can choose during initial setup, but if yours doesn't, there are a pair of great third-party options.

Wiser and Necta both operate by the same principle—a clutter-free home screen with large and simple icons should make smartphones easier to use for seniors. Once you've installed either of these free apps, simply press the device's home button, then choose the new launcher and press "Always" to set it as the default home screen app.

[1] Setting Wiser as the default home screen app. [2] The finished look.

Tip #2: Minimize Apps on the Home Screen

If you'd prefer not to replace the default home screen app on your elderly relative's phone, you can still apply one the main principles used in an "Easy Mode" launcher. To greatly simplify the user experience, remove all but the most commonly-used apps from the home screen.

Leave the phone app, the SMS app, the camera app, and a web browser. Beyond that, perhaps the gallery app and an email client would be useful. But the goal here is to not overwhelm your technologically-challenged relative with too many options, and instead, allow them to explore their phone and discover apps at their own pace.

[1] This is a bit confusing, but... [2] A home screen with only the basic apps is more approachable.

Tip #3: Disable Auto-Correct & Other Keyboard Settings

One of the biggest hurdles your elderly relative will have to overcome is the use of a virtual keyboard. As these are not tactile and the buttons themselves are rather small, it can be difficult for your relative to type things out on their device.

To minimize confusion here, disable auto-correct and other advanced keyboard options like gesture-based typing. Generally, this can be done by opening the keyboard app entry in the app drawer. From here, read through the various settings and disable options like "Show suggestions," "Auto-correct," and "Voice input," as these will only serve to distract and confuse a novice user.

Tip #4: Increase Font Sizes

One of the biggest complaints you'll hear from seniors regarding any smartphone is that the text is too small. From Android's main settings menu, head to the "Display" category, then tap "Font size" to change this. By default, this should be set to "Normal," but changing it to "Large" or "Huge" can really help if your relative has eyesight problems.

Tip #5: Install AppLock to Prevent Accidental Settings Changes

Now that you've got the phone set up in a manner that your elderly relative should find easy to use, you want to make sure it all stays that way. The only trouble here is that your relative might get lost in the interface and inadvertently change some settings, or the device's screen may be left on at an inopportune time, leading to settings being altered with accidental pocket touches.

To prevent such issues, I'd suggest installing an app called AppLock, which does what its name suggests and blocks access to certain apps. After installing the app, you'll be prompted to set up device administrator access. Once you've done that, set a PIN, then tap the lock icon next to options like "WiFi," "Bluetooth," and "Auto sync," as well as any apps with dangerous options, then you won't have to worry about having to come back and fix problems that the user accidentally created.

Tip #6: Don't Over-Explain

There's an inherent temptation when teaching someone the ropes to press further and continue teaching—even well beyond the point where the learner has had his fill. When giving your elderly relative the grand tour of their new device, do your best to stick to the basics, because at a certain point, you'll only undo any learning that has already taken place.

Show them how to wake their device and put it back to sleep, how to make phone calls or send text messages, and how to take a picture. Depending on the person, it might be good to point out the web browser app, but that's about where you should draw the line. Before getting into topics like where to download apps or how to use "OK Google" voice commands, give your relative some time to get a grasp on the basics. Then, let their curiosity dictate how much further you want to expand their knowledge.

Are there any other tips that you would recommend for setting up an elderly family member's smartphone? If so, let us know about them in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

Cover image via Shutterstock

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Android Basics: How to Use the Share Menu

What Is the Share Menu & What Does It Do?

Android allows all apps to share data with each other. For instance, if you're viewing a picture in your favorite gallery app, you can share this image over to any email app, where you can then send it to anyone. Or if you're looking at a web page in your browser, you can share the link over to any text messaging app and send it to your friend.

This is the essence of Android's share menu, and it's available in almost all apps. Whenever you see the icon below, that means you can send the file you're currently viewing over to a different app or service.

The Android share icon, as seen in many different apps.

Using the Share Menu

The share button is not always in the same place, since it's up to the app's developer to choose where to put it. Most of the time, you'll see the share button directly beneath the file you're currently viewing, but sometimes, you'll have to tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner of your screen to access the share feature.

[1] Share button in Google Photos app. [2] Share feature found in 3-dot overflow on Google Chrome.

Either way, once you press the share button, you'll see Android's share menu. This is asking which app you'd like to send the file or link to, so select the target app from this list.

At this point, the file you shared will be queued up and ready to use in the target app. For example, when sharing a picture to the Gmail app, the photo will already be attached and ready to send to any recipient.

[1] Sharing a photo to the Gmail app. [2] Photo automatically attached in Gmail and ready to send.

Now that you've mastered Android's share menu, what other Android Basics would you like us to cover next? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

The Best Emulators on Android for Playing Retro Video Games

The Best Emulators on Android for Playing Retro Video Games

Smartphone games are getting pretty good these days, but they still can't beat the retro appeal of a good emulator. I mean, who wouldn't want to have their all-time favorite console and arcade games tucked neatly in their front pocket? Classics ranging from Super Mario Bros. to Pokémon can all be played at a silky-smooth frame rate on today's devices if you can just find a good emulator to run them on.

Considering the plethora of options out there, we set out to find the smoothest Android emulator apps for several different consoles, making sure to test them on the oldest device we have. In the end, the 9 apps listed below (in no particular order) proved to be the cream of the crop, and we've organized them all by the console they emulate, with some good ROM sources at the bottom of the article.

1. RetroArch (Multi-Console)

If you're looking for a one-stop shop, RetroArch is like the Swiss Army knife of emulators. Rather than supporting only one specific platform engine, this app allows you to download "Cores" that emulate many different consoles, from Atari to the first-gen PlayStation.

To get things going, you'll have to head to the "Online Updater" in RetroArch's main menu, where you can download cores for any of your favorite consoles. Options here include Atari, NES, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance, and even a PlayStation core. For some consoles, there are multiple cores available, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that runs flawlessly on your device.

Once you've loaded up a core, simply download compatible games from your favorite ROM site (more on that at the end of this article), then hit "Load Content" to start playing. Almost all of the cores we tested ran games without any issues, but there are plenty of options to optimize game play if you experience any lag.

2. MD.Emu (Sega Genesis, CD, & Master System)

For Sega Genesis, Sega CD, or Master System games, the best emulator we found was MD.emu. Throughout our testing, gameplay was absolutely flawless, and the amount of Sega ROMs this app supports is unrivaled.

The interface here is nice and simple—head to Settings if you need to adjust game play options, or simply hit "Load Game" to start up your favorite ROM. Once you've loaded a ROM, you can head back to this menu to apply cheats or save your game if need be.

3. Snes9x (Super Nintendo)

Fans of side-scrolling Mario games needn't look any further than Snes9x, which proved to be the most consistent Super Nintendo emulator throughout our testing. This particular console has the highest nostalgia value for me, so I've tried quite a few SNES emulators over the years and can say without a doubt that this one's the best.

If you've ever used an emulator before, you should feel right at home with Snes9x. The interface is incredibly straightforward, but gamepad mapping options and the ability to pair a Wiimote make it rather powerful. During the countless hours I've used this app, I haven't noticed a single hiccup—and that dates back to my 2012 Nexus 4.

4. Mupen64 (Nintendo 64)

Should you prefer your Mario games to be of the three-dimensional variety, Mupen64 stands alone for its game support and lack of dropped frames. Nintendo 64 games seem to mark the upper end of Android's emulation capabilities, but most phones these days should have more than enough power to run them smoothly.

Really, the only downside is that the on-screen controls are kind of awkward to use, but this is true for any late-model console emulator where the original controller had a joystick, D-pad, and shoulder buttons. Besides, this can easily be remedied by pairing a Bluetooth controller with your phone, so Mupen64's rock-solid core makes for an enjoyable experience overall.

5. My Boy! (Game Boy Advanced)

If you're looking to relive those road trips in the back seat of your parents' minivan, My Boy! is by far the smoothest of all Game Boy Advanced emulators. Although this app is labeled as a free version, the only real limitation is the lack of a fast-forward feature, which can be unlocked with the Pro version for $4.99.

One of the coolest features of My Boy! is its ability to emulate the GBA's link cable using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so you can play two-player games with your friends without fussing with any wires. Aside from that, there are plenty of options for tweaking the control settings, and you can even use your phone's internal sensors to help control game play.

6. DraStic (Nintendo DS)

If your favorite portable game console was dual-paned, there's really only one option when it comes to Nintendo DS emulators. DraStic DS Emulator is free, but it has a 30-minute game play limit. So if you want keep playing, you'll have to purchase the Pro version for $5.99.

The vertical orientation of your phone in portrait mode is a perfect match for the Nintendo DS layout, so the bottom half of your screen is touch-sensitive exactly like it was on the DS. Like My Boy!, DraStic is capable of linking multiple devices over Wi-Fi, so you won't have to stay tethered to a three-foot cable to enjoy some two-player Mario Kart like you did with the original DS.

7. ePSXe (PlayStation)

If you want to play your favorite first-gen PlayStation games on Android, you'll have to invest a little money up front, since there aren't any good free options. That said, ePSXe is a great value at only $3.75, and it runs these fairly modern games amazingly well.

The interface here is simple and clean, so it's easy to get straight to the point and start playing games. One thing you'll need to consider when dealing with later-model emulators like ePSXE is storage space, since each ROM takes up roughly half a gigabyte.

8. PPSSPP (PlayStation Portable)

As the newest device in this list, PlayStation Portable emulators are still few and far between. In fact, there's really only one legitimate option when it comes to Android, and that's PPSSPP.

The main interface is quite polished for an emulator app, and there are plenty of settings that you can adjust if you're getting subpar performance out of a ROM. Any games that you have stored on your device will be picked up on automatically, and thumbnail images are added to make it easy to browse your library.

We did experience some lag on our older Nexus 5, but after adjusting some settings, gameplay improved significantly. When testing on the higher-end Galaxy S6, the default settings performed remarkably well, so device hardware is definitely a factor.

9. MAME4droid (Classic Arcades)

Before video games crossed the threshold to our living rooms with the onset of the modern console, a stack of quarters and a trip to 7-Eleven was how you got your fix. Arcades are now a niche market, but with MAME4droid, you can relive the glory days from right in the palm of your hand.

As MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, you've essentially got all of the classic arcade games covered with MAME4droid. One thing to be aware of when downloading ROMs is that your games will need to be compatible with the 0.37b5 MAME standard, which is fairly common, but does limit compatibility a little.

Where to Find ROMs

Archive.org's console page has plenty of games for older consoles, and CoolROM is a great spot for most consoles in general. But if you're looking for Nintendo stuff, you'll be better off trying the DopeROMs website. Beyond that, Google is your friend, of course, but be careful of the aggressive ads on random sites.

Also, as a standard legal notice, download ROMs at your own risk. It's technically illegal to download a ROM off the internet for a game you don't physically own. If you have the skills and know-how, you could create legal ROM backups from all of your old games yourself, which you could then play on any emulator.

What are some of the game ROMs you've played on your favorite gaming system emulator? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

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