How to Uninstall Malware from Your Android Device

How to Uninstall Malware from Your Android Device

Let's say you got a little careless while installing apps from unknown sources, and now your Android device has been infected by malware. Or perhaps your friend has come to you for help after they had haphazardly installed random apps until their phone was filled with popups and garbage like that.

Regardless of how things got to this point, uninstalling malware can be a big ordeal. When a phone is loaded up with malware apps, the interface is incredibly laggy and slow, and in some instances, malware can even prevent you from accessing normal system menus. So to bypass all of these frustrations, I have a simple trick for you, which I'll go over in more detail below.

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Step 1: Boot into Safe Mode

Instead of struggling to bypass screen-jacking malware like the $500 "FBI" Moneypak Virus—or even working around poor performance due to several malware apps being installed on the system, for that matter—the first thing you should do is boot into Safe Mode to disable all third-party apps, including any malware.

Depending on your device, the process of booting into Safe Mode may vary. For most devices, simply bring up the power menu and long-press the "Power Off" entry, then you'll be asked if you'd like to boot into Safe Mode. Press "OK" on this popup, then the phone or tablet should automatically reboot.

If the malware is somehow suppressing the power menu on your device, the best thing to do would be to power the phone off manually or perform a hard reset. For devices with removable batteries, this is simple—just pull out the battery, then reinsert it. If your phone does not have a removable battery, try pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds to trigger a hard reset. If this doesn't work, press and hold the power and volume down buttons for 10 seconds.

Then, while the device is booting back up, you'll have to press a combination of hardware buttons to force it into Safe Mode. For most phones and tablets, this can be done by pressing and holding both volume buttons while the device is booting up. For older devices, hold the hardware menu key during boot. You'll know you made it into Safe Mode when you see the "Safe Mode" overlay in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

Safe Mode active: third-party apps disabled, "Safe Mode" badge at bottom of screen.

Step 2: Uninstall Problematic Apps

Once you've successfully booted into Safe Mode, start by heading to your phone or tablet's main settings menu. From here, select the "Apps" or "Applications" entry, then any malware apps can be found in the "Downloaded" section.

Next, scroll through this list and find any apps that you're not familiar with, since those are most likely to be the malware apps. Select these shady-looking apps individually, then press the "Uninstall" button on the subsequent screen.

If the "Uninstall" button on any app in this section is grayed out, chances are the app has been activated as a device administrator, which means you'll have to deactivate this function before you can uninstall the app. So head back to the main settings menu on your device, then select the "Security" option. From here, tap the "Device Administrator" entry and untick the box next to any fishy apps, then you should be able to uninstall the app with no problems.

Step 3: Reboot into Android

Once you've got all of the malware apps uninstalled, it's safe to boot back into Android's normal running mode. So power your device off and back on, and when you get back up, you'll be out of Safe Mode and everything should be back to normal.

What malware apps did you uninstall using this method? 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.

How to Create Flashable ZIPs to Easily Install Multiple Apps

How to Create Flashable ZIPs to Easily Install Multiple Apps

If you've switched ROMs before or flashed quick mods on your Android device, you've probably used TWRP or another custom recovery to install them. But another great purpose for flashing through a recovery is to install your own custom .zip file filled with everything a fresh ROM needs—namely, all your apps.

Flashable .zips may seem like complex files filled with scripts that require years of background knowledge to create, but in reality, they are pretty simple to package yourself.

There is plenty you can do with a flashable .zip, like flash new cameras and backups, but in this guide, I'm going to show you how to create a .zip to install multiple apps (using their .apk files) and a custom boot animation without having to use a root file explorer.

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Step 1: Download the Template ZIP

A flashable .zip consists of two folders; a META-INF folder that contains the update-binary and updater-script files, and a System folder that houses all the files you want to add to your device. The update-binary files contains the code that carries out the instructions laid out in the updater-script, and are universal for all flashable .zips.

Since you are going to be using the .zip you create to flash some apps or a new boot animation, you don't have to worry about anything other the System folder, so you can use the template linked above to grab a copy of a preconfigured archive with the correct META-INF files.

Step 2: Add Files to the ZIP

There are a few ways to add your .apks or animations to the template .zip depending on your personal preference. The first requires the use a .zip creation tool like WinRAR or WinZip to edit the existing template, or you can use the system archiver that is already installed on your computer to extract and recompress the template.

Keep in mind that the process will vary depending on which OS and method you choose, but the most important thing to take note of is the file system structure.

Using a ZIP Program

If you are using a .zip creator program, the first step is to open the app's main menu and select the option to open an existing .zip file. This option will be in a different location depending on your OS, but in this guide, I will be using WinZip on a Mac running OS X Yosemite.

Once the .zip is open, you'll be able to navigate through its folders to add or remove as many folders or files you like. However, do not mess with the contents of the META-INF folder.

To install .apks, you will need to add a folder named "app" (case sensitive) to the System folder. Place all of the APKs you want installed in that folder, then hit "Save" to have the program add them to the archive. Boot animations work the same way, but instead of placing the bootanimation.zip in the "app" folder, you will place them in "System/system/media" (case sensitive).

Creating a New ZIP

If you'd rather not install a new app or want to create a flashable .zip right on your Android, you can extract the template .zip, then re-archive it using a regular file explorer. Keep in mind that just like with using a program, you do not want to mess with the contents of the META-INF folder.

To install apps, create a folder named "app" (case sensitive) inside the System folder, place all of your .apks in there, and re-archive the entire thing. For boot animations, add the bootanimation.zip to your "System/system/media" directory.

The method you choose will not matter when you actually flash the .zip in recovery, just be sure to always keep a Nandroid handy in case something goes wrong.

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6 Easy Ways to Increase Battery Life on Your Android Device

6 Easy Ways to Increase Battery Life on Your Android Device

Smartphones have otherworldly specs these days, so it's relatively uncommon that you hear someone complaining about display resolution, build quality, or general speed and performance. At best, these are secondary concerns, with the number 1 issue almost unilaterally being battery life.

Over the past year here at Gadget Hacks, we've covered lots of awesome ways to squeeze a bit more juice out of your Android device, but these tutorials only focused on one particular mod or another. Truth be told, keeping battery life in check often requires a multi-pronged attack, so today, we'll highlight some of the best battery-saving mods that can be used in conjunction with one another—whether you're rooted or not.

No-Root Solution #1: Turn Off AMOLED Pixels

Quite a few Android smartphones use AMOLED displays these days, which are different than a traditional LCD screen in the sense that each pixel emits its own light, so no backlight is needed. By itself, an AMOLED display is more power-friendly than an LCD screen, since any black portion of your screen is really just a set of pixels that aren't receiving any juice at that moment.

But you can actually take this concept a step further and intentionally black out extra pixels on your screen to save more power. There's a very useful app that will do this for you by overlaying a black "mesh" on your screen so that every fifth pixel or so is not lighting up and wasting battery.

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If that concept sounds interesting to you (it totally should, by the way), make sure to check out our full guide on turning off pixels to squeeze out a bit of extra battery life.

No-Root Solution #2: Disable Data While Your Screen Is Off

Aside from your screen, one of the biggest data-sucking functions on your smartphone is its data connectivity radios. Think about it—these have to constantly scan for the nearest cell tower or Wi-Fi hotspot, and when they're connected, there's always at least a little trickle of internet traffic going that adds a bit of burden to your processor.

These same issues are still present even when you turn your screen off. Your phone's just sitting there in your pocket chewing through battery to make sure that you'll be fully connected to the internet the instant you decide to take it back out. So instead of losing battery life while you're not actively using your device, wouldn't it be cool if these radios would turn themselves off when you turned off your phone's display?

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That's exactly the concept behind an app called LeanDroid, which lets you choose exactly how and when you want your data radios to be active. So if you're in the market for some big battery savings, be sure to check our complete data automation guide.

No-Root Solution #3: Adjust System Settings & Disable Apps

Keeping your hardware in check is definitely a great way to save battery life, but making sure your software is set up properly is equally important. By default, Android is set up to where even grandma can use it, but many of these one-size-fits-all options are not needed by all users, so they only serve to deplete your battery.

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If you have a few minutes and the gumption to delve into your device's settings menu, you stand to save a significant chunk of battery life with these 7 Android settings that will boost battery life.

Root Solution #1: Get Sony's 'Stamina Mode' Features

To take advantage of these next three battery saving options, your device will need to be rooted. First up is an Xposed module that will basically give you Sony's exclusive "Stamina Mode" feature on any Android device.

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Like Stamina Mode, this module very aggressively cuts back on battery-draining functions while you're not using your device, which means you get the benefit of extra battery life while missing out on practically nothing. Initial setup might seem a bit complicated, but it certainly won't be if you follow our guide for mimicking Sony's "Stamina Mode" feature.

Root Solution #2: Use L-Speed Mod

Some potential battery-saving Android settings are buried deep inside of your kernel and other system files, so these aren't as simple to adjust as poking around in a menu. If you have a custom recovery installed, though, L-Speed Mod gives you a nice interface for adjusting some of these options, while automatically optimizing a few others.

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L-Speed Mod is a flashable ZIP that automatically optimizes several kernel settings on most Android devices, then provides you with a terminal interface for making further tweaks. To get the full rundown, be sure to check out our guide on boosting performance & battery life with L-Speed.

Root Solution #3: Lower Display Resolution

Last but not least, if your device has a QHD (1440p) display, chances are your graphics processor is wasting battery life by refreshing pixels that you can't even see with the naked eye. We're at a point in the smartphone specs race that several manufacturers are pushing the limits just for the sake of it, and in the case of maximizing pixel density, your device's battery life may be significantly worse off as a result.

Rather than wasting juice powering pixels that you can't see, consider lowering your software display resolution. Chances are, you won't be able to tell the difference other than the additional battery life you'll be getting.

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Which of these battery-saving ideas has made the most impact on your device? 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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Don't Like CyanogenMod? Here Are 4 Great Alternative ROMs for Your OnePlus One

Don't Like CyanogenMod? Here Are 4 Great Alternative ROMs for Your OnePlus One

I've been involved in the Android scene for a very long time and have grown to develop a love/hate relationship with CyanogenMod. While I do like the stability they offer in their custom ROMs, they don't always include the flashy features on top of their vanilla Android base.

If you're looking to get away from the stock Cyanogen OS 12 experience, or are just ready to breathe some new life into your flagship killer, then check out these 4 non-CyanogenMod ROMs.

How to Monitor Your Heart Rate on Your Phone Without a Heart Rate Sensor

How to Monitor Your Heart Rate on Your Phone Without a Heart Rate Sensor

Samsung created quite a buzz when it debuted a built-in heart rate sensor on the Galaxy S5 back in 2014, but amazingly, not many other manufacturers decided to follow suit. It's really a shame, too, since data from a heart rate sensor would go perfectly hand in hand with the increasing fitness- and activity-tracking features that most smartphones sport these days.

But as it turns out, you don't actually need to have a heart rate sensor built into your device to measure your current heart rate. Consider the way Samsung's heart rate sensor works, and you'll probably see why this is possible: First, an impulse of light is beamed into your finger, then the reflected light is measured by a separate sensor, and this data is interpreted as your current heart rate.

Most Android devices actually have all of the requisite sensors from this scenario in the form of an LED flash and a rear-facing camera, so they just need the proper software to interpret the data that can be gathered. A few apps already take advantage of this creative juxtaposition of hardware and programming, and the resulting measurement is surprisingly accurate when compared to Samsung's purpose-built heart rate sensor.

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App #1: Instant Heart Rate

The first app on our list is called Instant Heart Rate, and like the rest of these options, it's available for free on the Google Play Store. Aside from the obvious, Instant Heart Rate's most unique feature is that the measurements it takes can be synced to Google Fit.

You'll get a quick tutorial when you first launch Instant Heart Rate, but essentially, all of these apps work the same way. You place your finger over the LED flash on the back of your phone, while simultaneously making sure that your fingertip entirely covers the adjacent camera sensor.

From there, just press the "Measure" button, then give the app about 15 seconds to do its thing. When it's done, you'll get your heart rate measurement, and from here, you can append notes to this measurement or share it to another service.

[1] Measuring heart rate, [2] 87 bpm registered, [3] 85 bpm registered in S Health immediately after.

From my testing, Instant Heart rate almost always gave me a measurement that was very close to the results I got with the official S Health app on my Galaxy S6, which uses a purpose-built heart rate sensor to gather its data.

App #2: Runtastic Heart Rate

The second option we have for you is called Runtastic Heart Rate, and this app integrates seamlessly with Runtastic's other fitness tracking services.

Again, just place your finger over the camera sensor and LED flash on the back of your phone, then tap the "Measure" button. Once you've received your heart rate measurement, you can attach notes, specify an activity that you were doing at the time, and even enter you mood.

[1] Measuring heart rate, [2] 101 bpm registered, [3] 97 bpm registered in S Health immediately after

During my testing, this app compared just as well to S Health's official results as Instant Heart Rate, but the only downside I found was that you can only measure your heart rate 3 times a day if you're not a paid member of Runtastic's subscription service.

App #3: Cardiograph

The third heart rate-measuring app on our list is called Cardiograph, and while it doesn't tie into additional fitness services like the other two entries, that could very well be a plus for a lot of people.

The main functionality is exactly the same, so hold your fingertip over your camera sensor in a way that it's also covering the LED flash at the same time. When you get your measurement, you can associate activities, and the app will keep a running history of your past heart rate data. Again, when compared to the results from the actual heart rate sensor in my Galaxy S6, Cardiograph proved to be rather accurate.

[1] Measuring heart rate, [2] 97 bpm registered, [3] 100 bpm registered in S Health immediately after.

Of course smartphones are not medical devices, so you shouldn't rely solely on the information provided by these apps to make life-or-death decisions. But, considering their relative accuracy, these apps should certainly be a great add-on to your existing fitness tracking regimen.

Which heart rate-measuring app did you go with? 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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How to Get iOS-Style Spotlight Search on Android

How to Get iOS-Style Spotlight Search on Android

Google Now is great for looking up movie times or finding your parking spot, but if you need to track down a file you downloaded, you're relegated to using a file explorer and, depending on your organizational skills, this can either be extremely easy or a huge pain in the ass. Unfortunately I land in the latter category, which is why I started using Fast Search by developer Mohamad Amin.

With Fast Search, you can quickly search your entire device for any contact, application, or file that you have downloaded. So it works a lot like Spotlight Search does on an iPhone. The app indexes your phone periodically so you can rest assured that you will be able to find files quickly, whether you downloaded them a few seconds or a few months ago.

Step 2: Perform a Search

When you enter a search term into Fast Search, it will immediately search your phone and break the results down into 6 different fields: Applications, Contacts, Files, Music, Photos, and Videos.

Tapping a result will automatically open the file with the appropriate application, or the application itself if you are searching for an app.

By default, Fast Search will display an ongoing notification that allows for quick searching, but if that bothers you, it can be disabled by tapping Cancel Notification from the app's slide out menu.

Know of any other handy Android utilities? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below. Also make sure to follow Android Hacks over on Facebook and Twitter, or Gadget Hacks over on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, for more Android tips.

New Amazon App Gives Away $10,000 Worth of Paid Apps for Free

New Amazon App Gives Away $10,000 Worth of Paid Apps for Free

Whether it's delivery drones or getting the U.S. Postal Service to ship packages on Sundays, Amazon continues to remain innovative and ahead of the game, as further evidenced with the release of their new application, Amazon Underground.

While the app can potentially replace both the Amazon Shopping app and its companion Amazon Appstore app, the real news is how they're offering tons of great, paid apps for free, replacing the Free App of the Day program they previously practiced.

How Are Paid Apps Actually Free?

Instead of charging for applications, Amazon has deals with thousands of developers where compensation is based on the duration of usage of their app. This allows developers to waive their costs while Amazon monitors per-minute usage of their apps.

Not only that, but Amazon is branding the service as #ActuallyFree, meaning that these apps won't be able to charge you later through in-app purchases, which are universally hated among all smartphone users.

Getting All the Free Apps

Like an Amazon Shopping and Appstore hybrid, Underground will offer physical goods and paid apps in addition to the "actually free" apps. Navigate to the Apps & Games section and select "Underground Apps" for the extensive list of free apps and games that may cost you a few dollars on the Google Play Store.

If Amazon was trying to steal customers from Google, then this was definitely the right move. Smartphone users aren't particularly keen on paying for apps or games, but developers should definitely get paid for the great work they put in, so this concept may benefit and satisfy both parties.

How to Fully Control Your Android Device from Any Computer

How to Fully Control Your Android Device from Any Computer

Have you ever been using your computer when a friend randomly decides it's time to start up a text message conversation? You usually have to stop what you're doing on the desktop, then go pick up your smartphone and respond to the text. Then, if your buddy replies with another message, you have to juggle back and forth between your mouse and keyboard and your handheld device.

But what if you could respond to that same text by simply opening up a window on your computer? And what if that window let you have full control over your smartphone while it was charging over USB? Well developer Koushik Dutta has seen to it that this fantasy scenario is finally a reality—and since his new Vysor app works for the Chrome web browser, you can do this with almost any desktop operating system.

Step 1: Enable ADB on Computer (Windows Only)

If you're using a Windows PC, you'll need to install the ADB drivers. So click this link and the driver file should begin downloading immediately. (Mac users don't need to do this, so skip to the next step.) When it's finished, go ahead and launch it, then follow the prompts for installation.

Step 2: Enable USB Debugging on Your Android

Next, you'll have to enable ADB on your Android device, then make sure that it's set to always allow connections from your computer. So connect your phone or tablet to your computer with a USB data cable, then open the Settings menu on your Android device.

From here, head to the "Developer options" menu (if you don't see such an entry, make sure to enable Developer options first). Next, enable the "USB debugging" option, then press "OK" on the popup.

At this point, with your phone still connected to your computer, you should see an additional popup asking if you'd like to allow an ADB connection from this device. Tick the box next to "Always allow from this computer," then press "OK" on this popup.

Step 3: Install the Vysor App for Chrome

Next up, head to this link from the Google Chrome browser on your computer. From here, click the "Add to Chrome" button at the top of the screen to install the Vysor Chrome app.

Once Vysor's been installed, click "Launch App," or open the Chrome App Launcher from the bookmarks bar near the top of your screen, then click the Vysor icon.

Step 4: Connect Vysor to Your Android Device

With Vysor installed and ADB set up, using your computer to view and control your Android device will be incredibly easy from now on. Start by clicking the "Find Devices" button on Vysor's main menu.

From here, choose your Android device from the list, then click "Select," then your screen should start being mirrored over to your computer within seconds. If you're having trouble connecting here, revisit Step 1 of this tutorial to make sure ADB is set up properly.

Step 5: Control Your Android Device from Your PC

Now that you're connected, you should see your Android device's display in a window on your computer. From here, you can use your mouse or keyboard to navigate your phone or tablet as you normally would.

There are a few keyboard shortcuts that you should be aware of, though. Use the ESC key to simulate the back button, the F1 key to access Android's menu function, and the Home key to head back to your home screen quickly. On a MacBook, these keyboard shortcuts may vary or might not work at all.

If you open an app with landscape orientation, the window on your computer will automatically rotate to fit the contents of your screen. The same goes if you want to resize this window—just drag from one of the corners and the contents will scale up or down to fit the window on the fly.

Step 6: Share Control of Your Android Device with Other People

If you ever need to share control of your device with another person—let's say for troubleshooting purposes—it's actually really easy using Vysor. Just connect your phone to your computer and launch Vysor as your normally would, then click the "Share" button in Vysor's main menu.

At this point, you'll get see a message informing you that a link to share your device's screen was copied to your clipboard. Just open your favorite messaging program or email app, then paste this link into a message to the other person. On their end, once they click the link, they'll be prompted to install the Vysor Chrome app, and when they do, they'll be able to control your phone remotely just like you can.

What are some cool uses that you've found for Vysor so far? 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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6 Useful Android Gestures You Might Not Know About Already

6 Useful Android Gestures You Might Not Know About Already

People like to cite the iPhone as the device that started the smartphone craze, but the truth is, smartphones had existed for years by the time Apple got into the game. The real groundbreaking feature that this device brought to the table was a multi-touch screen to go along with its "smart" functionality, and this is still the main method we use to interact with our devices today.

Then of course with multi-touch technology, there was a massive influx of new gestures, many of which utilized more than one finger. Android devices are no exception to this rule, as they're packed with plenty of gestures that let you access key functions quickly.

But several of these Android gestures aren't very easy to discover, and there isn't really a guide to introduce you to all of them. So to clarify things—and hopefully speed up your smartphone usage a bit—I'll go over six of the most useful hidden gestures on Android.

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Gesture 1: Faster Quick Settings Access

This first relatively unknown Android gesture will give you quicker access to your Quick Settings toggles, which allow you to turn settings like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on or off. As it stands, depending on your Android version, you have to swipe down from the top of your screen to expand the notification tray, then either tap a button or swipe down again to see your Quick Settings toggles.

Instead of doing all of that, simply swipe down from the top of your screen using two fingers. Regardless of your Android version, this will immediately open your Quick Settings toggles and skip the extra swipe or tap.

Gesture 2: Custom Home Button Shortcut

I'm sure you're already aware of the Google Now Shortcut on Android, which allows you to quickly access Google search by long-pressing or swiping up from your home button. But did you know this gesture can be replaced entirely?

All you have to do is install a compatible app, then trigger the gesture by swiping up or long-pressing your home button. With the gesture-changing app installed, your phone or tablet will prompt you to select a default app for this action—just choose your newly-installed app, then press "Always."

From now on, every time you long-press or swipe up from your home button, your custom app will launch instead. There are several apps that you can use to replace this gesture—you can set it to turn your screen off, use it to launch any app, or even disable the gesture altogether.

Gesture 3: Easy Chrome Tab Switching

As Chrome comes pre-installed on most Android devices, it's the most commonly-used web browser amongst Android users. Its tabbed interface makes keeping track of your favorite websites extremely easy—but with gestures, this process can be even easier.

If you'd like to enter the tab switcher in Chrome, simply swipe down from the address bar at the top of the screen. From here, you can scroll vertically to flip between your open tabs, then even swipe left or right to close a tab. As an alternative, you can simply swipe left or right on Chrome's address bar to flip between your open tabs directly.

And these gestures even work on the ad-free Chrome variant, NoChromo.

Gesture 4: App Info Shortcut

For this next gesture to work, you'll need to be running Android Lollipop or higher, and you'll also need to enable Developer options on your Android device. That may sound complicated, but it's actually really simple—just open Settings, then head to "About Phone" or "About Tablet." From here, tap the "Build Number" entry 7 times in rapid succession, then you'll see a toast message saying that "You are now a developer."

Now that you have Developer options enabled, you can use the gesture. It's best for those times when an app is acting up and you need to either clear its data or force it to stop altogether. So if you're experiencing trouble with an app, just tap the task switcher button on your phone or tablet, then long-press the app's icon in the "Recent Apps" view. From here, you'll be taken directly to the "App info" page for this app, where you can force stop or clear data to stop any buggy behavior.

Gesture 5: Enter Safe Mode

This next gesture can be a lifesaver if you're having trouble with third-party apps. Android actually has a built-in "Safe Mode" that runs without any third-party apps, which allows you to uninstall a problematic app if you're having serious issues.

To begin, just press and hold your device's power button to bring up the regular power menu. From here, long-press the "Power Off" option, then you'll see a pop-up asking if you'd like to enter Safe Mode. Press "OK" on this popup, then your device will boot into Safe Mode automatically. To get back out of safe mode, just reboot your device normally.

Gesture 6: Easy One-Fingered Zoom

This last Android gesture is easily my favorite. For easy one-fingered zooming in apps like Google Maps and Chrome, just double tap your screen—but don't let go after the second tap. Instead, while you're still holding your finger on the screen, slide your finger up or down to zoom in and out. It may take a couple of tries to get the gesture down pat, but once you do, it's the most natural way to zoom in and out of images and maps.

Are there any relatively unknown Android gestures that we missed? 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.

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How to Color Code Android Notifications Without Root Access

Step 3: Try It Out

As an application in the beta stage, there aren't any preferences to set up as of now, so feel free to give the dev some feedback and maybe you'll see your suggestions in its next release. For now, try it out and enjoy it.

You may experience some glitches at times, but overall, the application works very well and gave me something cool to look at. I can see the potential in Notify and hope the developer implements some preferences, like blacklisting, to maximize the experience.

Keep the Party Going with These 5 Drinking Games for Android

Keep the Party Going with These 5 Drinking Games for Android

If you ever need to spice up a party, drinking games can really get things started quickly. The objectives are generally to complete tasks or challenges, but it's really all a thinly-veiled excuse for increasing everyone's alcohol intake in a hurry while testing levels of inebriation.

But let's say you forgot the Solo cups, ping pong balls, and playing cards, and your guests are looking a little antsy and awkward right about now. Well crank up the tunes, grab another six pack from the fridge, and break out your phone or tablet—because there are plenty of awesome drinking games that can be played right on your Android device.

1. Callout

Callout is a really fun game, but it takes a bit of setting up before you can really enjoy it. Basically, you pick an intro sound, add the names of any players by tapping the gear icon at the bottom of the screen, then hit the microphone button to record a personalized greeting.

Once you've set up all of the players, use the Actions category to select any drinking challenges that you think are fair, then tap the gear icon and press the play button to start a game. From here, set the interval between challenges, then press "Start Game." At this point, Callout will handle the rest for you by playing your intro sound, then calling out a name and a drinking challenge at your set interval.

2. Kings Cup Cast (Chromecast Required)

This next game is a digital version of the popular "Circle of Death" or "Kings Cup" card game. Kings Cup Cast requires a Chromecast, but that means everyone can sit back and watch the game unfold on TV.

Gameplay is incredibly simple—just tap the Cast icon at the top of the screen and select your Chromecast, then you'll see everything on the big screen. From here, just pass the phone around and have each player tap the screen when it's their turn, then they'll get a drinking challenge that corresponds to the card they "drew."

3. Kings Cup - Prison Poker

For a Kings Cup/Circle of Death game that doesn't require a Chromecast, give Kings Cup - Prison Poker a try. Just like the previous entry in our list, all you do is pass the phone around to each player, let them "draw" a card by tapping the screen, then they'll be given a drinking challenge to perform.

4. Seven (AKA "Drinking Game")

Seven (AKA "Drinking Game") is a great card-based option if you're not exactly a fan of Kings Cup. The developer here has come up with more than 350 unique drinking challenges, so pass your phone around, have a player tap the screen, then see what crazy task they have to accomplish.

5. Wheel of Drinking

Wheel of Drinking is another Kings Cup-inspired game, but with a twist—literally. Rather than tapping cards to randomize the drinking challenges, players can just swipe the screen to spin the wheel, then let fate take its course. If you need more information about a particular challenge, just tap the question mark icon at the top of the screen.

What's your favorite drinking game for Android? 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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10 Android Apps That'll Make Your Next Movie Night Better

10 Android Apps That'll Make Your Next Movie Night Better

With so much streaming content now available for cord cutters, settling on just one title to watch can be a daunting task. There are countless services like Netflix or Amazon Prime that offer a seemingly unlimited amount of content, and sorting through to find something to watch can become a huge pain.

To help make your next movie night a success, here are some of our favorite Android apps that'll help you accomplish just that.

Find Better Movies

Once upon a time, it was difficult to find anything to watch on TV. These days, the problem is the polar opposite: there is so much content available that it makes it nearly impossible to settle on just one thing. Fortunately for us, there are plenty of applications out there to help us find the perfect movie.

1. Suggest Movie - Movie Finder

Suggest Movie - Movie Finder is an easy-to-use app, allowing you to set parameters based off genre, year, and rating to help you find something right up your alley. It also provides you with IMDB and Rotten Tomato ratings in addition to a trailer for the film.

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2. Flix Roulette

Netflix's ever-expanding catalogue can make choosing something to watch a headache-inducing endeavor. To make the process not-so-frustrating, test your luck with Flix Roulette. The app gives you the option to pick a genre and a rating before you tap the shuffle button, then generate a random film available on Netflix. You can also filter results based on keyword, actors, or directors.

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3. MovieShaker

If you just want a good movie and could care less about how it's suggested, then take a look at MovieShaker. It's the simplest method to finding a good movie—just launch the app, shake your device, and MovieShaker will display a single movie that you should watch.

Find Where It's Streaming

Although Netflix is the juggernaut of the video-streaming industry, they don't have every film ever made available on their service. Other services, like Hulu or Amazon Prime, offer great movies that Netflix may not currently have the license to. So after getting a great movie suggestion, find out where it's streaming.

4. Can I Stream It?

Can I Stream It? is a fantastic app and web service that will let you type in a title to find out where it's streaming. If it's available to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, or Epix, then Can I Stream It? will let you know. You can also see where the digital rental is available as well.

Disable Netflix Region Restrictions

Netflix has special licensing agreements that restrict or permit certain content in different regions. For example, Better Call Saul and Iron Man 3 are available in the United Kingdom but not in the United States. Thankfully, there's a simple way to remove these restrictions and view all the content you've been missing out on.

5. UnoTelly SmartDNS

With UnoTelly, just set up the service, then configure it on your Android device. This will grant you the ability to lift restrictions and access all the region-locked content on your device.

Services You Might've Overlooked

Although Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are the big players for streaming content, you should definitely take a look at some others like Crackle, Yahoo Screen, or Funny or Die.

6. Crackle - Movies & TV

Owned by Sony, Crackle - Movies & TV is a free streaming service that offers exclusive content that others may not have, like Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and episodes of Jeopardy. You do have to watch a few ads, but that's a small price to pay for free content.

7. Yahoo Screen

Yahoo Screen offers you Live Nation concerts, your favorite SNL clips, in-game NFL highlights, and the latest season of Community, all for free. There isn't a casting option just yet, but it's great for watching on your computer or phone, and of course, if you have the right adapters, you can connect either of those two devices to your TV.

8. Funny or Die