How to Reset Your Android Phone

Monday, June 8, 2015

ึIf you’re at your wit’s end with your phone, screaming at it when it takes 10 minutes to start an app, it may be time for a factory reset. A factory reset will erase all of your phone’s data and restore it to the settings that it came with out of the box. Before you throw your phone in the trash, check out this guide.

 Method 1 of 2: Basic Reset

1
Open your device’s Settings. The Settings app can have varying icons depending upon on your specific device, and may be also found within the App Tray or by pushing the phone’s dedicated menu button.

Find your Factory Reset option. Depending on your device, the “Factory data reset” feature may be located in one of two sections within the Settings app:
  • Select the “Privacy” settings, and scroll down to “Factory reset”

Select the “Backup and reset” settings, and scroll down to “Factory reset”



3
Tap “Reset device” to delete all data and restore your device’s factory settings. The accounts that you are signed into will be displayed on the screen. By default, all your phone’s internal storage will be wiped.
  • If you want to erase all of the data on your phone’s SD card as well, check the box at the bottom of the screen.


 4
Confirm the process by selecting “Erase everything". This will delete all data and restore back to your device’s factory settings. Your phone will be as if it just came out of the box.[1]

Method 2 of 2: Recovery Reset


1
Power down your device. Before you begin the reset procedure, you will need to completely power your device off. (If the device is frozen, you can pull the battery out to turn it off.)



2
Press and hold the recovery buttons. The buttons vary from device to device, so you may need to look up the instructions for your particular phone. You will need to press and hold the buttons for a few seconds. Some of the more common button combinations include:
  • Volume Up + Home + Power
  • Volume Down + Power
  • Home + Power
  • If none of the above work, do a web search for your phone’s model plus “recovery mode”.

3
Select Factory Reset. Once the recovery menu opens, you can navigate the menu with the volume buttons. You may need to open the Recovery menu to find the Factory Reset mode. Use the Power button, some models use the camera button, to select your menu options.
  • You will be asked to confirm the factory reset.


4
Wait for the restore process to compete. After your phone resets, it will be set back to factory defaults and will be like it just came out of the box.

    
                                                                         




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How to watch movies and TV shows for free on Android

Friday, June 5, 2015




    Have you ever wondered if it were possible for you to watch movies and TV shows without having to pay for Netflix or any other kind of streaming service? We have, and now we've found a way to do it too. Just sit tight and keep on reading, we'll show you some great apps for how to watch movies on android for free.

    A note on Popcorn Time

    You may have heard of Popcorn Time, a Netflix-like app with an even bigger selection of more current movies and TV show, but sadly we cannot sanction the use of this app. Popcorn Time is illegal folks: try out some of the other options below instead.  

    U.S.

    It was only in recent months that Hulu brought its streaming service to Android, which lets users watch premium TV shows and movies on their smartphones or tablets without paying a subscription fee. Hulu comes packed with current and classic TV shows, Hulu originals, movies and plenty of Kids shows, making it a perfect family tablet companion. Of course, if you want full access to the Hulu library you will need to pay a 7.99 USD monthly fee, but there are plenty of gems to find in the free version too!

    Canada / U.S.

    Crackle is a hugely popular free app available in the US and Canada which is updated monthly with new TV shows and movies. Created by Grouper but later bought by Sony, the app features ads which run at regular intervals throughout the content, but as a compromise you get an excellent selection of media and an app which functions far better than some of the other TV service ports on the list. Watch Seinfeld or Talladega Nights again, for sure.

    UK

    This catch up service has been going strong for a number of years now and the slick Android app is a great way to watch TV series and movies. It doesn’t have a whole list of archived TV shows and series to sift through, but the catch up service has recently been extended to 30 days, meaning you have a month to catch up on almost anything recently played on any BBC channel. With some excellent programs like Sherlock and Call the Midwife, iPlayer is one of the best free TV services currently available on Android.


    The ITV Player app suffered a woefully bad introduction to the Play Store with it being essentially broken on many devices. It’s been turning a bit of a corner with recent updates, but it still has a long way to go. The ITV Player app let’s you stream ITV channels live to your device, as well as catch up on any shows you may have missed from the past week.

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    Sony Xperia Z3 Android 5.1 Lollipop update: latest news


    The Sony Xperia Z3 Android 5.0 Lollipop update has been rolling out around the world over-the-air (OTA), but it's been a little slow to hit the US. The good news is that Sony has already set its sights on Android 5.1, and the rollout is just around the corner. See below for all the details on the Sony Xperia Z3 Android update.

    Update: The Android 5.1 Lollipop update will be landing on Xperia Z devices in July, according to a post on the sonymobile blog. Anthony Devenish, Sony Mobile's PR Manager, wrote that the update would be rolling out for the entire Xperia Z series, as well as the "Xperia T2 Ultra and Xperia C3."

    Devenish did highlight that the timing and availability of the update would vary depending on the market, which suggests that, as usual, US carriers might take a little longer to push it out. As it's the latest Sony flagship (besides the Sony Xperia Z3+), expect it to hit the Xperia Z3 sooner than most of the others handsets in the series.  
    Previous coverage: T-Mobile Sony Xperia Z3 update: Des Smith, T-Mobile's senior product manager, announced the update roll-out on Twitter, saying it would begin at midnight last night. This means all you Xperia Z3 owners on T-Mobile should check your software update page now to see if your device is ready to download it. If you're wondering what's in store, check out our Android Lollipop best features page. 

    AT&T Sony Xperia Z3 update

    The Xperia Z3 update for AT&T has not yet been released. 

    Verizon Sony Xperia Z3 update

    The Xperia Z3 update for Verizon has not yet been released. 

    Sprint Sony Xperia Z3 update 

    The Xperia Z3 update for Sprint has not yet been released. 

    Previous coverage: The Sony Mobile official blog announced the rollout of Android 5.0 for the Xperia Z3 and Xpeira Z3 Compact.  Sony confirmed the Nordic and Baltic countries will be the first to see the update, with other markets to follow. Here's the changelog according to Sony:

    Fresh, streamlined looks – based on Google’s material design, but retaining our minimalistic approach to interface and application design
    New look notifications and lock screen – with fully customizable settings, so you only get the information you really need
    Multi-user profiles and guest mode – making it easy for family and friends to use your device, or the creation of dual environments for work and play…
    Android for Work – not only are business-ready Xperia smartphones and tablets unique devices for work – with waterproof form factors, great battery life and productivity features – they will now also be part of the Android for Work ecosystem
    Better storage control and customization – with the option to easily move applications from internal memory to SD card – giving you more control over your content, particularly useful for devices with slightly less space
    Sony Xperia Z3 Android M update
    The Sony Xperia Z3 Android M update is not yet available. Android M is expected to launch globally in Q3, 2015. We will let you know when we learn more.

    Are you excited to get the Lollipop update for your Xperia Z3?
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