Samsung officially announces the Galaxy Note 8.0

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

As expected, Samsung just made the Galaxy Note 8.0 official. Although it will be considered a tablet by most, the international version will be able to make phone calls. Just like the Note 10.1, it will include an IR blaster along with the Peel remote software. Of course, since it’s a Note device, it will include the S Pen.

Samsung is including Awesome Note for the first time in an Android tablet. It’s an integrated application that is capable of unlimited note-taking uses including Memo, Diary, and Must-remember lists. Also for the first time in the Galaxy Note line, the included S Pen can control the physical menu/back buttons on the device with WACOM technology. Many of the other applications available on other Samsung Note devices are present such as Pop up Note, Pop Up Video, Dual View multi-window support, and Air View.

“The Galaxy Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity – the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play,” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available in the 2nd quarter in Europe, Korea, North America, S.E. Asia, S. W. Africa, the Middle East, China, Taiwan, and Latin America. Pricing wasn’t specified.

Specs

• 8-inch (1280 x 800) display at 189 ppi
• 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos CPU
• 2GB of RAM
• 32GB or 64GB of storage
• microSD slot for up to an additional 64GB
• 5MP rear camera
• 1.3MP front camera
• 4,600 mAh battery
• HSPA+ 21Mpbs (850/900/1900/2100)
• Operating system: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• Dimensions: 210.8 x 135.9 x 7.95
• Weight: 338 grams
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• S Pen optimized features: S Note, S Planner, e-mail with handwriting integration; Quick Command; Easy Clip; Photo Note; Paper Artist; Air View; Popup Note; Popup Video; Shape Match; Formula Match; Idea Sketch
• Sharing Features: AllShare Play; AllShare Cast (Wifi Display mirroring and extension); AllShare Framework

Be sure to check out our complete Mobile World Congress coverage here.

Full press release:

INTRODUCING THE GALAXY NOTE 8.0,A NEW ERA OF PORTABILITY EVERYDAY PRODUCTIVITY

SEOUL, Korea [February 24, 2011] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of the 8 inch tablet, the GALAXY Note 8.0; a new era of intelligent Note technology set to re-ignite the mid-size tablet category that Samsung established in 2010. Providing unrivalled multimedia performance within a compact one-hand-grip screen, the GALAXY Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to evolve the tablet experience and ensure you achieve new levels of efficient multi-tasking while benefitting from superb voice call functionality*. Furthermore, the intelligent S Pen brings together the latest innovation and the ease of using a traditional pen and paper; creating a sophisticated mobile experience that will enhance life on the go.

“Back in 2010 the launch of the first Samsung GALAXY Tab with 7 inch screen opened a new chapter in the mobile industry. Now almost three years later, Samsung continues to evolve the sector that meets the demands of modern life.” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

“The GALAXY Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity – the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play,” added Shin.

At the core of the GALAXY Note 8.0’s innovative solutions are beneficial functions, including multi-window options to split the portable 8inch screen and allow optimal access to a number of live applications; a new generation of Samsung’s intelligent S Pen with advanced usability; access to a suite of S Note templates and tools that allow you to create, edit, manage and share everyday documents; the Samsung “reading mode” technology to enjoy e books with optimized resolution, video and voice calls*. In addition, a suite of exciting new content and services are pre-loaded for users at no additional cost including, for the very first time on Samsung GALAXY tablet, the innovative Flipboard, and Awesome Note.

A smart diary for life on the go

Slim and compact enough to become the perfect on-the-go work and play companion, the GALAXY Note 8.0 brings powerful performance and functionality to support even the most demanding of lifestyles. Designed to store and manage your personal and professional data efficiently, the new era device gives users the perfect pocket-sized hands-on organizational tool. Practical S Note templates and S Planner feature help to manage everyday tasks, including meeting notes, to-do lists and even personal diary entries. All content can be entered and updated with the finest of detail thanks to the evolution of the intelligent Samsung S Pen. Enhanced precision is offered with Handwriting-to-Text conversion and advanced Productivity Tools that support formula and shape recognition are now available at the touch of your S Pen.

New content and services

GALAXY Note 8.0 is packed with pre-loaded content and apps specifically for the value maximizing, mass multimedia consumer. Upgraded Chat-On provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in multiple formats – images, video, voice, contacts – for simple, enjoyable communication. Awesome Note, an integrated application that is introduced in android tablet for the first time with NOTE 8.0, is capable of unlimited note-taking uses including Memo, Diary and Must-remember lists. With Flipboard, your news, social network and other feeds come together in one stylish, flippable format so you can enjoy all your news and life’s great moments in one place. Flipboard developed a customized version of its application exclusively for Samsung that allows users to take the S Pen’s hover feature and preview article headers beneath Flipboard’s main screen tiles. Finally, Smart Remote, gives you a universal remote control and electronic programming guide allowing you to manage TV and video watching seamlessly.

A new age of S Pen intelligence

Optimized to aid personalized creativity, the Samsung S Pen has evolved to increase everyday usability and enhance creation expression. Embedded within the tablet, the S Pen is an extension of the GALAXY Note 8.0. Removing the S Pen from the device will automatically launch innovative features such as Pen Detection that will suggest adapted menus that it thinks you’ll need and Page Buddy, a feature that will intuitively activate your most recently adapted S Note home screen.

S Pen technology is now so advanced that it doesn’t even have to touch the screen. With Air View, the S Pen needs only to hover over the screen to see previews of videos, emails, photos and appointments on SPlanner without opening the file or application in full. S Pen Gesture allows images and content to be easily edited and cropped, whilst Paper Artist and Photo Note allow photos to be artistically personalized.

In addition, for the very first time in GALAXY NOTE category, you can use S Pen to control the physical menu/back buttons on the device with WACOM technology.

Maximizing mass multimedia consumption

Creative multi-tasking with the GALAXY Note 8.0 is effortless due to innovative Dual View feature, two multi window options that seamlessly allow you to facilitate multi-screen usage. Dual View’s split screen accommodates optimal operation of different apps, such as launching the S Note on the web browser screen and allowing content to be resized, dragged and dropped as required.

Multi-tasking is extended to phone calls*. Pop Up Note allows you to access S Note at any time to keep track of key actions and Pop Up Video ensures you can keep surfing the web whilst chatting – content windows can be easily resized by pinching to enlarge or reduce.

Perfect info-tainment partner

Packed with features to engage, entertain and excite, the GALAXY Note 8.0 supports your practical everyday needs. Reading Mode transforms the GALAXY Note 8.0 into an e-Book reader, provides the optimal reading conditions to ensure you can curl up and enjoy a good book. You can even turn it into a universal remote control with Smart Remote, to seamlessly manage TVs, set-up boxes, DVD & Blu-ray players.

For further information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

The GALAXY Note 8.0 will be available from 2Q of 2013 worldwide (EUR, KOR, NA, SEA, SWA, MEA, CHN, TW, LA)

GALAXY Note 8.0 Product Specifications

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INSTALL Android 2.1 UI On Nokia s60v5 Mobile Phone

I was searching, after a long search I found some solution to tweak the user interface of Nokia with an Android. Here are the steps to change Nokia UI to an Android UI on Symbian 60V5. Remember this will change only the User interface. You can always uninstall.

1. Download GDesk.rar from following link

http://www.ziddu.com/download/9183034/GDesk.rar.html

2. Extract  and rename the folder as   “+GDesk”

3. Copy “+GDesk” folder to your phone memory

4. Go to +GDesk\Gdesk v0.33g Install SIS And install all applications, files listed below

<code Starts Here>

GDesk.0.33g.SIS

GDeskAgnViewS60.0.33g.sis

GDeskClockS60.0.33g.sis

GDeskInfoViewS60.0.33g.sis

GDeskNotepadS60.0.33g.sis

GDeskShortcutsS60.0.33g.sis

GDeskTaskManS60.0.33g.sis

<code End> 

Normally Phone will not allow you to install GDeskTaskManS60.0.33g.sis. It will give following error

Certificate is expired

You have to sign the application and install it

How can you sign an application? Generate a certificate using this site and sign it.
Or try a self signing application  using application called FreeSigner 

5. Now run GDesk from your installed applications.

6. Tap your screen, then click on Design >>  Load Design
select Android 2.1.gdd from your phone

Location : Memory card\+GDesk\Android 2.1.gdd

7. Now go to options and tick following option for better result

Replace Main
Full Screen
Hide title caption
Disable menu tap

It is compactable with Nokia 5230, 5800, 5235 and 5233

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BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 launched with BlackBerry 10 OS

The BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 are the first new smartphones from RIM sporting the new BlackBerry 10 OS and will be going up against the the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy S3.

BlackBerry have revealed the new BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones, two devices which will be running the new BlackBerry 10 OS and which BlackBerry hopes will be a real competitor to Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating system.

The BlackBerry Q10 is the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone with a physical keyboard, it features a glass laminated back which is reportedly lighter and stronger than plastic.

The BlackBerry Z10 will be available in the UK from tomorrow with both the Black and White versions being available dependant on the store and network.

BlackBerry has confirmed that the Blackberry Q10 will be arriving in the UK from April.

BlackBerry Z10: features

The BlackBerry Z10 is an all-touchscreen device sporting a 4.2-inch 1280x768 display and 365DPI making it a higher resolution display than the Apple iPhone 5.

It's BlackBerry's first 4G smartphone and will initially be available on 4G through EE who are currently the only network capable of supporting the superfast mobile data service.

Under the hood there's a 1.5GHz dual-core processor along with a very meaty 2GB of RAM which will no doubt have been put in to tackle the advanced multi-tasking and image-editing that has been included in BB10. Taking on the world of Google Wallet and the Android operating system, the Z10 also comes with NFC and Bluetooth 4.0.

There's an 8MP snapper on the back capable of recording 1080p and a 2MP camera on the front with 720p recording and for BBM Video calls. The Z10 comes with 16GB of storage along with a Micro SD slot which can be expanded up to 32GB.

BlackBerry World

BlackBerry has confirmed that it will be getting some big name apps to rivals Apple's iTunes store with Amazon Kindle, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter all heading to the new OS.

It was also announced earlier in the week that BlackBerry had signed a deal with the major TV studios and film networks confirming that big titles such as Prometheus, American Dad and Friends would all be available on BlackBerry 10.

BlackBerry 10: features

The new BlackBerry 10 operating system has been designed to operate without a back button, instead users simply swipe up from below the screen enabling them to access the main menu and flick between apps.

'Peek and Flow' is the new UI that has been designed for BlackBerry 10 letting users swipe up and then across and see a quick overview of all their notifications, this can be performed during any app.

One of the new features for BlackBerry 10 is the new BBM Video call function, not only are BBM users able to video call each other but can share their screens making it a useful business tool.

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Top 7 iPhone 6 Rumors You May Like To Know

Apple iPhone 6 rumors - Apple has been able to mesmerize the world with its innovations and technology of its products. The recent iPhone 5 is also an example of the fact. However, with the New Year set into being, the rumors of another advanced device of iPhone 6 by Apple are doing its rounds in the biz world.

The role of cloud-based operations along with connectivity is increasing with every passing day. Every company is on its way to use that in their favor and try to use it through their innovated devices. According to rumor mills, like every other company, Apple is also trying to take a major step in this sector with the introduction of the innovated iPhone 6.

A few iPhone 6 rumors that are making its way into the foray:

1. Mac Operating System
To start with, the rumors being spread about the latest to-be-released device, the latest upcoming device of iPhone 6 by Apple is rumored to be integrated with the Operating System of Mac. The information doing rounds is conveying the message that the latest iPhone 6 from Apple will be an integrated system with that of the Mac systems from the same company. The significance of this is said to be a complete integration system between the two products of Apple. The OS is said to help the users to have control and even access the other Mac Systems through their iPhone 6, and vice-versa.

2. Inclusion of IGZO
The second rumor about the gadget says that Apple will be using the technology of IGZO for the screens of its future devices. This is said to turn the device of iPhone into a much slimmer gadget with high flexibility of physical qualities. The device is also said to be an energy saving one, consuming far less energy than the previous models. iPhone 6 will be having a much higher resolution definition than the devices marketed till date. This will lead to further precision and sharpness of the pictures (both still and moving).

3. 4.8 inches or bigger display
The third rumor being discussed is regarding the screen size of the gadget. It is said to be sporting a big screen, may be 4.8 inches in display or even bigger. The slimmer phone with a bigger display will certainly be a phone that the customers will be looking towards to purchase. However, things will only be revealed after any official announcement by Apple. Until then, these speculations are only being made under certain information based on the rumors doing the round.

4. Slider keypad
If the fourth rumor is to be believed, then the company will come up with a slider keypad in their new iPhone 6 device. This will help the users to type in their messages more smoothly, rather than using the touch keypad on the screen of the device. However, the concept of a manual keyboard was also being speculated before the actualization of the models of iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, but that remained as a speculation only.

5. Changes in graphical illustrations
The fifth rumor that is doing round the biz world regarding the device of iPhone 6 reveals that there will be several changes regarding the graphical illustration of the gadget. Similar speculation was already made prior to the release of earlier versions. However, even after the release of the latest iPhone device, not much changes or overhauling was noticed. However, the customers can look forward to some changes in regards to the graphic appearance of the gadget this time.

6. Changes in hardware
The sixth rumor might provide some extraordinary revelations and in case it is actualized by the company, the result might be something special for the consumers. It is rumored that Apple will be trying to bring some changes in the hardware front of the new device. The information regarding the possibility of an advanced and different kind of hardware to be introduced in the rumored iPhone 6 is making its presence felt among the associates of the biz world.

7. Availability of different colors
Lastly, it is rumored that the upcoming iPhone 6 will be featured in a variety of colors, providing the customers to choose the gadget of their favorite color. It is also being speculated that the device will be having true high definition display feature and even much powerful camera with enhanced functions and clarity.

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Sony Xperia Z available for pre-order

Sony's Xperia Z smartphone is now available for pre-order ahead of its UK new release date on February 28th.

Pre-orders for Sony's new Xperia Z smartphone are now open, with mobile networks leading the charge offering delivery of Sony's new smartphone on February 28th. This is one day earlier than the scheduled release date for the device offered by retail sites such as Amazon.co.uk.
Sony is offering a free pair of MRD-1R headphones worth £299 to customers who pre-order the Xperia Z. Mobile networks have started posting up tarrifs and with Three network offering the handset with an entry purchase of £69 and contracts starting at £34 per month.
The Sony Xperia Z was unveiled at CES earlier this year and T3 was given a hands-on with the new smartphone. The water-resistant Xperia Z has a 5-inch screen and a 13MP camera on the rear (with 1080p video) and a 2MP camera on the front (with 720p video). The phone also boasts a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and runs on Android Jelly Bean OS.

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Pocket Observer Android App

Imagine children on a playground, customers in a busy supermarket, a herd of sheep in a paddock, a group of monkeys at the zoo, or visitors in a museum. They are constantly on the move and you need to observe them unobtrusively. In these situations, Pocket Observer on a smartphone is the ideal solution. With Pocket Observer, you can record observational data in great detail. And Pocket Observer makes data coding easy with its user-friendly interface. 

Now introducing the Pocket Observer for Android smartphones

• Maximum freedom in moving.
• Observe unobtrusively.
• Code up to 250 behaviors or modifiers on your smartphone.
• Cost-effective.
• User-friendly.

What is Pocket Observer?
If you need to be mobile during observations, but also require accu­rate coding and analysis, Pocket Observer offers the best solution for your research by combining the power of The Observer® XT with the portability of a handheld device. Pocket Observer allows you to code behavior while literally looking over the shoulder of free ranging test participants, in just about any location. Furthermore, you can choose almost any Android smartphone as recording device making the Noldus Pocket Observer Android app a very cost-effective coding solution. 

Pocket Observer on a smartphone
Pocket Observer is software that runs on handheld devices, such as smartphones. When using an Android platform 2.2 or higher, you can use this event recording tool on your smartphone which does not attract nearly as much attention as a clipboard.

This app has many advantages. You can code behavior of multiple subjects live, on-site, and still obtain a high level of accuracy. The interface of Pocket Observer has been tested and redesigned to make it more intuitive. For example, you can customize your event recorder by magnifying behavior buttons in order to code behaviors simply and accurately by tapping the touchscreen. You can use Pocket Observer in both portrait and landscape mode.

 How does Pocket Observer work?

• Set up your project in The Observer XT research software. The software allows you to setup a coding scheme and define your independent variables. An Android platform smartphone can handle up to 250 coding scheme elements which is exactly the same as The Observer XT software. The Android platform offers many interesting features for users and developers.
• Download this coding scheme onto Pocket Observer, running on your smartphone, and you are ready to start collecting your data. Check which code corresponds with which behavior, subject, or modifier. When you discover a new behavior during a live observation, you can add this to your coding scheme on the smartphone. You do not have to go back to your PC to make changes. With Pocket Observer software, you can use both time (instantaneous) and continuous sampling. Time sampling is a straightforward method that is often used in live observations.
• During your observation you can code subject, behaviors, and modifiers by tapping the touchscreen. You can also insert markers. For example, when noticing an interesting event, something unexpected, or an event that cannot be adequately described by the elements in the coding scheme, you can insert a marker. A marker is added to the comment field. Therefore, the marked event can easily be retrieved after the observation.
• After observing, you simply upload the observation data to your computer for analysis. You can integrate your handheld observation data with audio, video, or physiological data. When uploading your data to The Observer XT, you can integrate all files into one observation project for joint visualization and analysis.

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50 Android Jelly Bean tips Part 2

Previous Part 1

16. Offline speech-to-text

Being able to dictate long and rambling texts to loved ones is quite an old Android feature, but it's just got a whole lot better with an offline mode. Go to Google voice typing settings under Language & input and choose Download offline speech recognition. Now you'll be able to dictate that great novel without being distracted by Reddit.

17. Beam it across

Android Beam works with near-field communication (NFC) to enable fast data exchange between two devices. You'll need to make sure it's enabled first - you'll find it under Wireless & networks. You'll also need to know where the NFC area is on your device. This isn't a problem for phones, but it can be just about anywhere on the back of a ludicrously large tablet, so do a quick Google to find out where it is.

18. Simple secure pairing

Simple secure pairing works alongside NFC to provide a quick and easy way to connect Bluetooth accessories such as headsets, speakers and keyboards. You don't actually need to do anything other than activate NFC to use it, but make sure whatever you're pairing with is Simple secure pairing-compatible.

19. Calendar notifications

Any events you've been invited to via Google Calendar will show up in the notifications blind. From here you can expand it and quickly send a pre-defined response (Such as "I'll be there in 10 minutes") or type your own. Quick responses can be edited from within the General settings of the Calendar app itself. Perfect for you social butterflies.

20. Gallery views

Android snappers will love its new gallery features. Pinch on photos to zoom out into a filmstrip mode, where all your pics are displayed side-by-side. Swipe left and right to browse all your snaps quickly, and slide up and down on individual images to delete them. The gallery then gives you just enough time to realise you've canned the wrong thing and undo your delete.

21. Wi-Fi savings

It's all too easy to run up costs when you're on public or mobile WiFi. Tethering a tablet to a phone can suck a surprising amount of data, and public WiFi, such as that found in hotels, sometimes have ridiculously strict usage policies. In Jelly Bean's Data usage settings you'll find the option to designate certain WiFi networks as Mobile hotspots, which stops background apps accessing data and could save you lots of cash. If there's another Jelly Bean device on the same network it'll pick up its Mobile hotspot settings, too.

22. Try the stock keyboard

The Swiftkey keyboard is enormously popular among Android users, and for good reason: it monitors your typing and grammatical style uses this to predict words. Jelly Bean's keyboard now offers the same functionality, using bigram prediction and correction to complete words and sentences. We've found it to be every bit as good as Swiftkey, and even slightly faster and slicker.

23. Reboot to safe mode

Ah safe mode, the saviour of so many Windows PCs. Thanks to the sheer amount of dodgy apps on the Play Store it's on Android now, too. Long-press the power button, then long-press the Power off option. Choose OK to reboot in safe mode, which completely disables all third-party apps on your device. Then hunt down and destroy that nefarious bit of software..

24. Reset app preferences

Android gives you loads of different options for each installed app, and on the whole this is a very good thing. Sometimes it can be a bad thing, though: you may find your phone playing up because a crucial app has been disabled, or you've changed the notifications for something important like emails. In the apps drawer, you'll find Reset app preferences under the settings. This resets all your apps on a global level, returning actions and data settings to their original levels.

25. Add emojis

"Emojis" are the Japanese version of emoticons, and like most things from Japan they're much better and cooler than their western counterparts. You can enable emoji support for the default Jelly Bean keyboard by choosing Language & input in the settings app, then going to the settings for the stock Android keyboard. Here, choose Add-on dictionaries and select Emoji for English words. When you next type certain words (there's a complete list here) you'll see its symbol appear in the predictions bar. It's like Wingdings never died.

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50 Android Jelly Bean tips Part 1

Jelly Bean may not be the same huge leap forward as Ice Cream Sandwich, but it still brings a lot of new features and functionality to the operating system.

Many of these are improvements to the smoothness of rendering on the device - it even briefly boosts the CPU when the screen's turned on to make things super slick and speedy. Google dubs these little performance and software improvements as being "buttery", assumedly referring to some nice spreadable Lurpak rather than a solidified hunk of congealed milk.

The other big addition here is Google Now. This adds personalised recommendations and information based on your browsing history. Some people love its perceptive usefulness, others hate its pervy, intrusive nature.

One thing's for sure though: the Siri-like voice search feature is awesome.

As ever, these tips are based on the vanilla installation of Android, so your mileage may vary depending on how many layers of extra "features" have been added by your phone or tablet's manufacturer.

1. Say "Google" to search

If you're in America, you can open Google Now and say "Google" followed by your query to search the net. If you're not in America, you can trick Android into thinking you are. Open the settings on your device, choose "Language and input", then switch Google Voice Typing's language from "Automatic" to "English (US)". Next go to Google Now's settings and again change the language to "English (US)". You should see "Search or say Google" in Now's search bar. Faking an American accent: optional.

2. Now settings

You can open now in two ways - either swipe up from the Home icon, or swipe the lock icon up when the screen is locked. When you first start it, Now will run through the basics of what it does, and even show you some example cards. In Now's settings, you'll find each card has its own notifications settings, which apply to both the Now homescreen and the Notification shade. Standard means that new cards are accompanied by a ringtone and vibration, Low priority places them at the bottom of the list without any notification, and off, well, turns them off altogether.

3. Talk to Google Now

Google Now also includes Siri-like functionality, supplying spoken answers to your inane questions. Try things like, "what time is it in Kuala Lumpur?", "when's Tom Cruise's birthday I want to send him a card?", "how do I get home?" or "will it be sunny tomorrow?" and Now will speak the answer back at you or search the web for relevant pages.

4. Get more Google Now cards

Google Now presents relevant information such as weather and places on "cards". To begin with it may be a little sparse, but searching the web from any device will give you more. Just make sure your web history is enabled: visit history.google.com, hit the settings cog and ensure that Web History is on and not paused. Next, search Google for favourite football teams, planned flights and destinations and the relevant cards will pop up automatically.

 

5. Notification Shade

We previously referred to it as the "pully-down menu thing", but apparently it's officially called the "Notification Shade". Niftily, certain notifications in the shade can be expanded by sliding two fingers outwards on them, giving you an overview of the subject headers in your email inbox, for example. Moving two fingers inwards on a notification neatly contracts them, too.

6. Rotation lock

You're sitting on a plane watching a vid in horizontal orientation. Suddenly, the plane banks sharply to the left and - oh no! - the video changes orientation. This worst-case-scenario can be avoided by tapping the rotation lock in the Notification Shade, which keeps the screen in its current orientation. Tap it again to unlock the rotation.

7. Turn notifications off

Install enough apps and the notification bar at the top of your Android device becomes the digital equivalent of an unending stream of ticker tape. In fact, Airpush is an entire advertising company that makes money in this way. Fortunately, each and every app you install in Jelly Bean has the option to turn this off. Go to its info page under Apps, uncheck the box labelled "Show notifications" and enjoy your empty notifications bar.

8. Equalize your music

The ability to adjust those all-important bass and treble settings has been sorely missed on Android devices - so much so that a bunch of apps have been made to enable it. It's fixed in Android's stock music player, though. Open a music file in the stock player, hit Settings then choose Equaliser. Here you'll find manual sliders, a load of presets and bass and 3D effects. Unfortunately it doesn't work for the whole device, but it will give your tunes a little more oomph.

9. Rearrange your home screens

Long-press on any icon or widget on your homescreen and you can move it around, and other icons and widgets will shift out of the way to fit it in. Bigger widgets can also be resized by long-pressing and releasing them, and then dragging the circles that appear on the edges. It's actually quite fun and satisfying. We just spent three hours doing nothing but this.

10. Fling to remove

Homescreen app clutter (surely the worst of all types of clutter) can be quickly and easily defeated. Long-press an icon or widget, then fling it upwards and it'll ascend into shortcut heaven. This won't uninstall the app, though - it'll still reside in your app drawer.

11. Owner info

Wait! Put down that blunt rock you were about to use to chisel your contact details into the back of your Android device! Jelly Bean includes the ability to display a few lines of contact details on the lock screen, such as your email address, name and phone number. You'll need to enable a screen lock from Security, and then you'll see the Owner info option appear. This information is mirrored across all Jelly Bean devices, too.

12. Access App info

The all-important App info screen - which allows you to uninstall, stop and disable apps - can be accessed in a completely new way with Jelly Bean. Pull down the notification shade, long-press on an open task and you'll be taken straight to the settings page for the relevant app. It's handy if you don't know which app displayed the notification.

13. Volume controls

You can now set the volume for all the noisiest bits of your Android device individually. Press the volume up or down key and you'll the familiar little slider with a settings icon to the right of this. Tap this and you'll see separate sliders for media, and notifications and ringtones. Bonus tip: each of these sliders can be, er, slid, with your finger.

14. Talkback

Designed for blind and low-vision users, Talkback provides an ongoing narration of what's displayed on your phone or tablet. You can turn it on via Accessibility, and then you'll be taken through a tutorial of its functions. It's a very different way of navigating your device, and quite interesting to experience. It also supports braille input and output devices via USB and Bluetooth.

15. Blink to unlock

 

While face unlock is smart and quick, more paranoid users may worry that a ne'er-do-weller could somehow steal an image of their face - or their actual face - and use it to access the device. Android's Liveness check requires the user to blink before the device is unlocked, preventing access if a quick eye-shut isn't detected.

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