Update Xperia U ST25i to Android 4.4 KitKat via CM11

 

As Sony is not rolling out any update for the older devices like Xperia U, developers will come up with customs ROMs based on the latest version. If you own a device like Xperia U, then you are also lucky to have a kitkat break on your Sony Xperia U ST25i. This update is by using the CyanogenMod 11 is based on the latest Android 4.4 KitKat. Apart from the KitKat you will also get several customizations as well.

Please note that the tutorials and download links are collected from various sources across the web. So we will not be responsible for any damages to your device. We are putting our level best to provide the articles it the maximum perfection and accuracy.Perform the tutorials at your own risk !

Before you Begin..

Charge your Device

Prior to any process of rooting or updating,always ensure that your device is charged upto a minimum of 80%. Otherwise your device will power off during the process and may brick the device.

Back up your device

Before proceeding further make sure that you have already taken a backup of your all important data as there is a chance for wiping all the data on your device. [App settings,games,etc.]

Check the Device’s Model No

This is the important thing that you have to check whether your device is eligible for the process. Every procedures like rooting or updating may be specific for a device (and Variant). So it cannot be applied on any other device. The best and recommended way to confirm the model no. of your device is to go and see the “About Device” option under Settings.

Guidelines and Requirements:

• Ensure that the bootloader of your device is unlocked.
• The tutorial is specifically for Sony Xperia U ST25i.
• Clockwork Mod recovery must be installed on your device.
• The USB Drivers for your device must be installed on your PC.

Files Required:

• Android 4.4 KitKat CM11 for Xperia U
• GApps for 4.4 KitKat

Steps to Update Xperia U ST25i to Android 4.4 KitKat via CM11

1. First of all download the above mentioned files and keep on your PC.
2. Now connect your Xperia U to your PC via original USB cable. Copy the downloaded files to your device’s internal storage [don't extract the zip files].
3. Now switch off your device and enter into fastboot mode. For this, press and hold the “Volume up + Power” buttons together.
4. Now download Fastboot files for Sony Xperia U and extract it to a suitable location on your PC.
5. You will see the following files:
   1. adb.exe
   2. AdbWinApi.dll
   3. AdbWinUsbApi.dll
   4. fastboot.exe
   5. runme.lnk
6. Now open the CyanogenMod 11 package using a suitable application,preferably WinRAR. Extract Boot.img file on your desktop.
7. Move that file (Boot.img) into the Fastboot extracted folder.
8. Run (double click) the runme.lnk  in the Fastboot extracted folder and type the following to flash the kernel on your device.fastboot flash boot boot.img
   
9. When the flashing process is over disconnect your device from the PC.
10. Put your handset in recovery mode. For this, switch off your phone. Switch on your phone again. When the boot logo appears with LED turns blue, press the Volume up button several times to land on the recovery mode.
11. When entered to the recovery mode, it is recommended to take a Nandroid backup so that you can restore it if anything goes wrong. To do so, select Restore and backup from the recovery main menu and select backup on the next screen.
12. Now select  ”wipe data/factory reset” to wipe all the data. [Use the volume buttons to navigate and power button to select an option].
13. Now select the “wipe cache partition” option to clear or wipe the cache.
14. Go to Advanced and select “wipe dalvik cache”  [This is optional,but it is recommended to avoid bootloop on your device].
15. After wiping the data, select the Mount and storage option and in that select the following options: ‘format/system’,'format/data’,'format/cache’,'format/system’.
16. OK, then its time to flash the ROM on your device. To do so :
17. Return to the recovery main menu and select “install zip from sdcard“.
18. Now select the “choose zip from sdcard” and navigate to the ROM file in your SD card and choose it using the power button. Confirm the installation on the next screen.
19. Wait for the ROM to get flashed.[Usually it will take upto 3 minutes]
20. Similarly flash the Google Apps (Gapps.zip) [like above].
21. After flashing both the ROM and Gapps, return to the recovery main menu and select “Reboot system now” to restart your device.
22.  

          That’s it !! You have successfully updated your Sony  Xperia U to the latest Android 4.4 KitKat version. If you have any issues, please contact us to resolve it..

 

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VSCO Cam for Android now Available From Google Play for Free

 

Finally the highly anticipated VSCO Cam is now available for Android. The VSCO Cam is a hugely popular camera app for iOS as it features a simple user interface and powerful filters and photo editing tools. Now all the Android photographers can grab and enjoy the VSCO Cam right now from the Google Play Store.

As like in the iOS, the VSCO in android also lets you to quickly share the Cam images to social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google plus etc. The VSCO Cam Android requires Android 4.0 or higher versions to work perfectly. Aren’t you anxious to know what the app features ?So  read on..

• It allows you to take snaps,edit,save and share them to social media in a better way.
• It consists of a bunch of pre-loaded presets.Also you can create your own presets by adjusting contrast, sharpness exposure etc.
• Have easy to share options to share your images to Facebook,instagram,Twitter, Google plus etc.
• The best feature of the Cam apps is VSCO Grid that  allows you to share your images to all the VSCO users worldwide.

                                                      vsco cam android screenshots

                                               vsco cam android settings

Although it seems to be a better camera app,there is still a remarkable feature missing on some Android devices as compared to that in the iOS. Only a few of the Android devices supports the 2-finger tap to separate focus and exposure while using the camera.

As I told, the VSCO Cam is an absolutely free camera app and includes a bunch of presets and a variety of editing tools. You can also purchase more custom presets and editing tools within the Application. However all the above mentioned features and this makes the VSCO different from all other camera apps released yet and makes it a perfect choice for Android Photographers.

So are you ready to take your smartphone photography to new heights ? Then download and install the VSCO Cam Application right now from the Google Play link provided below.

                                                           Download VSCO Cam For Android

 

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Simple Way of Pumping Gas into your Vehicle with EzPump

Some of the most basic things in our life always remain the same even though they are confusing and unproductive. But, since that’s the way we have always been doing things, we don’t bother much to change our working or even the thinking. One of such things in filling gas in our cars, it is time-wasting task, and leads to fuel waste, or even spoil our hands.

However, all that is set to change with a concept called EzPump. Simply put, it is a small and simple accessory which is used along with the pump handle to fill the fuel in the car. The nozzle trigger can be locked with the Ezpump to ensure that it is adding the gas to the car.

Benefits

Clean Hands

As the gas can be directly filled with the use of EzPump, user’s hand is free from using the pump handle and thus there are no chances of getting it dirty.

Avoids wastage

When the gas is filled with oneself, there are always chances of overfilling the tank, but the problem goes away with EzPump. It is positioned in such a manner that the gas fills to the sufficient level only.

Pump it itself

This is the biggest advantage of this concept. With its use, users does not need to carry the pump since it does it automatically makes it easy to insert it directly to the tank’s entrance. EzPump, also pumps the gas itself without requiring any action from user.

How to back it?

Currently, the project EzPump is looking to expand to other markets and for which, it wants to raise money. The project is hoping to get a crowd-funding of 300 Canadian US Dollars and also offers discounts to early buyers.

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Google kills Android privacy control feature  

SAN FRANCISCO: Google has taken an untested privacy characteristic from its Android mobile softwares that had allowed users to block apps from assembling personal data such as address publication data and a user’s location.
 
The change means that owners of Smartphones using Android 4.4.2, the newest version of the world’s most well liked operating scheme for mobile devices issued this week, must provide get access to their individual data in alignment to use certain apps.
A business spokesman said the characteristic had been included by misfortune in Android 4.3, the version issued last summer.




‘We are suspicious of this explanation, and do not think that it in any way supports removing the feature rather than advancing it,’ said Peter Eckersley, expertise projects director at the electrical devices opportunity base. The digital rights website first publicized the change in a blog post on Friday.

                           Android privacy control feature

Android users who wish to keep the privacy controls by not upgrading to Android 4.4.2 could be susceptible to security dangers, Eckersley said. “As of now, users must select between the privacy or security on the Android gadgets, but not two of them.”




A lot of 3rd party apps for Android gadgets, like  music-identifying service Shazam and well liked Smartphone flashlight apps, need get access to individual information that does not always have an conspicuous attachment to the app’s functionality, such as telephone call data and location facts and figures.
Eckersley informed that The privacy feature permitted users to choose and choose which personal facts and figures a third-party app can collect. Users must install special Apps Ops Launcher softwares, which was created by another business, in alignment to get access to the hidden privacy controls.

Android softwares was loaded on 81percent of all Smartphones transported worldwide in the third quarter, according to business research company IDC. Apple’s iOS, the software used on the iPhone, possess 12.9 % market share.

Privacy has become an increasingly significant issue as Smartphones, which are laden with consumers’ personal data, become the primary computing gadgets for numerous consumers. In November, Google acquiesced to pay a $17 million fine to resolve allegations that it secretly followed world wide web users by putting special digital documents on the world wide world wide web browsers of their Smartphones.

 

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