Weekend roundup: All the best Android tips and tricks from last week (March 10 – March 16)

BY Kelly Hodgkins

Published 16 Mar 2014

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As we close out one week and kick off another, let’s take a moment to look back at the top tips and tricks from the past seven days (March 10 – March 16). Some of the tips you may recall, some may be new to you, but all the “how-tos” below are worthy of a second mention.

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The difference between Snapdragon 800 and 801

Back at Mobile World Congress, Qualcomm introduced its latest high-end chipset — the Snapdragon 801. The chipset is already being used in many upcoming flagship devices including the Galaxy S5 and the Xperia Z2. However, while the Snapdragon 801 on the Galaxy S5 is clocked at 2.5GHz, it runs at 2.3GHz on the Xperia Z2, which is the same as the Snapdragon 800 chipset found inside the Nexus 5 and LG G2. So, what exactly is the difference between these two chipsets from Qualcomm? Read below to find out.

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NFC 101: Everything you need to know about using NFC on Android

Over the last week, we explained to our readers the different facets of NFC — a relatively unknown feature in today’s Android devices that can come in extremely handy in day-to-day use. Below is a quick recap of the whole series, just in case you would like to refresh your memory or share a single article with your friends.

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Custom ROMs 101: What are they and how are they useful?

If you have ever owned an Android device, you must have come across the word “Custom ROMs”. They bring various usability features and tweaks, the latest version of Android, performance improvements and more. So, what are custom ROMs? How are they useful?

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Custom ROMs 101: The difference between custom ROMs, Rooting & Flashing Mods

If you are new to the Android community, you will easily get confused between rooting, custom ROMs and flashing mods. We have already explained what is rooting and custom ROMs, and today, we will make the difference between them clear.

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3 Reasons you should try Aviate Launcher now

Last week, Aviate saw an update that brought the launcher more customization options in terms of icon pack support. While this was definitely a welcome addition to the app and one I was looking forward to, it certainly isn’t the main appeal of Aviate. Here are the 3 reasons you should give this launcher a try.

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Custom ROMs 101: Things to do before and after flashing a custom ROM

Flashing a custom ROM is a pretty tedious process, especially for first timers and requires users to take a lot of cautionary steps just in case things go wrong. There are a lot of things you must keep in mind before you decide to install a custom ROM and even after you have installed it. Continue reading this post to find out what they are.

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Tip: End any phone call without using the touchscreen

One of the annoying “features” of modern smartphones is having to use the touchscreen while answering and rejecting calls. This usually involves fumbling with the screen to either swipe in a certain direction or hit a specific button. It is especially infuriating when ending a call, because you have to wait for the screen to turn on after you take the phone away from your ear. Here’s a tip that will make ending a call easier.

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Stop running after the “next” Android flagship, the current ones are just as excellent

Last month, Sony Mobile’s Creative Director Kurozumi Yoshiro stirred quite a discussion by proclaiming that the upcoming Xperia Z2 would only be the company’s flagship for the first half of 2014. The news travelled fast, as many reporters and users got slightly outraged by the fact that Sony would practically pronounce its Z2 dead before it even hit the shelves. My problem with that? The importance of the Z2 isn’t undermined by whether or not the Z3 comes later this year. Let me explain.

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Custom ROMs 101: How to pick the best custom ROM for you

The world of custom ROMs is very much like marketing — filled with flashy words and false promises. You need to ignore the buzz, read the fine print and then decide which custom ROM is correct for you. Below, we list down a few tips that should help you in finding custom ROMs and deciding which one you should install on your device.

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Custom ROMs 101: The best Android custom ROMs available

There are thousands of custom ROMs available for all the Android devices out there. While some ROMs are only available for a specific device, others are available for all the popular ones. Below, we list down some popular custom ROMs out there along with their major features.