Hacking Emperor

One thing about the small round little Pixel Buds — they might get lost easily if you have a terrible habit of misplacing stuff. Or worse, imagine someone taking a liking to them a little too much and stealing them when you aren't looking. Google thought ahead about these issues, so just like your smartphone, you can track your wireless earbuds from anywhere with ease. Step 1: Set Up the Location History Feature Before you can find your Pixel Buds from anywhere, you'll need to make sure location tracking is ready to go for your Google account. Head into your system settings on your phone, go... more http://dlvr.it/RhcMbz

One thing about the small round little Pixel Buds — they might get lost easily if you have a terrible habit of misplacing stuff. Or worse, imagine someone taking a liking to them a little too much and stealing them when you aren't looking. Google thought ahead about these issues, so just like your smartphone, you can track your wireless earbuds from anywhere with ease. Step 1: Set Up the Location History Feature Before you can find your Pixel Buds from anywhere, you'll need to make sure location tracking is ready to go for your Google account. Head into your system settings on your phone, go... more http://dlvr.it/RhXszL

Android 11 has plenty of new features as you'd expect, including a fancy new embedded media player. Rather than a constant notification, your audio controls now get pushed up into the Quick Settings panel when playing music. However, to make way for this new media player functionality, your total number of quick settings tiles had to be cut from nine down to six. This new Android 11 change may not be welcomed by some since six tiles in a three-by-two panel could seem too little. Luckily, developer Tulsadiver has put together a little Magisk module to solve this very issue. Even better... more http://dlvr.it/RhXsvR

Nearly ten years since the first Galaxy Note and yet the Galaxy Note 20 still hasn't solved one of its biggest problems: bloatware. There are still over 20 redundant or unnecessary apps that are on this $1,000+ phone. But while it does require some advanced tools, it's still possible to remove them. Unfortunately, this process has gotten harder over the years. In the past, you could use apps or files to automate the process. However, many of these apps haven't been updated in years making them hard to recommend. As a result, the safest way to achieve a bloat-free Galaxy Note 20 is to use ADB... more http://dlvr.it/RhJkPM

Google is making its Phone app, the default dialer for Pixel and Android One devices, available to many other smartphones via the Play Store. If you're enticed to replace your factory-installed dialer to take advantage of the spam-filtering capabilities, you don't want to miss out on other features like the ability to customize canned responses for declining calls. When you get an incoming call with the Google Phone app, you'll have your standard answer and decline options, but then there will also be a "Reply" button. Tapping this will give you a list of generic responses to choose from... more http://dlvr.it/RhJkM6

Google is making its Phone app, the default dialer for Pixel and Android One devices, available to many other smartphones via the Play Store. If you're enticed to replace your factory-installed dialer to take advantage of the spam-filtering capabilities, you don't want to miss out on other features like the ability to customize canned responses for declining calls. When you get an incoming call with the Google Phone app, you'll have your standard answer and decline options, but then there will also be a "Reply" button. Tapping this will give you a list of generic responses to choose from... more http://dlvr.it/RhJ2FY

As you test out the new Quick Settings media controls in Android 11 and form an opinion, you'll notice one of the changes they made to the player besides the new location. For example, when you swipe away the mini version of these controls, the music keeps playing and the player still appears in the expanded view. Before, you could just dismiss the media notification when you were done playing music. Now, you can still swipe the smaller media controls away, but then when you pull down twice to fully expand your Quick Settings menu, the larger controls are still there. So whether you were... more http://dlvr.it/RhDc1y

The Snapdragon version of the Galaxy Note 20 and 20 Ultra — the one sold in the US — can't be rooted. Without root, the level of customization is limited. Such a large group of Android users shouldn't miss out on mods, and they don't have to. A number of third-party and Samsung developed apps will help you get more out of the Galaxy Note 20's software experience. These rootless tools help dramatically change the look of One UI or add new functionality not available by default. Some require ADB, which is easier to use nowadays and won't trip the e-fuse within your Galaxy. And unlike root... more http://dlvr.it/RhDFR1

The Galaxy Note 20 series has one of the largest screens on any smartphone. Such a massive display not only makes it easy to enjoy videos, but it also makes split-screen mode more viable, as each half of the screen is large enough to enjoy the content — including two different videos. If any phone was designed to be used this way, it's the Galaxy Note 20 series. With its Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ SoC and 8 or 12 GB of RAM, it has all the components needed to let you share your phone's display with nearby friends. Not only can you play two videos, but you can split the audio to different... more http://dlvr.it/RhCqSY

As you test out the new Quick Settings media controls in Android 11 and form an opinion, you'll notice one of the changes they made to the player besides the new location. For example, when you swipe away the mini version of these controls, the music keeps playing and the player still appears in the expanded view. Before, you could just dismiss the media notification when you were done playing music. Now, you can still swipe the smaller media controls away, but then when you pull down twice to fully expand your Quick Settings menu, the larger controls are still there. So whether you were... more http://dlvr.it/Rh8MgF

If you're a PC gamer, you know the value of performance metrics. These graphs and charts overlaid on top of a game give you real-time information about how well your system performs. And for the first time, Galaxy users running One UI 3.0 will get access to similar information for mobile games. In Samsung's Android 11 update, there is a hidden feature that gives you these PC gaming style metrics. Once enabled, you see how well (or poorly) your Galaxy smartphone is handing a particular game or app. You can see FPS, the load on the CPU and GPU, and much more. And with this information, you can... more http://dlvr.it/RgvtG6

Apps can learn a lot about you just by reading information about your smartphone. They can easily track what device model you have, your phone number, and in some cases, your hardware MAC addresses. Many third-party apps will only track your device values for advertising purposes, but some might be trying to snoop on your data for ill intentions. Since Android was built with flexibility in mind, you, as the user, have the choice to keep your device ID values safe from all prying eyes. If you're looking for some peace of mind for your own personal use, the Device ID Masker Lite Xposed module... more http://dlvr.it/Rgv5GZ

Just days after Google released the official Android 11 update, Samsung already had a pre-beta build of One UI 3.0 available for developers to test their apps on. So this year's main OS upgrade is likely hitting Galaxy phones even earlier than we thought. Some features in the test build of One UI 3.0 are very obviously unfinished. Other Android 11 features still haven't been added. So it's a fluid situation, which is why we will continue to update this page as Samsung releases future beta versions of the update. No matter when you read this, it should be the most accurate prediction of... more http://dlvr.it/Rgqlq2

I think it was about Day 3 of working on our massive, all-encompassing Pixel 4a root guide for beginners when I realized something: Not everyone needs their hands held through each tiny step. If you just need a quick refresher, some links, and maybe a fastboot command to copy, this Pixel 4a root guide is for you. Video: . Step 1: Unlock the Bootloader Make sure you're using a non-Verizon Pixel 4a. Back up important data. Enable Developer options. Enable "OEM unlocking" inside Developer options. Boot into Fastboot Mode (hold volume down while restarting). Connect to a Windows, Mac, or Linux... more http://dlvr.it/Rgpm11

The gesture navigation introduced with Android 10 worked wonders by giving you more of your screen and less tapping. Android 11 offers the option to fine-tune the back gesture sensitivity for your screen's left and right sides. However, the issue still stands for people who like to use the left swipe menu within apps to open hamburger style menus. If you rely on your left swipe action rather than tapping the menu icon in your favorite apps, this would likely get on your nerves. It's an issue with no official fix right now, but there's a simple workaround you can do even without root access... more http://dlvr.it/RgmHPM

Alongside the launch of Android 11, Google added a new feature to Live View, the augmented reality mode for walking navigation in Google Maps, that helps you find friends in AR. But even if you're not trying to meet up with somebody, you can easily access the AR mode and orient yourself to any location. Based on Google Maps Live View support documentation, this feature is currently only available on Android devices. However, we'd expect iOS to get this option eventually. In the meantime, there's an alternate method to access this AR feature at the end of this article. Don't Miss: How to Scan... more http://dlvr.it/RglQVL

It is safe to say 2020 sucks. With the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest, things haven't been great. But beyond impacting your emotional state, that upcoming phone you've been waiting for has likely had its release date pushed back. Because of the response to coronavirus, nearly every industry had to delay or postpone releases, and smartphones have been no exception. With factories being forced to shut down or redirect work to most essential materials, and most conferences canceled to help curb the spread, when your next phone arrives may not be when you expect it. To help you out, this... more http://dlvr.it/RgcB2j

If you were a custom ROM aficionado back in the Nexus days, you likely remember the AOKP name pretty well. It was synonymous with unique features and awesome tweaks when compared to stock. Thanks to the AOKP source code, a once AOKP "Kang" ROM (now Dirty Unicorns) had come to shine on its own over the years. Dirty Unicorns has returned again in a big way with some neat features for Android 10. Typically, when installing a custom ROM based on the official AOSP source, you lose all the device-specific features you'd find in a stock ROM. Unless the developer has direct access to these system... more http://dlvr.it/RgbBFV

If you were a custom ROM aficionado back in the Nexus days, you likely remember the AOKP name pretty well. Their custom ROM was often praised for the number of unique features that you simply couldn't get from other AOSP-based ROMs. Fast forward to today, and their greatness has returned to the Pixel smartphones under the new Dirty Unicorns name. When installing a custom ROM based on the AOSP source, you lose all the device-specific features that you'd typically find in a stock ROM. Unless the ROM developer has direct access to these core system features, you'd be missing out on them for good... more http://dlvr.it/RgRRMC

If it has an internet connection, it's got a huge attack surface for hackers. But what makes your phone even more dangerous is its portability and the collection of sensors it houses that can be just as good at tracking you as the camera and mic. That is why one of the first things you need to do after setting up your Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra is to check out these options. These tools, which all come preinstalled on your smartphone, will help protect from both threats afar and those nearby. And after reviewing these settings, check out our Android Security guides for third-party apps... more http://dlvr.it/RgRRKR

Have you ever received a toast message, but weren't sure where it came from? While usually harmless, sometimes, it can be an indication of the presence of an app long forgotten. But with numerous running background apps, it can be hard to identify the source. Developer Michal Jakubowkski must have been tired of this as well, because he created a solution. Any toast message that appears can now be logged with the information of the time, the content, and the app which they originated from. Toasts can also be saved to a database locally to be reviewed later at your leisure. Step 1: Install... more http://dlvr.it/RgR2sz

If you ever consider modding your Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra, you'll need to know about recovery mode and download mode. Even if that isn't your thing, knowing how to how to boot into these modes can help save your phone from a soft brick. Without the dedicated Bixby button, booting into either mode may not seem as straightforward for longtime Galaxy users. Thankfully, Samsung made the process easier, removing the need to rely on holding three buttons with enough pressure and time to boot into the correct mode. Booting into Recovery Mode To boot into recovery mode, start by turning off... more http://dlvr.it/RgMSZ3

If you live in the US, it's pretty simple: The Google Pixel 4a is the best phone for rooting and modding in 2020. Its price keeps the risk-reward ratio nice and low, and its unlockable bootloader makes it easy to modify virtually any aspect of Android. But recent updates to Android's security systems have made it to where TWRP and other custom recoveries won't be officially available for this phone for quite some time, if at all. So you can't just install TeamWin and use it to flash a ZIP to root — you have to do things through Fastboot. You'll be downloading a file from Google, using the... more http://dlvr.it/RgLyMR

If you live in the US, it's pretty simple: The Google Pixel 4a is the best phone for rooting and modding in 2020. Its price keeps the risk-reward ratio nice and low, and its unlockable bootloader makes it easy to modify virtually any aspect of Android. But recent updates to Android's security systems have made it to where TWRP and other custom recoveries won't be officially available for this phone for quite some time, if at all. So you can't just install TeamWin and use it to flash a ZIP to root — you have to do things through Fastboot. You'll be downloading a file from Google, using the... more http://dlvr.it/RgJXJc

After a few months and a couple of beta versions, Android 11 is now ready not only for Pixel devices, but also handsets from OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Realme. The biggest changes can be found in the Notification Shade, where Google has revamped how it treats notifications from chat and media apps and even enabled users to access their notification history. While you're waiting for the update to download, here are ten new features to look forward to in Android 11. Don't Miss: How to Use Google's Android Flash Tool to Manually Update Your Phone or Recover from a Soft Brick Eligible Phones... more http://dlvr.it/RgHhgG

Android 11 is here. Prior to Google dropping the naming scheme, this would have been a dessert with an R name (maybe Rice Krispies Treat or Red Velvet Cake) — but nope, just plain ol' Android 11. And after months of betas and a global pandemic, it finally debuted a little over a year after Android 10. The first public beta of Android 11 was supposed to come out on June 3 during Google I/O, but that event was canceled following the death of George Floyd. So like everything in 2020, this has been a bit of an unusual update. But hey, it's packed full of new features. You'll see all of the best... more http://dlvr.it/RgDRh5

It's been a while since Android got a true Easter egg with a new software update. Remember when Google added Marshmallow's Flappy Bird-style mini game? For Android 11, we get a new game, and like Android Nougat, it revolves around the infamous Android Neko cat. Google's apparently a big fan of virtual pet game Neko Atsume, because they've once again added an Easter egg heavily inspired by it. It's very similar to the one in Android Nougat, but this time it takes advantage of the revamped power menu in Android 11. And unlike past versions, there is more to it than just taping on the version... more http://dlvr.it/RgDRgJ

Google released Android 11 today, Tuesday, Sept. 8. The new update follows seven months of beta testing, which started with Feb. 19's developer preview 1. Google released the new update at 10 a.m. PDT. While Android 11 was unsurprisingly coming to Pixel devices first, Google's smartphones aren't the only ones to receive the update today. Additionally, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Realme devices will all see an upgrade. Don't Miss: How to Unlock the Easter Egg Cat Game in Android 11 Android 11 includes a slew of new and exciting features, including smart home controls in the power menu, a... more http://dlvr.it/RgD1ks

VPNs add a protective layer between your data and your internet service provider (ISP) or bad actors (hackers), so it makes sense they've become so popular lately. Probably the most common one of these is NordVPN, so we explored its mobile app to find all the options worth checking out. Our main focus in doing so was to increase security in this always-connected world. As it turns out, NordVPN provides some pretty strong supplemental settings for iPhone and Android that help protect data packets during transit — particularly the Android app, since a couple of these tips don't work in the iOS... more http://dlvr.it/Rg0v3y

Even if you pay for YouTube Premium, you are not exempt from ads. YouTube will stop adding pre-roll and interstitial ads, but content creators still have their own advertisements baked into videos. These product placements can be even worse than ads, and they're not the only annoyance embedded into videos. To put it nicely, YouTube is starting to have a problem with distractions. While you can always manually scrub past a wordy intro, an annoying ad, or a drawn out end screen, an open-source extension called Sponsor Block can skip all this junk for you automatically. It uses a crowd-sourced... more http://dlvr.it/Rg0ZKc

Just because your phone has a high-resolution screen doesn't mean it will play videos at their highest resolution. Most streaming services, including Netflix, use a DRM system known as Widevine for media in their Android apps. But even if your phone has Widevine support, content will be limited to non-HD if your specific model hasn't been whitelisted by Netflix. But that is not all, even if everything lines up, Netflix sometimes won't stream the content in the phone's highest resolution. For example, content is limited to 1080p on the Sony Xperia 1 despite its 4K display, but this is hard to... more http://dlvr.it/Rg09Pp

KeePass, the free, open-source password manager, has an excellent Android client in Keepass2Android. Its UI is slicker than many of the other ports, it's packing most of the features you'd find in the official Windows version, and it's completely free. Now, it's even adding native biometrics support. For a long time, fingerprints were the only biometric authentication method built into Android itself. But that changed in Android 10 when Google created a centralized biometrics API system that encompasses all types of authentication methods, including 3D facial recognition and iris scanning... more http://dlvr.it/Rfx1mC

The future of TikTok in the U.S. is all but certain. Microsoft, Walmart, or Oracle could save the day by buying the company, TikTok may win its lawsuit, or China's new restrictions could halt everything — but all could fail. Just like Vine before it, TikTok could be on its way out, only for opposite reasons. But will it matter if TikTok gets banned in the States? With the competition heating up, likely not. Believe it or not, TikTok isn't the only short-form video app on the market. Far from it. In fact, there are more apps out there than necessary. Some are definitely rush-jobs to compete... more http://dlvr.it/RfwbGN

Sure, your search history can be useful, but more often than not, it's a paper trail of privacy infringement. It's perfectly reasonable not to want to see a complete list of your YouTube queries every single time you search for a new video. Luckily, blocking YouTube from saving your search history takes only a few taps. From the iOS or Android app, tap your profile icon in the top right, then "Settings." Next, head into the "History & privacy" menu. From here, you can clear your current search history for your YouTube account across all devices. Tap "Clear search history," then tap it again... more http://dlvr.it/RfnhHr