Install CyanogenMod 7 (CM7) on the Samsung Captivate

Brandon Orndorff
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0

Installing CyanogenMod 7 on the Samsung Captivate is a very simple process once you have the pre-requisites complete. CyanogenMod is by far the most popular ROM for Android devices and used by many supported phones as well as many still in Alpha’s and Beta stages. The Samsung Captivate CM7 ROM is officially supported by CyanogenMod and is fully functional on the device.

Before Installing CM7 on the Samsung Captivate:

How to Install CM7 on the Samsung Captivate:

  1. Download the Latest version of CM7 (Download Link)
  2. Place the CyanogenMod update.zip downloaded on the root of internal memory
  3. Boot into ClockworkMod Recovery
  4. Once in Recovery select “Wipe data/factory reset”
  5. Then select “Wipe cache partition”
  6. When done select “Install zip from sdcard”
  7. Then select “Choose zip from sdcard”
  8. Select the update.zip you downloaded earlier
  9. Verify if it asks by selecting “yes”
  10. After install is completed select “go back”
  11. Finally select “reboot device”
  12. Congrats you now have CyanogenMod 7 on your Captivate!

By installing the ROM on your Samsung Captivate you will have the most recent Gingerbread operating system available on the device. You will notice an incredible speed increase and will feel as though you are using a new phone. We as always warn you to complete these instructions at your own risk but offer any help that you need.

Flash ClockworkMod Recovery to Samsung Captivate

Brandon Orndorff
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3

Flashing ClockworkMod Recovery to the Samsung Captivate is an easy process although not as easy as just installing ROM Manager and flashing it. You will need a few extra steps so that you can actually flash custom ROM’s to the still popular Galaxy S Android device. If you follow the directions below you should have no issues and be able to run CyanogenMod 7, Serendipity or any other custom ROM with ease.

Your Captivate must be rooted in order to flash ClockworkMod Recovery to the Samsung Captivate: Root Samsung Captivate with SuperOneClick

Install ClockworkMod Recovery on the Samsung Captivate:

  1. Download and Extract “Heimdall Suite 1.1.1” (Download Link)
  2. Power off your Samsung Captivate
  3. Connect the Captivate to your PC via USB
  4. Boot the Captivate into Download Mode via “vol up + vol down + power” while plugging in USB
  5. Run “zadig.exe” in the drivers folder of Heimdall
  6. From the Menu select “Options -> List All Devices”
  7. Then select “Samsung USB Composite Device” or “Gadget Serial”
  8. Click “Install Driver” (if popup ignore and install anyway)
  9. Now Launch the Heimdall application
  10. Download and extract “Hardcore’s SpeedMod Kernel” (Download Link)
  11. Select the zImage in the Kernel(zimage) section
  12. Turn your Captivate off and unplug it from the USB (leaving the USB in PC)
  13. Boot into download mode again via “vol up + vol down + power” while plugging in USB
  14. Heimdall should still be open on your PC click “Start”
  15. You should now see a blue bar showing the Kernel being transfered
  16. Your Captivate will restart automatically when complete
  17. Congrats your Samsung Captivate has ClockworkMod Recovery Installed.

You can now install custom ROM’s on your Captivate easily through ClockworkMod Recovery. We as always aren’t responsible for the use of these instructions so use at your own risk.

SIM Unlock Samsung Captivate with Galaxy S Unlock App

Brandon Orndorff
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0

Unlocking the Samsung Captivate and other Galaxy S devices is very easy with the help of “Galaxy_S Unlock Tool from the Android Market. Not only does it SIM Unlock your Android phone but it does it for free. Follow along witht the instructions above in the video or use the SIM unlock instructions below.

This method does require Root access on your Captivate. Go to “Root Samsung Captivate with SuperOneClick” for the Root instructions for your device.

SIM Unlock Instructions for Samsung Galaxy S Devices:

  1. Go the Android Market and Install “Galaxy_S Unlock”
  2. Open the Galaxy_S Unlock” App and Allow Root Access
  3. Select Step1 and allow it to backup efs
  4. Select Step2 and allow (this takes about 30 seconds)
  5. Your phone will reboot
  6. Once booted open “Galasy_S Unlock” and select step3
  7. Congrats your SIM is unlocked!

You can now place your T-Mobile SIM into the captivate and go nuts. The device will still allow the AT&T SIM just fine. If you run into any issues the Galaxy_S Unlock app will allow you to revert back so that you can relock it back to the way it was originally.

Root Samsung Captivate with SuperOneClick

Brandon Orndorff
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0

While this method is meant for the Samsung Captivate it can also be used for all Galaxy S devices like the Vibrant and Fascinate. The Captivate is an older Android phone but still very popular. The Samsung Captivate is an AT&T phone but also easily SIM unlocked to work on other carriers like T-Mobile. The first step is to root the device and here it is.

Samsung Captivate Root Instructions:

  1. Download SuperOneClick and Extract it to your PC (Download Link)
  2. Put you Captivate in USB Debugging Mode (Settings -> Applications -> Development)
  3. Plug your Captivate into your PC via USB
  4. Open SuperOneClick (wherever you just extracted it)
  5. Click the “Root” button
  6. When asking if you want BusyBox say Yes
  7. When completed unplug your Phone and Reboot it
  8. Congrats you now have root access on your Captivate!

If you want to test your Super User rights download Titanium Backup or any other app that requires root access and open it. You should get a superuser access window to accept and your good to go. As always follow these instructions at your own risk we are not responsible for its use.

Hang Up your Android Phone by Putting it Down

Brandon Orndorff
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1
Hang Up your Android Phone by Putting it Down

Hang App for Android Hands free Hang Up App

There is an app available by App-Q called “Hang App” that will tell your Android phone to hangup when you set it down. This way you will never have to remember to hang up or accidentally stay connected while talking about someone that could listen on the other end.

Need to hang up? Just put the phone face-down, and get back to your business.

When you put your phone down it will vibrate, and will then play a special tone when the call actually disconnects.

Hang App will let those of you that work in the yard or just have dirty hands sometimes from working just set the phone face down to hang it up. This will prove to be a very useful app for many Android users.

Dolphin Sonar is Android’s Siri for Internet Browsing

Brandon Orndorff
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0
Dolphin Sonar is Android’s Siri for Internet Browsing

Dolphin Sonar is Siri Android Devices

When the iPhone 4s launched everyone went nuts over the new feature called Siri and Android developers have been trying to create a version of it ever since. If your looking for Siri on your Android phone you won’t get it although if you want an app close to it then try Dolphin Sonar.

While Dolphin Sonar is a great competitor in the voice recognition area there are many things that it lacks that can be found in iPhones personal assistant. Dolphin Sonar is of course created to be a Siri for Internet and not an overall personal assistant. While surfing in your Dolphin browser you can shake the phone and tell it what you want. Search Facebook, Google, Ebay, open a new tab or even just scroll the webpage with your voice alone.

I would love to say that Sonar will take the place of Siri one day but it seems it will only be a piece of the “personal assistant” we all want on Android devices. The developers of Dolphin Sonar have promised that they will be updating rapidly to try and give the best experience possible with the new voice interactions while browsing the web.

New AT&T Service allows App Developers to cover Users Data Costs

Brandon Orndorff
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0

The Wall Street Journal reported that AT&T may soon be testing a new service that will allow app developers to pay for their apps data usage. This means that if a user on the AT&T network downloads a developers app they have the option if the dev allows it to not use their own data with the app. This would of course require app developers to pay AT&T for their apps data usage instead of it falling into the users responsibility.

While we think Ma Bell has gone nuts, think about the fact that applications that stream movies or sports to a mobile device use data very quickly. Users are less likely to use your app if their data plans cannot support it. This way the developers will have the opportunity to reach users and sell their apps to those that would otherwise ignore it due to its intense data requirements. This could increase app service signups with any streaming services available today.

We can’t see this actually making AT&T any additional money since they will lose on data overages for those that would download and use the service regardless. If the service costs the developers more than they are gaining from subscriptions then it could prove to be a failure. We are however looking forward to seeing how this all pans out and will keep you informed.

Cell Phone Jamming on Philadelphia City Buses

Brandon Orndorff
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0
Cell Phone Jamming on Philadelphia City Buses

Philadelphia City Buses Targeted by Cell Phone Jammer

People have started to get fed up with others and their loud conversations in public places. Those that are in a confined area really should keep in mind that others around you don’t care about what you have to say. This being said there is a vigilante in Philadelphia that has taken the publics right to peace and quite into his own hands. When on city buses he will quickly jam cell phones of those that feel their conversation should be heard by everyone.

Only known as Eric to keep his self anonymous and requested his last name not be used is one of these peace keepers. Eric frequents the cities 44 bus route and does not target cell phone users keeping their voice at a decent level. He uses a DIY hacker to jam these cell phones when on Philadelphia city buses.

“A lot of people are extremely loud, no sense of just privacy or anything. When it becomes a bother, that’s when I screw on the antenna and flip the switch.

“I guess I’m taking the law into my own hands and quite frankly, I’m proud of it.”

We agree with what he is trying to do although law enforcement and federal laws are not so agreeable. If caught using such a device you can face prosecution resulting in a $16,000 fine and possibly jail time. While he has agreed to get rid of the device due to the consequences that he could face we hope others will take these same actions (assuming its not abused).

The reasons for Federal laws prohibiting the use of such devices to jam cell signals is the ability to interrupt important emergency calls. Philadelphia city transportation officials have stated that such devices cannot effect their communication systems and that its no reason for alarm. They will still be able to communicate in the event of an emergency.

AT&T Throttling Unlimited Data (3GB HSPA+, 5GB LTE)

Brandon Orndorff
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0

There are over 17 million AT&T users that are grandfathered into the unlimited data plans. Last year AT&T claimed that 20,000% of their data traffic came from the top 5% of unlimited data users.  Like us most of these users have unlimited data and use it religiously.

AT&T has officially announced their data throttling guidelines. Unlimited users on the HSPA+ will be throttled at 3GB and LTE users will be capped at 5GB with anything over resulting in a drastic reduction in data speeds.  Of course the drop will still likely not be noticed from a users perspective unless downloading files since most videos will buffer before playing and not much requires more data than the throttled speeds.

Most unlimited users will never notice this cap because they still keep it under the limits although for those of you that stream movies and have rooted devices for tethering you may see a drop in data speeds the second half of your billing cycle. The data will return to normal after the billing cycle you go over.

UPDATE: While these limits have been enforced and seem to throttle our speeds once we hit their threshold its barely noticeable and we can still easily watch a Netflix movie and download anything else as fast as our home cable internet.  Keep in mind that the throttled speeds are just there to improve overall data speeds for users across the board.  I personally set my phone to notify me at 5GB of data so that I could test the speeds.  It seems that after the throttle kicked in there was only about a 10% drop in my data speeds.  Next I started downloading torrents to my phone through the data network instead of a computer to try and rack up some serious data usage.  The outcome of that was my data use at around 16GB for the month and still my worst SpedTest was only about 17% from the peak speeds I normally see at the beginning of a billing cycle.

New Android and iOS Photo Gallery Security Flaw Exposed

Brandon Orndorff
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0
New Android and iOS Photo Gallery Security Flaw Exposed

iphone and android stealing data

Android and iOS have both been targeted through a report claiming that they both allow third party developers access and copy your images if you allow the app locations services. According to the New York Times developers who make apps for Apple iOS and Google Android have access to a users entire photo library.

Google is the worst when it comes to this because they don’t have to have location services specifically enabled and only need internet access for this issue. These images that are accessed can be copied to a remote server directly from your device. The process is explained by the New York Times Chief Technology Officer Ralph Gootee:

‘Installing the app produces a notification that it wants to be able to access the Internet, but there is no notice about photos. When the app is started and the user sets the timer, the app goes into the photo library, retrieves the most recent image and posts it on a public photo-sharing site.’

Google however has acknowledged the loophole and promised to look into it. This being said the statement they made is as follows:

‘A central design point of the Android security architecture is that no application, by default, has permission to perform any operations that would adversely impact other applications, the operating system, or the user.’
It added: ‘reading or writing the user’s private data.’

Moral of the story is don’t keep anything on your Android or iPhone that you are worried about others getting their hands on. Go old fashion with an actual camera for those home videos and images (you know what I’m talking about).

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