In one of the motivational talk shows I saw on TED, I learned that freedom to make mistakes helps you to free yourself from all constraints of being perfect and helps you to open yourself to all kind of opportunities and possibilities. This holds true in all walks of life, even when you are working on your computer. As you are working on Windows or Mac, the OS gives you the freedom to work carelessly  with files. You know that there is a fail safe designed called the Recycle Bin that will store deleted files, giving you a chance to restore them if deleted by accident.

However, even after six generations of Android, there is no failsafe yet to tackle such accidents. A file deleted from your phone is gone forever. You can certainly try to recover them using some file recovery tool, but chances of success are thin and totally dependent on your luck.
So today, I am going to introduce you to an app for Android that will give you the freedom to commit mistakes. Dumpster for Android is a free app which brings in the recycle bin feature, just like one you have on Windows and Mac, right on your Android. Also, you don’t need root access for the app to function and works with all the file managers out there.

Dumpster for Android

To get started, the very first thing you will have to do is install the Dumpster app from the Play Store (which is free, btw) and once it’s initialized, simply press the home button and let it run in the background. If you have a built-in Auto Start App Manager, make sure to include this app as an auto start app so that the services are not stopped in case you reboot.

 
Dumpster will now monitor your internal storage and no matter what you delete from any of the file managers, it will be recorded and cached by Dumpster.

The Features of Dumpster

The best part about using Dumpster is that unlike other recycle bin apps available on Android, you don’t need to share files to the app in order to add them. The app automatically monitors the files that have been deleted from the files system. Also, the app works on almost all the file types including images, videos, audio, pdf, zip, mp3, mp4, ppt, doc, avi, mpg, jpg, rar, etc and you don’t need to work on a 3rd party file manager to manage your files.
 
After the deleted files are collected by Dumpster and you now have two options. You can select files and restore them to the original location if you deleted them by accident or you realize later that you needed those files. Or, if you wish to free device storage, you can delete them permanently. In the settings menu, you can choose which of the files you would like to protect using Dumpster and which one you would like to delete directly, as all the files stored by Dumpster are still in the system storage and thus, occupy storage space lest you delete ’em permanently. You can also choose self-cleaning period after which the cached files on Dumpster will be cleaned automatically.
 
There are premium features using which you can get cloud backup along with ad-free interface, but it’s expensive at $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year. The ads are not obtrusive and you can work with a free version as long as you don’t need cloud backup for files through Dumpster. This can anyways be done for free using other apps available on the Play Store.
 

Conclusion

That was Dumpster using which you can have a failsafe on Android for files that you might delete by accident. No need to root your device and even Internet connection is absolutely not required. The only thing that it needs is a persistent notification so that its services are not killed by the OS in order to free up some RAM as any file deleted while it’s not running will be deleted automatically. So make sure you try out the app and don’t forget to share your views about it.

Sometimes the notification drawer in Android gets too crowded with multiple notifications stacked under each other. And, most of the space is taken up by those fully expanded notifications (*ahem* Amazon Ads *ahem*). So, did you ever feel the need to personalize (or customize) such notifications in Android? Maybe bundle up multiple notifications of the same app in one notification or always show a notification in it’s expanded view. Well, guys, don’t worry if you didn’t feel the need for it. Because NOW YOU DO.

Many developers don’t make full use of the Notification API for Android. They’re not giving you full control of how the notification should look in the notification drawer. For your information below are the notifications types.

• Bundle: Collection of multiple notifications into one single notification. (Like we have in Gmail.)
• Head-Up Notification: You know that. (eg. WhatsApp)
• Multi-Line Text: Notification with a large chunk of text or data in it.
• Elastic List: Minimized version of Multi-line text but can be stretched to get the full view of it.

So, now what if you could enable these different types of notification views and customize the look of notifications?

Let the Nevolution Begin

Yes, you can. A new open source Android app called Nevolution can give your smartphone the ability to do so. Nevolution gives you the freedom to customize the views of notifications in the notification drawer the way you like. Let’s dig in and see how you can do it. It can run on Android devices powered by version 4.3 and above.

Choose a Notification of an App to Customize it

After you download and install the app you’re pretty much good to go. If you already have notifications in the notification drawer then it will show up in the Notification list of the app. Tap on the notification to customize it.



At the bottom, the customize button will pop-up. Along with that, you get the option to make the notification appear again in the notification drawer if you had swiped it away.

Customizing the Look of Notification

I’ve chosen Flipboard’s notification. And, its notification view is of the Elastic list type. But, I always want it to show in multi-line text view. Always expanded so I don’t need to stretch it down to fully view it. Now tap on the customize button. On the next screen, at the bottom, you’ll find different notification styles that you can apply to the notification. (Notification styles mentioned above).
So, here I’ll choose the Multi-line Text style for Flipboard Notifications.

The same way you can customize the notification by applying different styles. You can even bundle notification into one single notification. For example news stories from your News app.

Also, for messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat, you get special tweaks. You can separate multiple bundled notification into the separate notifications as shown below.

The notification list on the home screen of the app also works as notification log. It saves all the notification and its actions. You can make the notification appear again and perform the same action of notification again.
It’s a great way to keep track of notifications and customize the way you want it.

It’s Underrated

The app currently has mixed reviews on Play Store with an average rating of 3.7. I myself experienced some issues like notifications not showing up. But, if you’re having issues with the notifications and if it’s misbehaving then you should install the extension pack. Go to settings of the app and you’ll get the option for it. Also, you can join the conversation about it on XDA-forums thread. One of the reason could be that other notification based app installed by you might be conflicting.
However, in my usage, it’s performed well. I’ll give it a 4.3 out of 5 .

When it comes to online privacy and security, one of the topics that we always emphasize on is using a VPN service. Using a VPN, you can make sure that your online privacy is secured as you can browse the web anonymously. In case  you are looking for a VPN service for a similar reason, you should not really be looking for the free stuff. A paid VPN service is what would be ideal in such a situation. You might have to compromise on speed and privacy breach might also be an issue. Read our piece on the dark side of free VPN for the risk attached that comes with these free VPNs.

However, at times, you just want to bypass the country restriction while trying out a new service on Android, or you just wish to install an app not yet available in your country. In these scenarios buying a VPN service doesn’t really makes sense. A free VPN app would be ideal to bypass these restrictions. But here also you should be choosing a service which is comparatively secure and trustworthy.
So here are 5 free VPN services that can help you bypass country restriction on Android and at the same time protect privacy.

1. Betternet for Android

Betternet for Android is one of the best free VPN services for Android. The app has some ads to support its free services, but the ads are not at all irritating. From the homepage, you press the Connect button and wait for the connection to establish.

 
One thing to note here is that you cannot select the server/country you wish to connect to  manually. The app will auto-connect you to the best server using a load balancer. Most of the times, it’s US or Canada, but at times, you might also connect to servers at Singapore, Netherlands, and the UK. We have already covered all the details about the app in one of our previous posts which you can have a look at for more details.

2. FlinchVPN

FinchVPN is another free VPN service for Android that you can try. You need to create a free account and after successful activation, you will get a monthly bandwidth of 3 GB. FlinchVPN allows you to select the server/location from US, Canada, and France.
 
There are no ads in the app and as long as you are using the free servers and don’t need more than 3 GB of free data in a month, FinchVPN will work like a charm. However, for just $1 per month, you can get access to many fast servers and extend monthly data limit to 25 GB. For those who would like unlimited data, it would just be $3 per month.

3. Hideman VPN

Hideman VPN gives you a long list of countries to choose from even in the free mode and you don’t need to create an account to start the VPN service. Also, if you are looking for a VPN to download torrents, Hideman can help you with that. There are a few free servers which support torrents and there will be an icon next to the server which will denote the support for them.
 
You get a few free hours on the app and you can share links for the apps and do a few other things to get the time extended. For paid membership, there are hourly packages available for users who would like to have a reliable VPN service for just a few hours.

4. Hotspot Shield Free VPN Proxy

Hotspot Shield Free VPN Proxy, unlike the other apps, give you the power to start the VPN service automatically when a specific app is launched on your Android. This is apart from the usual overall VPN service that it provides. The advantage of using Hotspot Shield on just a few apps will provide more security and privacy.
 
In the free plan, you can change different countries/servers, but there is some time limit and also the app has ads. However, there is an option to upgrade to monthly and yearly elite plans to get better speed and an ad-free experience.

5. Tunnel Bear

Tunnel Bear is one of the most trusted names when it comes to VPN and if your monthly usage is anywhere less than 1.5 GB, you can trust this service even on blindfolds. There is a long list of servers/countries to choose from even in a free account and there are no ads in the app.
 
You get 500 MB of free usage every month on the limited account and a tweet asking Tunnel Bear for free data will give you another 1 GB of free data every month. The interface is one of the best when compared to other VPN apps available for Android. If you are looking for a premium VPN plan, I would definitely recommend this one because of its speed and security. Furthermore, if you’re looking for Android only plans, they have it at cheaper rates.

Conclusion

So those were some of the top free VPN services you can install on Android to bypass country restrictions. I would again suggest you to use these free services on a limited basis and look for a secure, paid service if you want to round the clock security and privacy.

Do you own a really awesome speaker or speaker system that you just wish was Bluetooth-capable so you can stream music wirelessly to it from your smartphone or computer? The experience playing Spotify or Apple Music through a solid sound system is killer. Fortunately, this is far from impossible.

The good news is that almost any regular speaker (non-Bluetooth) can quickly and easily be turned into a Bluetooth streaming device. The bad news is while you won’t have to buy an entirely new Bluetooth-ready speaker, you will have to spend money. But the options outlined below are pretty inexpensive solutions to bring your speakers into the wireless world.

Buy a Bluetooth Audio Adapter

The primary device you’ll need to turn your speakers into a Bluetooth-compatible audio system is an adapter. This adapter would plug into your speaker and accept incoming requests for a Bluetooth connection. Enabled, it can transmit Bluetooth streaming to your speaker.
Fortunately, these aren’t very expensive at all, but they do come with their own sets of features and as such, different pricing options. We’ve picked out the best budget, mid-tier, and high-end options available, so let’s run through the choices.

On the low end is the AmazonBasics Bluetooth 4.0 Audio Receiver. It’s just $20 on Amazon and put simply, it gets the job done. It can handle a connection for as far as 10 meters (or 30 feet) away and one Bluetooth device at a time. If you want something basic that works, shelling out $20 on AmazonBasic’s adapter is an easy choice.

However, I’d recommend moving up to the mid-tier option on our list: Logitech’s Bluetooth Audio Adapter. The retail price is $39.99 but it currently sells for just over $27 on Amazon. It stays connected to your device up to 15 meters away (or 50 feet) so you’re free to roam a bit more, plus connects to up to two devices at once. You can switch between which device you want to stream from on the fly. For $7 more than the low-end adapter, Logitech’s popular offering is worth the step up.

Folks who might categorize themselves as more genuine audiophiles should consider the Bose Bluetooth Audio Adapter. It’s $60 on Amazon and while it drops down to that 10-meter connection range, it can remember up to eight different devices that you’ve connected. Plus, you can switch between three active device connections simultaneously. This is the adapter ideal for large households or parties.

How to Set Up Your Adapter

Once you get your adapter, setup should be pretty simple. First, you’ll need to take the included power adapter and plug it into an outlet. Yes, unfortunately, these adapters must run on their own power, so make sure the speakers you want to hook yours up to is near a wall.
Next, take the auxiliary cord and plug one end into your adapter and the other end into the Audio In (sometimes called Aux In) port of your speaker. This is located in different places on different speakers, so you’ll have to search around to find it.
The last step would be to connect the adapter to your speaker. How to do this will vary based on your adapter, so check your instruction manual. Generally, you should have to press some sort of Connect button (as is the case with the Logitech adapter) and wait to hear a sound that verifies it’s working.

Finally, head over to the device you want to stream music out of, make sure Bluetooth is enabled and connect to the Bluetooth adapter via your Bluetooth settings. And you’re all set. Start playing music with an active Bluetooth connection to the adapter and it should automatically come out of your previously antiquated speakers.

Sharing any type of content within a group can be quite a pain sometimes and many times, issues go unresolved and content gets inadvertently ignored due to the nature of the group dynamic. This is ironic since one of the points of being in a group and using apps for groups is to be more effective. Any tool that can make this process easier is welcome.

Google Spaces, announced on May 16th, 2016 represents Google’s effort at improving the small group dynamic. With Spaces, you can easily locate the content you wish to share from directly within the app and share it with the people in your Spaces.
But why should you try Spaces over other services that allow for group sharing? Let’s explore this.

1. Easily Share Content

Google Spaces makes it quite easy to share content with your group.





You don’t need to worry about copy and pasting links to media that you want to share. The app has a built-in browser as well as YouTube built right in, which means that content can be shared from right within the app without too much effort.

Images from your gallery can be used to make posts and there is always the option of making a simple text post.

2. Interactive Nature

Ok, you can easily share content but what about feedback from persons who your Space is shared with? Well, each post made in a space allows for an interactive chat between persons in the Space.

The interface for commenting on posts is identical to a typical chat interface. Also, a snapshot of the post is always visible at the top of a discussion which helps to keep things focused.

3. Keep Track of Activity Easily

In a group setting, things can move fairly quickly at times and it may be difficult to keep up with what’s going on. Luckily Spaces’ Activity tab highlights recent activity. This way, users don’t have to wonder what they missed.

This feature also aids in the locating of content.

4. Easily Find Posts With Search

As you continue to make posts, it will become increasingly difficult to find older content. The search feature of Spaces allows for you to carry out a search across all of your Spaces. You are not limited to just searching within one space at a time.

Conclusion

The features of Spaces combine to give the app a more casual feel. This app is not particularly geared towards business users but would probably be more suitable for a group of persons who share a hobby.
Posts can be created quickly and feedback can be clearly communicated. Spaces streamlines the group sharing dynamic quite well.
Although there has been some talk that Spaces is just a rehash of Google+ Communities, this is not necessarily the case. Google+ doesn’t have the personal appeal of a Space. A Community is better suited for providing information to a more general audience while a Space is suited to a more closely knit group of persons.

It will be interesting to see how this app is accepted across the board and if it survives in the long run or is eventually banished to the scrap heap despite its potential. We shall see.

Whether a big milestone in your family’s life is coming up like a child going off to school, or perhaps you’ve been through a personal scare, protection and security for you and your loved ones ought to be a real priority. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by technology that can keep us safer than ever before. Thanks to several great apps, your iPhone is capable of being a life saver.

Whether you need an app to make sure you can quickly and safely get in touch with emergency services or just need an app to monitor your friends and family’s well being, we’ve got you covered. Check out these iPhone apps that can truly help save a life if need be.

1. Patronus

Patronus is a phenomenal iPhone app that focuses on your own personal safety by providing a quick way to get in touch with emergency services at the press of a button. Unfortunately as phones have evolved, doing something as simple as placing a phone call has become a multi-step process, including dialing 911 for emergencies in the U.S. (The service also coming to Alaska and Hawaii by the end of 2016.)

Patronus asks you to provide quick information about yourself like your name, email, gender and age. Then it places a large Request Help button at the top of the app. This connects to the Patronus emergency center which then automatically connects to 911 on your behalf. During the phone call, the app helpfully shows you your current location just in case you’re in foreign territory.

4 Lifesaving iPhone Apps to Keep You and Your Loved Ones Safe

Whether a big milestone in your family’s life is coming up like a child going off to school, or perhaps you’ve been through a personal scare, protection and security for you and your loved ones ought to be a real priority. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by technology that can keep us safer than ever before. Thanks to several great apps, your iPhone is capable of being a life saver.

Whether you need an app to make sure you can quickly and safely get in touch with emergency services or just need an app to monitor your friends and family’s well being, we’ve got you covered. Check out these iPhone apps that can truly help save a life if need be.

1. Patronus

Patronus is a phenomenal iPhone app that focuses on your own personal safety by providing a quick way to get in touch with emergency services at the press of a button. Unfortunately as phones have evolved, doing something as simple as placing a phone call has become a multi-step process, including dialing 911 for emergencies in the U.S. (The service also coming to Alaska and Hawaii by the end of 2016.)

Patronus asks you to provide quick information about yourself like your name, email, gender and age. Then it places a large Request Help button at the top of the app. This connects to the Patronus emergency center which then automatically connects to 911 on your behalf. During the phone call, the app helpfully shows you your current location just in case you’re in foreign territory.

Additionally, Patronus has an “On My Way” feature. It lets you select emergency contacts, pick a location you’re traveling to, and when you arrive there, the app will automatically notify them by email or text message that you’ve arrived safely.
The Patronus service costs $4.99 per month but has the potential to seriously save lives.

2. Safetrek

Safetrek is another monthly service that takes a different approach to personal safety. If you’re perhaps walking around in a sketchy neighborhood or college campus at night and don’t feel comfortable by yourself, open the Safetrek app. Just press and hold the green button that says Hold until safe.

Once you feel safe, release the button and punch in the 4-digit PIN you set up when you first launch the app. If you don’t do this within 10 seconds, Safetrek notifies police of your location and they are then free to pursue this as an emergency.
Safetrek works in the United States and requires a $2.99 per month subscription.

3. Parachute

Unlike Patronus and Safetrek, Parachute relies on your own emergency contacts solely for support. The app has a simple UI with one purpose: broadcast live video and audio of your location to the emergency contacts you choose.
Press and hold the button to begin recording live video. Your emergency contacts get a phone call and a live link where they can watch what’s happening and decide whether or not to take action.

A reassuring feature is that Parachute allows you to record while keeping your screen black, so if you’re in a potentially dangerous situation, no one around has to know you’re recording. You can choose to turn the camera view on if you wish, though.
Parachute is free and works anywhere.

4. Find My Friends

You might be more familiar with Find My Friends, which is Apple’s own app for tracking the location of family and friends in your contacts. But what’s especially helpful for safety and security within the app are the notification options to find out when your friends have arrived at a location or left one.

First, choose some contacts to send your location to indefinitely and request a location from them by tapping Add at the top. Once you’re friends within the app, tap their name and choose Notify Me.

You can choose to get a notification when the contact leaves their current location or arrives at a different location that you specify. This will let you know when they’re safe in their travels. They can also get notifications about you if they please.
Find My Friends is totally free and works anywhere.