Saturday, December 15, 2012

Tweak: Install all Android apps on SD Card

Android is the leading Smartphone OS worldwide now. But one of its feature makes the user unhappy is the storage of its app on the internal storage thus disallowing the user to install more apps after that internal storage is full. The user is also not able to move the apps to the SD Card storage after the feature gets disabled. 
But, here is the solution to this problem without any root access required.
This tweak requires Android 2.2 or later. To change the default install location, you’ll need to use the ADB, or Android Debug Bridge, utility included with Google’s Android SDK.

Enable USB Debugging

First, you’ll need to enable USB debugging on your Android device. Open Settings>Applications>Development.
Tap the USB Debugging checkbox to enable it. This will enable debug mode, allowing you to change the settings on your Android device from your computer. You may want to disable debug mode after completing this process.

Install the Android SDK

You’ll need to download and install Google’s Android SDK on your computer. If you don’t already have Oracle’s Java JDK installed on your computer, you’ll have to download and install it before installing the Android SDK. (this process could annoy some users as a common user won't be needing Android SDK on his/her machine on a daily basis!!)
After you’ve installed both the JDK and Android SDK, launch the SDK Manager from your Start menu.
The ADB utility isn’t installed by default. It’s included in the Android SDK Platform-tools package – select this package and click the Install button to download and install it.
After the process completes, connect your Android device to your computer with its included USB cable. Windows should locate the device and install the appropriate drivers automatically. If it doesn’t, you may have to download and install the appropriate drivers from your Android device’s manufacturer. Do not mount the device after connecting it – just plug it in.

Using ADB

Open a Windows Explorer window and navigate to the android-sdk\platform-toolsfolder. On Windows, you’ll find this folder at C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools by default. Check C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows.
Launch a Command Prompt window in this folder by pressing and holding the Shift button, right-clicking in the folder, and selecting Open command window here.
Run the adb devices command and you should see your connected Android device.
Run the following command to set the default install location to your SD card:
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2
If you want to revert this change later and install apps to the internal storage by default, run this command:
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 0
0 represents your device’s internal storage, and is the default. 2 represents the external storage, whether it’s an SD card or USB storage.

Moving Apps to SD Card

Apps that refused to leave your system storage can now be moved to the external storage. For instance, below you’ll see screenshots of the Slacker Radio app. Before the change was made, the Move to USB Storage button was grayed out. After the change was made, the button is enabled and the app can be moved.
Voila!!! You can now enjoy installing as many apps as you want on your external storage. But keep this in mind, even though your apps are getting installed on the external storage, they still occupy some part of the internal storage, so keep a check on number of hefty apps that you would be going to install. Enjoy..!!
After the tweak, here is the screenshot of my apps that I installed and started using which I wasn't able to until this tweak.











Sunday, December 9, 2012

Lambo - the apple of eye...my ultimate desire!!

Lamborghini Aventador, came into production in 2011, has a 6.5L V12 engine producing 691hp with 0-100kmph in 2.9sec and top speed of 350kmph. Lamborghini has always stressed on the car designs and that's what makes this German car maker the apple of eye of numerous sports car lovers.













Coming Soon - The Lamborghini Aventador Roadster...




Sunday, October 21, 2012

Chennai

When I first stepped into this city, the very feeling of loneliness engulfed me. This was a part of India that I had only seen in movies till then. People were dark complexioned here and spoke a language totally alien to me. Words like 'Anna', 'illa', 'irika' n many more were all there to hear. Even the auto driver or any common vendor would speak English here. "Tanglish" is what some people call their language here. In the movie posters by the roadside you can't make out whether the man is posing as a hero or a villain here, so fierce was their look in the poster. Outside any marriage halls, its very common to have a board displaying the couple with CM Jayalalitha's flowery blessings on them. Every word on the board seems like a 'jalebi' (No offense).
Apart from pressure of beginning an entirely new professional life in a new environment, there were also other things to give attention to. There was food n lodging problem, adjusting with the new lifestyle.
It was my first visit to a metropolitan city as a grown up. At about 6 or 7, I had been to Mumbai, the memories of which are very dim now.
Now this city has got to be my home for next 2-3 years, my mind had made up this. Made new friends, some of which would last life long, some will remain here only. Office colleagues were friendly. A common notion at office was to call people by their first names no matter what post they hold. Infoscions believed that this follows the belief of 'World is Flat!' and all the people are at same level under this. Also, this creates a friendliness environment when u address people by their first names.
One of the biggest challenge after coming to Chennai was to adjust with the food habitats here. People here ate entirely different kind of food as compared to northern region. Rice, being in abundance here, is the main ingredient of every other dish. 'Thalipakkattu', 'Chettinad', 'Appam' were some of the majorly used terms when it came to any of the eating out places. At first, I didnt like the food here, the northern dishes which the mess chef tried to cook got horrible day by day. Then as the saying goes, "jaisa des waisa bhes', I started having south Indian dishes and as people here mastered in them, the taste buds seem to satisfy themselves to a bit now. Appam, Rasam, Sadam became my likes here, though, not to an extent that I still liked north Indian dishes.
I miss home a lot. This city also taught me how to live when you are thousand miles away from home. When mom-dad are only in the evening calls, when everything you got to do on your own. It also brings in the sense of responsibility within you. 'You are all on your own now', mind keeps reminding this.
But I would say, its good to be here. Like it or not, this would be the place that I would once recall back later in life that made a man out of me, that made me self dependent n decide things in life on my own.
Today, I have spent 10 full months in this city when at first, I hated it like anything. But now its like my second home.

To my friends out there and all those reading this,
Vadakkam Chennai!!! :) :) :)

more to come...

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Sometimes its ME


Sometimes I over react and expect too much out of my near and dear ones. But they wont say it even because they know it could worsen the situation. I end up hurting myself when expectations are not met. I try not to be one of those who push themselves over others to get things done in their way. But somehow, sometimes I end up being the one. That makes the other more uncomfortable than myself. What to say, what to do everything seems to be illogical at that moment. I am important for them, I do realize that. But sometimes I want it to be proved every now and then. Now thats a 'situation'. That's the problem that I, myself would have to deal with. 'I' would have to come out of it, get over it.
I get jealous, I get mad, I get worried, I get curious. That's only because I care.

Remedy - Stop thinking. Stop expecting. Live along with what is right there. Dont try to mould things your way. Learn it like a lesson. Life would be more easy that way. :)

Friday, May 4, 2012

Trip to Coorg-Wayanad

It's time to cover yet another beautiful city of Kodagu district in Karnataka - Coorg. Situated on the Western Ghats, it is also known as 'Kashmir of South' due to its serene beauty and exotic locations. Dense green forests, lush green valleys and famous for chocolates, Coorg holds a special place in any traveler's heart who's been here once. I ventured on this hill city with four of my friends - Abhishek, Abhilash, Rahul & Sushant.

Coorg-Wayanad : Day 1

We reached the Coorg valley around morning 9 A.M. on 29th of April after booking a cab from Bangalore. The journey from Bangalore to Coorg was an overnight one, a 5 km straight drive. After reaching Coorg and freshening up, we headed for our first destination - Tibetan Monastery.







This monastery housed around 7000 monks. There were 40 ft tall golden statues of Buddha, Padmasambhava and Amitayus.





Spot me here..!!
The walls were painted with colorful paintings depicting gods and demons of Buddhist mythology. Outside there were shopping and food centers.
 After the monastery, we headed for Dubare National Park. Not much variants of animals you would see at this park except some wild species of deer and elephants. We spotted deer and took an elephant ride which were at nominal rates. After this, it was time for some lunch and snacks. Dosa and Idly were famous in the area, so no other option.






After fulfilling our tummies, we proceeded towards Abbey Falls. During the rainy season, the falls becomes one of the most violent ones. But in the dry season when we visited, the flow was considerably slow. Nevertheless, we enjoyed visiting the place.




Bhagandeshwara Temple, Bhagamandala was our next spot of visit in Coorg. this temple is famous for its location near the confluence of two rivers- Kaveri and Kanika.















After this, we ascended towards TalaKaveri, the most famous temple of South Karnataka. From this temple originates the Kaveri river.









Also, there is a mountain situated near the temple which offers scenic beauty of the entire valley.









After spending some 2-3 hrs at the TalaKaveri, we decided to call it a day off and check in to a hotel for next day's triumph.


Coorg-Wayanad: Day 2

The next morning welcomed us with dense fog and light rain. It was cold. We couldn't that imagine the day before was so hot here. Now we felt what Coorg really was.










Today we had to reach Wayanad to begin our next part of the journey. Wayanad lies in Kerala state so the journey from Coorg to Wayanad took about 2 hrs. Kerala is called as God's own Country and it really is. No other state can match the beauty of Kerala. After coming to South, it has been my favorite tourist spot. I can go to Kerala as many times as possible.


Our first place of visit in Wayanad was Pookkode Lake. You can roam around the lake and explore the thick bushy pathways around the lake or you can try Zorbing in the lake which is really interesting or you can try the fresh homemade chocolates that are sold here.










Next we headed towards Banasura Sagar Dam located on a tributary of Kabini river. It is one of the major tourist spot of Wayanad. We enjoyed a boat ride also here.













It was growing dark and we had to cover our last destination of the journey - the Soochipara Falls. Upon reaching the place, we had to bribe the guard as it was already late and he had to close the gates for the day.

Somehow we managed to reach the falls. The falls were located in the valley and we had to descend down for it. The pathway was fully covered with dense trees and thick and thorny bushes.














We could hear the howling and growling of wild animals. It really gave us goosebumps and ran a cold shiver through us.

Nothing more could have ended this adventurous trip than a plate of Maggi served right in the middle of forest at hilltop. Believe me, it was really sumptuous.








Then we headed back to the hotel.

Coorg-Wayanad: Day 3

Today we had to leave for Bangalore. The road leads through the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.


We could only encounter some deer and elephants and also a boar. The highway was also a beauty but we couldn't hold our tiredness for too long and fell off to sleep.










The next we woke up we were nearing the Hebbal Electronics City and thus the Bangalore.