08
May
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[For Developers] Smali / Baksmali Updated v2.0 Beta Is Out, Now Multithreaded For Your Pleasure

Posted by in Development, News

If you're in the modding and theming community, your work is about to get a bit faster, because Smali v2.0 is now in beta and firing on all cylinders. The new version brings multithreaded processing and a few tweaks to the language that should result in cleaner-looking code.

Smali and baksmali are tools for assembling and disassembling the dex format used in Android apks. It's true that tools like this can be used for less than honorable endeavors, but they are also incredibly important to activities like deodexing apps for custom themes, tweaking functionality (like forcing portrait or landscape mode), and even digging around to learn more about various apps.

01
May
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Top Android Apps Every Rooted User Should Know About, Part 8: Apps 58-65

Posted by in Applications, Best Apps For Rooted Users Series, Roundups
Last Updated: May 13th, 2013

There are plenty of apps in Google Play these days, but a relatively small proportion are designed to unlock the power of a rooted device. Since it can be easy for these powerful apps to get obscured by the crush of retro, free-to-play, side-scrolling platformer games, we like to aggregate the best root-only apps on occasion. Whether you want to free up some screen real estate, change icons around, or manage your backups, the apps you need are right here.

This article deals with a couple of advanced topics. If you’re unfamiliar with some of the terms, hit up our primers here:

23
Apr
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Dan Rosenberg's Presentation On Android Modding For The Security Practitioner Is A Must-Read

Posted by in Android OS, News

While not everyone who owns an Android device roots, the Android modding community is at the very heart of everything we love about our little green buddy. Security researcher Dan Rosenberg recently gave a presentation where he elaborates on root and modding methods, as well as expounding on the security implications of modding Android phones.

Rosenberg also had quite a lot to say about how carriers influence the Android landscape. Said Rosenberg:

"Of the 10 vulnerabilities that I discovered and used for rooting on Android, 9 of them are related to "stupid" file permissioning not present in the stock Android code, but introduced by the manufacturers"

This won't come as any surprise to anyone who's not fond of carrier skins.

18
Aug
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HTC Bootloader Unlock Portal Updated, Now Includes The EVO 3D

Posted by in Development, EVO 3D (Shooter), HTC, News

A couple of days ago, HTC revealed their bootloader unlock portal and started with 1 of the 3 (so far) promised devices - the European Sensation. The EVO 3D  and the T-Mobile Sensation 4G remained MIA for the time being.

Notice how the Sensation was unlocked shortly after receiving an Android 2.3.4 OTA, which apparently gave it its "unlockability." Now remember what happened this morning? Yup - the EVO 3D also got the 2.3.4 update and, you guessed it - it's now unlockable at HTCDev.com.

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So, if it's the bootloader unlock you're after, hop on over to HTC's bootloader unlock page to get in on the unlock-y goodness, but remember - it will likely void your software warranty, so proceed at your own risk (as always).

23
May
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Galaxy Tab 10.1 Gets ClockworkMod Recovery Across All Its Versions; Let The Flashing Commence!

Posted by in Development, Galaxy Tab 10.1, News, Samsung

Those of you who have gotten their hands on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be pleased to know that you can now flash ClockworkMod Recovery on your tablet. This applies to the "regular" Galaxy Tab 10.1, the "Limited Edition" that was given out at Google I/O, and the 10.1v model (which is thicker and sold in different markets) as well.

Users can head over to Droid Basement to download and install the mod, which allows for a greater selection of behind-the-scenes options, such as the ability to back up and restore your entire system using nandroid as well as integrate with ROM Manager.