Cell Phone News and Reviews

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Cell Phone News and Reviews

How-to: ZTE Concord II (T-Mobile): Master Reset and Check for Software Updates

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 07:08 AM PDT

WARNING! Master resetting your smartphone will result in the deletion of all personal data stored on the internal memory, including downloaded content, custom ringtones, images and pictures captured with the camera, apps, contacts and more. Applying a factory reset will also return all settings to factory values, and it will remove all previous software updates applied to the device. However, data stored on the SIM and SD cards is not affected.

NOTE: Before proceeding, you can visit this thread in order to learn how you can back up and restore data on the ZTE Concord II.

Master Resetting via the Settings Menu:

  1. Tap "Apps" while on the home screen
  2. Go to "Settings"
  3. Swipe to "Personal" and tap "Backup & reset"
  4. Under "Personal data", tap "Factory data reset"
  5. Tap "Reset phone" and confirm by pressing "Erase everything"

Master Resetting via Hardware Keys:

NOTE: Assuming that you are unable to master reset your smartphone via the settings menu as described above (perhaps your smartphone crashes or freezes a lot) then you can still reset it using a combination of hardware keys, as explained below.

  1. Turn off your smartphone
  2. With the device powered down, press and hold the "Volume Up", "Home" and "Power" buttons at the same time
  3. Keep pressing the buttons until an image with an Android will appear
  4. From the recovery menu, press "Volume down" to navigate to and highlight "wipe data / factory reset"
  5. Press "Power" to select the highlighted option
  6. Use "Volume Down" to highlight "Delete all user data"
  7. Press "Power"
  8. When the device finished the wipe, the "Reboot system now" option will be highlighted
  9. Press the "Power" key one more time to confirm and reboot your device

Keeping Your Smartphone Updated:

NOTE: Once you apply a factory reset, all previous software updates will be lost. As such, it's highly recommended that you check for software updates as soon as your smartphone reboots after a fresh reset. To do so:

  1. Make sure your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network
  2. Press "Menu" while viewing the home screen
  3. Tap "System settings" and swipe to "System"
  4. Tap "About Phone" > "software updates"
  5. Check for updates and follow the on-screen instructions if necessary, in order to download and apply the latest version of Android

Unlock: Unlocking a Phone Made Easy: How to Unlock a Phone Easily and for Free

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 06:54 AM PDT

Wonder what phone unlocking is and how can you benefit from unlocking your phone? Phone unlocking removes the lock put on a phone by a network provider and allows you to use your cell phone with any phone carrier in the entire world. For instance, if your phone is locked to T-Mobile and you try to use it on AT&T, it will not work. However, unlocking your phone will take care of this problem. Once your phone has been successfully unlocked, it can be used with any network provider in the area you live in.

Unlocking a phone should not be hard. That is why at FreeUnlocks.com we made sure that unlocking a phone with us is simple, fast, legal and permanent. When you unlock a phone with us, you do not need to have any phone unlocking software or malware installed on your phone. Our unlock codes are remotely generated and emailed to our customers. Furthermore, you do no need to have any special skills in order to unlock a phone with us. All you need is a computer connected to the Internet and your mobile phone will be unlocked in no time. We also offer 100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you for any reasons you could not unlock your phone with an unlock code we have emailed to you, email a video proof to us that the code did not work and we will issue a full refund to you or you will receive a free credit for a future phone unlock (applies to orders placed through TrialPay).

At FreeUnlocks.com we offer both paid and free unlock codes. If you do not want to spend money on a phone unlocking, you can unlock your cell phone for free through our partner and a payment platform TrialPay. To get your phone unlocked at no charge to you, you will be required to try out any service or product offer by TrialPay merchants. TrialPay offers vary and you are free to pick any offer you want. After completing the offer, your code will be paid by TrialPay and we will send you an email with your free unlock code and the tutorial you need to follow to unlock your mobile phone free of charge. After receiving the code, make sure to enter it into your mobile device and it will be unlocked within a few seconds.

At FreeUnlocks.com we strive to deliver the excellent service to our customers. Since 2009 we have unlocked more than 71,500 mobile phones and have many happy customers who unlocked their phones with us. You can read about our customers' experience at the independent review website. Here is one of the reviews that have been submitted today:

Quote:
"HTC HD7"
Written on: 13/08/2014 by shadowinjam (1 review written)
This is as simple as learning 123 or ABC. The steps are clear and the payment option is secure. After payment, the code came to my inbox in less than 5 minutes!
I followed the instructions and BAM!!! phone unlocked...the beautiful message "PIN Accepted" was displayed on the phone.
AWESOME!!!
FreeUnlocks...YOU ROCK!
If you still have any questions about unlocking a phone at FreeUnlocks.com, watch this video or write directly to us.

How-to: ZTE Concord II (T-Mobile): Back Up and Restore Data

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 06:51 AM PDT

Data Backup

Backing Up Data:

  1. While viewing the home screen, press "Apps"
  2. Tap "Settings"
  3. Go to "Personal" and tap "Backup & reset"
  4. Mark the "Backup my data" check box and you're done

Backing Up Contacts:

  1. Tap the "Contacts" icon while on the home screen
  2. Tap the "All Contacts" tab
  3. Press "Menu" and tap "Import / Export"
  4. Tap "Export to SIM card"

Backing Up Media Files:

  1. Establish a USB connection between the Concord II and computer
  2. On the smartphone, tap "Turn on USB storage"
  3. Tap "OK" if necessary
  4. From the AutoPlay window on the computer, click to navigate the files and folders stored on the smartphone
  5. Copy the desired files, and navigate to the backup location on your computer
  6. Paste the files
  7. Once done, safely disconnect your smartphone from the PC, and tap "Turn off USB storage"

Data Restore

Restoring App Data:

  1. Tap "Apps" on the home screen
  2. Go to "Settings" and swipe to "Personal"
  3. Tap "Backup & reset"
  4. Mark the "Automatic restore" check box

Restoring Contacts:

  1. Launch the "Contacts" app
  2. From the "All Contacts" tab, press "Menu"
  3. Tap "import / Export" > "Manage SIM card contacts"
  4. Tap "Import all"

Restoring Media Files:

  1. Establish a USB connection between your PC and Concord II
  2. Tap "Turn on USB storage" on the smartphone
  3. Tap "OK" if necessary
  4. In the AutoPlay window, click to browse the phone's files / folders
  5. Navigate to where the files need to be restored
  6. Open a secondary Windows Explorer window and locate the backed up files on your PC's HDD
  7. Copy the files, and paste them on your phone's storage
  8. Once the transfer is done, safely disconnect your smartphone from the computer

How-to: Transfer Contacts from an iPhone to the ZTE Concord II (T-Mobile)

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 06:23 AM PDT

Using iTunes:

With the help of iTunes you can sync the contacts stored on your iPhone with a Google account. Once this step is complete, you can then re-sync the contacts stored on the account, with your ZTE Concord II. For this method you need access to a computer with Internet and iTunes installed.

  1. Open iTunes on your computer
  2. Establish a USB connection between your iPhone and computer
  3. From iTunes, click the iPhone to reveal its summary page
  4. Go to the "Info" tab and mark the check box next to "Sync Contacts With"
  5. Select "Google Contacts" from the drop-down menu
  6. Register your Google account, or otherwise, if you've already done so before, you can click "Configure" and select an existing account from the list
  7. To commence the syncing process, click "Apply"
  8. On the ZTE Concord II, sign in with the same Google account (NOTE: to add an account, go to "Settings" > "Accounts")
  9. Allow the Google account to sync contacts with your Android phone

Using iCloud:

In case you've used the iCloud backup service before, then your iPhone contacts are most likely already stored on your iCloud account. By accessing it using a computer hooked up to the Internet, you can export these contacts as a VCF file for use on the Android smartphone.

  1. Launch the Internet browser on your computer
  2. Visit https://www.icloud.com/ and sign in to iCloud
  3. Click "Contacts" and choose the contacts you wish to transfer
  4. Click the cog-wheel icon located in the lower left area
  5. Select to "Export vCard" and wait for the VCF file to be downloaded on the PC
  6. Import the vCard file to "Google Contacts". Alternatively, connect the ZTE Concord II to your computer via USB, and copy the VCF file to the phone's storage. Then, open the "Contacts" app and from the "All Contacts" tab, press "Menu" > "Import / Export" > "Import from storage". Choose an account and select the vCard file to load it

Using "My Contacts Backup":

Another way to transfer contacts from an iPhone is with the help of third party applications. My Contacts Backup is an iOS app that can be used to back up all of your iPhone contacts in the form of a VCF file, which can then be transferred to the Android device via email.

  1. Go to the App Store and install "My Contacts Backup" on your iPhone
  2. Open the application and then tap "Backup". All of the contacts will be compiled in a vCard file
  3. Tap "Email" and compose a new email with the VCF file attached to it
  4. Send the email to your Gmail address
  5. On the ZTE Concord II, open the email and download the attached file
  6. Once downloaded, import the file via the "Contacts" application, using the "Import" option from the app's "Menu" (as detailed at the end of the iCloud guide)

Using "Send Anywhere":

Last but not least, you can use "Send Anywhere" to transfer your contacts without needing a computer. Send Anywhere is a third party iOS and Android app that can transfer contacts and other types of files cross platform, for one smartphone to another via a P2P connection. To do so:

  1. Go to the Google Play Store and install "Send Anywhere" on the ZTE Concord II
  2. From the App Store, install the app on the iPhone as well
  3. Open the application on both smartphones
  4. From the iPhone, tap "Send" > "Contacts"
  5. Select the contacts you wish to transfer and tap "Send"
  6. Finally, choose the desired sharing method. You can tap "Receive" on the ZTE Concord II and enter the randomly generated transfer code from the iPhone. Otherwise, you can tap "Generate QR Code" on the iPhone and scan the code with the Concord II's camera to begin the transfer

How-to: ZTE Concord II (T-Mobile): Manage Contacts and Caller Groups

Posted: 14 Aug 2014 05:59 AM PDT

Contact Management

Adding a New Contact:

  1. From the home screen, tap the "Contacts" icon
  2. Access the "All contacts" tab
  3. Tap the "Add new" icon
  4. Tap the account filed located at the top to select a location where to save the contact
  5. Type in the contact's name in the appropriate field
  6. Enter the contact's phone number and add any additional information in their respective fields
  7. When ready, tap "Done"

Adding or Removing Contacts to Favorites:

  1. Launch the "Contacts" application
  2. Access the "Contacts" tab
  3. Select a contact that you wish to add to favorites
  4. Tap the "Star" symbol to add the contact to the list of favorites
  5. To remove a contact from the list, tap the "Star" icon again

Adding a Contact to Speed Dial:

  1. From the home screen, tap the "Phone" icon
  2. Access the "Favorites" tab
  3. Press "Menu" and tap "Settings"
  4. Swipe to and then tap "Speed dial"
  5. Tap the key you wish to use for speed dialing (from 2 to 9)
  6. Tap the "People" icon under "Speed dialing number"
  7. Select the desired contact and press "OK"

Importing Contacts to the SIM card:

  1. Launch the "Contacts" app
  2. Press the "Menu" key
  3. Tap "Import / Export" > "Export to SIM card"
  4. Tap "OK"
  5. At the confirmation message, press "OK" again

Exporting Contacts to Storage:

  1. From the "Contacts" app, press "Menu"
  2. Tap "Import / Export" > "Export to storage"
  3. At the vCard file name prompt, tap "OK"

Importing Contacts from Storage:

  1. Launch the "Contacts" app
  2. Press "Menu" and tap "Import / Export"
  3. Tap "Import from storage"
  4. Select an account to save the contacts to
  5. Tap the vCard file you wish to import
  6. Tap "OK"

Sharing a Contact:

  1. From the home screen, tap the "Contacts" icon
  2. Press "Menu" and tap "Import / Export"
  3. Tap "Share visible contacts"
  4. Choose to share the contacts via "Bluetooth", "Drive", "Email", "Gmail" or "Messaging"
  5. Follow any additional self-explanatory steps to complete the process

Editing and Setting a Custom Ringtone to a Contact:

NOTE: in order to set a custom ringtone to a contact, it needs to be saved on the phone's internal storage.

  1. From the "Contacts" app, access the "All contacts" tab
  2. Select the contact you wish to edit
  3. Press "Menu" > "Edit"
  4. To set a custom ringtone, tap "Set ringtone" instead of "Edit"
  5. Select the desired ringtone and tap "OK"

Deleting a Contact:

  1. Launch the "Contacts" app
  2. Tap the "All contacts" tab
  3. Select the contact you wish to remove
  4. Tap "Menu" > "Delete"
  5. Tap "OK" to confirm

Caller Group Management

Create a New Caller Group:

  1. While on the home screen, tap "Contacts"
  2. Access the "Groups" tab
  3. Tap the "New Group" icon
  4. Select an account from the account field at the top
  5. Enter a name for the group and press "Done"
  6. Tap the "Contacts" icon to select and add contacts to the group
  7. Tap the "Check Mark" button to save the changes

Editing a Group:

  1. From the "Contacts" app, go to the "Groups" tab
  2. Tap the group you wish to edit
  3. Press "Menu" and tap "Rename group" to edit the group's name
  4. To remove members from the group, tap "Select item(s)" and select the contacts you wish to remove

Deleting a Group:

  1. Launch "Contacts" and go to "Groups"
  2. Tap a group and press "Menu"
  3. Tap "Disband group"
  4. Press "OK" to confirm. (NOTE: once disbanded, the contacts will be removed from the group, but they'll remain stored in your contacts list)

How to Convert MIUI Themes for Use on Neonado OS

Posted: 13 Aug 2014 08:26 PM PDT

MIUI may have the world’s most profound source of themes, thanks to the millions of fans who contribute to the operating system. To make more theme manias also share the treasure, some guy built this software to convert MIUI themes for application on the Neonado OS. The program was written in Chinese, but the use of it involves only a few steps, so I make this tutorial to tell you how.

Video about converting MIUI themes for use on Neonado OS: How to convert MIUI Themes for use on Neonado OS - YouTube

1. Download the zip folder from my Google Cloud storage:
http://bbs.neonado.com/posting.php?m...522890a055987c

2. Unzip the compressed files to a newly built folder anywhere on your computer. You can name it Neonado Theme Converter (henceforth abbreviated as NTC).





3. Drag a MIUI theme file with mtz suffix to the folder.





4. Double click the BAT-suffixed program, and we start the process of making a Neonado theme out of a MIUI one.





5. Well, if you have only one MIUI theme for conversion, the process involves no more than pressing Enter and some number keys. You can follow me like this: Enter – 1 – Enter – 1 –Enter – 1 – Enter – 2 – Enter – 1 – Enter – 2 – Enter -- 3 – Enter – 4 – Enter – 11 – Enter.





And now you can see in the NTC folder a new file named lewa.lwt, which is exactly the end product we want. Rename it and drag it into the LEWA – Them – LWT folder on your phone storage. Finally, you’ll see the theme’s thumbnail in the Theme app pre-installed, where you can choose and apply the theme.









6. Even if you’ve dragged more than one MIUI themes into the NTC folder aforementioned, you can convert only one of them each time and the process is different just in the step about choosing which one. OK, don’t bother but follow me: Enter – 1 – Enter – 1 –Enter – the order number of the MIUI theme you are going to convert – Enter – 2 – Enter – 1 – Enter – 2 – Enter -- 3 – Enter – 4 – Enter – 11 – Enter. As all generated Neonado Theme files are named Lewa.lwt by default, you should rename it before start next round.





7. The above five steps, or six, will surely bring you applicable Neonado themes, but they will have the same name, and in Chinese, as shown in the Theme app. If you don’t mind, then you don’t have to take the ultimate step to change the display names. This step should be taken before you type “11” in the fifth or sixth step.

7.1 Download and Install the Ntepad++ software.

7.2 Go to the NTC – theme done folder, right click the description.xml file, and chose “Edit with Ntepad++” to open the source code editor.





7.3 In both the two namelist sections, replace the Chinese characters between the “name” tags with the name you want to display. Save to complete the renaming.






7.4 Type 11 in the MIUI to DAT-suffixed converter and then press Enter to complete the conversion.

Hope the tutorial will add to your joy of changing UI styles. If you have any problem, talk here. BTW, Bandicam is a fantastic desktop screen recorder.
Posted by IMers at 1:15 PM

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