Adreno Tools makes it easier to use updated graphics drivers on your smartphone, without root

This library makes it easier to use updated graphics drivers on your smartphone, without root

Smartphone-oriented websites tend to focus only on the latest devices, but a large chunk of users choose not to upgrade their phones for one reason or another. Barring hardware failure, many of these devices may still have years of use ahead of them because, to their owners, they still work just fine. While custom ROMs can keep legacy smartphones alive for ages, it can be a nightmare for the modders to keep things like the camera and graphics drivers up to date without official manufacturer support.

Updating GPU drivers on Android

Unlike the smartphone ecosystem, updating the graphics driver on your PC is something you can always think about. This is possible because of the modular architecture of PC hardware drivers, which allows power users to tinker with closed source driver packages, or even opt for open-source drivers instead of OEM-provided binaries. In the case of Android, however, driver updates generally only come to your phone alongside larger OS updates.

Updatable GPU drivers can come in handy for fixing bugs, improving graphics performance, or adding new features from OpenGL or Vulkan APIs. Nowadays, smartphones are bigger and faster than ever, making them the perfect vehicle for gaming, hence porting the PC-esque driver design to them does make sense.

Matter of fact, in an effort to modularize Android via Project Treble, Google actually made it possible to wrap the graphics driver set for a particular platform as an app and update it through the Play Store. Since then, several mainstream Android OEMs collaborated with Google and major GPU vendors, including ARM and Qualcomm, to distribute updates for their phones’ GPU drivers independent of larger software releases.

Does the updatable graphics driver design reduce fragmentation?

Yes, to some extent. Nonetheless, a few worrying questions are still left unanswered. First of all, Google’s mechanism doesn’t provide an easy way to substitute the closed-source vendor driver with a third-party open-source offering. You can, of course, manually replace the driver package in the vendor partition of the target device, provided you have root access and somehow get your hands on the necessary files, but that’s not an ideal solution for many.

Next comes the stability-versus-enhancement paradox. Android maintains a hierarchical arrangement when it comes to loading the graphics driver. While one can switch between the factory-installed build and the newer updated release using Developer options => Graphics driver preferences on a per-app basis, it ultimately boils down to the OEM’s decision when to push the graphics driver update. As a result, an end-user can’t utilize bleeding-edge driver builds directly from the SoC maker, as OEMs are still responsible for rolling out the updates.

Enter Adreno Tools

As mentioned earlier, updating GPU drivers is possible with root access, but nothing can beat a non-root method. Thanks to XDA Senior Member bylaws, we now have a genius solution named Adreno Tools that allows on-the-fly GPU driver modifications or replacements on Android — that too without root! The developer’s background of porting Android to the Nintendo Switch certainly played a crucial role in this venture, as the whole project has its origin in Skyline, an open-source, work-in-progress Nintendo Switch emulator for Android.

Fellow Skyline developer Mark “Pixelylon” pitched the idea of runtime drive replacement to bylaws, which eventually materialized into Adreno Tools. Being a rootless library, Adreno Tools can help any regular app to load custom GPU drivers, deal with BCn textures, and redirect file operations for further complex modifications on Qualcomm’s Adreno family of GPUs. It does so by hooking into system libraries and seamlessly swapping in the new driver. Notably, there is no support for Mali GPUs yet.

Since there is no limitation on the origin of the driver, enthusiasts can also load third-party drivers through Adreno Tools. This is particularly useful for those who want to try out Turnip — an open-source Vulkan driver for Qualcomm Adreno graphics hardware that falls under the Freedreno umbrella. For example, AetherSX2, the PlayStation 2 emulator for Android already utilizes Adreno Tools to give end-users the choice to opt for Turnip instead of the OEM driver for better performance.

Adreno Tools on GitHub

How do I benefit from this?

Keep in mind that the Adreno Tools project ships as a software library. It means you can’t find a pre-compiled APK file that magically enables the ability to use an external graphics driver stack throughout the system. Instead, a developer needs to incorporate the library into their project, so that their app can offer the facility of loading updated graphics driver files or a third-party alternative without root access. This is exactly how Skyline and AetherSX2 developers are utilizing Adreno Tools right now.

From an end-user perspective, Adreno Tools alone can’t solve all the limitations of Android’s GPU driver implementation. It is merely a tool for the developer community to bypass some of the biggest obstacles of graphics driver updates on Android devices — that’s it. You can only get the benefits of it through an app, but a system-wide manual driver update still requires root access.

What can I do if I have root?

If you’re a power user with a rooted device, then you can perform a system-wide forced installation of an updated graphics driver build on your device. To do so, you need to extract the driver BLOB (Binary Large OBject) files that contain pre-packaged software binaries for interacting with the GPU from an updated firmware package. You may use the firmware from a different device, but the driver must correspond to the same GPU family of the target device.

After extracting the required files, you can then pack them as a Magisk module and install it on the target smartphone to replace the existing vendor drivers in a systemless manner. Of course, the process is a bit more complicated than it sounds. You might need to take care of the interface incompatibilities between the legacy and the updated drivers, for which shimming would be necessary.

To “shim” is to “wedge (something) or fill up a space.” This is effectively what a developer does when writing a shim — they add additional codes to allow for the BLOB to interface with the platform they’re working with. Luckily for our readers, developer bylaws already wrote a shim to bridge the gap between different Adreno driver revisions, and you can find ready-to-use flashable OpenGL & Vulkan drivers for Adreno 500 and Adreno 600 family of GPUs on our forums.

Curious to know about the benefits of manually installing an updated graphics driver? Esper’s Mishaal Rahman shared an interesting comparison of the GPU performance in 3DMark from a Snapdragon 845-powered Google Pixel 3 XL running Android 12 with the stock driver versus a newer driver from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1:

Quite fascinating, isn’t it? But don’t forget the trade-off between objectivity and relevance. While installing an updated GPU driver with root access has its perks, but it certainly has its pitfalls, too. It’s not meant for beginners, plus messing with the device may void the warranty. You need an unlocked bootloader to start with, which might not be feasible in all scenarios.

Conclusion

Given the alternatives for the Android GPU driver modding scene in the past, the Adreno Tools library is a fantastic step forward, especially for its rootless nature. We’re looking forward to seeing how the project grows and matures in the future. Be sure to give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments!

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Source:
Esper

Readmore : The top Android applications of 2022

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Source: www.xda-developers.com

Download BandLab free for PC, iOS, Android APK - CCM

Download BandLab free for PC, iOS, Android APK

If you like composing music, rapping, or creating your own beats, you should definitely have a look at BandLab. This is a great app that will help you shape your first songs and express your creativity by sharing your content with friends and followers. In fact, BandLab is both a music studio and a social network.

contents

What is BandLab?

BandLab is a music editor with social network features. Designed by music lovers, BandLab helps you compose your songs and beats, giving you access to many very intuitive tools and super creative loops. Moreover, the application allows you to record your voice and combine it with various samples and keyboard, guitar, and bass rhythms. You can also record the sound of your instruments if you wish to do so. BandLab mainly focuses on hip-hop, pop, R&B, and electronic music, but it is also possible to follow other artists or even become their beatmaker, singer, or guitarist.

What are the key features of BandLab?

• 
  Intuitive interface: It features a well-designed and intuitive interface and stands as a pretty simple-to-use toolbox despite its many different features.


• 
  Instruments: You will be able to play over 330 virtual MIDI instruments, including all the classics and more exotic ones, including 808s, synthesizers, sitar, and much more. A wide variety of instruments await you to be played to unleash your creativity.


• 
  Presets: BandLab features over 180 vocal, guitar, and bass effects you will love to discover to create unique ambient, atmospheric, or whatever you like kind of atmosphere. Those presets are good and stand as premium quality content.

• 
  Sampler: Thanks to the Sampler, you can create all kinds of custom instruments by generating a new Sampler Kit and recording built-in or recorded sounds. You can also customize each sample to produce fine-tuned sounds.


• 
  Mix Editor: The Mix editor is where lots of the magic happens. It is a multi-track DAW (digital audio workstation. You can use it as a beatmaker, a recording app, an editor, and more. Record your voice, create your own beats, search for samples and effects among more than 10,000 loops and lots of reverbs, and even add your instruments. Then, combine your favorite sounds, effects, rhythms, and voices in the 12-channels editor to create the perfect mix.


• 
  Creator Connect: What's better than a full-featured environment to create music? Well, BandLab also allows you to take a break and get inspired by other artists and genres. Thanks to this functionality, you will be able to connect with other artists, share your creations with them, and maybe actually collaborate in the future. In addition, BandLab allows you to search for users with similar musical tastes and artists who live near you, thus helping you find the perfect match.

• 
  Mastering: If you want to make your tracks ready to get distributed, you can even use the built-in mastering tools as it supports lots of formats.


• 
  Video: No matter what kind of music you create, BandLad provides you with ways to make your video clips and integrate your mastered creations.

How to install and use BandLab on your PC?

At least for the moment, BandLab is an app designed exclusively for smartphones. However, if you download the file that we offer you on this page, you will see that it is a ZIP that contains both the BandLab APK file and the BlueStacks Android emulator for PC. If you have doubts on how to install these files, you can follow the installation instructions that come within the same ZIP file. Once BandLab is installed and launched, you can check all the valuable tutorials.

Is BandLab free?

BandLab is entirely free to use, without trial periods or other limitations.

Readmore : 2022's Top Android Apps

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Source: ccm.net

How to install mods for Terraria

Terraria is one of the best sandbox games available on Android. It encourages exploration and building, so there's always something new to discover. Even if you try to explore the entire world in one game, it'll take multiple playthroughs to try everything it offers. However, if you aren't happy with Terraria's content or just want more, you can tweak the experience with one of the many mods available.

ANDROIDPOLICE VIDEO OF THE DAY

Terraria mods can help you experience the game in a new light. Mods can change the appearance of bosses and enemies, add new music, modify how items and weapons work, and more. Terraria mods for Android aren't as expansive as PC mods, but it's worth giving them a shot if you've ever wanted to change how the game works. If you're ready to expand on your sandbox experience, this guide will walk you through installing Terraria mods for Android.

How to install mods in Terraria

Before you get started, you'll need to purchase and install Terraria. Open and close the game before you start installing mods. This isn't required, but you'll want to check the game is working before you start making changes.

You should also know that modding your Android Terraria game isn't officially supported; this means you will need to be aware of two things before you begin:

• Accessing and altering game files voids your right to technical support.


• The distribution of save/hacked files is strictly prohibited on the Terraria forums.

If you aren't bothered by those two issues, then it's time to jump in and start moding.

How to use TL Pro

Unfortunately, the only Terraria mods that reliably work on Android are those available through the TL Pro app. This app acts as a mod loader for Terraria, allowing you to install and use texture packs, mods, cheat codes, and more. However, this means you won't be able to use some of the most popular Terraria mods like Calamity.

Once you've downloaded TL Pro, installing mods is a breeze.

1. Open TL Pro.


2. Tap on any category.


3. Tap the Plus button in the top right of your screen.


4. Tap any mod.


5. Tap the Download button at the bottom of the screen.

Your mod will now be automatically installed. Simply launch the Terraria app to start playing with your mod. You can also tap the Other tab in TL Pro to access advanced settings, including a cheat menu, a character and world exporter, and more.

There are APKs available that offer more substantial changes; however, use these at your own risk as they can potentially act as a path for malware to infect your phone. Until Terraria for Android gets better mod support, we recommend sticking with the mods available through TL Pro.

How to uninstall mods in TL Pro

If you aren't enjoying a mod or want to change it for a different one, you can uninstall it through TL Pro. Mods available through TL Pro can be uninstalled without affecting your save file. However, be aware that there is still a risk that uninstalling a mod during gameplay will prevent the game from functioning properly. If you plan on going back and forth between the original Terraria and a modded version, it might be best to create two separate save files.

1. Close the Terraria app if open.


2. Open TL Pro.


3. Tap the category of the mod.


4. Tap your mod.
   • Installed mods will show up separately from uninstalled mods. You don't need to tap the Plus button.


5. Tap Delete Pack.

Explore the world of Terraria mods

While many people are hoping that Terraria on Android will soon have the same modding capability as PC, there are still plenty of ways you can change your game. TL Pro is an excellent tool for veterans and newcomers alike. When you feel like branching out beyond modded Terraria, you can find hours of fun with the best Android games available.

Readmore : apps that are essential for all Android users

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Source: www.androidpolice.com

How to fix Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro network connection issues

Whether it’s with the latest version of Android that was released to Pixel users in December or the prior November update, there have been multiple issues with wireless network connections for weeks. We don’t know what the actual problem is at this point, but I can attest to my wife and I both having random network drops for no reason. She came from a Pixel 4XL and never really had issues, so there’s no question it is the Pixel 6 Pro causing the problem.

For me, I’ve noticed the network drop-outs for a few week at this point, but they’ve been minimal and flipping airplane mode on and off usually fixes things for a while. My wife wasn’t so lucky the other day and it took a full power down of her Pixel 6 Pro to get any service whatsoever from T-Mobile while she was at work. This is clearly no good.

Thanks to the fine folks over at Android Police, we have what seems to be a pretty legit fix for the issue, and it lies in Google’s Carrier Services application. This app is clearly responsible for the way your phone talks to carrier networks and assuming an update to this app is the fix, it is also means that this app is currently the primary issue. Good news is there is a fix via the beta version of the Carrier Services app and the better news is it is pretty simple to apply it.

First off, let me say that there are two ways to do this. The first requires you to opt-in to the beta channel of the Carrier Services app, wait for the update, and install. This is fine to do, but that means at some point you’ll likely want to exit that beta program and you’ll simply have to remember to do so.

The better option in my opinion is to simply snag the beta version of the current Carrier Services app from APK Mirror (highly trust-worth Android app site), install it, and take the additional few needed steps (required for either method, here) to get your service back on track.

You can head here to download the APK (do this from your phone for the easiest method) and after it downloads, simply click on the file to install it. You may need to grant Chrome permission to install applications, but after doing it for this trusted app, you can turn this back off in your permission settings if you choose.

Once installed, we’d recommend force-stopping the Carrier services app, clearing the data, and fully restarting your phone. This will make sure your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro is getting the latest mobile data settings and will ensure you have a solid connection with your wireless carrier. Do this by heading to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Carrier Services > Force Stop > Storage & Cache > Clear Storage.

After you take care of these steps, your connectivity should be far better. I’ve had this in place for the past couple days and I’ve not had any issues, but I wasn’t seeing connection drops incredibly often, so that could be coincidence as well. Hopefully this beta version of the Carrier Services app is close to being put into play full-time and, when it is, we won’t see so many complaints about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro network connections.

Readmore : apps that are essential for all Android users

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Source: chromeunboxed.com

Best YouTube Vanced alternatives: NewPipe, SkyTube, LibreTube, & more!

YouTube is a platform we all know and love. But it’s one that doesn’t necessarily provide you with all of the features you may want out of the box. Despite paying for a YouTube Premium subscription, many of us also used to use Vanced for the additional features that it offered. While advertisements are part-and-parcel of any online service these days, alternatives such as Vanced offer more than just advertisement blocking. They provide features such as more granular video playback options, device spoofing (which was helpful in bypassing restrictions), bringing back the YouTube dislike button, SponsorBlock, and more. Even better was the ability to log in and watch YouTube on Huawei devices, something that you could only do in a browser otherwise. But recent developments with Vanced will force people to look for alternatives, and we’re here to help with that.

Navigate this article:

What happened to Vanced?

Addressing the elephant in the room, Vanced was taken offline by its developers after the team received a cease and desist order from Google. We reached out to one of the admins on the team’s Discord server shortly after the news broke, and we were told that they were instructed to refrain from using YouTube’s name and distributing packages that violate YouTube’s Terms of Service. The team verified that it was legitimate, and had no choice but to pull down download links for Vanced.

As it stands, you can no longer download Vanced Manager from the Vanced website. Though if you have Vanced Manager already installed, you can download and install YouTube Vanced, Vanced Music, and Vanced microG.

The current versions of YouTube Vanced will continue to work for now, as they’re based on relatively recent versions of the YouTube app. However, as Google makes changes to the YouTube platform, it’s likely that some aspects will likely break as time goes on until eventually, Google requires users to update to a newer version. So while you can continue to use the app for a while still, there will eventually be a point of time in the future when you will need to either fall back to the official YouTube app or look for a Vanced replacement as an alternative.

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Best Vanced replacements

Because of all of the benefits of Vanced, we put together a list of the best alternatives to prepare you for whenever Vanced stops working. These are some of the best alternatives with all of the features that you know and love so that you’re not missing out. They’re likely not going to be perfect Vanced replacements, but they’ll certainly get very close.

Buy YouTube Premium

Honestly, the problem with apps like these is that they will always be playing a cat and mouse game. If Google is really going after YouTube alternatives, then it’s going to be sooner rather than later that these apps are whittled down one by one. Cutting to the chase and paying for YouTube Premium will net you 90% of the features that are offered here anyway, and you’ll get the added benefit of supporting your favorite creators. If you used to watch videos in Vanced and didn’t have a YouTube Premium subscription, then the creators earned no money from your view. With YouTube Premium, you’ll get most of the features you miss, and you keep the lights and heating on for your favorite content creators. Sounds like a win-win, right?

If you’ve decided to just pay up, you can get a YouTube Premium subscription starting at $11.99 per month, but you can pay less by opting for an Annual plan, a student plan, or a family plan.

YouTube Premium has 90% of the features of Vanced whilst also giving you the ability to support your favorite creators.

NewPipe

NewPipe is a classic alternative that has been around longer than Vanced has. It’s completely free and open-source while offering background playback, picture-in-picture, video downloading, and more. It’s continuously updated with new features, and the developers are incredibly privacy-conscious. One downside of that is that you can’t log in to your YouTube account in NewPipe, but it does mean there are no advertisements and it works on devices that don’t have Google apps. You can also share videos from the regular YouTube app on your phone to NewPipe for playback if you wish.

If you’re interested, there’s also a fork of NewPipe that’s maintained and integrates SponsorBlock, though the official NewPipe build does not utilize it as the NewPipe developers view sponsorship as a more ethical form of advertising than tracked advertisements. You can download NewPipe from F-Droid or the team’s website, and you can download the SponsorBlock variant from GitHub.

SkyTube

SkyTube is an interesting one, as it comes in two variants. One is “SkyTube Extra” which packs closed libraries and supports the official YouTube player and casting. The other is a completely open-source variant that’s published on F-Droid, though it’s slower to update (the team says up to five days for an update) and obviously lacks those additional features.

However, no matter which you choose, you’re getting video downloading, background playback, video blocking, no advertisements, and a whole lot more. SkyTube is also available on F-Droid, though you’ll need to download SkyTube Extra from the team’s own website.

LibreTube

LibreTube is an interesting YouTube app as it’s currently in beta, and it shows. However, it still has some crucial features that may entice you to try it out. One of the most interesting things about LibreTube is that it uses Piped, so you don’t ever connect directly to Google’s servers. There’s a server in between you and Google (and LibreTube lets you select from a few). You can register an account on that server if you want to subscribe to channels, but you’re not subscribing on any Google-affiliated service.

You can check out the default Piped front-end that LibreTube uses in your browser normally. Piped is primarily aimed at being used on desktop, but it’s a cool proof of concept to see how it can form the basis of an alternative YouTube client on mobile. LibreTube is only available on GitHub currently.

Kiwi Browser with SponsorBlock, Return YouTube Dislike, and uBlock

If you don’t want to use any of the above apps, you can always use a browser such as Kiwi Browser to install extensions and create your own YouTube experience. Kiwi Browser is a Chromium-based browser developed by XDA Senior Member arnaud42 with support for desktop extensions. There is already a litany of extensions that pertain to YouTube that you can get on the Chrome extension store, and they’re all installable in Kiwi. I set up SponsorBlock, Return YouTube Dislike, uBlock Origin, and YouTube Enhancer in a Kiwi Browser instance, and it works surprisingly well. It’s not perfect (and you do need to use YouTube in desktop mode in the browser for it to work), but once set up, there are no issues.

As for what you’ll be getting with Kiwi Browser, you can watch videos in HD, without advertisements (and without sponsorship segments), and you get a dislike button back. What’s more, you can log in to YouTube as you normally would, and you get a closer-to-desktop experience. It’s a little bit annoying and not as easy to just share a video to Kiwi Browser as you would in NewPipe nor is there a picture-in-picture player, but it works. Even better is that Kiwi Browser is in itself a great browser, and you might find other uses for extensions on mobile, too.

If you don’t care for anything but ad blocking, you can also install uBlock Origin in Firefox from the built-in add-on store and then navigate the mobile site.

Good old Adblock

If all you care about is blocking advertisements, then you should definitely check out our guide on how to block advertisements on Android both with root and without root. It’s nowhere near as efficient as the above solutions (and will likely require you to watch YouTube in your web browser), but it’s also quick and easy to set up and maintain and works for a wider set of use cases than just YouTube.

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A cat and mouse game that’s impossible to win

Here’s the thing: Google will always win when it’s their cat and mouse game. Anyone violating the YouTube ToS can be ordered to cease and desist from their actions, and that’s exactly what has happened with Vanced. Only time will tell if Google intends on going after these other available options.

One thing is for sure though. When dealing with open source projects like the ones above, if one falls, ten more will pop up in its place.

Readmore : The top Android applications of 2022

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Source: www.xda-developers.com

How to open APK files on Windows 11

• 
  Android apps are delivered to users through the Google Play Store and other app stores. 
  


• 
  When one has an application in APK format but no Android device to install it on, they can use a third-party app.
  


• 
  Windows 11, through the Windows Subsystem for Android, now allows you to open such files on your PC.
  

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Have you ever downloaded a file that ends with the letters APK? This normally happens to apps meant for phones and loaded onto your computer. 

Most of these files end with the letters APK. It’s likely that you’ve been trying to open these files but haven’t been able to figure out where they are stored or how to open them because of their unusual extensions.

If you’re looking for a way to open such files on Windows 11, and have googled your way out of your hair, worry not! It’s actually much easier than this. 

In fact, doing so is free, and you don’t even have to install anything. Well, you will have to download an APK file opener for your operating system – but that’s only if you don’t already have one installed. For more advanced features and higher probability of opening an APK file, we recommend File Viewer Plus which has more than 400 extensions available.

Windows 11 is a significant upgrade over the previous versions of Windows. The reason behind this is that Microsoft keeps on updating their products with considerable changes for the sole purpose of providing users with a more convenient and improved experience.

If you have been using Windows for years and trying to install or run an Android APK file, you might have found yourself at a loss when it came to it. Lucky for you, we will break down numerous ways you can continue enjoying your treasured applications.

Is my PC APK ready?

Plenty of people download Android apps without having the right software or even knowing what file types they can expect.

There are two ways to open APK files on Windows: use an Android emulator or unpack them with a special application. 

In order to open APKs on Windows 11, you need to have Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Platform enabled.

To enable the two features;

1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Start Menu then select the Settings app.


2. Navigate to Apps and select Optional features.


3. Select More Windows Features.


4. Locate Hyper-V and click on the checkbox then press OK.


5. Also find Virtual Machine Platform, click on the checkbox and press OK.


6. Wait for the installation to complete.

What do I need to open APK files on Windows 11?

The majority of Android apps are written for phones, and won’t run on the larger screens of PCs. There are ways to get around this, but they vary in effectiveness and riskiness.

You will probably want to download a Google Play Store alternative for your Windows 11 PC. The most common app stores are the Amazon Appstore and the Microsoft Store.

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The only limitation is that the stores offer a limited number of applications so if you need one that is unavailable, you will have to sideload it.  In addition, your PC must meet the minimum system requirements before you can run any APKs. 

Sideloading means installing apps from sources other than the official stores. There are quite a few reasons why one might want to do this: free apps, avoiding data usage when downloading games and videos, and so on.

Don’t hesitate to visit our guide on how to sideload Android apps on Windows 11 if you choose to install from third-party sites.

For Windows 11 users, Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Android is a great new addition to the operating system. It allows you to run Android apps on your PC or laptop.

How can I open APK files on Windows 11?

1. Download and install Windows Subsystem for Android

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open the Start Menu.


2. Select Microsoft Store to launch.


3. Type Windows Subsystem for Android on the Microsoft Store search window and press Enter.


4. Click Open Microsoft Store to be redirected to the Microsoft Store.


5. Hit the Get button to start installation.


6. Once installed, you can now download and open APKs.

2. Download and install the Amazon Appstore

1. Press the Windows + I key to open the Start Menu and click on All apps.


2. Locate the Amazon Appstore and click on it to launch.


3. Find the application of your choice and click on the Get button.

3. Sideload APKs using an APK file

1. Open your browser and click to Download SDK Platform-Tools for Windows.


2. Click the checkbox I have read and agree with the above terms and conditions to start downloading.


3. Open the zip folder to extract all files.


4. Open the Start Menu and select All apps.


5. Locate Windows Subsystem for Android and launch it.


6. Select Developer mode and toggle it on.


7. Go back to the extract folder and type cmd on the address bar.


8. Type in the following commands and press Enter after each one: adb.exe connect <IP address>adb.exe install <file name>.apk


9. Once your app is installed successfully, the following message will be displayed:


10. Go back to the Start Menu and launch your APK to open.

Are there implications of running APKs from third-party sites?

The safety of this approach is often questioned. Are you really installing what you think you are? Probably not from a random site you found on the Web. 

But when you have a choice between an app installed from a site you know and one that is not, there are other considerations. It’s worth reviewing those to make sure your risk profile is as low as it can be.

When installing APKs from third-party sites, Windows users need to be aware of the risks. Malware attacks are a growing threat. You need to make sure that your device is completely safe and secure. We have outlined some of the top antiviruses for your PC to keep you safe while browsing.

First, you should never download applications from untrusted websites. You can never know what malware they might contain. If you want to install an application on your PC and don’t find it in the official store, head to the official site to see if the app is available there.

The goal here is not just to avoid downloading malicious software like viruses and spyware but also software that will take control of your device for other purposes, such as sending spam emails or stealing data from your online accounts.

Another thing to watch out for when installing APKs is phishing scams. A hacker can use this method to trick you into giving away sensitive information like credit card details or even login credentials for your online accounts.

If you are not careful, clicking on a malicious link can lead you to a phishing website that will try and steal important information from you. As a general rule, always check the address bar in your browser before entering any sensitive information.

Also, if you choose to use other Android emulators to run APKs and encounter installation problems, refer to our guide on how to resolve the issue.

We hope you found a way to open APKs from one or more of the methods we listed above. If you encounter any problems while running APKs, leave us a comment down below.

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Readmore : The Top Android Apps of 2022

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Huawei's flagship P50 Pro is the best phone you definitely shouldn't buy - CNET

Huawei's flagship P50 Pro is the best phone you definitely shouldn't buy

Huawei's flagship P50 Pro actually launched last year in China, but it's finally arrived in the UK and wider Europe. It will not be on sale in the US due to the ongoing restrictions imposed by the US government. And it's those same restrictions that make this phone so problematic.

There are no Google services for one thing, meaning no Gmail, no YouTube and, crucially, no access to the Google Play Store. There's also no 5G connectivity, which is certainly a deal-breaker for a flagship phone in 2022. We're seeing some type of 5G on even budget handsets now. 

That might be more forgivable if the P50 Pro were cheap, but at 1,199 euros (which converts to about $1,335 or £1,000) the Huawei P50 Pro is more expensive than the iPhone 13 Pro and quite a bit more than the superb Google Pixel 6 Pro. It's hundreds of dollars more than the excellent OnePlus 9, too; a phone that does have 5G and Google services, and has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor as the P50 Pro, along with a great camera and awesome battery life. 

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Huawei P50 Pro: The flagship phone you should avoid

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So while the P50 Pro does have some good points, it demands you make two gigantic sacrifices and it doesn't even try and tempt you to do so with a more affordable price. 

But to not be a total negative Nellie, there are some things I like. For one thing, it looks pretty awesome. It's got a great glass-and-metal design and I really like the two big circles on the back that help make the phone stand out among its competitors. It's also IP68-rated, so spilled drinks are no concern and the display is beautiful.

Its screen is 6.6 inches with a 120Hz refresh rate, and looks pin-sharp and vibrant as the day is long. And I love how it curves at the edges in a way that just oozes premium charm. Or as much as a display can actually ooze anything, I suppose. 

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

It's got a meaty 4,000-mAh battery that'll keep on chugging all day long and there's a pretty wild camera setup on the back. You get a 50-megapixel main camera, a 40-megapixel monochrome camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera. Huawei promises all kinds of improved image processing to make its shots even better and indeed I found images from all its lenses to be sharp and well exposed.

Taken with the main camera, this outdoor image looking over Edinburgh is well exposed and packed with detail.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

This nighttime shot of the city is a touch blurry but it's impressively bright.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Taken with the main camera, this rather gray scene nonetheless has plenty of detail.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Switching to the ultrawide lens has also resulted in a noticeable shift to a warmer white balance.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Taken at 10x zoom, the P50 Pro has captured a sharper, more detailed shot here than Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra managed at the same zoom level (see below).

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Taken on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra at 10x zoom. This phone has always been the zoom king, but the P50 Pro's results here are noticeably better.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

And that zoom is superb too, with better-looking 10x shots than I've even been able to get from Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra, which has typically been the phone zoom king. So the camera is certainly great, but it's not so great as to make up for the rest of phone's huge failings.

The lack of the Google Play Store means you'll have to use Huawei's own App Gallery, and while there are some notable names on its shelves, it's generally slim pickings. Snapchat is there, as is Fortnite (via the Epic Games downloader), as well as Telegram, Tinder, Amazon and a growing variety of others. 

And there are workarounds and alternatives for missing apps. Petal Maps -- Huawei's own maps app -- is nigh on identical to Google Maps, for example. There's no Gmail app but Gmail users can still add their accounts to Huawei's email app and access their accounts as normal. There's no YouTube app but you can load YouTube in the web browser, which technically works. And while apps like Instagram or Adobe Lightroom aren't available officially in Huawei's store, you can download the APK files from third-party websites and install them manually. 

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

And that's the case for many other apps too, but keep in mind that installing apps by downloading the APK from random websites can be risky, and is a major way that all kinds of bad nonsense can worm its way onto your phone.

The other issue is that the phone lacks 5G connectivity -- again, due to the restrictions. 5G might not yet be the standard for phone service everywhere you go, but this is still an expensive phone that should ideally last three years or more for anyone that buys it. Missing out on 5G connectivity, and the faster speeds that will come with it, is a big setback for this phone once those networks do roll out.

So no 5G and no Google services -- two huge issues for any phone, but particularly as this one costs so much. There are some compromises you may be happy to make. Maybe you don't care about 5G. Maybe you don't even care about having the latest apps and just want something to tackle your everyday essentials.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

But those are compromises you might make in order to keep the price down, to get a more affordable phone when you don't fancy spending flagship levels of money. Whereas this much cash should score you the best phone around. The most dazzling piece of hardware that satisfies everything you would want from it, and hold its own even as newer phones hit the market in the years to come.

And that is far from the case here. Yes, the hardware is great -- the luscious design is premium all the way and the camera is excellent. But its combination of missing features and sky-high price means the Huawei P50 Pro is a phone you'd do well to avoid.

Readmore : apps that are essential for all Android users

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Source: www.cnet.com

GTA 5 APK download links for Android: Real or fake? (2022)

Rockstar Games has released a series of top-notch games in the past two-plus decades, and GTA 5 is no different. It is the latest title in the Grand Theft Auto series that has been launched on several platforms like PC, PS4, Xbox One, and most recently on PS5 as well as Xbox Series X/S.

Since it is considered one of the finest in the franchise by players, every question regarding the availability of an Android version arouses curiosity.

Over the past several years, the internet has been buzzing with several APKs claiming to be of Grand Theft Auto V. With that being said, let's shed some light on whether there is a GTA 5 APK in reality in 2022 or not.

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Are GTA 5 APK download links for Android real or fake?

Several sources throughout the web claim to have real APK or OBB links to the game, which attracts the attention of gamers. Unfortunately, those are not real.

Rockstar has not yet released any accredited APK versions of its most successful title for Android users. Porting a game of that colossal size into a mobile compatible version would lead to giving away certain integral features, meaning a relegated iteration that would not be gainful for the franchise.

Most links available on the internet, while being deceptive, pose a threat to your mobile software as they are generally malware that damage the smartphone's software. It can damage data and reduce system performance.

However, there are a few unaccredited ports of the game developed by independent developers. But they are primarily work-in-progress versions and are limited.

For instance, one developer made an alpha version of a downgraded version of the game for Android devices, and the performance was highly discrepant.

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How to play GTA 5 on Android devices?

Even though there are no compatible versions of GTA 5 on Android that allow the same thrill and experience of the game, there are three ways through which players can play it on these devices.

1. They can opt for the Steam Link app. To do this, the game has to be running on a PC from where it can be streamed on an Android device.


2. Users can use PS Remote Play, and to connect their PlayStation consoles to their devices, they must download the PS Remote Play application on their gadgets and then stream the game to it.


3. Gamers can enjoy the game on the Xbox Game Pass, where they can download the Xbox Game Pass application, purchase the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription, and access the Cloud Games services. The service allows individuals to enjoy games on Android devices.

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While no authentic mobile version of the game is available for Android smartphones as of now, users are excited for the upcoming Android port of the GTA Remastered Trilogy scheduled to come out later in 2022.

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For comprehensive guides and walkthroughs, check out

SK GTA Wiki

Readmore : Android Apps Every User Should Have

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Source: www.sportskeeda.com

8 Amazing Apps to Customize Android Like a Pro

One of the most significant features of Android is the customization scope it offers. You can easily find tons of applications on the Google Play Store offering different customization opportunities. But a newbie may find it confusing to choose the best of them.

If you're looking for the best apps for customizing your Android device, then look no further. This guide will show you some outstanding apps that'll help you customize your Android phone like a pro.

1. Dove Icon Pack

Dove Icon Pack is an excellent choice for those who love to personalize their Android home screen. It's one of the most popular and feature-rich icon pack apps, with over 3,100 icons on offer. It features top-notch quality icons and shapes directly inspired by Apple's design.

Every icon is a precisely produced with great care and attention to the slightest details. Undoubtedly, Dove Icon Pack is one of the most attractive and visually appealing packs on the Google Play Store.

It also supports the most recent Material Design, which the developer has given a creative twist. Moreover, if you need to request a custom icon, you can do so via the app itself for free.

Download:
Dove Icon Pack ($0.99, in-app purchases available)

2. Minimal KWGT

If you love cool widgets on your phone's home screen, then Minimal KWGT is for you. It contains more than 60 unique widgets that seamlessly work on any Android phone. Every widget in this app has a minimalistic appearance, which makes it stand apart from the crowd.

Some of the widgets included are a calendar, weather information, search box, and a music player.

To set up the beautiful widgets, long tap on your home screen, select any KWGT widget and apply it. That's it! Minimal KWGT requires the KWGT Pro app. Thus, you need to make sure that you own the Pro version of the KWGT app before installing this app.

Download:
Minimal KWGT (Free)

3. Muviz Edge

Muviz Edge is a one-of-a-kind app that shows a live music visualizer around the edges of your screen while you listen to music from the supported music applications. Whether you enjoy listening to your favorite playlist on Spotify or streaming audio on YouTube Music, this app supports all the major music apps and displays a cool visualizer animation.

Related: The Best Music Visualizers for Android

This app does not even require you to root your Android device to use it. Above all, the app has several color palettes and many visualizer control settings. You can also save all of your eye-catching color palettes so you can easily switch between them.

Download:
Muviz Edge (Free, in-app purchases available)

4. WalliPop Wallpapers

If you've installed a launcher and updated your phone's icons but still feel like something is lacking, it could be a trendy wallpaper. The WalliPop Wallpapers app is the finest option for meeting this requirement.

Related: The Best Android Apps for Finding Unique Wallpapers

This app has a huge database of high-quality HD wallpapers and tons of cool backgrounds. WalliPop is the ideal app for everyone who wants to make their home screen stand out with creative and high-quality HD wallpapers.

Download:
WalliPop Wallpapers ($0.99, in-app purchases available)

5. Hyperion Launcher

Launcher apps control your phone's home screen, app drawer, app icons, and more—such apps provide Android a fresh look and give you a couple of additional customization choices to experiment with.

Hyperion Launcher is one of the best lightweight launchers for Android that combines different features from several other launchers. It was developed by the makers of Substratum (a superb theming tool for Android).

Moreover, the app has a nice, feature-rich launcher with a beautiful UX and plenty of customization possibilities. It includes intelligent widget colors, folder/dock backdrop color options, accent theming, drawer background settings, and more.

Download:
Hyperion Launcher (Free, premium version available)

6. Volume Styles

Volume Styles allows you to change the volume panel and sliders on your phone completely. With this app, you can easily modify the accent and even change the default volume slider. You can also adjust the positioning and tweak your phone's volume slider as per your needs.

Not only that, but you can add more shortcuts to the volume panel and modify the brightness to make things easier to reach with just one app.

Volume Styles includes different themes to match Android 10, iOS 13, MIUI, One UI, Oxygen OS, Windows 10, Realme UI, and more.

Download:
Volume Styles
(Free, in-app purchases available)

7. One Shade

One Shade lets you customize the Android quick settings and notification panel to your preferences. You can personalize your phone with custom alerts, quick settings, and other features.

It replaces your phone's notification bar with a modern, completely customizable version after you install it and allow some permissions. Additionally, One Shade also allows you to add your own edge triggers which is perfect for one-handed users.

Without any doubt, this app is full of free customization options. However, it does contain a few advanced features such as custom backgrounds, more layout configuration options, custom quick settings size etc. that can be unlocked by purchasing a subscription plan in the app.

Download:
One Shade (Free, subscription available)

8. Zedge

If you want some free soothing alarm sounds, interesting ringtones, or fun video backgrounds, then Zedge is the app for you—it's the ultimate all in one personalization app.

Zedge is more than just a collection of assets; it's got handy features too. For example, you can have your wallpaper automatically change on a timer, or create memes from your backgrounds to share via other apps.

You can even download and apply cool video effects on your phone's home screen with Zedge.

Download:
Zedge (Free, subscription available)

Take Your Android Customization to the Next Level

From the status bar to the home screen, you can tweak everything on Android according to your liking. These apps are some of the best to help you style your phone's interface exactly how you like it.

Of course, there are plenty of other Android apps that will change how you use your phone. This is just the tip of the customization iceberg.

Readmore : In 2022, the Top Android Apps

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Source: www.makeuseof.com