Android Atlas

Dropbox makes storing and syncing files a breeze from your Android device. However, easy access to all of your private information is not such a good thing when a nosey person is looking through your device, or worse, you lose your device out in the wild. Instead of worrying about your precious files, why not enable one or two of the security features built-in to the Dropbox app? Here's how to get started:

Step 1: Open the Dropbox app on your Android device. If you're new to Dropbox, you might have a small tutorial you can … Read more

Sometimes it's difficult to decide if you should spend money on the pro or full version of an app. The free version may be "good enough," but sometimes you can get rid of annoying ads or gain extra features for just a few bucks. In many cases, the way to decide on buying an app will differ for each app and each person. Here are the points I consider, along with some from an article on Lifehacker, before I buy an app:

Read the list of benefits What sort of new features will you … Read more

This is one of those solutions you didn't know you needed...until now.

Although texting may be the preferred method of communication today, it has its flaws. Autocorrect fails and difficulty expressing sentiment (without too many emoticons) are all too common with SMS.

And phone calls? Call me a generation Y-er, but sometime I just want to get my message across without a lengthy conversation, complete with "hellos" and "goodbyes."

That's why HeyTell, as suggested by a good friend, is my new obsession. The free app, which works cross-platform for Android, iPhone, and Windows … Read more

With an Android app called Scanner Radio, you can turn your Android phone into a portable police scanner. Volunteers with scanners provide over 3,100 audio streams from police and fire departments, weather radios, and amateur radio operators.

You can let Scanner Radio search for scanners near your current location, or manually search for scanners based on area, genre, or source.

Once you find your favorite audio feeds, you can add them as favorites for quick access. You can also listen to archives of certain feeds, but that feature requires the Pro version ($2.99).

That's it. Just a … Read more

Touchnote is fast, easy to use, and offers an awesome way to make use of those shots that might have otherwise sat untouched in your photo gallery.

Here's how it works:

1. Download and install the app Touchnote (download) is available for free in the Android Market or iTunes App Store. You can play around with it all you want, but when it comes time to actually send a postcard, you'll have to go ahead and create an account.

2. Pick a photo The app gives you the choice of pulling a photo from your gallery, taking a … Read more

According to PaperKarma, the average U.S. household receives 850 pieces of junk mail each year. That's a ton of wasted paper.

PaperKarma, a multiplatform mobile app, allows you to snap a picture of the junk mail sitting on your counter, upload it, and never worry about receiving anything from that company again. It couldn't be easier.

You will need to create an account with PaperKarma, handing over some personal information such as a phone number and the address you're receiving junk mail at. After the initial setup, the process to submit a request is all of … Read more

Nobody likes to be that person who forgets a friend's birthday.

Facebook is great for avoiding awkward moments like these, but sometimes having a notice on Facebook about a birthday isn't enough. After all, getting a daily reminder of your brother's birthday a week in advance might make you forget about it by the time his big day arrives; or you may not even log on to Facebook to see the reminder. Luckily for Android users, there's an app that can post a birthday message for your Facebook friends automatically. So if you forget, or just … Read more

If you're the proud owner of a spangly new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, there's a good chance that the new operating system, known as Ice Cream Sandwich, will come as a shock. At the very least, it might take some getting used to.

Fear not, fellow smartphone users. I've got a quiver full of pointed tips and tricks to make you an Ice Cream Sandwich pro.

Prove it? Well, OK, then. In the video above, I'll show you the fastest way to set an alarm, uninstall an app, and select tabs in the WebKit browser. I'll … Read more

Like many others, you've found yourself in possession of a Kindle Fire but now, for whatever reason, you're ready to move on. Before you can do that, however, preparations must be made.

First, you'll want to make sure all of your personal and account information has been erased from the system. And that's what this blog brings to the table: instructions on how reset your Kindle Fire back to factory settings.

Before we get that far, though, it's probably a good idea to make sure you've backed up any absolutely crucial files that have … Read more