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6 simplest mods for mechanical keyboards
Modding your mechanical keyboard can be tons of fun, but also intimidating. Here are 6 of the simplest mods to get you started
There are endless reasons to love mechanical keyboards — satisfying typing and sound, great variety, and easy repairability. But, perhaps, the most fun part of mechanical keyboards is giving them your own touch by customizing and modifying them. Now, keyboard mods can range from the simplest ones that are quick and don't cost a lot to complicated and time-consuming ones that are kind of pricey.
Ambient Music Mod gets massive update with Now Playing summary and multiple country support
Ambient Music Mod v2.2.1 is here, and it brings a Now Playing summary, multiple country support, and more.
Google's Pixel smartphones come with features that you can't get anywhere else, and a personal favorite of mine is the company's "Now Playing" feature. It will identify music playing around you by comparing audio to a database stored on device, providing you with a list of tracks that surrounded you throughout the day. Now it's getting an update that adds a Now Playing Summary (very likely before Google could even add it), backups, multiple database support, and more.
This modder built an iPhone 13 Pro Max "Ultra" with more ports, more battery, and cooling fans
Tired of Apple's refusal to offer USB Type-C ports on iPhones, this modder created a custom iPhone 13 Pro Max with more ports, more battery, and cooling fans!
Tired with Apple's refusal to switch to USB Type-C ports on iPhones, a DIY YouTuber took matters into their own hands and installed a USB Type-C port on an iPhone X late last year. Inspired by their efforts, a modder has now built a custom iPhone 13 Pro Max, featuring a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual cooling fans, and a larger battery.
Mechanical keyboard modifications: Everything you need to know
Want to take your keyboard experience to the next level? Read on for some simple and not-so-simple mechanical keyboard modifications.
Mechanical keyboards are not just reliable, but are often more customizable when compared to regular keyboards. With some modifications, you can improve the performance and overall experience of your mechanical keyboard. In most cases, this is also more cost-effective than spending money on a brand new keyboard. As a bonus, it's fun, especially if you are someone like me who loves to tinker around with tech.
One of the best free file managers for Android turns 10 years old
One of the best and most beloved free file managers for Android, MiXplorer, is turning 10 years old today. Read on to know more!
One of the best things about Android is that there's an app for pretty much anything you want to do on your phone. And in our forums, there's a thriving enthusiast scene where people actively find ways to get the most out of their smartphones, no matter how old, new, low-end, or high-end it is. Throughout Android's history, modding has changed a lot in some regards and mostly hasn't in others. One of the few apps that have managed to stay relevant despite years of changes in Android is MiXplorer, one of the best free file managers available for Android devices, and it's turning 10 years old today.
Remap the Google Assistant button on the Sony Xperia 5 II with this app
You can reconfigure the Google Assistant button on the Sony Xperia 5 II to launch any other app or perform any action using this app.
Sony is no longer the kingpin in the smartphone industry it used to be some five years ago. Despite much lower sales than brands like Samsung and Apple, it has been launching promising smartphones with impressive specifications. Last year's Sony Xperia 5 II is one such phone that comes with Snapdragon 865, a 120Hz OLED display, IP68 water and dust resistance, and more. Surprisingly, the Xperia 5 II still features a headphone jack to complement the dual speakers and comes with a 21:9 display for immersive viewing. However, in contrast to these practical features, it also comes with a dedicated Google Assistant button that has only one utility. While there is no official method to utilize this button but to invoke the Google Assistant, an unofficial mod called "XPERI+" lets you remap this button for other functions.
Access Dots brings iOS 14's camera and mic access indicators to Android
Access Dots alerts you with colored dots similar to iOS 14's indicators whenever any app accesses camera and mic on Android 7.0 and upwards.
Our phones now have more apps that we can keep count of. As a result, Rogue apps sometimes masquerade as utilities and may misuse the granted permissions to secretly snoop on you. Smartphone manufacturers, as well as Google, have grown wary of the issue and every time an app uses the camera, microphone, or the location in the background on Android 9 Pie and upwards, you get a notification. Xiaomi has also added visual cues in MIUI 12 and so has Apple with iOS 14 to alert users every time an app accesses some features in the background. For phones by other manufacturers or running older versions of Android, Access Dots offers a similar solution by showing colored indicators every time an app uses the camera or the mic.
NFCScreenOff mod enables scanning NFC tags when your Android phone is locked
NFCScreenOff is a Magisk module that enables scanning NFC tags even when your Android smartphone is locked. Read more about it here!
Have you ever wanted to be able to scan NFC tags when your phone screen is off? That's not a possibility as there are security risks in doing so - imagine if someone could trigger a mobile payment from your smartphone while the screen is off? There are other security risks as well, but the bottom line is that it's not possible to activate and read NFC tags while your smartphone screen is off anyway. That is, without root access. NFCScreenOff by XDA Member lapwat is a Magisk Module that you can enable on your phone to always read NFC tags even when your screen is locked.
OnePlus Launcher Magisk mod enables Google Feed on any OnePlus device
Replace the Shelf feature with the Google Feed on any rooted OnePlus device with this handy OnePlus Launcher Magisk Module.
OnePlus' OxygenOS is a fine example of an Android skin done right. It offers you a stock Android-like experience, while still featuring plenty of customization options. Even the stock apps included on the devices follow this trend, including the OnePlus Launcher. However, its Shelf feature, which lies to the left of the home screen, isn't as well-liked as the Google Feed on stock Android devices. Even though OnePlus continues to add features to it, many users still prefer the Google Feed and they have to rely on third-party launchers to enable it on their devices.
Get Status Bar Clock Tweaks for Android P [Root]
XDA Recognized Contributor has created a mod for Substratum called Statusbar Clock Tweaks for Android P that gives you back control of your status bar.
I for one have not been a fan of how Google has handled certain parts of Android P. They could have done the navigation gestures much better, and I feel they could have handled the placement of icons and information in the status bar better for notched displays. It may take time to get used to things like the time being on the left side of the status bar, but a new mod means you can move it back. XDA Recognized Contributor/Themer AL_IRAQI has created a mod for Substratum called Statusbar Clock Tweaks for P that gives you back control of your status bar.
Dolby Atmos from the Samsung Galaxy S9 ported to the Galaxy S8 [Root]
Dolby Atmos has been ported from the Samsung Galaxy S9 to the Samsung Galaxy S8. Check it out here and how to install it!
Dolby Atmos on the Samsung Galaxy S9 promises better sound quality on both headphones and the speaker. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the first Samsung device to get it, but XDA Senior Member ImbaWind has ported it to the Samsung Galaxy S8 as well. All it does is modify the build.prop and the floating-feature.xml file along with including some libraries.
How to get an animated GIF as your home button on Android [Root]
XDA Recognized Themer Ticklefish created a way to add a little animated GIF to the home button on the software navigation bar.
Many of us Android enthusiasts are simply bored with the basic software experience OEMs put on our smartphones and tablets. This is why so many of us flash custom kernels, custom ROMs, and various mods to change the look and functionality of the devices that cost us hundreds of dollars. XDA Recognized Themer Ticklefish felt the same way and wanted to add a little animated GIF to the home button on the software navigation bar. Now, this guide does require you to have root access to the phone, and it also requires you to decompile the SystemUI.apk, make some changes, and then recompile the same file before putting it back where it belongs.
Video tutorials on how to build custom ROMs, kernels, and mods for Android
Check out these video tutorials on how to build custom ROMs and kernels for Android! If you've ever been interested in Android development, start here.
Have you ever wondered how to build your own custom ROMs or kernels? Have you ever wanted to learn how to even start? Well, now you can with a series of video tutorials made by XDA Senior Member AlaskaLinuxUser! You can learn to build for Android Lollipop, Android Marshmallow, Android Nougat, and Android Oreo. Along with that, you can also learn to make a number of system modifications as well. The full list of what's covered in the tutorials is below.
Stereo Speaker Mod for OnePlus 6 turns the earpiece into a second speaker
XDA Senior Member acervenky has created a mod for the OnePlus 6 that uses the earpiece speaker as a second external stereo speaker for the device.
Front-facing stereo speakers are a huge selling point for a lot of people within the smartphone community. Traditional speaker placement usually has it firing down through the bottom frame and this can easily be covered up when you're holding the device in landscape mode. XDA Senior Member acervenky has created a mod for the OnePlus 6 that uses the earpiece speaker as a second external stereo speaker for the device. Once enabled, audio that would normally only play through the bottom firing speaker will now play from the earpiece speaker as well. This mod requires Magisk so that you can enable the module, and it will work partially on a stock version of OxygenOS. The developer says that you will need to have the NoLimits ROM or Viper Audio installed if you want to get stereo audio working.
The Best Mods for the Galaxy Note 8
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a beast of a smartphone, but the stock firmware only scratches the surface of the hardware's potential. Here are the best mods for the Galaxy Note 8, including QHD 60fps video recording, a fix for the deep discharge issue, and more.
It goes without saying that the Galaxy Note 8, the newest in Samsung's long-running device lineup, is one of the best smartphones on the market -- especially if you've got a thing for styluses. The whopping 6.3-inch phablet sports a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor paired with 6GB of RAM, dual 12MP rear cameras, and a 3,300mAh battery that supports both Qi wireless charging and Samsung's Adaptive Fast Charging tech. The undoubted highlight is Samsung's S Pen stylus, of course, which can access app shortcuts, translate highlighted text, and even compose memos when the Galaxy Note 8's screen is switched off. But it's not to be outdone by Bixby, Samsung's artificially intelligent assistant that identifies objects in photos (via Bixby Vision), serves up contextually relevant information depending on your location and the time of day, and switches off smart home appliances with a simple voice command.
Modified Pixel Launcher adds Features to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
If you have a Google Pixel 2 and are interested in modifying your home screen, check out these cool Pixel Launcher mods you can install now.
Modifying the Pixel Launcher, the default home screen on Google's Pixel-branded smartphones, isn't a new idea. Launchers like Lawnchair add custom icon support and other extras to the Google Launcher for the Pixel and Pixel XL. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL launched with a newer version of the Google Launcher, though, and crafty XDA Senior Member sharkie405 has modified it with features not found in the original version.
Add Lock Screen Widgets on Android Nougat with an Xposed Module
Now that official Xposed Framework for Android Nougat is released, an updated Module called "Lock Screen Widgets" adds widgets to the lock screen!
Ever since we announced the arrival of official Xposed Framework for Nougat earlier this week, many members of the XDA community have been wondering which modules they should try out. Today, we would like to mention one such module that has just recently been updated with Xposed for Android Nougat support: "Lock Screen Widgets."
Stop Wakelocks with WakeBlock for Android - Amplify Replacement for Rooted Users
WakeBlock for Android helps stop wakelocks on your rooted device to help improve both performance and battery life from badly behaving apps!
Those of you missing Xposed on Nougat (though if you're desperate, I guess there is a kind of working port) may specifically miss the module called Amplify. I purchased the donation version about two years ago, but that wasn't enough to entice me to stay on Marshmallow. Still, I miss it. Amplify let me restrict some annoying wakelocks on my phone. For those of you not too familiar, a wakelock is a process which wakes your phone when the screen is off. This is normally pretty good, as it allows you to receive texts, listen to music, and so on. Apps can (and do frequently) abuse it, though, so Amplify was a popular way to limit what apps could hold wakelocks - improving both performance and battery life.
This video is for new Galaxy S8 users looking for some cool mods for their device. Miles put together four mods that you can check out in this XDA TV video.
5 Cool Android Mods that Don't Require Root
Check out these five great Android mods that you can applie to your phone without having to root it. These mods come with easy apps from the Play store.
If you're someone that likes to stick to the stock ROM, or maybe you don't have a root option for your device, then this video is for you. These are five different mods that can be applied to your Android phone without having root. Mods like these will tend to take up a little more battery power when they aren't baked into a custom ROM. If that doesn't bother you, then try these out!