Friday 12 April 2013

How to install and set up AirDroid 2 beta for Android

How to install and set up AirDroid 2 beta for Android


AirDroid is a great utility for accessing your Android device remotely and without cables. It allows you to wirelessly transfer files, update contacts, manage ringtones and more. Nicole Cozma previously went over using AirDroid, but that version was limited to just Wi-Fi networks.Version 2.0 of AirDroid now works over the Internet as well as Wi-Fi networks. It also adds some new features, like remote camera control and a phone locator. Since it's not available for download from the Google Play store yet, we'll show you how to get it and sign up for the beta.

Download and install AirDroid 2 beta

Step 1: Since you'll be downloading and installing AirDroid from a source other than the Google Play store, you need to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources. Go to Settings > Security, then check the box next to "unknown sources." After you're done installing AirDroid 2 beta, you can go back and uncheck it.


Step 2: Launch the Web browser on your Android device and go to http://airdroid.com/invite/airdroid_v2.apk. This will download the APK file to your device. If you get a warning or alert from your browser, make sure to allow the file to download.

 Step 3: Install AirDroid 2 beta by selecting it from the notification bar or go to the Downloads app and tap on the airdroid_v2.apk file.

 Register for AirDroid 2 beta and log in

Step 1: Launch AirDroid 2 beta, then tap on the "Sign in or Register" button. If you skipped by this screen by accident, you can tap on the user icon in the upper right-hand corner to bring up the login/registration screen.




Step 2: Enter your e-mail address and a password to register or sign in using your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account.

Step 3: Launch AirDroid and enter the Web address from the app to your computer's Web browser. When you launch AirDroid from now on, you'll automatically be provided a Web address. Use your registration info to log in to http://v2.airdroid.com. When you're on a Wi-Fi network, you can choose to use the local IP address instead, but it puts you into lite mode.


AirDroid 2 is a very useful app and will no doubt come in handy numerous times. However, keep in mind that it is still in beta, so you may see some forced closes and or other odd behavior. Also, be sure to click on the Feedback icon on the AirDroid desktop to let the developers know what you think of the app.


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How to set up Google's Inactive Account Manager

How to set up Google's Inactive Account Manager

What happens to your Gmail account, Google Drive documents, Picasa photos, and the other data you have stored with Google when you head to that big cloud drive in the sky? Google introduced a feature today called Inactive Account Manager that lets you tell Google what to do with your data after you're gone, whether you want to share it with family and friends or delete it altogether.

The new Inactive Account Manager can be accessed from the Accounts page. You'll find a link to it under the Account Management section.






After reading the brief introduction to the service, click the blue Setup button. On the setup page, you'll find four sections:

In the "Alert me" field, you must provide a mobile phone number to which Google will send a warning text message one month before your account is deemed inactive. You can also provide an alternate e-mail address (that is, one other than the Gmail address associated with your account).

The next field, "Timeout period," lets you set the period of inactivity that must occur before, basically, Google thinks you're dead. You can set this for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.In the next section, "Notify contacts and share data," you can name up to 10 contacts, which I'd imagine would be close friends and family members, who will be notified when your account has remained inactive for the specified period of time. For each contact, you can set it up so that that contact is simply notified that your account is inactive, or you can check the box for "Share my data with this contact" and choose which Google products you'd like to share data from.

Contacts you choose to share with will be able to download your data for three months. For each contact, you will need to also provide a phone number that Google can use to send a verification code the contact will need to access your data. Also in this section, you can set an auto-response for all incoming e-mails to your Gmail address once it becomes inactive.


If instead of sharing your Google data from beyond the grave, you'd rather just delete everything, take a look at the fourth and last section, "Optionally delete account." Here you can click the toggle switch to On next to "Delete my account."

Lastly, click the blue Enable button to complete the setup process.
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