Six things to do before selling your Android device

While selling your Android device may seem like a no-brainer, there are actually quite a few steps you should take before you simply hand over your old phone to its new owner. It’s important to make sure all of your information is backed up, removed, and safely in your hands.

Let’s face it, there are some sketchy people out there. A lot of them are well-intentioned, trustworthy people that just want a sweet, inexpensive Android device. But then there are the bad eggs – people who want not only your device, but the data that comes with it – and there are a few things you can do to prevent that from happening.

Here are six important steps you should take before selling your Android device.

Deactivate your phone from your wireless carrier


First and foremost, this step should be done before you even mess with your device. It’s the step that many people forget to do, though it’s one of the most important steps. Not only does it set your buyer up for success, it causes a lot of headaches – for both parties – if skipped over.

If you neglect to remove the device from your service provider, your buyer won’t be able to activate it when the time comes to do so. What if they try to contact you to get it straightened out? They may not have your email address or your new number. In many cases, this will be done automatically if you transfer your existing number to your new phone, or if you have a GSM device and remove the SIM card. It would also be difficult to “forget” that you have an extra line on your account that you’re paying for. But it still does happen, so here’s your reminder to do so!



Back up your data


Before backing up your data to an external drive, it might be best to wait until you get your replacement device first. If you’re replacing a phone or a tablet, the easiest way to complete this step is to simply transfer all of your important data to your new device, rather than transferring it later. Android 5.0 Lollipop makes this step extremely easy, allowing you to copy all of your data to the new device during the set up process. If you aren’t replacing your device, here’s what you’ll need to do.

For most, the most important data is pictures, videos, and music, and that can be done as simply as removing your SD card and putting it in a computer to back up. If your current device doesn’t have an external memory card, you’ll need to connect the device to a computer with your MicroUSB cable. From here, you can drag and drop the files you need to your computer. If you’re using this method, many Android devices store multimedia files in the DCIM folder, so pay attention to that when you hook up your device.

Transferring contacts is even easier, since most users’ contacts are likely already synced with their existing Google account. Once you add in your Google account info to the new device, your contacts will appear automatically. One way to make sure your contacts are backed up is to head to Settings>Accounts>Google>your email address, then make sure “Contacts” is checked and synced.

For those looking for a ‘deeper’ backup solution, there’s plenty of solid software solutions out there to get the job done, including Titanium Launcher or Carbon.



Remove SIM/microSD cards


On some devices, contacts and call logs can be stored on your SIM or microSD cards, so it’s really important that you remove these before selling. Chances are, you’re not going to want to give up either of these when selling the device, so keeping them to yourself is a great way to ensure security.

If you do plan to give away your microSD card, be sure to at least back up the contents and thoroughly wipe the card.



Encrypt/factory data reset


Now here’s the fun part. Completely erasing your data, or performing a “factory data reset”, is the no-turning-back point of the process. Doing so can’t be reverted, so make sure you’ve followed the above steps before you perform this step. Before we get into the process of erasing your data, you’ll need to decide how trustworthy your buyer is. This can be hard to grasp, but there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure none of your data is compromised.

First, let’s start with the basics. Performing a factory data reset will be enough for most users, as it erases everything on the device. Once you perform one, your device will be back to factory settings and all of your information will be removed. The easiest way to do this is to head to Settings>Backup & reset> Factory data reset. You’ll likely need to enter in your PIN or passcode (if you have one set up). After this, your phone will get to work. It usually doesn’t take more than a few minutes for the process to complete. Keep in mind, if you kept a removable SD card in the device, the reset process likely didn’t erase the contents of the card.

A way to more deeply secure your data from being stolen is to encrypt the device before performing the reset​

When it comes to factory data resets, it erases most of the data on the device. There is a way to recover some leftover data that the reset likely missed, though it requires some digging. A way to more deeply secure your data from being stolen is to encrypt the device before performing the reset. Encrypting the device will ensure the data won’t be able to be recovered by anyone (except for maybe a super-hacker extraordinaire, but the odds are pretty low..). If you choose to encrypt, use our easy-to-follow guide on how to encrypt your Android device. After you encrypt the device, you can then perform a factory data reset.

Simply resetting the device will be enough for most users, but if you want some added comfort, encryption prior to the reset is the way to go. It’s also worth noting that you might need to relock your bootloader and perform other similar steps if you are someone that has modded your device, though really it depends on the buyer. Some buyers won’t mind if you leave your phone’s bootloader unlocked and/or have a custom ROM on there instead of the ‘default’.



Include/remove any spare accessories


When selling your device, it’s always important to include the stock accessories and extras that originally came with it, unless you’ve clearly told the buyer otherwise. Make sure to take out any aftermarket batteries you’re currently using. If it’s the only working battery you have for the device, make sure the buyer knows prior to the sale.

Clean it!


This is a small step, but we still find it important. Cleaning your device is a nice gesture, and makes the buyer feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. Wiping of the screen, removing any dust or build-up, and cleaning inside the ports is a great way to ensure your customer will be happy. In addition to cleaning it, it doesn’t hurt to have the device fully charged and ready to go for the new owner once they get their hands on it.


Well there you have it. If you follow these steps, your data will be safe and your selling process will go more smoothly than ever. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding any of these steps, or any additional steps you’d like to share, feel free to tell us about them in the comments.

Should carriers do more to stop the rise of telemarketing calls?

Since 2007, a Canadian company called Primus Technologies has offered free blocking of telemarketing calls. In fact, two thirds of Primus customers say they like the telemarketing program, while 87 percent of those customers say that the drop in telemarketing calls is why they stay with Primus.

As Bangor Daily News reports, those in the U.S. would love such a program but will likely not see such a consumer-friendly service in their lifetime. While the Federal Trade Commission has tried to crack down on telemarketing abuse, they still receive almost 200,000 complaints a month.

One reason for the large amount of monthly complaints can be found by just reading the Federal Do Not Call restrictions. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act passed by Congress in 1991, it’s illegal for almost any business to solicit consumers by phone if they’ve registered on the Federal Trade Commission’s national “do not call” list. But these rules don’t apply to charities, poll takers, political groups or any business that you have made a purchase/delivery/payment at within 18 months. Therefore, telemarketing companies are now turning to nonprofits to solicit calls.

Nexus 6 currently in stock via Google Play, better hurry!

While I have a feeling that stock will be out again before I can push the publish button, right now those in the states can get your hands the Google Nexus 6 through Google Play!

Oddly enough, when I first started writing this I swear only the 64GB Cloud White model was in stock, but now I can only seem to find the Midnight Blue 32GB model. All other models and size configurations are listed as “out of inventory”, though it’s unclear if they have already ran out of stock, or if the stock is just slowly trickling in. Either way we’d move quickly as the Nexus 6 is a very hot commodity.

For those looking to learn more about the latest and greatest Nexus phone, be sure to check out our full review:



What do you think of the latest Nexus’ stock shortage woes? To be expected at this point, based on the way things went with the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5? Have you managed to get your hands on one? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Microsoft officially acquires Acompli, the Android email app

After several rumors, Microsoft has finally confirmed the purchase of the Android email app, Acompli. Microsoft has always tried to push the email experience forward, and they believe that this will help with the next step in that process.

Acompli is widely known for its intuitive UI and versatility between mobile platforms, so it’s not surprising that Microsoft wanted the app and its makers on the team. Of course, just because it’s becoming a Microsoft product doesn’t mean the app is going anywhere — at least not yet. Acompli will likely stay its own brand, but now with the added benefit of new leadership and a new direction.

Rajesh Jha, Corporate Vice President of Outlook and Office 365, explains:

This acquisition is part of our company-wide effort to help people accomplish more with their mobile devices. This year we brought Office to the iPad and the iPhone, and we recently announced that we’re bringing Office to Android devices. These are significant steps in our work to deliver the best productivity experiences across mobile platforms, and we’re continuing to push forward…We’re excited about what’s possible as we build on the app’s success and bring it together with work currently in progress by the Outlook team. Our goal is to deliver fantastic cross-platform apps that support the variety of email services people use today and help them accomplish more.
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We’re unsure how much Acompli was purchased for, but Re/Code’s unnamed source is quoting the purchase at “north of 200 million.”

Teclast X98 Air 3G tablet has the added bonus of the choice of Windows or Android

With a website that declares its fruity ambitions, the Teclast X98 Air 3G tablet has the added bonus of the choice of Windows or Android.

The tablet is a 9.7-inch device with a 2048 x 1536 pixel display. It runs on an Intel Atom Z3736F processor clocked at 2.16GHz.

Inside it has 2GB of RAM and comes with 32GB of eMMC storage.

There’s also support for GPS, Bluetooth, microUSB and micro HDMI connections.

It’s a nice looking tablet with great specs and at a nice price too: $179 for the Android 4.4 KitKat model.

via gizchina.com and gizchina.cz

Teclast X98 Air 3G New Exposure

Intel CPU 3G Tablet Computer Teclast X98 Air 3G New Exposure

Teclast released the Intel CPU 3G pad X98 3G and the light and thin X98 Air before. So what would be X98 3G + X98 Air? That is the new exposure X98 Air 3G edition 3G Inteltablet computer.

Teclast X98 Air 3G uses brand new 64-bit Intel Bay Trail-T Z3736F CPU. It has 2048*1536 high definition Retina 9.7 inch display and supports 3G internet connection and phone calls! It has the great features of X98 3G and X98 Air: Air retina display and 3G function! However, the price and available date are still unknown yet!

Gadget deals like Fire TV Stick point to subscription services

Gadget deals like Fire TV Stick point to subscription services

It's beginning to look a lot like Amazon's Christmas, everywhere you go.

Of course there are the billions of dollars that shoppers will funnel through Amazon.com. In Seattle, more than a few construction workers and property developers are in a giving mood, thanks to Uncle Jeff's building spree.

Then there's the huge variety of gadgets the company is now making and selling itself, at prices ranging from 99 cents for the bargain-bin Fire Phone to $379 for an 8.9-inch Fire HDX tablet.

Lots of people will be giving gadgets this year - 63 percent of Americans are planning to, according to the Consumer Electronics Association - so there's a good chance one from Amazon will end up in your house this holiday.

Aside from the underwhelming phone, the array of new Amazon's devices are all pretty nice.

I was pleasantly surprised by a $39 Fire TV Stick that I tried out last week.

It's a thumb-size device that fits into an HDMI port on a TV set (and a power outlet) and provides access to online video services, some Android apps and photos you've stored on Amazon's network.

This is a me-too device, blatantly emulating the $35 Chromecast TV device that Google introduced in summer 2013 and Roku's $50 Streaming Stick.

Amazon's version has a newer processor and works smoothly, using the polished interface it built for the Fire TV box it launched in April and sells for $99.

The box has a nicer remote control that takes voice commands. But you'll be able to control the Stick with your voice using a free app Amazon is releasing on Android and iOS devices.