We’ve already written a detailed guide on how to backup your Android devices; however, we haven’t touched much upon the backup process for apps and data. The backup process for apps and data is quite different, and sometimes tedious, when compared to contacts syncing or bookmarks syncing. Don’t worry though, as we’ve got it all covered in this article.

Backing up apps can be a tiresome job, even more so if you have a lot of them installed on your Droid. There are a few applications that will help you backup your apps, but most of them require root access. In this article, we’ve listed some of the best apps to take backups, two of which don’t require root, and one requires. So, whether you’re a geeky rooter, or a fledgling Droid-fanboy, there’s no excuse when it comes to backups.

On a side note, if you’re on the fence whether to root your phone or not, do check out our earlier article where we’ve highlighted all the pros and cons of rooting on Android.

App Backup And Restore is a highly rated backup app for Android that lets you backup and restore your device without the need for rooting. Once installed, you can use this app to backup apps to SD card, and restore them in case things go wrong. For protected apps, there’s an option to backup the market link so that all your apps will be with you even after a fresh install.

Other important features include batch backup, restoring apps from SD card, and multi-version backup. What’s more, you can also send APK files by email so that you won’t lose those important apps.

Rated 4.6 stars out of 5 in the marketplace, App Backup And Restore is freely available for download from the marketplace HERE.

This next app lets you backup all your important data, including your apps, photos, homescreens, etc. right to the cloud. Though in Beta, MyBackup Pro is the perfect, and perhaps the most easy-to-use backup app for non-rooters. Once installed, the app lets you backup applications, SMSes, MMSes, System Settings, Alarms, Music Playlists, and even call logs to the cloud or to your trusted little SD card.

If you have rooted your phone, there’s something in it for you as well. Rooted users can take advantage of advanced features like freezing of bloatware or system apps, wipe cache of applications, uninstall applications, link apps to Android Market, unfreeze applications and force-close applications.

Though not free, MyBackup Pro is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars in the marketplace. However, if you want to try before you buy, you can always grab the free trial version HERE.

One of the most powerful tools in the Android Marketplace, Titanium Backup Pro is more than just a backup tool. The root-only app allows you to backup, restore, and freeze all of your applications and data. The app comes with a barrage of interesting features which include, but are not limited to, Dropbox sync, multi-user app data, encryption, cache cleaning, apps freezer, integration of system apps into ROM, zero-click batch restores, and the ability to send backups by email.

One great thing about Titanium is that despite being a geeky tool, it is so simple to use that even an Android novice can figure out most of its features. Oh, and just because it’s geeky doesn’t mean that it’s not popular; Titanium has been rated 4.8 stars out of 5 in the marketplace, which is a very high score, even for a non-root app. Oh, and don’t forget, the app has over 3.5 million users and has been translated in over 28 languages. Definitely worth your every penny. You may download Titanium Backup Pro HERE.

Television, since its inception in the early twenties, has gone through a plethora of changes. From the big curvy boxes to the thin and flat LCDs, the attention-seeking living room device still stays one of the most popular gadgets around.

While watching the television whilst sprawled on a sofa has been the ultimate Sunday experience, the need for mobility is slowly changing this scenario. TV, these days, has become a bit more mobile, thus catering to the needs of people who are always on the go. Our very own Android too hasn’t been that immune from the mobility boom as it has some amazing Internet TV apps to boast of. So, to help you choose the best of the lot, here we are with another article outlining only the essential Internet TV apps for Android.

Though basically a media platform, Plex does come in handy if you’re looking for a comfortable way to get access to Internet television. With a beautifully organized interface, Plex works well in unison with the Plex media server.

Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus for Android brings the highly popular Hulu experience to your mobile phone. Once installed, Hulu Plus members can stream thousands of episodes from hundreds of current and classic TV shows. Though mainly for Hulu Plus subscribers, the app does provide a lot of free episodes for non-subscribers to sample out. Users can also opt-in for a one-week free trial if they want to. Once the trial ends, the service costs about $8 a month.

You may also check out: 5 of the Best Internet Radio Apps for Android


Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Over the years, people have pinned Windows down as the slowest of all operating systems. While Mac still remains a class product, our beloved Ubuntu Linux has shot to fame because of its amazing speed and power, even on low-end systems. Windows, after months, or sometimes weeks of usage, tends to bloat and behave like a sluggish car beyond repair. Ubuntu on the other hand, tends to stay as agile as it was when you first installed it, making it one of the most preferred operating systems on low-end computer users.

That said, grass isn’t always green in the Ubuntu Linux world. As with every operating system, perfection eludes the open-source distribution, thus making issues like slowdown and incompatibility more prominent. These problems, however, cannot be pinned down as Ubuntu’s fault because most of them arise from incompatible hardware, especially graphics cards. So, if you too, in some point in time have faced, or are facing issues of slowdown and choppy graphics, here are some simple tips to help you alleviate those problems and in effect make Ubuntu Linux run faster.

About three years ago, when I went to purchase a new graphics card, the vendor recommended me ATI, telling me that it’s much better than the almost-omnipresent NVIDIA, and that I won’t be disappointed by the performance. I couldn’t agree more with him as I too had read a lot about ATI, but never had the chance to try it out. So, I went home with a sparkling grin, installed it, and tried out the latest game that was available out there, and boy, I was thoroughly impressed with it. The card ran as smooth as butter on Windows, but then, once I installed Ubuntu on my computer, that’s where the problems began. Not only did I have a tough time installing the drivers, I also had trouble getting the card to work just enough to play movies.

However, sticking to ATI paid off, as graphic support for my card has improved by miles over the last couple of years. Though not as good as it is on Windows, it is still quite satisfactory when you have a lot of RAM.

If you ever have faced similar issues in the past, I don't need to tell you how important it is to update your graphics drivers.

If upgrading your graphic card doesn’t help alleviate the problem, then it may be good idea to move to something lighter. While XFCE is a perfect desktop for extremely low-end and dated computers, for those stuck with an incompatible or old graphic cards, the Qt-based Unity 2D comes in really handy. The light environment brings the best features of Ubuntu without using too much of your RAM.

With the advent of Ubuntu Software Center, the classic-yet-powerful apt has lost its prominence. Though as good as Ubuntu’s new app store is, apt-get is almost ten times faster thus saving you a lot of valuable time that’s usually spent while updating and installing applications.

Ubuntu doesn’t bloat like Windows, but having a dozen of start-up applications surely slows it down. To remedy that problem, it’s always a good idea to check which apps you have added to your start-up list. To do so, open the launcher (Super Key/Windows Key) and type in the words ‘startup applications’. Once the ‘Settings’ window opens, chose which applications should load when Ubuntu starts up.

Sometimes, especially if you’re a web addict, the browser cache tends to pile up and slow down the computer. A simple solution to this problem is clearing the cache by going to your browser’s settings menu.

Preload is an adaptive readahead daemon, which, once installed, monitors the applications you run, analyzes that data, and, by predicting which application you’ll run next, loads the predicted program into your memory. Of course, this won’t dramatically speed up your computer, but you’ll certainly see some improvements. To install preload, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

You are busy strumming at that beautiful guitar, moving from the verse to the chorus. Just as the word SOLO appears on the lyrics page, with a flourish of excitement and a slight fumble of fingers, you manage to finish what seemed like the most difficult riff of your life. You complete the song and then, wiping the sweat from your brow, you shout out loud “I need to start a band.”

Starting a band eh? Well, it’s not as easy as it looks, well, at least, that’s what I’ve heard many people say. And anyway, who’d go through the trouble of looking for new bandmates? No, no, not me sir; I’m just happy sitting here in front of my computer and having the world come to my desktop. And what better way to do that than to have a cool app like GarageBand instantly downloaded on my desktop?

So, if you’re one of those aspiring musicians lacking a full-fledged band, an app like GarageBand is a blessing in disguise. And though the application is only available for iOS, Android users don’t have to go green with envy yet. Our very own Android has a good repertoire of GarageBand-like apps, some of which are even free.

ReLoop Loop Sequencer is a loop-based music sequencer that lets you make music using samples and loops. The application comes with real-time loop preview, a nice little feature, which lets you get a feel of how the loop will sound when added to the track. By default, ReLoop comes with three effects: Delay, Low-pass filter, and distortion; however, more effect packs can be added for free by downloading them from the marketplace.

As the app comes with support for gestures, the interface is really easy to use. Just dragging, dropping, and tapping are the only actions you’ll need to know in order to start using ReLoop.

Finally when you’re done creating your musical masterpiece, you can export it to a CD-quality track. Though not free, ReLoop Loop Sequencer is one of the best synthesizer apps out there; and don’t worry if you’re a tablet computer user; the app works exceptionally well on many Android tablets.

Developed in Berlin, Groovebox is an amazing app that lets you program your own grooves. With support for multi-touch gestures, the app comes with loads of features that audiophiles and musicians will love.

Groovebox includes a virtual analog synthesizer, multiple waveforms (3 types), high-quality filter modes, drum machine with 8 drum kits, and 3 play modes. The interface is really easy to use, thanks to the multi-touch support and the built-in ability to cut, copy, or paste patterns.

Once you’re done creating your tunes, you can either save the session, or export the audio loop. Though not free, RD3 is a highly polished synthesizing app for Android.

If you’re a tad skeptical about spending your money on this app, you can always try out the free demo version of the app.

One of the most highly rated apps in this genre is PocketBand Uloops Pro. Unlike the aforementioned apps, PocketBands comes across as a powerful application thanks to its reliance on cloud technology. Despite the downside of requiring a fast, unlimited data connection, PocketBand is perhaps the best synthesizer app for Android.

The app comes with a 12-channel mixer (with effects), a drum machine (35 drumkits), recorder, modulator, and an arpeggiator. The recorder makes use of your phone’s microphone to provide live audio recording. As for the effects, PocketBand leads the pack with a great lineup that includes delay, flanger, reverb, phaser, and more.

Once you’re finished recording your song, you can either share the song on the Internet or save it locally. If you want, you can also share your work under Creative Commons license so that it can be remixed and listened to freely by the huge community. What’s more, you can also remix songs uploaded by other musicians (only if they’re CC-licensed).

Overall, PocketBand is a great, feature-filled synthesizer with a multitude of quality effects, which turn your Android gadget into a full-fledged mixing device.

Ultrabooks, the much-touted ultra-slim laptop computers, which Intel announced with great pomp and expectations, have finally started making their presence felt. Recently showcased at CES 2012, these Macbook Air competitors, if successful, may revolutionize the tech world just as the tablets did. At this nascent stage though, not much can be said about them; however, we at TechSource do wish ultrabooks ran Ubuntu instead of Windows.

Ultrabooks, despite being slim and sleek in design, offer the users a complete desktop that’s both usable and powerful. That said, it would be wrong to pit them head-on against laptops or even tablets for that matter. Ultrabooks target a completely different audience, which is, oddly enough, a niche that Chromebooks have been trying to get into for a long time. Chromebooks, which we covered earlier, haven’t reached the pinnacle Google expected them to, nor have they managed to impress many customers, thus making room for competitors like Ultrabooks, and even tablet computers, to steal the show. But how does the relatively mature Chromebook stack up against the emerging Ultrabook? Let’s see.

Ultrabooks, though slim in design, provide the user with a powerful, performing desktop. For example, the recently announced Dell X13 Ultrabook: this slim beast is powered by i5 and i7 processors and comes with 128GB solid-state drive (SSD).

Chromebooks, on the other hand, are powered by Chrome OS. The breezy web browser is the only thing you’ll find on a Chromebook, thus making the whole operating system feel super fast. Unlike Windows, which tends to slow down after a while, Chromebooks would perform the same way (or even faster!) even after 2-3 years. The only thing slowing down these machines is your Internet connection.

It is thus quite obvious that Chromebooks outmatch Ultrabooks in the performance department. I know, that the i7 processor is definitely faster than the Intel Atom-powered Chromebooks, but that performance comes at almost 3-4 times the price of Chromebooks. For the $300 Chromebook, you almost get the same performance you get on an i5 device with Windows Vista on it.

The Dell Ultrabook costs $999 whereas Chromebooks cost as little as $300. Though, you can purchase low-end Ultrabooks at even lesser prices, the ever-dipping price point of the browser-based notebook steals the show.

Chrome, Chromebook’s raison d’etre is a powerful, nimble browser that makes the notebook work real fast despite its relatively low-end specs. That said, when you want to get something done, you can’t always rely on a browser-based computer. Sometimes, you need Windows, Mac, or Linux to run high-end applications like video editors, or even games. This is where Chromebook is still lagging behind. People can’t be on the web all the time, and they need something with which they could work offline. Ultrabooks, in this department, completely outsmart the struggling Chromebooks.

If you’ve seen Chromebook’s reviews, you must have noticed that the little browser-based notebook is quite well designed. The nicely styled keyboard, the smooth finish, and a brightly lit display are enough to make even a full-fledged laptop user go green with envy.

That said, Chromebook’s charm pales out when compared to the stylishly designed Ultrabooks. For example, the recently announced Envy Spectre by HP will make your gadget lust reach new heights. The i5-powered beast features a Gorilla Glass chassis (scratch-resistant) and has a 1600x900 Radiance Display. Similarly, most of the notebooks in this genre feature a shiny aluminum design along with a chiclet-style keyboard. Not only does this -- to a limit of course -- succeed at curing some seriously Mac-envy, it also makes the Ultrabook an attractive-yet-powerful gadget. The winner here undoubtedly is the shiny new Ultrabook.

Though Ultrabooks target a market similar to the one Google is targeting, it would be wrong to proclaim the slim gadget as a Chromebook-killer. Chromebook is, and perhaps always was, a niche product, especially for those who have successfully migrated their tech life to the web. For the rest, a good old netbook or even a laptop does the job. Ultrabooks, on the other hand target the whole laptop market; so, it is quite unlikely that the twain will ever be at loggerheads.

From the classic Golden Eye 007 to the more modern and visually stunning Call of Duty MW 4, first-person shooter (FPS) games have always had a special place in the hearts of hardcore gamers. The genre has reached worldwide acclaim since it allows the player character to see and feel the action through his/her own eyes. This engaging style of gameplay has been lauded by many gamers, thus propelling the success of billion-dollar blockbusters like Modern Warfare and Battlefield series.

The omnipresence of this genre is such that Linux too offers a great variety of FPS games to choose from. And, as more and more people are moving on to the popular portable version of Linux -- that is Android of course--, there are some great FPS games that you can enjoy on your mobile devices too. So, if you’re looking forward to shooting conniving villains and evil monsters on your beloved Android, here are three of the most popular first-person shooter games for Android.

Rather than being just a poor man’s Call of Duty, Modern Combat 2 is a game that brings the best first-person shooting experience to your Android. The intense shooter throws you into 12 different battlefield scenarios like Middle East, Eastern Europe, South America and more. To help you eliminate all the baddies, you get 15 different -- and of course ‘modern’ weapons -- to choose from. Not all are handed to you right away, but you can always pick many up from your deceased enemies.

A sequel to the highly popular N.O.V.A. game, N.O.V.A. 2 HD takes place six years after the events depicted in the first episode. The central government Terran Orbitals, and the Human-Alliance are in the midst of a bloody civil war. Kal Wardin (protagonist and the main player character), who was living peacefully on Scorpius for the past six years, is called back by Prometheus to Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance a.k.a. N.O.V.A. And that’s when the real battle begins.

This sci-fi FPS title cuts no corners in providing a superb gaming experience. The game features an amazingly detailed single-player design along with an intense multiplayer mode. While the single-player takes place on different environments, the multiplayer mode gives you ten great maps to showcase your skills. Furthermore, the ranking system, and the leaderboards feature make sure that you get your daily dose of online bragging right away.

In a world full of gangsters, bounty hunters, and criminals, it’s up to you to clean up the mess. But unlike in the aforementioned games, you’re not an expert soldier, nor you are a policeman; you’re just a deadly assassin who shoots quietly from rooftops. You’re a contract killer.

Contract Killer is a game about, well, a contract killer who takes on various missions and gets paid handsomely to do that. Unlike Modern Combat, Contract killer relies on stealth and precision. Though you get to select from a wide range of weapons, the sniper is probably the weapon you’ll end up using most of the time. Each contract you take up earns you cold hard cash. Shoot for the head, and you get more than what you usually get. You can then use that cash to upgrade your armory.

Google TV, despite being launched and relaunched with much pomp and expectations, has not quite managed to reach the market it intended to. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to proclaim that the foray of Internet on our television screens previously has been an utter failure. And this, you see, is despite the fact that there are giants like Apple and Google scampering for the top spot.

Last week, Ubuntu’s own little warrior came sauntering into this hallowed market, but only to deliver a nice big surprise. At CES, when the Unity-based Ubuntu TV was unveiled, even the most pious of Apple fanboys couldn’t help feeling a tinge of jealousy. The demo, which showcased a beautiful-yet-functional interface, left all the Unity-bashers a tad guilty.

Having said that, it would be wrong to call Ubuntu TV a game-changer, as Apple, Google, and -- yes, we haven’t forgotten them -- Microsoft too are working hard on bringing something intelligent and intuitive to the idiot box. However, we’re not that interested in the efforts of Apple, or Microsoft, what we, as FOSS fanatics, are interested in is the battle between two Linux-based smart TV platforms: Google TV and Ubuntu TV.

Though Ubuntu TV hasn’t reached the consumers yet, a quick demo at CES showed us how clean and intuitive the interface really is. The experience is no different from what we get on our desktops, but having Unity on it makes it a force to reckon with. However, don’t think that my derision for the ‘NEW’ Ubuntu ceases with Ubuntu TV: Unity was and still is, to me, a crippled interface that is just wrong for our desktops. But when, this much-hated feature shows up on the good old television, you forget that you ever criticized Unity. From the CES demo, and the reviews we read on various tech-related sites, Ubuntu TV could, quite unexpectedly, be the TV interface we’ve been waiting for.

Google TV on the other hand, has been around for a long time. Based on the Android interface, the interface is quite easy to use and clean too. However, when compared to the aforementioned Ubuntu TV, it does seem a bit cluttered and unintuitive. Instead of focusing on content, Google TV tries to bring too many things to the table, adding to the complexity of the interface. Ubuntu TV, however, stays classy by giving you just the content.

Winner: Ubuntu TV

Familiarity

Though Google TV is based on Android, its interface is totally different from what you have on your phone or tablet. There are a few similarities here and there, but the Google TV doesn’t make an Android user feel at home. Ubuntu TV however, makes sure that an Ubuntu user gets the best experience without missing their computer. If Ubuntu on mobile takes off as Shuttleworth expects it to, then Ubuntu TV will be a brand you won’t be able to ignore.

Winner: Ubuntu TV

It’s not clear as to how many tie-ups Ubuntu TV will have, but from what we’ve seen at CES, it’s enough to satisfy the needs of most TV-lovers. On the other hand, the Android-based Google TV goes one step further by providing an assortment of high quality apps, a domain that is very lucrative these days. Undoubtedly, if Ubuntu TV gets a big audience, it might catch up in this department; however, Google TV will always be a step ahead. Google has partnerships with a lot of content providers, and, not to forget, the movies and TV shows you can rent/buy from Netflix, Android store, and YouTube.

Winner: Google TV

At this early stage, it is difficult to know whether Ubuntu TV will be able to live up to its expectations or not. Also, don’t forget that Apple too is surreptitiously working on something big for the TV market. So, as good as Ubuntu TV might seem, it won’t be easy for Canonical to break into such a big market. Nevertheless, Ubuntu does promise to bring something unexpected and fresh to the TV market, and it might as well be the game-changing product we’ve been waiting for.

2012 starts off on a geeky note, with the most awaited technology event around called CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The event, considered as the Mecca for geeks, nerds, and tech journalists, has been hailed as the ultimate place to showcase your innovative products.

This year, CES saw some big changes taking place. The most important one was that this was the last CES event for Microsoft. On the other hand, our beloved Ubuntu made its first ever appearance at the event, and yes, it was a huge success.

Now, moving on from Ubuntu to another Linux-based OS, our much-adored Android showcased some amazing new tablets and smartphones at the event. And yep, we’ve got the best of those head-turners in this article just for you.

Toshiba Excite X10, the thinnest tablet computer at CES, has become quite popular among tablet computer enthusiasts. The most ‘exciting’ thing about Excite X10 is that it comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is the latest and the greatest that Android has to offer. Weighing in at just 1.2 lbs., this sleek beauty is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 processor. To make sure you can multitask smoothly, there’s about 1 GB of RAM. For the photo-enthusiast in you, there’s a 5 MP camera at the back, and a 2MP at the front. The price of this coveted device is $520 (16 GB model) and $600 (32 GB model).

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and comes with 1GB of memory. Running a Tegra 3 chip, this beast of a tablet also comes with a revolutionary anti-glare technology that makes it the perfect e-book reader. Iconia A700 will run on Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 with some Acer customizations. It has an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a 1080p display to make sure that you enjoy your movies and videos in style.

The Transformer Prime 700 Series is a variant of the original Asus Transformer Prime which we’ve talked about earlier. It comes with specs almost the same as Prime except for a full 1080p HD display. Apart from that, there are a few other changes here and there; but nonetheless, it’s still pretty much the same thing as Prime. In my opinion, it should have been called Transformer Prime HD instead of giving it a misleading name. That said, if you’re planning on buying a Prime, I’d suggest you to go for the 700 instead of its predecessor.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a cross between a tablet and a smartphone. Though the phone has been around for a while now, it was officially launched for the US market at CES. Running on AT&T’s network, Note features a 5.3-inch WXGA Super AMOLED HD display with a 1280x800 resolution. With a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, it can give a lot of tablets a run for their money. Also included in the package is the innovative new S-pen that allows users to write, draw, and doodle on their Droid just like they do on paper. Though the dated Gingerbread is kind of a bummer, Note still is one of the best Android smartphones -- oh wait tablets -- around.

Sony’s latest offering, the Xperia S, besides being backed by some powerful specs, does come with a few unique features of its own. On the specs front, the 4.3-incher comes with a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon processor along with an ample 1 GB of RAM. The most awesome feature about this phone is its 12 MP back camera that can make this phone quite popular amongst photography enthusiasts. However, the 1.3 MP camera could have been better.

Other unique features include Mobile BRAVIA engine (similar to the technology found in Sony TVs), Active Noise Cancellation, and PlayStation certification. The phone runs on Android 2.3 but Sony has promised an ICS upgrade in Q2 2012.

We’ve already talked about the lamentable battery life of Android smartphones, and how, to an extent you can fix them. Droid Razr Maxx, as the name aptly suggests, endeavors to get rid of that problem by promising you a 21 hours of talktime and 368 hours of standby time. Not just that, the Maxx comes with a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor along with an 8 MP camera. The phone weighs just 145g and is quite thin as compared to other Android devices. Maxx is a smartphone that’s totally worth the wait if you’re a Moto Razr fan.



Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Ubuntu, with its ease of use and beautiful design, has managed to become a desktop that is not just for geeks anymore. These days, more and more non-technical users are switching to Ubuntu, making it the fastest growing Linux distribution in the world. Now, as Ubuntu’s demand is soaring, the recently switched users are looking for applications that will help them perform simple tasks like video editing and music management.

While there is no dearth of music management apps on Ubuntu, video editing is an area that hasn’t seen much progress yet. Nevertheless, there are some great video editors for our beloved distro, which are quite as good as the ones you’ll find on Windows and Mac. So, if you’re looking for a great way to edit that holiday video you just shot, read on as we list the best video editing software applications for Ubuntu.

OpenShot is quite undoubtedly the best video editor on not just Ubuntu but also on Linux in general. Written in Python, the open-source video editor comes with a lot of amazing features. OpenShot includes support for many video, audio, and image formats, including, but not limited to: MKV, MOV, VOB, MP4, and MPEG.

The thing I love about OpenShot is that it is a complete application. What I mean by that is, you can make a whole movie without the need for any other software. From video transitions to scrolling movie-style credits at the end, OpenShot does pretty much everything you need from a video-editor.

If you’re a moviemaker, then OpenShot might not prove to be as great as Final Cut Pro or even Lightworks, but it will certainly serve as great bare bones editing tool for vloggers and budding filmmakers. Oh, but don’t make the mistake of writing off OpenShot as a simple video-editor. It also packs in a lot of advanced features like the famous Ken Burns effect, along with 20 other cool effects that will definitely add a little spunk to your movie.

To install, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

sudo apt-get install openshot

Avidemux is a non-linear video editor that allows users to edit and transcode videos. Written in C++, the open-source application comes with some great features that make it one of the most popular video-editing applications on this platform. Though not as easy to use as the aforementioned OpenShot, Avidemux does come with a well-designed interface. On the features front, the application includes support for video effects, transcoding, Optical Character Recognition ( OCR ) of subtitles, and much more.

The best feature of Avidemux is its ability to run as a GUI program as well as a command-line program. This saves a lot of time, especially for folks who love doing everything using the shell. Oh, and yeah, Avidemux also has multi-threading support, so expect it to run breezing fast once you install it on your desktop.

Install: sudo apt-get install avidemux

This is one of my personal favorites when it comes to quick, no-fuss video editing. PiTiVi comes with a basic interface allowing you to edit your videos and add some effects to it. This open-source application, which was also included as a default app in Ubuntu, is quite simply the most easy-to-use video editor around.

With PiTiVi, you can trim, snap, split, and cut a clip, and then, you can export it to various formats. You can also merge the video with a different audio clip, a feature that can be useful for a lot of people who like remixing videos and uploading them on YouTube.

Though the application is not as feature-loaded as OpenShot or Avidemux, it is still the perfect tool for anyone who is not that familiar with the basics of video editing. Don’t expect it to be your companion in Hollywood though. However, if you’re looking for a simple tool that can edit your family videos, PiTiVi is your best bet.

Install: sudo apt-get install pitivi

Apart from the aforementioned apps, there are some other good tools like Cinelerra, Kdenlive and Kino, but they don’t integrate that nicely with Ubuntu’s GNOME-based desktop. Nevertheless, they’re great choices too, especially if you’re looking for some powerful video editing tools.

In our struggle to stay fit and healthy, technology is something that has always played an important role. Whether it’s high-quality medicinal equipments or some 99-cent app, health is heavily influenced by technology these days.

On mobile devices too, developers are coming up with innovative new apps that help users stay fit or at least motivate them to do so. Also worth trying are apps that monitor health and provide accurate information about our health. These apps are aplenty on both iOS as well as Android, and can be used with or without other health-monitoring accessories. So, if you’re willing to kick off all the holiday pounds you have gained this season, read on as we cover the best health and fitness apps for Android.

One of the most popular Android apps in the marketplace, Endomondo uses your phone’s GPS to track your training activities. This means that whenever you go for a run, or a walk, Endomondo will track your distance, speed, and calculate the amount of calories you burned during that activity. You can then brag about your achievements on social media by sharing your workouts on Facebook and Twitter. Though you can use the app without an Endomondo account, I’d highly recommend creating one as it uploads all your workout data to your account on the web. Using the web version you can later review your activities and track your progress. -Worth a try for every fitness freak.

Trying to lose weight? Well, then this is the app that will help you in your struggle. Calorie Counter allows you to keep a daily diary of all the foods you eat. Say you ate eggs for lunch; then, simply enter eggs in the search bar, and that food will automatically get added to your daily diary. Thus, throughout the day if you enter everything you eat, you’ll get a better idea about how many calories you’re consuming each day.

Another great thing about this app is that it allows you to enter your weight-loss goals. Then, according to your goals, the app recommends you how much calories you should be consuming to achieve that target. The same works for people who’re trying to gain weight.

The app, even though requires you to create an account, can also be used as a simple calorie tracker without the need of signing up. Overall, Calorie Counter is a handy tool that helps you lose weight in a planned and systematic manner.

This is an app that lets you monitor your heart rate using your phone’s camera. The way this app works is quite simple: you place your index finger on the back camera, the app the tracks color changes on your finger tips -- which, in turn, are related to your heartbeat – and gives you an accurate reading of your heart rate. Even though it is not a substitute for medical care, the app can be helpful for those who’re into a habit of constantly checking their heart rate.

This app brings all the functionality of the popular WebMD site to your Android device. The app, which lets you check symptoms, view drug information, and self-educate on first-aid, can be quite useful for medical students, doctors, and hypochondriacs. Though can be useful for diagnosis, we do not recommend using it as a substitute for medical care.

Unlike Endomondo, which is a dedicated fitness app, MyTracks from Google does just one thing, and that is recording your GPS tracks. Whenever you go for a walk or run, just fire up MyTracks and it will start recording (depending on GPS availability) every step you take. When you’re finished, you can see important statistics like time, speed, distance, and elevation. Then, if you want, you can share your stats online using Google MyMaps, Twitter, Facebook, or Google Docs. Overall, a great free and trusted alternative to other sports tracking apps like Endomondo.

Note: The apps are not a substitute for professional medical help. To be on the safer side, it’s always better to check with your physician before taking up a new workout regime.


You may also check out: Free/Open Source Workout/Fitness Software for Linux