Rooting the Asus Zenfone 5

What is ROOTING?!

Rooting is the process of allowing users gain privilege control over Android’s sub-system.

Why ROOT?!

Rooting is considered to be the ‘Holy Grail’ for advanced Android users. It allows specialized apps to run with admin level privileges that are otherwise locked on a normal or non-rooted Android phone. In addition, users can also make system wide changes, remove or freeze company specific apps that are otherwise non-removable or cannot be stopped, install custom ROMs, tweak CPU and GPU settings and a hell lot more!!

Who should consider ROOTING?!

Powerusers who want absolute flexibility and control over their Android smartphone. Read up before you tread down this dark and sublime path. There is no turning back!!

A good place to start would be www.xda-developers.com– one of the biggest Android community and people are always ready to help.

Always remember - If you do not know what you are getting into, your nice and shiny phone will be nothing more than a nice looking paperweight.

On the other hand, if you read up and understand the steps thoroughly, it opens up a wide range of possibilities. From more RAM to lesser background processes to keeping your identity safe from snooping apps. Hell!! You can even block in-app ads from popping up randomly!! A major deal breaker for most Android users

Having said that, the risk of ROOTING is yours to take and yours alone!! I am not responsible for any damage caused.

What are we going to achieve by rooting the Zenfone 5?!

      1.       Remove/block in-app ads

      2.       Greenify unwanted apps (Paid version)

How to root and receive OTA updates on the Zenfone 5 (KitKat 4.4)

What you will need:

Android USB Drivers: http://goo.gl/klivfH or http://goo.gl/7VCLst

Rooting Toolkit: http://23pin.logdown.com(download the latest version such as v3, v4, v5…)

At the time of writing, V3 was the latest

V. IMP: Make sure you download the right SKU package to root the Zenfone; else you might end up bricking the phone. WW for WW based versions, CHT for CHT based versions, TW for TW based versions

Here is how you check the build version

Settings > About > Software Version – See the build number

XXX_T00X_WW_XXX_2.19.40.18.XXXXX

How to enable ‘Developer Options’

Settings > About > Software Information > Rapid tap on ‘Build Number’ (Approx. 7 times)

You will now be able to see the above mentioned menu under ‘Settings’

Enable USB Debugging: Settings > Developer Options > Check ‘USB Debugging’

Make sure that your drivers for the ZenFone are installed

Do this by right clicking on ‘My Computer’ – then click ‘Properties | Device Manager’

Psst: Please connect the phone to check the status of the drivers

Jump here once the drivers have been installed

Unzip the file ‘RootZenFone5KitKatv3-XX.zip’ - where XX is the SKU specific to the phone you are rooting.

Follow the steps:

      1.       Set it to ‘Airplane’ mode

      2.       Connect it to your Laptop or PC

      3.       Enable USB Debugging (If not enabled)

      4.       Execute ‘CheckBeforeAction’ to confirm if the device is readable and ready to ‘Root’

      5.       Execute ‘Root-ZenFone’

      6.       Sit back and follow the instructions

      7.       Don’t panic!! The phone will reboot a few times during the rooting process

      8.       Once the rooting process is over, open CMD by executing ‘EnterShell’

      9.       Type ‘SU’ and hit ‘Enter’

      10.   You may or may not see this – ‘Success ROOT Hello!’

      11.   Reboot your phone

To remove ROOT, execute ‘UnRoot-ZenFone’ and follow the steps

Once you are done rooting, do take the time to update all necessary apps. Even the SuperUser library (installs during the rooting process)

Head to ‘Settings | Security’ and enable ‘Unknown sources’ and ‘Verify apps’

1. Download and Install the Xposed Framework. Click ‘Done’ after installation and not ‘OPEN’. DO NOT RUN THE APP AND DO NOT INSTALL THE FRAMEWORK.

Connect the phone to your Laptop or Desktop.

2. Unzip the contents of ADB Fastbool Tool.zip to ‘C:\’ or to your own preferred location. Navigate to the extracted location and execute ‘OPEN’ or ‘OPEN.cmd’. This is what you should be able to view when ‘OPEN.cmd’ is executed. Where 'E:\' is the drive partition, '!Zenfone' is where the zip file is saved to and 'ADB' is my current working folder. (Image below)

3. Execute the following commands

adb devices (checks if your device is connected or not)

adb shell (hit Enter)

su (hit Enter and look to your phone and click ‘OK’)

echo 148 > /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/jit_reset_offset (hit Enter)

chmod 664 /data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/conf/jit_reset_offset (hit Enter)

4. Open Xposed, click ‘Framework’ and hit ‘Install/Update’. Reboot your phone

Disabling in-app ads with MinMinGuard

     1.  Open Xposed | access Download | search for ‘MinMinGuard’ | access ‘Repository’.

     2.  You can access the link and download the apk either via your browser or you could just let Xposed install it automatically.

     3.  If the file has been downloaded using the browser install the apk by accessing the download folder. Use your installed file manager to access the apk.

     4.  Open Xposed | access ‘Modules’ | enable ‘MinMinGuard’. Reboot the phone. (You will need to enable the modules and reboot after every app installation for them to work.

You can now disable Ads across any given app. Access MinMinGuard and select the app where the Ads need to be blocked.

Greenify

The main purpose of using Greenify is to stop memory hogging apps from running in the background. It also prevents apps from waking up the device; thus reducing the number of wakelocks.

Installing and using Greenify (paid version)

      1. Install the appand the donation package

      2. Enable the module in Xposed (Reboot device)

      3. Open ‘Greenify’ | click the three dots towards the bottom right and choose ‘Experimental features’

      4. By default the ‘Working mode’ will be Root (assuming your device is rooted) – change it to ‘Boost’ (The system will freeze for a moment. Sit back and wait for it to initialize. Your phone might also soft boot. Don’t panic!!)

      5. Re-open Greenify (if closed). Head to ‘Experimental features’ and enable all except ‘Wake-up Tracker & Cutoff’ – DO NOT ENABLE THIS. You phone might go into a BOOT LOOP

To Greenify an App click the ‘+’ sign and select the desired app. You can also go on selecting to add multiple apps. Once done, click the ‘Check mark’ on the top right side of the app. That’s about it. Your apps should now go to sleep once the phone goes into standby. Greenify is best used in conjunction with Wakelock Detector.

Psst: It is recommended to not Greenify system apps. It unnecessarily breaks the functionality of the Android OS and in turn ends up consuming more battery.

Apps worth the download –

Wakelock Detector – Ever wondered as to why your battery falls drastically when locked?! The sole reason for this is due to ‘wakelocks’ – power-managing software mechanisms, which prevent your device from attaining deep sleep (a state that should kick in when the device is locked).

This nifty little app shows the usage statistics of apps that have kept your phone from sleeping since boot. Most effective when combined with Greenify.

Titanium Backup – The Grandfather of all backups. If you are rooted then this is well worth every penny. It is loaded till the brim with features and various backup options. A must have for any rooted phone. BUY IT!!

AFWall+- Some apps have the tendency to connect and download data even when they aren’t supposed to. This is where a Firewall such as the AFWall+ comes into play. With the AFWall+ installed you can decide which apps have access to the Internet or you can choose to permanently block them from gaining access.

Root Explorer – One of the few file managers I recommend on a rooted phone. If you like tinkering with the Android file system then this is one app that will make you grin from ear to ear. However, I would recommend you to only buy it if you know what you are getting into. Making changes to the Android file system can brick your device.

Lockdown Pro – Probably one the best app lock programs there is on the Play Store. Apart from the conventional method of locking specific apps, Lockdown Pro goes a step further by implementing a set of classic features. And this is where it triumphs over other similar apps.

To start with there is a ‘Private Gallery’ that allows you to hide personal pictures and videos from being viewed without your given consent. However, the feature that I personally find best is the implementation of ‘Smart Lock’. You can lock or unlock access to apps when it connects to other registered devices such as a wearable or when your phone connects to a registered WiFi address, such as your home router. In addition you can also register locations to lock/unlock your apps.

AppMonster– A very simple straight forward app backup solution. If you find the need to only make backups and not your data then this will suffice. Else you can turn to Titanium Backup for fully fledged backups.

SHAREit– Honestly speaking, this app takes sharing to a whole new level. Files, folders, apps, music, pictures – anything and everything can be shared either with a single user or a group of users (Max 5). And it supports cross-platform sharing; which means you can share files and folders with Apple users and Windows users and vice-versa with much ease.

OfficeSuite 8 – One of the best OfficeSuit I have used till date. The whole UI has gone through a major overhaul. Not only have they made it easier to use but what you get is a desktop type experience on a smartphone or tablet. The only drawback are the in-app ads that take up a major chunk of space towards the bottom. But if you are rooted you will know how to block these ads and gain the extra bit of space.

The rooting method was first compiled by Shakalaca

Asus Zenfone 5: Performance on a budget

The Asus Zenfone has raised and turned quite a few heads in the smartphone segment. Not only has Asus managed to hit all the right notes with the Zenfone but has also dethroned the Moto G to be the next 'King' of budget phones. Don't get me wrong here. Both phones are top notch when it comes to build quality and ergonomics. However, the main aspect where the Moto G falls short on is the performance and package contents. The G only ships with a MicroUSB cable. There is no headphone or even a charging adapter. The 8 GB and 16 GB versions sell for Rs. 12,499 and Rs. 13,999 respectively. The Asus Zenfone 5 on the other hand retails for Rs. 9999 (8 GB) and Rs. 12,999 (16 GB). Below is a comparison sheet of both the Zenfone 5 and the Moto G.

		Asus Zenfone 5	Motorola Moto G
Display
Type		IPS capacitive touchscreen	IPS capacitive touchscreen
Size		720 x 1280 pixels, 5.0 inches	720 x 1280 pixels, 4.5 inches
Pixel Density		294 PPI	326 PPI
Memory
Internal | RAM		8/16 GB | 2 GB	8/16 GB | 1 GB
Expansion slot		MicroSD upto 64 GB	No
Camera
Primary		8 MP (3264 x 2448 pixels)	5 MP (2592 х 1944 pixels)
Secondary		2 MP	1.3 MP
OS		Android 4.3, upgradable to 4.4.2 KitKat	Android 4.3, upgradable to 4.4.3 KitKat
Chipset		Intel Atom Z2560	Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400
CPU		Hyperthreaded Dual-core 1.6 GHz	Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU		PowerVR SGX544MP2 | 533 MHz	Adreno 305 | 450 MHz

What’s in the box?!

A charging head, a cable approximately 1.5 meters long, in-ear headphones, a warranty card and a user manual. So that sums up the whole package contents (with the phone obviously).

The Zenfone 5

For its size and build the Zenfone 5 is surprisingly light. It’s even lighter than the S3 which I had previously. It comes with a 5-inch IPS capacitive screen that has a pixel resolution of 294 ppi. The fit and finish is top notch and the rubberized rear (though plastic) adds an extra bit of confidence when held.

The Zenfone 5 houses a non-removable 2110 mAh battery, an Intel Atom (Saltwell) processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, a PowerVR SGX544 MP2 GPU clocked at 533 MHz, 2 GB of LPDDR2 RAM, support for two micro SIM cards and an expansion slot that can accommodate a 64 GB microSD card. For under 10k, that’s one heck of a configuration.

Booting and Installation

Setting up the phone was easy however I did tend to get a bit lost trying to configure Asus’s free online WebStorage (3 GB). According to me, they should shift their personal customizations after the user boots into the OS. There was a point during installation where I couldn’t gain access to the home-screen. It took me a whole 5 minutes to find my way out.

Bundled Software

The phone comes with a decent set of bundled software. Apart from the already mentioneda Asus WebStorage the Zenfone 5 comes with their proprietary calendar, a ‘Do It Later’ task manager, an audio wizard and a Splendid mode, which basically allows you to either enhance or adjust the overall color temperature. There are three more additional features which is the PC Link, Remote Link and Share Link; all housed inside one folder which Asus aptly named as the ZenLink.

Performance

For a budget phone the Asus ZenFone 5 returned a decent score of 19611 in AnTuTu X, giving it a lead of 1655 points over Samsung’s Galaxy S3 (which still retails for Rs. 20,000+). The PowerVR SGX544 MP2 sets new standards when it comes to 2D (1651) and 3D (6738) gaming, beating the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Sony Experia Z and the Google Nexus 7. You can check the chart given below.

		AnTuTu X Benchmark
		2D Graphics	3D Graphics
Asus Zenfone 5		1651	6738
HTC One		1567	6421
Samsung Galaxy Note 2		1492	4477
Sony Experia Z		1451	5856
Google Nexus 7		1642	5771
Samsung Galaxy S3		1257	3701

Both Asphalt 8 and Real Racing 3 played flawlessly at their highest settings and with 1.2 GB of free memory at your disposal switching between apps has never been this smooth.

Headphone Performance

If you love a little base in your music then you will enjoy these bundled headphones. I have personally enjoyed the Cowon EM1 for the last one year on the Galaxy S3 but they sound rather flat when used with the Zenfone 5.

Let me put it this way, just to give you a comparison of the overall performance. The headphone bundled with the Zenfone 5 is what Cowon EM1 was with the Galaxy S3. And on a scale of 10 I would give it an 8.5 for audio.

They are small, extremely compact and snugly fit the ear with much ease. Also, the headphones come with 3 different size ear pads, thus allowing you to choose the one that fit you best.

Battery Life

The battery will last for about 7 hours to 7 hours 30 minutes with nothing left to spare. Here is how a very generalized test was conducted.

Google Navigation: 15 min

Music: 4 hours

Web Browsing: 20 min

Gaming: 25 min

Movie @ 720p: 2 hours 20 min

*Mobile network (3G) was left on throughout the testing process

Do note that the Zenfone 5 was not operating on just one SIM, but on two. This also reduces battery as the phone needs to handle two networks rather than just one.

If you are not a heavy user the battery should last for about 9 to 9 hours 30 min. But then again it all depends on usage.

Verdict

I have had this phone for a while and the overall experience has been astoundingly good. For Rs. 9999, I personally don’t think there is a better performing phone than the Asus Zenfone 5. Do keep in mind that there is no update to KitKat (4.4.2) as of now. So you will have to make do with JellyBean (4.3) for a month or so.

Google IO 2014 - Features and aspects to look forward to

From Android One to Google's most ambitious release yet – Android L, this year’s Google IO has left us with a number of aspects to look forward to.

Android One – The Next Five Billion

Google might have leap frogged over the last couple to years to be one of the most notable smartphone OS giant. From 77-million (2011) to 223-million (2012) to 528-million (2013) – Google Android is witnessing more than double the sales with each passing year.

While smartphone users account for well over a billion users there are still 5-billion worldwide who don’t have access to a smartphone. Android One is Google’s solution to reach out to the next 5-billion users. It is an ecosystem specifically designed to help local hardware vendors build better and affordable smartphones. Moreover, the search giant will prequalify a number of vendors who will then be allowed to build around this solution. Bloatware will take a back stage with Android One as all devices manufactured under this ecosystem will feature Google’s stock Android. Spice, Karbonn and Micromax are the three manufacturers who have been roped into this new ecosystem.

Android L

Google’s next OS update will, well, be non-other than the mentioned Android L. While the term ‘L’ isn’t exactly what it will be called, the company gave users around the world a glimpse of what to expect. First off, the new talked about OS is more mature and streamlined than it has ever been. Everything about the Android operating system has seen an enhancement in some way or another. So let’s start off with one of the biggest changes that will be seen in the next iteration of Android.

Android L Developer SDK - http://developer.android.com/preview/index.html

Material Design

With material design Google plans to make their OS bolder, colorful with a rich set of animations. Android L will bring a fresh new look to an otherwise flat painted OS. The new UI comes with an added quadrant which provides a unique perspective to both designers and users alike. For instance, in mathematical terms there always is a horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) plain, which basically gives you the width and height of any object. The extra quadrant (Z) here signifies depth or elevation across all Google enabled devices or apps. So what you get is an interface that is intuitive, well-spaced, aesthetically colorful and rippled with a set of well-conceived animated feedback. Material Design is not only limited to smartphone and tablets but will be made available across all Google enabled segments.

Enhanced Notifications

Now, rather than having to open your look screen to access notifications, Android L will now display them on the lock screen itself. You can just swipe down to get a detailed view of each notification or swipe across to remove. Moreover, the also learns and prioritizes those notifications you will likely respond to. 

There is a new heads up display which has been added too (though this has been existent on custom ROMs for a very long time). For instance, a call notification will hover over whatever you are doing rather than have you exit the app to answer; allowing you to either swipe across or dismiss the incoming call. 

Personal Unlocking & Recents

With Android L users can set specific access points as trusted. Access points could be anything from a Wi-Fi enabled router to a Bluetooth enabled device or even location specific. Your phone automatically unlocks whenever it comes within range of such predefined access points.

With the new recents update, applications will now be able to store multiple pages within the recent app menu. This basically eliminates the need to juggle between webpages you currently visited using Chrome.

Improved Performance and ART 

ART will now be the default Runtime in Android L. Expect twice the performance over Dalvik along with 64-bit compatibility in the upcoming L.

In addition Graphics Processing or GPU have also been enhanced. Google has thrown in an Android Extension Pack, allowing game developers make use of tessellation, geometry shaders, computer shadrers and lighting, thus making graphics more realistic and comparable to DirectX 11.

Project Volta

With a rich number of features the battery life is always the number one concern with Android users. With project Volta, Android L is said to feature a Battery Historian, which will basically provide in-depth detail of battery consuming processes. Also etched into Project Volta is a new Power Saving Mode which is said to enhance battery life by cutting down on the performance.

Android Auto

With a redesigned interface Android Auto has been designed to specifically carry out tasks that users generally do while driving. This will include, Turn-by-Turn navigation, Communication and Music – all this and more without getting your hands off the steering wheel. 40 new partners and the Open Automotive Alliance have signed up for the Android Auto experience with 25 car brands planning to bring in Auto enabled cars sometime this year.

You can also choose to watch the keynote below provided you have two and a half hours to spare. Key time-frames have been provided below so you won't need to hunt for specific sections.

0:00:00		Intro & statistics - Sundar Pichai	0:09:44		Android One
0:13:03		Material Design - Mitias Duarte	0:21:43		Android L Features - Dave Burke
0:28:43		Mobile Web Integration - Avni Shah	0:36:26		Android L Performance - Dave Burke
0:39:25		Android L GPU Performance	0:41:57		Project Volta
0:44:30		Android Innovation & Play Services	0:46:02		Android Security
0:47:27		Android Connectivity	0:49:35		Android Wear - David Singleton
0:59:38		Android Wear SDK	1:05:44		Android Auto - Patrick Brady
1:16:12		Android TV - Dave Burke	1:23:02		Android Games
1:27:48		Chromecast & Google Cast - Rishi Chandra	1:38:15		Chromebook - Sundar Pichai
1:43:57		Unified Android Experience & Enterprise Security	1:46:35		Google Docs & Productivity
1:55:27		Google Cloud - Urs Holzle	1:59:36		Developer Productivity - Greg Michele
2:07:06		Cloud Data Analytics	2:08:54		Cloud Dataflow Analysis - Eric Schmidt
2:15:54		Google Play Developer Tools - Ellie Powers	2:19:00		Google Fit
2:21:46		Google Play Games	2:23:59		Google Play Direct Carrier Billing

Computex 2014 - ASUS launches a whole new lineup for ROG enthusiasts

It’s raining ASUS in this year’s Computex 2014. But let us not forget to mention Intel’s newly launched mouthwatering upgrade to their current range of Haswell processors, better known as Devil’s Canyon- and what a response to enthusiasts from around the world. An unlocked core processor brings about a wicked grin to our otherwise calm and composed nature. Now back to ASUS!!

ASUS ROG Maximus VII Formula

The ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) as a brand has always catered to a wide range of computer hardware specifically targeted towards gaming enthusiasts. The Z97 ROG has done just that. The motherboard is an upgrade of their previous Z87 based chipset. It comes with enhancements such as SATA Express, M.2 ports and enhanced DPC Latency. And just like its older sibling, the Z97 comes covered with a fully-fledged body plate that covers both the front and rear of the motherboard. Talk about a motherboard on steroids!!

ASUS ROG Maximus VII Impact

Here again the Maximus VII Impact sees an upgrade to the already existing Impact VI. It comes with 3 new updates or should I say upgrades:

1. An enhanced power delivery daughterboard (Impact Power II)

2. An enhanced audio daughterboard (SupremeFX Impact II)

3. mPCIe (M.2 port) Combo IV with 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.0

ASUS ROG Crossblade Ranger

The Crossblade Ranger is ASUS’s first FM2+ based ROG motherboard; the previous being the Crosshair IV Formula for AM3+. As far as specifications are concerned, the board features SupremeFX audio, 8 SATA ports, Keybot, Slow Mode, LN2 Mode and an Intel Network Interface Controller on an AMD based board. Say what?!

ASUS ROG Ares III

When it comes to benchmark results and raw performance there are only a few that can go head on with Asus ROG series of graphic cards.  The Ares III comes in as a limited edition where only 500 of these mammoth cards will be produced; each one getting their own unique number. It houses two R9 290X (aka - AMD Radeon Hawaii XT) based GPUs coupled with a whopping 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. What’s baffling is the form factor as this dual GPU beast occupies only a single slot. And did I mention that the Ares III is a water-cooled edition graphics card?! Wipe that drool!! Wipe that drool!!

ASUS ROG GX500

The day for portable Ultra High Definition has come in and it comes in the form of the ROG GX500. With a screen resolution measuring 3840x2160 across a 15.6-inch screen, the GX500 comes with a pixel density of 290 PPI. The notebook weighs in at 2.2kgs and will feature a top of the line i7 processor coupled with an Nvidia GTX860M based GPU. The Notebook is said to measure just 19mm at its thickest and will make use of a dual fan cooling system. The GX500 is expected to launch sometime during the third quarter, 2014.

ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q

The ROG Swift PG278Q is ASUS’s first 27-inch monitor coupled with NVIDIAs G-Sync. The PG278Q comes with a dedicated button that allows the user to switch between refresh rates (60 Hz to 120 Hz to 144 Hz) on the fly. As claimed by ASUS, the monitor is said to come with a response time of 1ms, 1 Display Port, 2 USB-3 ports and a 5-way joystick for the On Screen Display.

The ASUS ROG Swift PG278Q is set for release towards the end of July and will come with an approximate price tag of Rs. 48,000. OUCH!!

ASUS ROG G20 Gaming Desktop

The ASUS ROG range of hardware has always been the most eye-catching in terms of design and the ROG G20 Gaming Desktop by ASUS is no exception. Aggressively designed, the G20 chassis houses an Intel Haswell Core i7 CPU along with an Nvidia GTX 780. The lighting on case is user controlled and can be adjusted to any of the predefined 8-million colors.

The ROG G20 is said to be priced between Rs. 48,000 to Rs. 1,02,000. All dependent on the components the user plans to slap in.

ASUS ROG GR8 Console Gaming PC

The GR8 is a small form factor (SFF) gaming PC that houses the Intel Core i7 and Nvidia’s GTX750Ti. In addition, the GR8 features SupremeFX audio, optimized gigabit Ethernet and upgradable storage/memory. The console gaming PC also comes with a Miracast receiver, allowing users to connect supported Android based smartphones, tablets and Windows 8.1 PCs. The ASUS GR8 will initially come with Windows 8.1 followed by support for Valve’s SteamOS.