Now Run Android Apps on PC

BlueStacks App Player is a versatile program that bridges the gap between mobile and desktop by allowing users to run their favorite Android apps on their Windows or Mac OS X devices. An innovative "Cloud Connect" feature allows you to push apps from your Android device to Bluestacks, and vice versa. First released to the public in 2011, the program has continued to grow, and is currently free for download in its current beta form. Want to get a taste of Android on your desktop? Here's how to set up BlueStacks, as well as a rundown of some of its controls and interesting features. Be sure to check out the BlueStacks review from our friends at LAPTOP, too.

1. Installing BlueStacks

Download BlueStacks App Player for Windows

Download BlueStacks App Player for Mac OSX

Download BlueStacks Cloud Connect for Android

BlueStacks App Player is available for Windows and OSX computers, and is a quick, compact install to your boot drive (there's no option in the installer to go to a different drive or directory). The only choice you make during the install is whether to allow the program to make notifications, as well as the option to opt in to BlueStacks Spotlight, which holds daily app giveaways.

2. The Home Screen

Once installed, BlueStacks will boot up to its Home Screen, where you can access your installed apps, look up apps in the "Top Charts," search for apps, and access settings. You can use the mouse for basic touch controls here, with clicking and holding to simulate basic tap and swipe controls. From here, we'll need to do a bit more setup before you can get around to installing apps. You'll need to set up access to the Google Play store and associate a Google Account with BlueStacks.

MORE: 30 Best Apps for Rooted Android Phones

3. Setting up the App Store

With BlueStacks installed, the first thing you'll want to do is associate a Google Account so that you can get onto the Google Play store and download apps. Go to "My Apps" and click on "1-Click Sync Setup," which will bring up a wizard interface that will guide you through the process. Basically, you'll need to either create a Google account, or sign in with your existing one.

4. Setting up BlueStacks Cloud Connect

An optional step for users with an Android smartphone or tablet is to set up BlueStacks Cloud Connect, an app that allows you to push apps from your Android device to BlueStacks, and vice versa. Download Cloud Connect for your Android device, and then go to the Settings button on BlueStacks and click on "Cloud Connect".

If you have an Android phone, input an email address as well as your phone number. You will then receive instructions via email and SMS on how to connect your phone to Bluestacks, push apps, and sync SMS.

If you're running an Android tablet, you instead just use an email address to synch BlueStacks with your device. After registering BlueStacks Cloud Connect, you should receive an email containing a PIN number, which you input into the Cloud Connect app.

You should now be able to push apps between your device and BlueStacks. You're essentially istalling the same app on your desktop and mobile device, without syncing app data (such as login credentials or game progress). Still, it's an easy way to copy apps from your device to BlueStacks, or vice versa.

MORE: 40 Free and Useful Android Apps

5. Installing & Running Apps

If you're not going to sync apps to and from your Android device, you can just use the built in App Search to search for and install apps from Google Play, Amazon, or 1Mobile.

It may seem confusing at first, but BlueStacks won't let you get to its three built-in app markets directly. You'll need to go through the App Search button. Type in the name of the app you're looking for, and it will search 1Mobile, Amazon, and Google Play for matches, and give you the option to install apps from any of the above three stores.

Once you've accessed one of the three app stores, you can then navigate that store. Within Google Play, for instance, you can take advantage of the store's search and other features.

Once you return to the Home Screen, your newly installed app should be ready to run. BlueStacks can run an impressive variety of apps from social networking tools and multimedia apps to games. However, BlueStacks won't run everything, so expect a little trial and error for compatibility.

6. Controls & Settings

You should now have everything you need to install and run apps from BlueStacks, so we'll finish up with some extra notes on in-app controls, as well as settings. Unless you happen to be running a touchscreen rig or a Windows 8 tablet, you're going to need some way to approximate pinch to zoom, as well as tilt controls.

Pinch to Zoom: Control +, or Control -

Tilt Controls: 'Z' or 'X' can be used to simulate tilting a device left or right.

BlueStacks supports the use of gamepad controls for many apps, which will be a godsend for users looking to play Android games on a PC. Plug in your controller, and Bluestacks should inform you if a particular app supports a controller.

Finally, the Settings menu (gear icon) contains assorted system settings for language, keyboard settings, contacts and account management, and an app manager for uninstalling applications and setting their default sizes.

There's your quick visual tour of the BlueStacks App Player. It may not run every Android app perfectly, but BlueStacks puts you just a mouse click away from thousands of compelling choices.

Free Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising Credits Worth Over $30

Pay Per Click advertising (or simply PPC Advertising) is an Internet Marketing model where advertisers pay only when their advertisement is clicked.

The most popular Pay Per Click advertising networks are Google AdWords, Bing Ads (formerly Microsoft adCenter and MSN adCenter), and Yahoo! Search Marketing.

What’s interesting about the pay-per-click advertising model is that there’s no minimum spending requirement. For instance, you can set a daily budget of $5 and maximum cost per click (CPC) as 5 cents. And you pay only when someone clicks on your ad. It’s that simple!

Free Pay-Per-Click Advertising Credits

Start your Search Engine Marketing campaigns with free credits. Most of the pay-per-click advertising networks (Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, Microsoft adCenter, Ask.com, BidVertiser, Miva, etc.) offer free ad credits to attract new customers. So here are the various PPC networks and their available free ad credits. Sign up today!

Bing Ads Coupon

Bing Ads is now offering higher credits to attract more advertisers. The promotional credit depends upon your location and is different for different countries. Bing ad credit for the United States and Canada is $50, for UK it’s £50, for France it’s €50, for Germany it’s €50, for India it’s Rs. 1,000, for New Zealand it’s $40 NZD, and for Australia it’s $40 AUD. Moreover, your address, currency, and the coupon code should match (e.g. U.K. address, GBP currency; UK coupon).

Bing Ads Coupon (USA)

• Free Credits: $50
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free $50 Credit

Bing Ads Canada Coupon

• Free Credits: $50
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free $50 Credit

Bing Ads UK Coupon

• Free Credits: £50
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free £50 Credit

Bing Ads France Coupon

• Free Credits: €50
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free €50 Credit

Bing Ads Germany Coupon

• Free Credits: €50
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free €50 Credit

Bing Ads India Coupon

• Free Credits: Rs. 1,000
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free Rs. 1,000 Credit

Bing Ads Australia Coupon

• Free Credits: $40 AUD
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free $40 AUD Credit

Bing Ads New Zealand Coupon

• Free Credits: $40 NZD
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Bing Ads Free $40 NZD Credit

Yahoo! Search Marketing Coupon

As you probably know, Microsoft & Yahoo! formed the Yahoo Bing Network. So all you need is a Bing Ads account to advertise on the Yahoo Bing Network (an advertising marketplace made up of Yahoo, Bing, and their partner websites). But if your monthly budget is above $1,000 then you can sign up here and a Yahoo sales representative will contact you.

The Yahoo Bing Network is the combined advertising marketplace made up of Yahoo, Bing, and syndicated partner sites such as Facebook, Amazon, Monster, WebMD, CNBC, and Viacom, plus networks like The Wall Street Journal Digital Network.

Google AdWords Coupon

Google AdWords now requires you to accrue advertising charges ($5~50 – depending upon the voucher) in order to get free ad credits. You have to request your code by filling out a form and they’ll e-mail you the offer code.

• Free Credits: Up to $100*
• Initial Deposit: As applicable
• Promo Code: A coupon code will be sent by e-mail.
• Expiry: December 31, 2014
• Sign Up URL: $100 Credit (U.S. & Canada), $100 Credit (U.S. & Canada), $75 Credit(U.S. & Canada), £75 Credit (U.K.), $100 Credit (New Zealand), $100 Credit (Australia),€75 Credit (Netherlands), €75 Credits (Italy), €75 Credits (Germany), RUB 1,000 Credit(Russia),

*If the above AdWords links didn’t work for you or you haven’t received the coupon code by e-mail and you never opened an account before (an existing AdWords customer is not eligible for a promotional credit unless they invite you) or never redeemed a coupon before then you can call their support center and they’ll give you $100 credit (based on your location) to try AdWords.

BidVertiser Coupon

• Free Credits: $20
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: BidVertiser Free $20 Credit

Facebook Ads Coupon

• Free Credits: $50
• Initial Deposit: N/A
• Promo Code: N/A
• Sign Up URL: Facebook Free $50 Credit

Amazon Product Ads

• Free Credits: $75
• Initial Deposit: N/A
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• Sign Up URL: Amazon Product Ads

How to Install iOS 8 Beta

Apple unveiled iOS 8 at WWDC 2014 Keynote address earlier today, which includes a number of new features and improvements such as interactive notifications, support for third-party keyboards, widgets in Notification center and lots more.

It also seeded the first beta version of iOS 8 to developers.

If you’re a member of the iOS Developer Program and want to install iOS 8 beta  on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch then check out the step-by-step instructions.

Some important points before we start:

• We’re assuming that you’re a member of Apple’s iOS Developer program. If not you can enroll for the program for $99 per year.
• Beta versions are usually buggy, so please proceed at your own risk.
• You can also read this article to find out the reasons why you shouldn’t install iOS 7 beta.
• Please ensure that you’ve taken a backup of your iOS device to iCloud or iTunes before you upgrade to iOS 8 beta.
• Please note iOS 8 beta is only compatible with the following iOS devices:
  • iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S
  • iPad Air, Retina iPad mini, iPad with Retina Display (iPad 4, iPad 3), iPad 2, iPad mini
  • iPod touch (5th generation)

You can follow these step-by-step instructions to install iOS 8 beta on your iOS device:

Provisioning

This is where you assign devices for development and testing purpose

• Login to iOS Dev Center
• Click on the Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles at the top right of the sidebar
• Next click on Devices in the left navigational panel
• Then click on the + button to add your iOS device
  
• Here you need to enter the UDID of the iOS device, which is a 40 hex character string. You can find the UDID using either Xcode or iTunes:
  • Xcode method – Connect your device to your Mac and open Xcode. Then in Xcode, navigate to the ‘Window’ drop down menu and select ‘Organizer’. You should now see your device’s UDID. Double click on it to highlight and press Command+C to copy the UDID to your Clipboard.
  • iTunes method - Connect your iOS device to your Mac and launch iTunes. In iTunes, select your iOS device in the ‘Devices’ section and navigate to the Summary tab. Click on the Serial Number label, this will show the Identifier field and the 40 hex character UDID. Right click on the UDID and then click on Copy Identifier (UDID) to copy it to your clipboard.
• Go back to iOS Dev Center, now enter the name of the your iOS Device and paste the UDID that you have copied from the above step and click on the Continue button.
• You will be prompted to review the details. Click on the Register button, followed by Done to complete the registration process for your iOS device.

Download iOS Software

• Navigate back to the iOS Dev Center
• Under the iOS 8 Beta tab
• Download iOS 8 beta for your iOS device. Alternatively, you can download using the direct download links from this post.
• After it has been successfully downloaded, double click on the zip file to extract the .ipsw file.
• Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed

Install iOS 8 Beta

You can install iOS 8 Beta using Xcode or iTunes. It is a lot easier to install using iTunes and the preferred method for app testers, so I am mentioning the iTunes method here.

• Open iTunes
• Connect your iOS device to your Mac and launch iTunes.
• In iTunes, select your iOS device from the top right corner and navigate to the Summary tab.
• Hold down on the Option key (or the Shift key in Windows) and click theUpdate iPhone… (iPad or iPod touch) button.
• Now select the .ipsw file from the extracted folder to install iOS 8 beta and click on theOpen button.
• iTunes may prompt you that it will update your device with iOS 8. Click Ok to continue.
• You will get a ‘Slide to upgrade’ slider after it reboots. Swipe on the slider to proceed.
• Your device will reboot again, and you’ll be greeted with the ‘Hello’ welcome screen. Swipe on the ‘Slide to setup’ slider and tap on Continue and follow the on-screen instructions to setup your device.

That’s it, you’re all set to start testing your apps on your iOS device running iOS 8 beta.

As always, let us know how it goes in the comments section.

How to unlock the Nexus 5 bootloader

It's easier to unlock your Nexus 5 bootloader than it is to decide if you want to do it

If you're receiving your shiny new Nexus 5 in the near future, you'll want to think about unlocking the boot loader. It's a bigger undertaking than the folks on the Internet make it out to be, and doing it later is a huge pain in the kiester, so it's worth talking about. 

First things first. Since it's a Nexus device, it was designed to be easily unlocked. There is no extra encryption layer, no signing your life and warranty away at the website of the people who made your phone, and no software hacks to try to bust your way around things. You only need the SDK and be able to use the command line — which are things you need to know about before you ever decide to unlock your phone anyway.

The how is even easier. Turn on USB debugging on your Nexus, plug it in to a computer with a working SDK, and type the following commands:

• adb reboot-bootloader
• fastboot oem unlock

Then follow the instructions on your phone's screen. Really. That's it. It will erase everything on your phone, so it's a good idea to do this right away if you ever plan on using it. 

But before you do it, remember a couple things. Unlocking your boot loader makes your phone unsafe. Period. It just does. Think of how easy it is to unlock things. It's equally easy to get all your personal data off of the phone, even with a secure lock screen. Your boot loader is unlocked. The phone will flash any files it is told to flash — including ones used to root and suck everything out of it. There's also the warranty to think about, though Google has been more lenient on that than other OEMS — they say it "may" void your warranty, not it "will" void it. And finally, if you want to use the Nexus in any BYOD plan at work, check with your IT guys and make sure it's OK to do it. They like stuff to be as safe and secure as it can be.

In the end, it can be rewarding and is a crapload of fun, as long as you understand the risks.