A Guide To Understanding Android App Permissions (& How To Manage Them)

Apps dominate our usage of smartphones and while Apple’s App Store has stringent criteria for apps to get in, Google’s Play Store is relatively more lenient. As an Android app user, you should be aware of the type of data the apps you use are taking from you.

On top of that, you will need to start reading up on the "permission slips" you have been giving apps that you download to your phone, or risk opening yourself up to major privacy and security issues.

App Ops

In this guide, we will be highlighting some of the app permissions you need to pay more attention to, and which are valid permissions that apps are obligated to ask for.

With a bit of vigilance, it’s entirely possible to minimize risks by learning how to better manage your app permissions (and to revoke them if necessary). Here’s a look into Android app permissions and what to do about them.

What Are App Permissions?

First things first, Android app permissions aren’t requests, they’re declarations. Unless you’re root ed, you have no say – short of choosing to not install the app – in whether the app will receive all the permissions it requires.

When you install an app from the Play Store, you’ll get a pop up listing all the permissions that the app requires, things like access to your storage, phone calls, network communciation etc. Read through this list.

Play Store Permissions

It’s all too easy to treat the permissions list like an EULA (which nobody ever reads) but skipping over these permissions could mean the difference between having your data securely on your device or having all of it at the fingertips of unscrupulous app developers.

5 Permissions You Should Be Wary Of

There are a few permissions that you should be wary of, not because they’re necessarily dangerous, but because there could be wide-ranging repercussions if data from these permissions were to fall into the wrong hands. Note that these aren’t the only permissions you should worry about – it’s a start.

If you want to know more, check out the list and discussion of Android app permissions by AndroidForums.com user Alostpacket. There’s also a detailed list of permissions on the official Android Developers page. Most of the recapped information here comes from both resources.

1. Location

There are two types of location permissions that Android applications can require: "approximate location (network-based)" and "precise location (GPS and network-based)".

Location

What would apps need my precise location for? Well, navigation apps like Waze will require such information to work. Similarly social media applications want to include your location in photos and uploads. Crucially, applications which implement location-based advertising will also need access to such information. It’s just one of the many sacrifices you have to make when using a free, ad-supported app.

2. Phone Status And Identity

This is a bit of a problematic permission, because "read phone status and identity" encompasses everything from something as innocuous as needing to know when a phone call is coming in, to having access to crucially important data such as your device’s IMEI number.

Read Phone Status And Identity

While this permission is often safe, the potential for wrongdoing is huge, so do exercise caution when apps require this permission. If there doesn’t seem to be any real reason for the app to require this permission, it might be a good thing to think twice before installing it.

3. Read And Modify Your Contacts

These permission to "Modify your contacts, read your contacts" gives an app unfettered access to your contacts’ data. While both can be problematic, the "modify" permission is especially dangerous since it would let an app read all the contact information you have on your phone. This includes how often you communicate with particular contacts.

Read And Modify Your Contacts

SMS apps, contact management apps, dialer replacement apps and even some social media apps will need one or both of these applications, but apps without any social aspect to them have on reason to require this.

4. SMS And MMS-Related Permissions

These permissions could potentially cost you a lot of money, if malicious apps use these permissions to send illegitimate SMSes or tack on extra charges onto each SMS and MMS you send.

SMS Related Permissions

The "read your text messages" and "receive text messages permissions" can also potentially result in your privacy being compromised. If there’s no real reason for an app to require these permissions, avoid it.

However, there are perfectly valid reasons an app would require these permissions, especially if it’s an SMS app. Again, a bit of reasoning should save you from having to deal with any issues related to this permission.

5. Account-Related Permissions

"Find accounts on the device" lets the app check with Android’s built in Account Manager on whether you have any accounts on services such as Google, Facebook and so on.

"Use accounts on the device" lets the app ask for permission to use the account. Once this permission is granted, the app won’t have to request it again; the concern, of course, comes if the app is malicious and continues to do things in the background in your name.

Account-Related Permissions

Another related permission to watch out for is "create accounts and set passwords", which lets the app authenticate credentials. A malicious app can take advantage of this permission to get your password by phishing you.

Ways To Stay Safe

There are a few things you can do to stay on top of app security.

1. The best way to stay safe is not to immediately avoid any apps that require problematic permissions but instead, to look at the app itself and use reasoning to figure out whether the app really requires these permissions.

2. You can also send an email to the developer asking about the permissions. If the reply isn’t satisfactory, or if you don’t get a reply at all, then you should most probably give the app a miss.

3. You should also take advantage of the huge Android community if you’re unsure about the security of a particular app. Read reviews on the Play Store and check forums and Android-centric news sites to see if there have been any complaints about the app recently. It’s a bit of work, sure, but better be safe than sorry.

Managing App Permissions

If you’ve let apps have access to any of your accounts such as Facebook or Google, it’d be a good idea to go to your account settings and manage your account permissions, if the website has such a feature.

Google Account Permissions

You can also check what permissions certain apps have by going into Settings > Apps. Just select an app and scroll down to see the permissions it has.

Permissions Manager Apps

You can also use an app such as Permission Explorer, which lets you filter by categories, apps and permissions, and can give you a much more detailed breakdown of the permissions granted to the app. Other similar apps you can try are Permissions Observatory and App Permissions.

App Info And Permission Explorer

Regardless of the app you choose, spending some time going through the permissions of apps currently installed on your Android device should help you establish whether there are any apps with problematic permissions that need to be revoked or perhaps even uninstalled entirely.

Revoking App Permissions

Once you’ve found some offending apps, it’s time to decide on a course of action. There’s currently no built-in way to manage app permissions in the latest version of Android, since Google chose to remove the AppOps feature from Android 4.4.2.

However, if you’re still running Android 4.3, it wouldn’t hurt to give AppOps a go to see if it helps you access the built-in permissions manager.

App Ops

If you’re running stock, unrooted 4.4.2 (or a version prior to 4.3), you’re pretty much out of luck when it comes to revoking app permissions short of completely uninstalling the application. However, if you are rooted, then you have a few more options.

Permissions Manager Apps (Rooted)

If you have the Xposed Framework installed, you can give XPrivacy a go. XPrivacy is one of the best permissions manager applications available, letting you tweak, block and revoke almost every permission an app might require. You can also use the XPrivacy Installer to help you install both Xposed Framework and XPrivacy itself.

XPrivacy

If you’re willing to install a completely new ROM, or plan to do so anyway, there are also certain custom ROMs that come with permission management features built-in.

The popular CyanogenMod has a Privacy Guard feature which, as of last year, comes with Android 4.3′s AppOps integrated into it. Other ROMs such as Purity ROM also have a similar feature.

CyanogenMod Privacy Guard

Conclusion

It’s hard to deny that, by default at least, Android’s privacy and security settings are a bit lacking. Between occasionally confusing permission names, to an inability to selectively grant permissions, this is definitely something that Android should work on.

However, even with these issues, it’s still entirely possible to stay on top of things and ensure the security of your data by being vigilant about the apps you install and the permissions that these apps require. After all, it’s your data on your phone – you have control.




via hongkiat.com http://ift.tt/1tanAI6

A Guide To Understanding Android App Permissions (& How To Manage Them)

Apps dominate our usage of smartphones and while Apple’s App Store has stringent criteria for apps to get in, Google’s Play Store is relatively more lenient. As an Android app user, you should be aware of the type of data the apps you use are taking from you.

On top of that, you will need to start reading up on the "permission slips" you have been giving apps that you download to your phone, or risk opening yourself up to major privacy and security issues.

App Ops

In this guide, we will be highlighting some of the app permissions you need to pay more attention to, and which are valid permissions that apps are obligated to ask for.

With a bit of vigilance, it’s entirely possible to minimize risks by learning how to better manage your app permissions (and to revoke them if necessary). Here’s a look into Android app permissions and what to do about them.

What Are App Permissions?

First things first, Android app permissions aren’t requests, they’re declarations. Unless you’re root ed, you have no say – short of choosing to not install the app – in whether the app will receive all the permissions it requires.

When you install an app from the Play Store, you’ll get a pop up listing all the permissions that the app requires, things like access to your storage, phone calls, network communciation etc. Read through this list.

Play Store Permissions

It’s all too easy to treat the permissions list like an EULA (which nobody ever reads) but skipping over these permissions could mean the difference between having your data securely on your device or having all of it at the fingertips of unscrupulous app developers.

5 Permissions You Should Be Wary Of

There are a few permissions that you should be wary of, not because they’re necessarily dangerous, but because there could be wide-ranging repercussions if data from these permissions were to fall into the wrong hands. Note that these aren’t the only permissions you should worry about – it’s a start.

If you want to know more, check out the list and discussion of Android app permissions by AndroidForums.com user Alostpacket. There’s also a detailed list of permissions on the official Android Developers page. Most of the recapped information here comes from both resources.

1. Location

There are two types of location permissions that Android applications can require: "approximate location (network-based)" and "precise location (GPS and network-based)".

Location

What would apps need my precise location for? Well, navigation apps like Waze will require such information to work. Similarly social media applications want to include your location in photos and uploads. Crucially, applications which implement location-based advertising will also need access to such information. It’s just one of the many sacrifices you have to make when using a free, ad-supported app.

2. Phone Status And Identity

This is a bit of a problematic permission, because "read phone status and identity" encompasses everything from something as innocuous as needing to know when a phone call is coming in, to having access to crucially important data such as your device’s IMEI number.

Read Phone Status And Identity

While this permission is often safe, the potential for wrongdoing is huge, so do exercise caution when apps require this permission. If there doesn’t seem to be any real reason for the app to require this permission, it might be a good thing to think twice before installing it.

3. Read And Modify Your Contacts

These permission to "Modify your contacts, read your contacts" gives an app unfettered access to your contacts’ data. While both can be problematic, the "modify" permission is especially dangerous since it would let an app read all the contact information you have on your phone. This includes how often you communicate with particular contacts.

Read And Modify Your Contacts

SMS apps, contact management apps, dialer replacement apps and even some social media apps will need one or both of these applications, but apps without any social aspect to them have on reason to require this.

4. SMS And MMS-Related Permissions

These permissions could potentially cost you a lot of money, if malicious apps use these permissions to send illegitimate SMSes or tack on extra charges onto each SMS and MMS you send.

SMS Related Permissions

The "read your text messages" and "receive text messages permissions" can also potentially result in your privacy being compromised. If there’s no real reason for an app to require these permissions, avoid it.

However, there are perfectly valid reasons an app would require these permissions, especially if it’s an SMS app. Again, a bit of reasoning should save you from having to deal with any issues related to this permission.

5. Account-Related Permissions

"Find accounts on the device" lets the app check with Android’s built in Account Manager on whether you have any accounts on services such as Google, Facebook and so on.

"Use accounts on the device" lets the app ask for permission to use the account. Once this permission is granted, the app won’t have to request it again; the concern, of course, comes if the app is malicious and continues to do things in the background in your name.

Account-Related Permissions

Another related permission to watch out for is "create accounts and set passwords", which lets the app authenticate credentials. A malicious app can take advantage of this permission to get your password by phishing you.

Ways To Stay Safe

There are a few things you can do to stay on top of app security.

1. The best way to stay safe is not to immediately avoid any apps that require problematic permissions but instead, to look at the app itself and use reasoning to figure out whether the app really requires these permissions.

2. You can also send an email to the developer asking about the permissions. If the reply isn’t satisfactory, or if you don’t get a reply at all, then you should most probably give the app a miss.

3. You should also take advantage of the huge Android community if you’re unsure about the security of a particular app. Read reviews on the Play Store and check forums and Android-centric news sites to see if there have been any complaints about the app recently. It’s a bit of work, sure, but better be safe than sorry.

Managing App Permissions

If you’ve let apps have access to any of your accounts such as Facebook or Google, it’d be a good idea to go to your account settings and manage your account permissions, if the website has such a feature.

Google Account Permissions

You can also check what permissions certain apps have by going into Settings > Apps. Just select an app and scroll down to see the permissions it has.

Permissions Manager Apps

You can also use an app such as Permission Explorer, which lets you filter by categories, apps and permissions, and can give you a much more detailed breakdown of the permissions granted to the app. Other similar apps you can try are Permissions Observatory and App Permissions.

App Info And Permission Explorer

Regardless of the app you choose, spending some time going through the permissions of apps currently installed on your Android device should help you establish whether there are any apps with problematic permissions that need to be revoked or perhaps even uninstalled entirely.

Revoking App Permissions

Once you’ve found some offending apps, it’s time to decide on a course of action. There’s currently no built-in way to manage app permissions in the latest version of Android, since Google chose to remove the AppOps feature from Android 4.4.2.

However, if you’re still running Android 4.3, it wouldn’t hurt to give AppOps a go to see if it helps you access the built-in permissions manager.

App Ops

If you’re running stock, unrooted 4.4.2 (or a version prior to 4.3), you’re pretty much out of luck when it comes to revoking app permissions short of completely uninstalling the application. However, if you are rooted, then you have a few more options.

Permissions Manager Apps (Rooted)

If you have the Xposed Framework installed, you can give XPrivacy a go. XPrivacy is one of the best permissions manager applications available, letting you tweak, block and revoke almost every permission an app might require. You can also use the XPrivacy Installer to help you install both Xposed Framework and XPrivacy itself.

XPrivacy

If you’re willing to install a completely new ROM, or plan to do so anyway, there are also certain custom ROMs that come with permission management features built-in.

The popular CyanogenMod has a Privacy Guard feature which, as of last year, comes with Android 4.3′s AppOps integrated into it. Other ROMs such as Purity ROM also have a similar feature.

CyanogenMod Privacy Guard

Conclusion

It’s hard to deny that, by default at least, Android’s privacy and security settings are a bit lacking. Between occasionally confusing permission names, to an inability to selectively grant permissions, this is definitely something that Android should work on.

However, even with these issues, it’s still entirely possible to stay on top of things and ensure the security of your data by being vigilant about the apps you install and the permissions that these apps require. After all, it’s your data on your phone – you have control.




via hongkiat.com http://ift.tt/1tanAI6

Tastemakers: A Look At 10 Influential Living Designers

A tastemaker is someone who has the power to dictate the course of opinion within an industry. The design community has no shortage of people who, through the respect they’ve earned with their work and veteran status, can write a single blog post which can influence thousands of designers.

This superpower can be used for good or evil, inspiring designers to achieve new heights of creativity, or inciting the wrath of the community, justified or not, against an unpopular trend. We’re going to look at ten of the most prominent designers in today’s industry – what they’ve contributed to design, and they have influenced the world of design today.

Khoi Vinh

The former lead designer for the New York Times’ website, Khoi Vinh is known for revolutionizing the design direction of the venerable publication. His personal website, subtraction.com, is currently one of the leading blogs about design. When Khoi Vinh weighs in on design-related matters, designers listen.


(Image Source: theformed.com)

Jonathan Ive

You may or may not recognize Jonathan Ive’s name, but you certainly know his work. The lead designer at Apple, Ive came to prominence when he designed the famous “jewel color” iMacs back in the 90s. He is responsible for Apple’s current sleek, minimal design.


(Image Source: businessweek.com)

Chip Kidd

Chip Kidd is a book designer at New York publication giant Alfred Knoph. In the past 25 years or so, he has almost single-handedly revolutionized the world of print design, relying on his quirky sense of humor and sharp eye for design to create book covers that transcend the ordinary.


(Image Source: chipkidd.com)

Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan Sagmeister is a German graphic designer who has become very well known in a relatively short amount of time. He has released several books of his work, which is known for its completely unconventional approach to design problems.


(Image Source: design.fh)

David Carson

David Carson is the father of “grunge” style design: that gritty, noisy, gridless style that dominated the design world in the late 90s and early 2000s. Many imitators came after Carson and attempted to copy his style, but very few actually understood the philosophy enough to be successful at it.


(Image Source: edno.bg)

Paula Scher

An industry veteran, Paula Scher has been designing since the 70s and has worked with some of the most well-known and prestigious corporate clients in existence. Her unique, “maximalist” approach to typography influenced many designers from the 70s and early 80s all the way to today. She is currently a principal designer at the New York firm Pentagram.


(Image Source: theatlantic.com)

Massimo Vignelli

This iconic, multi-disciplinary designer is almost a household name (well, in design households, that is). He is famous for designing the colorful maps of the New York City subway system, a design that has become so popular that it is now the standard for subway maps all over the world. In fact, it’s almost impossible to find a subway map anywhere that hasn’t been influenced by Vignelli’s brilliant, minimalist design.


(Image Source: theepochtimes.com)

Vignelli has said: “If you can design one thing, you can design everything” which in this designer’s opinion, is some of the most insightful advice a designer can heed. Having a broad appreciation for design in general, rather than a narrow, specific discipline, not only helps you become a better designer, it also sets you apart from others who are afraid to branch out.

April Greiman

April Grieman, along with collaborator Jayme Odgers, is responsible for the “New Wave” design style that rose to prominence in the 1980s. She was one of the first designers to use the computer as a tool for design, realizing the dream that Andy Warhol held about the future of computer-generated creative work.


(Image Source: ssahn.com)

Michael Bierut

A former protege of Massimo Vignelli, Bierut has long since come into his own as a designer with his award-winning work with the renowned New York print firm Pentagram. Like Vignelli, he is known for his multi-disciplinary approach to design, heading a team of designers who work not only with graphics and type, but also with environmental and editorial design.


(Image Source: casualoptimist.com)

Milton Glaser

A venerable industry giant, Glaser is responsible for perhaps one of the most widely known designs in the world: the “I ♥ NY” logo. A classic design which has spawned hundreds, if not thousands, of inspired designs, the logo’s simplicity and modern approach gives it an ageless, fresh look, even after nearly 40 years since its creation.


(Image Source: nytimes.com)

What Do You Think?

What other living designers do you think should have been included in this list? (Come on, you’re designers – I know you have opinions coming out your ears!) Are there any younger designers you think are starting to make serious waves in the industry? Tell us your predictions, your observations, or your grievances!




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The iStick: World’s First USB Flash Drive for iOS Devices

Apple’s iOS devices are great, but they all share the same significant problem: the lack of USB support. Transferring files from your iPhone or iPad to a computer only works via the cumbersome iTunes or via Wi-Fi connection. You can of course fall back on third-party cloud storage apps and services but you might have security and privacy concerns to worry about.

Here’s a simple solution to the problem: the iStick.

The iStick is the world’s first USB flash drive that also comes with an integrated, Apple-approved lightning connector. This allows you to transfer files to and from your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to anything that is accessible via USB support. You just have to switch between the USB and lightning connectors as needed. Here’s a closer look at the iStick.

Introducing The IStick

As mentioned in the introduction, the iStick is the first USB flash drive to also come with an integrated Apple lightning connector, allowing it to connect to both iOS devices and computers. The iStick does this with a novel sliding mechanism that exposes the USB 2.0 connector on one side, and the Lightning connector on the other.

iStick

It works like any other USB flash drive. Just plug it into your Mac or PC, then drag the files into it. To move your files to your iDevices, just plug it into your iDevice via the lightning connector. It comes in various capacities, from 8GB all the way up to 128GB. and supports almost all of the common file formats including video, audio and documents. No more file compatibility problems.

Device Compatibility

As far as device compatibility is concerned, the iStick is compatible with the following Apple devices:

  • iPhone 5, 5s, 5c
  • iPad (4th Generation) / iPad Air
  • iPad mini / iPad mini with Retina display
  • iPod Touch (5th Generation)

iStick Lightning Connector

The iStick comes with a free iPhone/iPad/iPod touch iOS app which you can use to transfer your files from the iStick to your Apple mobile device. You can play 1080 HD movies, check out documents, listen to music and view photos straight from the iStick – no file copying, streaming or syncing required. iStick also works as a great backup device for all your files from your Apple devices.

iStick Connected To Devices

The iStick is available in two colors, black and white, but you can get a free upgrade to a silver aluminium edition if you share about the project on your Facebook. There is also a gold edition aluminium iStick (128 GB) available for pledges of $1000 to the project.

The iStick is currently being funded on Kickstarter and is already well past its funding goal. Pledges differ depending on capacity, and they start at $79 for the 8GB model up to $299 for the 128GB model. Expect to pay an additional $10 if you’re ordering from outside of the United States.




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The iStick: World’s First USB Flash Drive for iOS Devices

Apple’s iOS devices are great, but they all share the same significant problem: the lack of USB support. Transferring files from your iPhone or iPad to a computer only works via the cumbersome iTunes or via Wi-Fi connection. You can of course fall back on third-party cloud storage apps and services but you might have security and privacy concerns to worry about.

Here’s a simple solution to the problem: the iStick.

The iStick is the world’s first USB flash drive that also comes with an integrated, Apple-approved lightning connector. This allows you to transfer files to and from your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to anything that is accessible via USB support. You just have to switch between the USB and lightning connectors as needed. Here’s a closer look at the iStick.

Introducing The IStick

As mentioned in the introduction, the iStick is the first USB flash drive to also come with an integrated Apple lightning connector, allowing it to connect to both iOS devices and computers. The iStick does this with a novel sliding mechanism that exposes the USB 2.0 connector on one side, and the Lightning connector on the other.

iStick

It works like any other USB flash drive. Just plug it into your Mac or PC, then drag the files into it. To move your files to your iDevices, just plug it into your iDevice via the lightning connector. It comes in various capacities, from 8GB all the way up to 128GB. and supports almost all of the common file formats including video, audio and documents. No more file compatibility problems.

Device Compatibility

As far as device compatibility is concerned, the iStick is compatible with the following Apple devices:

  • iPhone 5, 5s, 5c
  • iPad (4th Generation) / iPad Air
  • iPad mini / iPad mini with Retina display
  • iPod Touch (5th Generation)

iStick Lightning Connector

The iStick comes with a free iPhone/iPad/iPod touch iOS app which you can use to transfer your files from the iStick to your Apple mobile device. You can play 1080 HD movies, check out documents, listen to music and view photos straight from the iStick – no file copying, streaming or syncing required. iStick also works as a great backup device for all your files from your Apple devices.

iStick Connected To Devices

The iStick is available in two colors, black and white, but you can get a free upgrade to a silver aluminium edition if you share about the project on your Facebook. There is also a gold edition aluminium iStick (128 GB) available for pledges of $1000 to the project.

The iStick is currently being funded on Kickstarter and is already well past its funding goal. Pledges differ depending on capacity, and they start at $79 for the 8GB model up to $299 for the 128GB model. Expect to pay an additional $10 if you’re ordering from outside of the United States.




via hongkiat.com http://ift.tt/1t9492a

The iStick: World’s First USB Flash Drive for iOS Devices

Apple’s iOS devices are great, but they all share the same significant problem: the lack of USB support. Transferring files from your iPhone or iPad to a computer only works via the cumbersome iTunes or via Wi-Fi connection. You can of course fall back on third-party cloud storage apps and services but you might have security and privacy concerns to worry about.

Here’s a simple solution to the problem: the iStick.

The iStick is the world’s first USB flash drive that also comes with an integrated, Apple-approved lightning connector. This allows you to transfer files to and from your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to anything that is accessible via USB support. You just have to switch between the USB and lightning connectors as needed. Here’s a closer look at the iStick.

Introducing The IStick

As mentioned in the introduction, the iStick is the first USB flash drive to also come with an integrated Apple lightning connector, allowing it to connect to both iOS devices and computers. The iStick does this with a novel sliding mechanism that exposes the USB 2.0 connector on one side, and the Lightning connector on the other.

iStick

It works like any other USB flash drive. Just plug it into your Mac or PC, then drag the files into it. To move your files to your iDevices, just plug it into your iDevice via the lightning connector. It comes in various capacities, from 8GB all the way up to 128GB. and supports almost all of the common file formats including video, audio and documents. No more file compatibility problems.

Device Compatibility

As far as device compatibility is concerned, the iStick is compatible with the following Apple devices:

  • iPhone 5, 5s, 5c
  • iPad (4th Generation) / iPad Air
  • iPad mini / iPad mini with Retina display
  • iPod Touch (5th Generation)

iStick Lightning Connector

The iStick comes with a free iPhone/iPad/iPod touch iOS app which you can use to transfer your files from the iStick to your Apple mobile device. You can play 1080 HD movies, check out documents, listen to music and view photos straight from the iStick – no file copying, streaming or syncing required. iStick also works as a great backup device for all your files from your Apple devices.

iStick Connected To Devices

The iStick is available in two colors, black and white, but you can get a free upgrade to a silver aluminium edition if you share about the project on your Facebook. There is also a gold edition aluminium iStick (128 GB) available for pledges of $1000 to the project.

The iStick is currently being funded on Kickstarter and is already well past its funding goal. Pledges differ depending on capacity, and they start at $79 for the 8GB model up to $299 for the 128GB model. Expect to pay an additional $10 if you’re ordering from outside of the United States.




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Convert HTML Checkbox Into iOS 7 Switch With Switchery.js

Checkbox is very useful for providing users input. When users input true value, it displays a check inside the little square box. Customizing the look of checkbox can be easily done via CSS. Even so, the customization affects only the box and check style. To customize the checkbox with a truly different design requires quite a bit of coding.

With the help of Switchery though, checkbox customization is a piece of cake. It’s able to automatically convert your checkbox element into a beautiful iOS7-like switch button. The switches can also be customized to match your design perfectly. Let’s check it out.

Getting Started With Switchery

Switchery is a free standalone javascript library. To install it, you just need to include the Switchery javascript and style file into your web. You can get both files from GitHub.

 <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/switchery.css" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/switchery.js"></script> 

To convert your old-fashioned checkbox, simply include your checkbox element with a class that will be referred to Switchery.

Giving the checkbox initial state is also very easy. You can do that by including the checked attribute inside HTML for checked state when first load. For example, we will add a demo class into a checkbox with checked state like so:

 <input type="checkbox" class="demo" checked /> 

For now, the checkbox doesn’t change yet. We still need to add the following javascript code into the HTML. This is where we put the defined checkbox class, and give some options (if needed).

 <script> var elem = document.querySelector('.demo'); // referred checkbox class is here var init = new Switchery(elem); // put option after elem attribute </script> 

That’s it!

Customize The Switch

To give some option, it can be done within the javascript. This option can change the look and feel of the default switch. The following are all available options:

  • color : to change color of the switch element, work with HEX or RGB value
  • secondaryColor : to change "off" state color of the switch shadow and border
  • className : customize the switch element class name styled in switchery.css
  • disabled : to enable or disable the switch on click events, filled with boolean (true or false)
  • disabledOpacity : to change switch opacity when disabled is true, ranging from 0 to 1
  • speed : change the transition time length, e.g. ’0.1s’, ’0.5s’, ’2.2s’

For instance, with our previous switch, let’s change its first and secondary color. In the init variable, after elem attribute, just put the option within couple curl bracket like so:

 <script> var elem = document.querySelector('.demo'); var init = new Switchery(elem,{ color: '#fec200', secondaryColor: '#41b7f1' }); </script> 

And here is the result:

Instead of customizing the state design only, there are still many available options like displaying multiple switches or linking the switch with other elements and getting its current state. As always the documentation page is a useful place to visit.

Conclusion

With a tool like Switchery, adapting any type of design from any device is becoming increasingly easier. Even more, it has been tested and is supported on many modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari and IE8+. If you want to adapt another iOS 7 style UI widgets design, you might want to check out Powerange for range slider control.




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20+ Creative Wall Outlet Stickers And Covers For Your Inspiration

Have you ever looked at a power socket and noticed that it kind of looks like a funny little face that is trying to tell you something? Actually, you’re not that far off as a lot of people have already found ways to decorate their outlets with cool stickers and covers.

All in good fun, creative wall stickers and covers are a classy and great way to spice up a boring wall outlet. After all, they’re all over your house, so why not give your outlets some personality and spunk? Here are 20+ funny and creative wall outlet stickers and covers that wil make your guests do a double-take.

Vinyls – electricity series by Ziemowit Maj. This adorable robot doesn’t seem too pleased about having to power up your sockets. Still you can’t help but smile watching its expression.

Dexter lab outlet sticker by Ambiance. Nostalgia alert! Not all of us can be smart and cool like Dexter but hey, a spiffy outlet sticker doesn’t hurt.

Vinyls – electricity series by Ziemowit Maj. This gives another meaning to the term ‘manpower’. Let’s hope he has enough to keep going.

Mustache Decals by StickThat. Now your outlet can be surprised and sophisticated with these cute mustache decals. Top hats, anyone?

Ouchlets Bandage Outlet Covers by Gama Go. Can’t stand looking at the pained expressions of your outlets like the one below? This bandage outlet cover should be able to ease some of the pain.

Franklin’s Kite by Hu2. And this is how electricity came to be! Okay, not exactly but it’s still informative and adorable.

Hamster Fixed Gear by Hu2. Don’t worry, this little guy has got your power supply covered. C’mon little hamster, you’re almost at full capacity!

Mouse Hole Outlet Cover by Rytis Zaveckas. Nope, sadly this door does not lead to Wonderland. Well, not unless you think Wonderland means a working power socket.

High voltage hamster decal sticker by Sluug. Hamsters are curious animals and it looks like this one got way more than he bargained for.

Squirrel robber wall decal sticker by Sluug. Some squirrels steal your nuts, this one wants to steal your electricity.

SocketDeer by Nendo.This is one way to utilize deer antlers; l’et them hold your phone up whilst charging.

Animal Wall Outlet Stickers by Adrien Gardére. It’s amazing what careful placement and imagination can do.

Hidden Wall Outlet Safe by Meridian Point. More functional than pretty, this hidden wall outlet will keep your valuables out of sight. Just don’t forget which outlet you installed it in.

Little Robot Electric Outlet Wall Sticker by verryberrysticker. This little robot wants to be your friend and power up your gadgets for you.

Cartoon Wall Outlet Switch Stickers. This is a clever and super cute option for those who want to make their day a little "brighter".

Paper Windmills by Hu2. Looks like paper windmills can be put to good use after all. A creative way to keep the power flowing through your outlet .

Van Gogh Outlet Sticker by Electric Sticker Co. Is it your art that’s got him gasping? Who knows. But it sure is fun to look at.

Rain turning into lightning outlet sticker by Ambiance. A shockingly simple way to show the transition from rain to lightning.

Bart Simpson face outlet sticker by Ambiance. Everybody in the house will be doing the Bartman with the addition of this sticker.

Hairstyle 1 outlet sticker by Ambiance. No need to call the hairdresser for this one. That hairdo looks fabulous as is.




via hongkiat.com http://ift.tt/Tb3fpx

20+ Creative Wall Outlet Stickers And Covers For Your Inspiration

Have you ever looked at a power socket and noticed that it kind of looks like a funny little face that is trying to tell you something? Actually, you’re not that far off as a lot of people have already found ways to decorate their outlets with cool stickers and covers.

All in good fun, creative wall stickers and covers are a classy and great way to spice up a boring wall outlet. After all, they’re all over your house, so why not give your outlets some personality and spunk? Here are 20+ funny and creative wall outlet stickers and covers that wil make your guests do a double-take.

Vinyls – electricity series by Ziemowit Maj. This adorable robot doesn’t seem too pleased about having to power up your sockets. Still you can’t help but smile watching its expression.

Dexter lab outlet sticker by Ambiance. Nostalgia alert! Not all of us can be smart and cool like Dexter but hey, a spiffy outlet sticker doesn’t hurt.

Vinyls – electricity series by Ziemowit Maj. This gives another meaning to the term ‘manpower’. Let’s hope he has enough to keep going.

Mustache Decals by StickThat. Now your outlet can be surprised and sophisticated with these cute mustache decals. Top hats, anyone?

Ouchlets Bandage Outlet Covers by Gama Go. Can’t stand looking at the pained expressions of your outlets like the one below? This bandage outlet cover should be able to ease some of the pain.

Franklin’s Kite by Hu2. And this is how electricity came to be! Okay, not exactly but it’s still informative and adorable.

Hamster Fixed Gear by Hu2. Don’t worry, this little guy has got your power supply covered. C’mon little hamster, you’re almost at full capacity!

Mouse Hole Outlet Cover by Rytis Zaveckas. Nope, sadly this door does not lead to Wonderland. Well, not unless you think Wonderland means a working power socket.

High voltage hamster decal sticker by Sluug. Hamsters are curious animals and it looks like this one got way more than he bargained for.

Squirrel robber wall decal sticker by Sluug. Some squirrels steal your nuts, this one wants to steal your electricity.

SocketDeer by Nendo.This is one way to utilize deer antlers; l’et them hold your phone up whilst charging.

Animal Wall Outlet Stickers by Adrien Gardére. It’s amazing what careful placement and imagination can do.

Hidden Wall Outlet Safe by Meridian Point. More functional than pretty, this hidden wall outlet will keep your valuables out of sight. Just don’t forget which outlet you installed it in.

Little Robot Electric Outlet Wall Sticker by verryberrysticker. This little robot wants to be your friend and power up your gadgets for you.

Cartoon Wall Outlet Switch Stickers. This is a clever and super cute option for those who want to make their day a little "brighter".

Paper Windmills by Hu2. Looks like paper windmills can be put to good use after all. A creative way to keep the power flowing through your outlet .

Van Gogh Outlet Sticker by Electric Sticker Co. Is it your art that’s got him gasping? Who knows. But it sure is fun to look at.

Rain turning into lightning outlet sticker by Ambiance. A shockingly simple way to show the transition from rain to lightning.

Bart Simpson face outlet sticker by Ambiance. Everybody in the house will be doing the Bartman with the addition of this sticker.

Hairstyle 1 outlet sticker by Ambiance. No need to call the hairdresser for this one. That hairdo looks fabulous as is.




via hongkiat.com http://ift.tt/Tb3fpx

20+ Creative Wall Outlet Stickers And Covers For Your Inspiration

Have you ever looked at a power socket and noticed that it kind of looks like a funny little face that is trying to tell you something? Actually, you’re not that far off as a lot of people have already found ways to decorate their outlets with cool stickers and covers.

All in good fun, creative wall stickers and covers are a classy and great way to spice up a boring wall outlet. After all, they’re all over your house, so why not give your outlets some personality and spunk? Here are 20+ funny and creative wall outlet stickers and covers that wil make your guests do a double-take.

Vinyls – electricity series by Ziemowit Maj. This adorable robot doesn’t seem too pleased about having to power up your sockets. Still you can’t help but smile watching its expression.

Dexter lab outlet sticker by Ambiance. Nostalgia alert! Not all of us can be smart and cool like Dexter but hey, a spiffy outlet sticker doesn’t hurt.

Vinyls – electricity series by Ziemowit Maj. This gives another meaning to the term ‘manpower’. Let’s hope he has enough to keep going.

Mustache Decals by StickThat. Now your outlet can be surprised and sophisticated with these cute mustache decals. Top hats, anyone?

Ouchlets Bandage Outlet Covers by Gama Go. Can’t stand looking at the pained expressions of your outlets like the one below? This bandage outlet cover should be able to ease some of the pain.

Franklin’s Kite by Hu2. And this is how electricity came to be! Okay, not exactly but it’s still informative and adorable.

Hamster Fixed Gear by Hu2. Don’t worry, this little guy has got your power supply covered. C’mon little hamster, you’re almost at full capacity!

Mouse Hole Outlet Cover by Rytis Zaveckas. Nope, sadly this door does not lead to Wonderland. Well, not unless you think Wonderland means a working power socket.

High voltage hamster decal sticker by Sluug. Hamsters are curious animals and it looks like this one got way more than he bargained for.

Squirrel robber wall decal sticker by Sluug. Some squirrels steal your nuts, this one wants to steal your electricity.

SocketDeer by Nendo.This is one way to utilize deer antlers; l’et them hold your phone up whilst charging.

Animal Wall Outlet Stickers by Adrien Gardére. It’s amazing what careful placement and imagination can do.

Hidden Wall Outlet Safe by Meridian Point. More functional than pretty, this hidden wall outlet will keep your valuables out of sight. Just don’t forget which outlet you installed it in.

Little Robot Electric Outlet Wall Sticker by verryberrysticker. This little robot wants to be your friend and power up your gadgets for you.

Cartoon Wall Outlet Switch Stickers. This is a clever and super cute option for those who want to make their day a little "brighter".

Paper Windmills by Hu2. Looks like paper windmills can be put to good use after all. A creative way to keep the power flowing through your outlet .

Van Gogh Outlet Sticker by Electric Sticker Co. Is it your art that’s got him gasping? Who knows. But it sure is fun to look at.

Rain turning into lightning outlet sticker by Ambiance. A shockingly simple way to show the transition from rain to lightning.

Bart Simpson face outlet sticker by Ambiance. Everybody in the house will be doing the Bartman with the addition of this sticker.

Hairstyle 1 outlet sticker by Ambiance. No need to call the hairdresser for this one. That hairdo looks fabulous as is.




via hongkiat.com http://ift.tt/Tb3fpx