3 Best Free Torrent Apps for Android

Torrent is a type of file sharing that can download large files from the internet. The torrent itself does not contain any information about the content of the file; but rather information about the location of different pieces of the target file. The torrent system works by dividing the target file into small chunks of information. This way, users can download large files quickly.

To download a torrent file you need a torrent client, which is a software that can access the peer-to-peer network where the files associated with the torrent are being shared. If you have an Android device, then there are lots of apps that can help you to download torrent files directly from your phone. Here are five of the best free torrent apps for Android.

• BitTorrent

BitTorrent is without a doubt the most widely used Torrent client for downloading files on desktop computer, and now it is available for Android. This app is very easy to use and has a very beautiful and clean design. You can search for any torrent file and download it on your Android device directly.
The app also comes with an integrated audio player which allows you to access audio content directly from the app. You can select where to download the torrent files so even if it is a large one, it can be placed on an microSD card.

This app is completely free and there is no limitation on speed and size of download. It also support Wifi-only mode to save money on your mobile data plan.

• Flud – Torrent Downloader

Flud is a fairly new BitTorrent client for Android but it has quickly becoming one of the most popular choice with its simple, fast and clean interface.

Just like most desktop torrent clients, Flud lets you set priorities for downloads in order to help you get the most important files first. It also adds a sequential download feature that only downloads one file at a time. Moreover, Flud also has RSS support with an option to automatically download new RSS items when they are detected.

• µTorrent

µTorrent is another popular BitTorrent client for computers. This app comes with unlimited download speed and file sizes, RSS subscription, WiFi-only mode and torrent search. You can easily find the torrents files for the contents you are looking for and start downloading it right away.

The new version of µTorrent has added several new features such as saving to external SD cards, an integrated media player for playing your downloads right from the app, media library, etc.

These are some of the best torrent client apps currently available for Android. Let us know which torrent app you are currently using in the comments below.

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How to improve sound quality and increase volume on Android

Not all smartphones have the speaker quality or volume levels to make your stereo envious. These two issues – along with poor speaker placement – are the biggest factors getting in the way of you enjoying the sound coming from your smartphone. Here are a few tips to help you improve sound quality and increase volume on Android.

Check your settings

You could optimize your Android audio experience through the settings. Not all Android UIs have this feature, however, so it won't work for everyone. If your device has it, the procedure is easy, though. And once you've done it for the first time you will be able to quickly enhance your audio settings in the future.

For TouchWiz, you need to plug in whichever audio device you want to use (if you're using one). Then, hop into yourSettings and tap Sound. From there hit Audio settings. You should have a series of options to enhance your audio experience. 

MIUI from Xiaomi, has an enhancer for headphones. Just toggle it on and pick the type you're using. You should have the choice between in-ear and normal headphones.

Xperia UI allows you use the ClearAudio setting and has an equalizer. You can get to it through the settings. With Sense UI you can toggle BoomSound but there's really no reason to turn it off, as the audio is terrible without it on. You can't optimize your audio settings from Oxygen, Optimus or Stock Android.

Download a new music app

You have the option of replacing the stock music app with one that includes more audio control. We recommend Poweramp or Equalizer+. Both are jam-packed with audio tweaks, presets, bass boost and more. Just make sure your music folders are checked in the app settings.

Equalizer+ provides a five-band EQ, while Poweramp offers a 10-band EQ for serious tuning. You'll have to pay a couple of bucks to access all the best features but once you do you'll never look back. Check out our article for more music player apps.

Download an EQ

The default audio controls on most phones, with the exception of Sony phones and the OnePlus 2, are not exactly comprehensive. Some include a basic EQ but it often only works within the default music app and provides no control over audio not played through the music player.

It's important to note that no app works miracles when the hardware is not working properly but with a couple of simple adjustments your sound quality can be improved significantly. So hit the Play Store and get yourself a decent EQ. We can recommend both Music Volume EQ and Bass Booster.

Know your speaker placement

It may seem silly, but the first thing you need to know is where the sound is coming from on your smartphone. Lots of phones have twin speaker grills, but often only one of them produces any sound. If your speaker is blocked then the sound quality will be low or non-existent. 

Test out where your sound is coming from by playing some tunes and covering the various holes on your phone until you know exactly where the audio is coming from. There shouldn't be too many places for a speaker to hide and, once you've found them, you can get started on finding the problem.

Once you know whether your speakers are front-facing, bottom-mounted or on the back, you can make more intelligent decisions about how to position your smartphone to give speakers the best chance to shine. Don't block them when holding your phone (a common mistake when gaming with bottom-mounted speakers) and point the speakers towards you, not away from you.

Check if your case is blocking a speaker

If your phone has a protective case or cover, it will affect the quality of the sound you get from the speakers. All those vibrations coming from inside your phone will be muffled by the additional layer of plastic or rubber that the manufacturer won't have taken into account when designing its speaker system.

Not all case makers understand the subtleties of your device. Some cases block essential parts of the phone like the audio jack, microphone or speaker. Before you buy a case be sure that you check to see that it won't block anything.

Use headphones

The simple fact is that most smartphone speakers are simply not good enough to get decent sound quality out of, even with a fancy music app or EQ. This is where a decent pair of headphones can help (some audio settings in your phone won't even work without headphones plugged in).

Check out our list of the best headphones and see how much of a difference a serious set of headphones can make to your smartphone audio. Not all headphones are created equally and there are different types for various situations. Make sure you look through and find the one that best suits you.

Boost speaker volume

If you are rooted, there are plenty of app options out there that can bypass the max volume of the Android system with a few simple tweaks. Check out our ultimate guide on how to root Android for more details. If you don't want to root your phone or simply aren't convinced by the distortions that most volume-booster apps in the Play Store end up producing, then there are still a few things you can do.

Get to know a little about sound waves. If you position your phone in a corner and fire the speaker output towards it, you'll get a louder, 'bassier' reverberation than if it was just shooting out into the room. The same logic applies to any object: put your phone in a box, against a bowl or in a glass (empty, of course) and you might be amazed to hear how much louder your speaker suddenly is.

How do you improve sound quality on your phone? Have you found any reliable volume booster apps? Let us know in the comments.

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Best free Android apps of 2016

Apps are the beating heart of Android. The Google Play Store is home to millions of them and fortunately for us, many of the most impressive don’t cost a penny. In this article, we’ve rounded up a bunch of the best free Android apps you’ll find there in 2016.

You can hit the quick links below to jump to any apps that catch your eye, but before you move on, be aware that we have omitted certain excellent free apps purely because we don’t believe it’s necessary to cover them again here. WhatsApp, Chrome, Maps, Drive and YouTube all have more than one billion installs according to the Play Store: let’s just say those are pretty good.  

Spotify

Spotify is your gateway to mountains of free music streaming. It has a huge library, it can be easily synchronized between multiple devices, and its Radio, Discover and Mood playlists regularly present fantastic new music for your ears.

The free Spotify app does rely on adverts which are played between every three or so songs, but it’s a small price to pay for such a comprehensive and useful service. Just be warned that the more you use it, the smarter it becomes: you’re going to find more good music than you know what to do with.

SwiftKey

Calling out the best keyboard app is never easy. As probably the most used app on your phone, the keyboard you choose is a very personal decision. But for us, SwiftKey, which was once a paid app, provides the best balance of speed, usability and features.

It’s highly customizable and it quickly learns your writing habits to make auto predictions. What’s more, if you’re somebody who often writes in multiple languages, SwiftKey’s predictions and autocorrect are (often) smart enough to know what language you’re trying to type in, meaning there’s no need to switch on the fly.

Pushbullet

Pushbullet is one of those apps that people are skeptical about until they actually start using it. This Android app syncs content between your smartphone and desktop computer in the most efficient way possible.

Install it on your phone and as a web browser add-on, and you can easily view and share SMS texts, messages, links, photos, videos, files and more between your own devices and your friends'. Simply put, Pushbullet makes sharing easier. 

Duolingo

The benefits of learning a second language extend beyond simply “understanding someone else”: there are numerous – and significant – health benefits associated with it, and Duolingo could be your first step to getting there.

Duolingo gamifies language learning to make it more engaging and to give you a greater sense of accomplishment for even basic understanding. It’s an excellent introduction to a second language or way to improve your existing skills.

Podcast Addict

If we were to recommend the best podcast app, it would obviously be Pocket Casts. But Pocket Casts isn't free; for the best free podcast app, we recommend Podcast Addict.

Podcast Addict makes discovering and downloading podcasts simple. Though the user-interface won't exactly blow you away, its helpful search options assist you in finding the content you're looking for, even if you don't have a specific podcast in mind.

You can pay a little money to remove the app's ad banner, but otherwise Podcast Addict doesn't have any feature restrictions in the free version. Even if you're not into podcasts now, with this intuitive app, you might soon become addicted.  

Evernote

The Evernote developers understand that note taking is meant to be quick and easy, but they also understand that smartphones present an opportunity that simple post-it notes and fridge magnets never could.

So, Evernote lets you create written notes, but it also supports voice memos, lets you share files with friends and colleagues, and gives you access to your reminders from a number of different devices. Certainly one of the best-looking and most feature-filled productivity tools on Android.

Greenify App Hibernator

Greenify is tool which can be used to increase battery life and device performance but, unlike the plethora of other apps that claim to do this, Greenify genuinely works. You can use this app to restrict what apps are working in the background on an individual basis, based on easy-to-interpret information provided by Greenify, and make use of its ‘automated hibernation’ mode so that this is taken care of whenever you lock your device.  

It’s a powerful tool, but with great power comes great responsibility. Greenify makes it incredibly easy to stop useful apps operating in the background, and this isn’t always a good thing. Try not to disable your morning alarm or messaging apps.

Twilight

Twilight is a small, inconspicuous free app that will help you achieve better sleep: go and download it now. I’ve written about it before and, unless you just really hate the idea of having a red screen before bedtime, I can’t think see why you wouldn’t want it.

Twilight filters the blue light out of your display which can be harmful to your quality of sleep; this is a well-documented side effect of backlit displays. Twilight will make your display dimmer and give it a red hue, but use it in the evenings before you fall asleep and you’ll soon feel the benefits.  

Dashlane

Find it a struggle to manage all your passwords? Download Dashlane and thank me later. This app seeks to make it easy to log in to any website that requires a password. Once you create your Dashlane account, simply add all your existing passwords and logins (if you can remember them) so that when you next visit these sites, Dashlane can auto-complete the fields.

Of course, as with any password saving service, security may concern you: especially when all of them can be held behind the apps four-digit pin code (should you set this up). And, disappointingly, the app is currently only supported in its own Dashlane Browser, not Chrome. Still, as far as password master keys go, this is the best solution on Android.

What did we miss? What would you say is the best free Android app? Let us know in the comments.

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Common Google Play Store error codes and how to fix them.

Has this ever happened to you? You find an interesting application and try to download it, only to receive a cryptic error message containing seemingly random numbers from Google Play Store. Pretty annoying, right? Here are some of the most common Google Play Store errors, what they mean, and how to solve them.

The solutions for the errors described below are based on the experiences of the AndroidPIT editors as well as readers and moderators from the forum. Some of these solutions also come courtesy of a very helpful XDA Developers forum thread. If you encounter any other problems with Google Play, feel free to share your experiences in the comments and forum.

Google Play - Error DF-BPA-09 'Error Processing Purchase'

• Problem

Google Play Error Processing Purchase DF-BPA-09 happens quite often when trying to download an app. This problem won’t go away if you simply try downloading again, so you’ll need to go into the settings.

• Solution

The problem is not due to individual users, but to Google Play itself, so we’re hoping it will be fixed in the near future. In the meantime, here is what you can do:

• Go into the Settings of your device
• Tap on Apps or Applications Manager (the name varies depending on your device).
• Swipe to the All column.
• Scroll down until you see Google Services Framework
• Finally, choose Clear data and then OK.

If this doesn't work, go on to the Google Play site on your PC and install the app that is giving you issues on your smartphone or tablet from there. When you go back to your device, the install should work.

Google Play - Error 194

• Problem

Error caused when trying to download games or apps from the Google Play Store.

• Solution

One fix for this issue is to clear the cache data for Google Play Services and the Google Play Store. 

1. Go to Settings > Apps or Application Manager
2. Scroll across to All and then down to the Google Play Store app.
3. Open the app details and tap the Force stop button.
4. Next tap on the Clear data button.

Now repeat the process above but replace Google Play Store with Google Play Services at step two and then attempt your download again.  

If that doesn't work, don't worry, the issue has now been resolved and a fix is being rolled out in the next version of the Play Store app. Just make you have the latest Google Play Store APK and you shouldn't experience this error again.

Google Play - Error 495

• Problem

Problem downloading or updating apps from Play Store.

• Solution

Delete your Google Play Store data in Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store > Clear data. Delete data from Google Services Framework as well (note: this will assign a new Google ID to your device, as if you had factory reset it, meaning your Google apps may temporarily act up afterward).

Delete your Google account on the device, reboot your phone and re-add your Google account in Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Google Account.

Google Play - Error 941

• Problem

                   Interruption during update.

• Solution

                   Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and press Clear cache and Clear data. In the same place, scroll down toDownload Manager and press Clear cache and Clear data for that too. Try the update again.

Google Play - Error rh01

• Problem

Error retrieving information from server.

• First solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and select both Clear data and Clear cache. Do the same for Google Services Framework.

• Second solution

Remove and re-add your Gmail account, restart your device and then re-add your Gmail account.

Google Play - Error rpc:s-5:aec-0

• Problem

Error retrieving information from server.

• Solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and select Clear cache and Uninstall updates. Do the same for Download Manager and Google Services Framework.

Google Play - Error 504

• Problem

App could not be downloaded due to an error.

• First solution

The usual, please: go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and Clear cache and Clear data. Also Clear cache andClear data for Google Services Framework.

• Second solution

Try removing your GMail account

Google Play - Error 505

• Problem

Two or more apps with duplicate permissions

• Solution

You need to find out what app has the same permissions as the one you're trying to install and uninstall the problem app. To do this, find the APK file for the app you are trying to install and attempt to restore the app using a Lucky Patcher backup. The tool should present a window alerting you to which app is producing the conflict. This is the app you need to uninstall.

Google Play - Error 491

• Problem

Downloads and updates impossible.

• Solution

Remove your Google account by going to the Settings for your device, then Accounts and Google. Hit Remove account. Reboot your Android and add the account once again. Next, in the Settings, go to Apps and swipe to All. Scroll down to Google Services, then click Clear data and finally Force stop.

Google Play - Error 498

• Problem

Interruption of downloads from the Google Play Store.

• Solution

The problem is that the cache of your device is full. Delete unneeded applications and files. Restart your smartphone in recovery mode by pressing the volume down, power and home buttons (for Samsung devices), or volume down and power (for most other devices).

This mode provides a few more options. Select Wipe cache partition by navigating between options with the volume rocker. Confirm using the power button.

Google Play - Error 919

• Problem

Downloading the app works but it does not open once downloaded.

• Solution

There is simply no more space on your Android. Eliminate all unnecessary data, such as music, videos or large applications.

Google Play - Error 413

• Problem

Downloading applications or updates is impossible. If you use a proxy, remember that it may cause problems with the operation of the Google Play Store.

• Solution

In Settings, find Apps (or Application manager), then swipe to All. Scroll down to Google Services and tap on Clear dataand then Force stop. Do the same with the Google Play Store app and clear the cache from your internet browser.

Google Play Store - Error 497

• Problem

Difficulty updating installed apps

• First solution

Clear out your Play Store data. Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store and hit Clear cache, Clear data and Uninstall updates.

• Second solution

Disable your SD card, if you have one. Go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD card.

• Third solution

If your phone is rooted, you can delete the app's APK and reinstall it. To do so, open up Root Explorer, or a similar application, and navigate to System / app > Mount R / W > Delete application. Or you can play it safe and rename the offending APK to to something like GoogleSearch.apk.backup, so you can revert it if anything goes wrong.

Google Play - Error 921

• Problem

You can’t download an app.

• Solution

Try deleting the cache of the Google Play Store application. If this doesn’t work, delete all the Play Store application data, but please be advised that this will consequently delete all the settings that you’ve already made. As a last resort, remove your Google account, restart the device and enter it again. 

Google Play - Package File Invalid

• Problem

Play Store error.

• First solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All and select the app that's causing the problem, then select Clear cache and Clear data. Try again in Google Play Store.

• Second solution

Install app through Google Play Store website.

• Third solution

Disable Wi-Fi and download or update the app using mobile network data.

• Fourth solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and select Clear cache and Clear data. Do the same for Google Services Framework.

• FIfth solution

Remove your Google account, restart your device, re-add your Google account and try again.

Google Play Error - Error 403

• Problem

The download is impossible and the request is 'forbidden'. This usually happens when two Google accounts are used to buy applications on one device.

• Firs solution

Go the Google Play Store with the correct Google account. Uninstall the application in question. Try to get the app from Google Play again and click the purchase button.

• Second solution

Clear the proxy you have possibly set up, by going into the Settings, then choose Wireless and Networks (or More networks) and then Mobile Network. Select APN, which stands for Access Point Name and hit Clear Proxy Option. You can always reinstate the proxy afterwards.

• Third solution

Another solution would be to erase your entire search history which you can do in the Play Store itself by choosing theSettings button. Next, select Clear search history.

• Fourth solution

Try creating a new Google account and using it instead for the Play Store. Go to the Google Play, and select the menu button again. Then select Accounts and choose the New Gmail account. Then reinstall the app.

Google Play Error - Error 944

• Problem

This error pops up when you're trying to update apps and seems to occur when the Google Play Store is down, or there is some sort of server error.

• Solution

Try updating the app later. It appears to be a temporary problem on Google's end, so will just have to wait it out.

Google Play Error - Error 406

• Problem

Apps cannot be downloaded. This particular error can occur if you've reset the Google account you used to register on your phone, if you've restored your device to its factory settings, or if you've registered a new account on your phone.

• Solution

A classic clearing of the cache will hopefully do the trick. Go to Settings > Applications > All > Googe Play Store > Clear cache.

Otherwise, try again on a different network connection.

Google Play Error - Error 923

• Problem

The download is impossible: error while syncing your Google account or insufficient cache memory.

• Solution

Remove your Google account and delete any useless applications that are taking up space. Next, reboot your device in recovery mode. Select Wipe cache partition and start your device as usual. Don’t worry, your personal data won’t be deleted. Set up your Google account once again.

Google Play - Error 492

• Problem

It’s impossible to install an application because of the Dalvik cache.

• Solution

Under Settings, find Apps, then swipe to All and scroll down to Google Services. Here, select Clear data and then Force stop. Do the same on the Google Play Store app.

Note: If the problem is not solved, try deleting the Dalvik cache. To do this, enter the custom recovery mode (only if you have root). Another solution is to complete a data wipe/factory reset. This option applies to all users and can be done in recovery mode. Beware, it will wipe your data so make sure you have backed up everything you wish to keep.

Google Play - Error 101

• Problem

Can't download app as there are too many currently installed.

• Solution

Uninstall old and unused apps.

Google Play - Error 481

• Problem

There is an error with your Google Play Store account.

• Solution

Remove your account and login in with an alternate account.

Google Play - Error 927

• Problem

The download is impossible because an update of the Play Store is in progress.

• Solution

Wait a few minutes until the Google Play Store is completely upgraded. If the problem persists, go to Settings, thenApps, swipe to All and locate the Google Services. Tap on Clear data and then Force stop. Do the same with the Google Play Store application.

You have probably guessed by now that there is a standard way to alleviate some of these errors, so if you're experiencing a different problem to those mentioned above, you could try following the same steps. Always be careful when wiping your data or doing a factory/data reset, because this will get rid of your saved pics, files, contacts, and so on, so make sure you back up all your data beforehand.

Google Play - Error 961

• Problem

Problems when installing Android apps from the Play Store.

• Solution

First, get a refund from the Play Store, which you can do within 15 minutes of purchasing. To do this, select the repayment option in the Play Store. Next, go into the Settings of your device and choose Applications and swipe left until you see All apps. Now scroll down to Google Play and choose it. Here, select Clear cache. If the problem persists, choose Clear data as well.

Google Play - Error 911

• Problem

You can't download an app.

• First solution

Go to Settings, Apps, then swipe to All and scroll down to Google Services. Here, select Clear data.

• Second solution

If you're on Wi-Fi connection requiring a web page login, ensure you are still logged in.

• Third solution

Try another Wi-Fi network.

• Fourth solution

Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile network data services. Only do this if you are comfortable using up data on your mobile plan.

Google Play - Error 920

• Problem

You can't download an app.

• First solution

Turn your Wi-Fi off and back on again, and then try to download or update the app in question.

• Second solution

Delete your Google account, restart your device and add your account back again in the app Settings. You could also try using an alternative account.

• Third solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and select both Clear data and Clear cache and finally Uninstall updates.  Restart your device, open Google Play Store and try to download the app again.

Google Play - Error 24

• Problem

Unknown.

• Solution

You need a root manager to solve this one. If you have one, navigate to Data/data. In that folder, locate the package name of the app causing trouble (this can be found by looking at the URL of the app on the Play Store website). Delete the entire folder. Try reinstalling the app.

Google Play - Error rpc:aec:0]

• Problem

You can't download an app.

• Solution

Remove your Google account. Remove all synced accounts. Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and select Clear data. Restart your device and try again.

Google Play - Error RPC:S-3

• Problem

Can't download an app.

• Solution

Remove Google account and re-add it, or try an alternate account.

Google Play - Error 924

• Problem

Usually occurs when trying to download larger applications. The app downloads, but the error message is displayed, saying the installation was unsuccessful do to an error

• Solution

Head to Settings > All > Google Play Store > Uninstall updates. Once you've done this, try downloading the problem app again.

Google Play - Error 110

• Problem

The application cannot be installed.

• Solution

Head to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Clear cache. If the problem persists, try downloading the app from the Play Store website.

Google Play - Error 940

• Problem

Application cannot be download

• Solution

It could be as simple as restarting your device. If this doesn't work follow these steps:

• Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Clear cache
• Go to Settings > Application > All > Downloads / Download manager > Clear data
• Do the same for 'Google Services Framework', 'Google Apps', 'Google Hangouts', 'Checking Service'. Some users report needing to clear the data on Chrome.

Google Play - Error 906, 907 and 963

• Problem

Occurs predominantly on HTC One M8 and M9 devices when trying to download or update an app through the Play Store.

• First solution

Head to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Clear cache. Go back to the previous screen and to the previous screen then select Downloads / Download Manager > Clear data.

• Second solution

Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Uninstall updates; go back to the previous screen, then Google Play Services > Clear data.

• Third solution

Disable your SD memory card. Go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD card > OK. Head back to the Play Store and try downloading or updating the app again. If it works, head back to Settings > Storage > Mount SD card.

• Fourth solution

Move the app to your device's internal memory. Go to Settings > Applications > All > (app causing the problem) > Move to internal memory. Head back to the Play Store, try downloading or updating the app again, and if it works, move it back to the SD card.

Have you ever come across any other Play Store problems? Let us know in the comments below.

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