Peugeot HX1

Peugeot drew some considerable attention at the Paris Auto Show last year when they introduced the EX1 electric concept for the very first time. This year, the French automaker is looking to repeat that with the introduction of their latest concept, the six-seater MPV concept called the HX1.

Blessed with a unique layout that makes use of Peugeot’s new design language, the HX1 is the company’s presentation of what their ’big’ models could look like in the future. The new revolutionary design includes "half-scissor" doors and a "floating" front grille akin to some of the company’s newest production models. The HX1 also features a hybrid powertrain system consisting of a 2.2-liter diesel engine and a rear-mounted 70kW electric motor.

All told, the HX1 Concept is Peugeot’s attempt in breaking new ground with their future models. No word yet on if the car is headed to production anytime soon, but that’s neither here nor there. For now, the important thing is that the French automaker is slowly stretching its legs, leaving behind the conservative ’label’ that they’ve been carrying for the longest time.

The Top 10 Android Root Apps of 2011

Wireless Tether for Root Users

This amazing, free app, accomplishes just what its name implies. Wireless Tether allows you to wirelessly tether another device to your phone’s internet (2G Edge, 3G, or 4G Wimax or LTE depending on your wireless provider). It is done via Bluetooth or an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection. It is extremely secure and customizable in that you can set your own wireless SSID, WEP encryption keys, filter MAC addresses, and turn it on only when you need it. If you travel with a laptop, or another device like an iPod or iPad, which rely on Wi-Fi to connect to the internet, this is a must for every root user! The app even displays your bandwidth usage if you are interested, keeping track of the realtime download and upload speeds, and total usage. Feel free to share (or not) your free Wi-Fi with your friends! This is by far the easiest and cheapest method of tethering

Android.
[Download]

Titanium Backup - Root

The Titanium Backup app is one of many full phone backup solutions for Android Root users. It is free and extremely powerful, making it our favorite and the best of the bunch to backup, save, and restore your device. It allows you to easily backup and restore all of your apps, system settings, and Android Market downloads, contacts, SMS/MMS text messages, and more. If you experiment frequently with different ROMs or just want peace of mind, this is a must-have app. The donate version (minimum of $3.99) allows for multiple backups, faster backups, scheduling, and more handy features for an even more comprehensive solution.
[Download]

ROM Manager

The ROM Manager is the ideal solution to manage all of your ROMs in a simple way. It allows you to backup, download, and update your ROMs to and from an SD card or over the air (OTA). It is simple, functional, and best of all free, working with the most popular ROMs like CyanogenMod. It is perfect for all you Android hackers!
Note: There was a previous app called DroidRootHelper (also free) that was really popular. It has since been discontinued in favor of ROM Manager by ClockworkMod.
[Download]

SetCPU

The adbWireless app enables ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to be used over Wi-Fi, shocking given the name huh? This free app is also a must-have for Android hackers eliminating the need to connect a microUSB cable to your phone and computer. Of course you will need to have the Android SDK installed on your computer. But once connected, you can transfer files to and from your phone (wirelessly) and much more!
[Download]

SetCPU

The SetCPU app, as the name implies, allows you to set the clock speed of the internal CPU of your phone or device. It costs $1.99 at the Android Market and with it you can increase performance through overclocking or extend battery life by underclocking the device's processor. You can also create different profiles based on the battery percentage or just set your CPU to a certain speed when the phone boots.
Warning: Since this program works on a low level, you could potentially damage your phone if you set the CPU too high and/or overheat your phone!
[Download]

Root Explorer

Continuing on, the handy Root Explorer App is one of the most versatile file managers that, combined with root access, really gives you total control over your Android file system. With it you can tweak your phone and get rid of unwanted system apps and access your data folder. You can even create ZIP archive files right from your phone! It costs £2.50 and can be found at the Android Market.
Free alternatives to Root Explorer that don’t offer quite the same level of functionality, but will probably work just as well are AndExplorer and ASTRO File Manager.
[Download]

Android Terminal Emulator

Here’s another one for the hardcore Android hackers. This free app can be found on the Android Market and allows you to access the UNIX terminal and execute commands. With root access, Android Terminal Emulator is invaluable for accomplishing many things by hand and opening doors on your phone that wouldn't otherwise be possible! This is great for removing preloaded apps that won't "uninstall" normally.

[Download]

AdFree Android

You use AdBlock Plus in Firefox or other internet browsers, why not take the same concept and apply it to your entire phone? AdFree Android (free in the market) allows you to clear out all the ads and speed up your phone so precious resources aren’t devoted to pesky ads. It blocks most ads in your downloaded apps as well as your browser. Unlike some ad blockers, which simply hide the ads, AdFree actually uses a firewall to prevent them from being downloaded and the block lists are updated regularly. So if you want to free up some system resources and screen real estate, give this a download, you won't be sorry! It
[Download]

ShootMe/PicMe (Screen Grabbers)

Taking a screenshot on your PC or Mac is pretty easy. On a phone, especially one with limited physical buttons, it can be a challenge. And sometimes, you just want to send a quick picture of your desktop or app to a friend. ShootMe or PicMe, both by the same developer allow you to accomplish this. Both are free in the Market and allow you to create screen grabs of whatever you see on your phone. ShootMe takes screenshots when you shake your phone vigorously or yell loudly at your phone (or also flash it with a bright light if your device has a light sensor). If you aren’t inclined to appear like you are abusing your phone, you can opt for PicMe in which you can view a live screen of your device via a remote web browser (provided you’re connected via Wi-Fi). You simply browse to the IP address and add 8082 for the port to see a live screen which you can interact with. With the live view, you can use your mouse and navigate through your phone.
If you are taking multiple shots or want to interact with your phone remotely, PicMe is probably a better option. If you just need a couple screenshots on the go, ShootMe will probably work best.
[Download ShootMe] [Download PicMe]

CacheMate for Root Users

The useful CacheMate is a little program that completely cleans the cache of any or all of your apps. A free lite version and a paid full version are both available at the Android Market ($1.00 for the paid version). This app displays the total, used, and free memory available. You can schedule when clearing occurs and even create a desktop widget for easy access. To use, simply press the trashcan "Clear" icon. The phone will vibrate, clean the cache, and display how much has been cleaned.
Note: This app should not to be confused with CacheMate the GPS geocaching app by the same name.
[Download]

Skyscanner Android App

The Skyscanner Android app helps you find cheap flights, fast. Quickly compare prices from airlines, travel agents, and third party sites.

• Version: 1.0.5.1
• Size: 8.66MB (no apps2SD)
• Category: Travel
• Price: Free

Skyscanner independently searches and compares over 600 budget and scheduled airlines offering a total of more than 700,000 routes around the world.
The app opens to a screen displaying boxes we are all very familiar with. Fill in your departure and destination airports, dates you plan to travel, and the number of passengers flying. Then, hit he search button and let the app do its work (quickly).
The results page automatically updates itself as the search is being performed. Sites searched include official airline websites (e.g. United or Continental Airlines) as well as third party travel sites (e.g. cheapoair or SmartFares). To narrow the results, apply filters to exclude/include specific airlines and choose the time of day of your flights, the number of stops you can tolerate, and the maximum duration of either leg of your trip. Additionally, you have the option to sort the results by various categories, e.g. price, airlines, and duration.
If you’ve found the right flight, tap it to be taken to the “Your Journey” page with a view of the full itinerary. At this point, you can book the flight either by phone or on the web. The phone and web options put you directly in contact with the website or service that generated the fare.
To say that Skyscanner app’s interface is extremely polished would be a gross understatement. It’s been designed with the end-user in mind and there is a very obvious elegance and power to its simplicity of use. You’ll be ready to fly in no time at all!
  
  
Pros:

• Comprehensive, independent search for the cheapest airline fares
• Search results are filterable, sortable, shareable
• Incredibly streamlined user interface and general functionality

Areas for improvement:

• Apps2SD desperately needed for this app (over 8MB in size)
• Distinguish between direct and non-stop flights (and add them to the number of stops filter)

Conclusion: This Android app makes searching for and booking cheap airline fares a breeze with its extensive search capabilities, elegant UI, and overall functionality/flexibility.
[AppBrain Link]