Android: Most custom ROMs don't come with Google apps pre-installed for legal reasons. Open GApps helps you install them on a new ROM, and now it can also turn on Google Assistant for you.

Android: Android's designed largely for mobile users, but since it has Linux at its core, it can work with a desktop environment as well. If you've ever wanted a Linux-style GNU workspace for Android, this guide from XDA can show you how.

While CyanogenMod, the popular custom ROM for Android, may be dead, its spirit lives on in Lineage OS. Now, the first builds of that ROM are available for the Nexus 6P, 5X and a few other devices.

Android Doze is an unsung hero, saving your battery when you're not using your phone. Third-party apps like Greenify, ForceDoze and Naptime can squeeze even more juice out of your phone, but they can do a whole lot more if you tweak them.

Android: For those who root their phones, custom recoveries are a godsend. Few are as useful or as popular as the Team Win Recovery Project (or TWRP), and now you can download a TWRP installer straight from the Play Store.

Hidden in the Android Settings app is a secret menu called Developer Options that gives you access to all kinds of useful tools and tweaks. If you know how to uncover it, you can take advantage, and there are a handful of helpful things you can do. For example, you can transform the look of your phone and even fake your GPS location.

Android: Officially, if you want the new Google Assistant, you need to buy a Pixel phone. Unofficially, it's already been enabled on any device running Nougat. Now, the Android N-ify Xposed module can even bring it to older Marshmallow devices.

Google Assistant, the new intelligent, conversational virtual assistant, is sadly only officially available for their new Pixel phones. However, with a little tweaking, you can get it -- and all of Assistant's powerful search and chat features -- on any phone running Android Nougat. Here's how.

Android: Over the weekend, Pokemon GO rolled out an update that will allow you to set one Pokemon as your buddy. Neat! It also stealthily blocks the game from anyone with root access. Not as neat. Here's how to get around this limitation and play anyway.

Android: XDA has released a few versions of its apps over the years, but the recent ones are the most useful yet. With XDA Labs you can browse the forums, download apps and peruse a library of Xposed modules.

Android (root, 5.0+): Unfortunately, the Android N preview is only available for a few devices. However, you can try out a few of the newest features on Android Lollipop and up with this Xposed module.

Android (root): The awesome Xposed framework, which allows you to roll your own customised version of Android, has now been updated to work with Android Marshmallow.

Android Marshmallow introduced the sweet new Doze feature, that makes your battery life last super long when you're not actively using your device. If you have root, this app lets you tweak this awesome feature.

Android (root): If you have a giant phone and aren't Mr. Fantastic, you might have trouble reaching the top of your phone's screen sometimes. This clever workaround for root users can bring the top of your phone to your fingers instead.

Android (root): If you're one of the lucky few to receive Android Marshmallow, and you have root, you can try out a hidden, experimental multi-window layout buried in Android.

Chrome: ADB is a handy tool for managing your rooted Android device. While it's never been easier to install ADB on any OS, ADB for Chrome makes it even easier by installing directly to your browser.

Windows/Android: ADB and fastboot are two immensely powerful tools. If you're new to using them, or just want to simplify the process a bit, Universal ADB Helper can make certain tasks a snap.

Android (rooted): With phones getting so big, scrolling with one hand can be tricky sometimes. Tilt Scroll lets you tilt your phone to scroll in any app or screen.

Android (rooted): Your Android phone launches a number of applications and services in the background when you start it up. You can keep unwieldy battery and performance hogs at bay with BootManager for Xposed.