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Galaxy nexus, CM10.1, standard lock screen/ cLock. If I repeatedly turn the screen off and on it goes back and forth between the two screens below. Super annoying... Edit to include a question mark: How do I make it NOT switch between the two different lock screens every time. I just want one lock screen; the one with the calendar and weather widgets I added... | Finally tracked down something official: https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=48164 | lock screen always toggles between two variants | android |
What do the following two commands mean <code> adb shell ime list -s adb shell ime list </code> and why don't the return anything at all? See code below: <code> aneesh@nb-14:~$ adb shell ime list -s aneesh@nb-14:~$ adb shell ime list aneesh@nb-14:~$ adb shell ime list -a jp.co.omronsoft.openwnn/.OpenWnnJAJP: mId=jp.co.omronsoft.openwnn/.OpenWnnJAJP mSettingsActivityName=jp.co.omronsoft.openwnn.OpenWnnControlPanelJAJP mIsDefaultResId=0x0 Service: ... ... etc. </code> I found no manual entry for these commands. It suggested that I did <code> mandb </code> to update the manual entries list. Googled too! But these efforts were in vain. Any help is appreciated! | You won't find anything about this in the man page on your desktop, nor the usage information for <code> adb </code> because this isn't an <code> adb </code> command. Remember that <code> adb shell foo </code> starts a shell on the device and runs the command <code> foo </code> there. It would be like looking in the <code> ssh </code> man page to find out what <code> ssh myserver rm -rf * </code> does. The command you want help with is <code> ime list </code> , and it only exists on the device, not your desktop. Running <code> adb shell ime </code> (with no further arguments) prints out the usage information for this command. <code> usage: ime list [-a] [-s] ime enable ID ime disable ID ime set ID The list command prints all enabled input methods. Use the -a option to see all input methods. Use the -s option to see only a single summary line of each. The enable command allows the given input method ID to be used. The disable command disallows the given input method ID from use. The set command switches to the given input method ID. </code> "Enabled" in this description doesn't refer to the "enabled" field in the manifest (that is, the one printed out under <code> ServiceInfo </code> ), but rather whether the IME is turned on in the settings. It might be a little confusing to have two different things called "enabled", but don't forget that <code> adb </code> is a debugging tool for programmers, who are expected to understand such things. End-users shouldn't need to run this command, since the list of IMEs is accessible through the device settings. From this description, if you get output with <code> ime list -a </code> but not <code> ime list </code> , that tells you that no input methods are currently enabled in the settings. | `adb shell ime list` commands - Please clarify! | android |
I want to know where Google Play stores downloaded .apk files. I've heard that Google Play doesn't send you an <code> .apk </code> file and installation is completely online. Is it true? | <code> .apk </code> files are downloaded and stored in subfolders under a location on your device called <code> /data </code> . By default you do not have permissions to read from that location. In order to read/write in that location you will need to have rooted your device. | Where does Google Play Store put downloaded apps? | android |
I recently found that there is a "Show notifications" settings for individual app in my HTC One X. I have turned it off for some applications like Subway Surfers (which tries to sell me coins in notifications). Will disabling notifications improve my battery life? How does Android handle if notifications are turned off for a particular app - does it only hide notifications from notification bar or it really does not allow the app to create any notifications in first place (so in this case I presume that it would save battery life)? | Disabling a notification for particular app wont' save battery. Yes it would a little by not ringing and vibrating and also by not making you look at the phone. Actually notification is handled by OS itself. An app just says that I want this notification to be displayed and OS handles it. In your case those apps are running in background using service and periodically asks the OS to display the notification. Event though you've disabled the notification the service is still running and still requesting the OS to display notification. | Does turning off the "Show notifications" settings for apps improve battery life? | android |
I wanted to understand how to work with IMEs. More precisely, I was trying to figure out how to disable in a single command one can disable all the input methods so that the hardware keyboard takes over. I thought that the detailed description given about each input method on giving the <code> adb shell ime list -a </code> command (with an emulator instance running on my 12.04 64-bit Ubuntu machine) might help me. Here I accidentally observed (see the pic below) that in spite of the disabling the various IMEs and then giving the IME listing command, <code> enabled=true </code> stays! Is this a bug? | The <code> enabled=true </code> in this list tells whether the IME's service is enabled in its manifest; that is, whether the developer of the IME has allowed it to appear in that list. It has nothing to do with whether it's turned on or off in the settings. | Flaw in `adb shell ime list -a`? | android |
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 which my cousin bought for me in Saudi Arabia. It is running on Android 2.3 ginger bread. Will I get firmware updates for this phone in India over the air (OTA)? | OTA update will depend on the CSC of your phone. CSC is Country Sales Code; it tells you which region your phone can be used in and which networks it will work with. If you are in India (and your phone is connected to an India network), and your phone has CSC for Saudi Arabia, you will not be able to get OTA updates. What you can do is flash a stock ROM for India on your phone using Odin. After you do this, you will be able to get future OTA updates. WARNING: Changing ROM might require a wipe of your phone. Some ROMS have Multi-CSC that might support the region you are in. In this case, you don't need to flash a new ROM. You can just change it with the "Samsung Galaxy S / S2 / S3 CFC" app in Google Play. WARNING: Changing CSCs will wipe your phone. The CSC code for India is ODD. | Can I update my Saudi Arabian Samsung Galaxy S2 to the latest Android version over the air in India? | android |
I recently got an Asus Nexus 7 Tablet shipped to me, and want to be able to use all of the .apk files I have saved on my computer (all purchased/downloaded legitimately). Here's the issue: I'm in the navy and underway, and will be for quite some time. I have no ability to connect my Nexus to a wifi/wired network (not allowed to plug it into a ship's network computer via USB), and I have no ability to connect my personal computer to the internet either, so setting up a Google Play account on the tablet is a no-go. My laptop is a Macbook, and I DO have Android File Transfer installed, but that's pretty much all I'm working with here. When I plug my tablet into the laptop, Android File Transfer pops up, and I can drag and drop files onto the Nexus, HOWEVER, I don't have any file manager program to access the .apk files once they're on the tablet. I have tried going to settings and checking the Unknown Sources box in the Security menu, dragged and dropped an assortment of .apk files into the Nexus root folder, and then have entered "file:///sdcard/xxx.apk" into the Google Chrome internet browser window ("xxx.apk" being whatever file path I'm trying to access). But when I hit "Go", the browser page just flashes, refreshes with a blank address bar, and it's like nothing happened. Is there any hope for me, or is this Nexus 7 just going to be a very expensive paper weight until I finally see land (and wifi) again? Thanks in advance for any advice! | The first thing worth noting that your original attempt at pointing your browser to the .apk directly should work (see the comments starting with stackexchange-url ("Stephen Schrauger's")). It's not really clear why this would not be the case for you, but you may want to double-check your Downloads app (in the app drawer) and your pathing. It could be that it's "downloading" in the background but it happens so quickly that you do not realize it. If for some reason that really isn't working, then you can try a potential workaround. This is pretty ugly, but it does work. I've tested this on my Nexus 10, for reference. Create a folder on your laptop that contains your apk files (we'll call it <code> apkfolder </code> for the purposes of this example), then within that folder create an HTML file (we'll call it <code> apkinstall.html </code> ) using a text editor. Since you have an Astro apk, use this as the content of the HTML file: <code> <a href="Astro.apk">Install Astro</a> </code> Where <code> Astro.apk </code> should be the actual name of your Astro apk file. Now copy <code> apkfolder </code> onto the root of your Nexus 7's storage using Android File Transfer. Make sure that all the apks copy over as well as the HTML file. If you are using TextEdit on a Mac : TextEdit will attempt to treat things as RTF files by default, so even if you save it with a .html extension it may not work. One workaround I've found is to go to <code> Format > Make Plain Text </code> before you save the file. You'll know you're in the correct format when the rulers and such disappear from the TextEdit window. Then you can save the file and make sure you use change the <code> .txt </code> to <code> .html </code> . Next launch your browser, and point it to <code> file:///sdcard/apkfolder/apkinstall.html </code> . You should get a mostly blank page, with a link that says "Install Astro". Click that link to install the Astro apk from your storage, then use Astro to install all your other apps. If you're using Chrome, then you'll probably need to pull down the notification bar and tap the "Download complete" notification to actually kick off the install. In the more general case, if you didn't have a file manager apk, you could instead add a bunch of link entries to the HTML file - one for each app - and install all of them that way. In your case, this shouldn't be necessary. | How do I install a .apk on my Nexus 7 using the browser? | android |
I bought a 3G prepaid card that offers internet, but I want to stop getting Internet through the card and use WiFi to connect to his home router or certain WiFi networks of choice. I know how to connect to WiFi. My question is how to shut off prepaid 3G internet, other than removing the card, which I find tedious. The reason is simple, I want to use my card for phone calls only and I want to use the WiFi for Internet. Plus, my prepaid card internet is damn expensive. | Android will always use WiFi once it is connected. You just have to disable mobile data. To do so go to <code> Settings </code> → <code> Mobile network settings </code> and uncheck <code> Data enabled </code> . | How to stop getting internet through the prepaid card and use only my home wifi? | android |
When I restart my Samsung Galaxy S2 (GT-I9100), I get an error message: Voice Command An unexpected server error occurred. Please try again. [OK] This started ever since I download the trial version of (redacted) earlier tonight, but its still happening even after I uninstalled it. I've not accepted the Voice Command agreement. Whenever I accidentally activate it by pressing the home key the wrong way, I select <code> Decline </code> . What does this error message actually mean? | I was getting this error constantly today, so I went to <code> Settings </code> → <code> Applications </code> → <code> All </code> → <code> Voice Command </code> . From there I clicked <code> Force Stop </code> → <code> OK </code> then <code> Clear Data </code> → <code> OK </code> . Then I relaunched the voice command by tapping the microphone button on my Google search widget. The Voice Command worked perfectly, and I haven't seen the error message in about an hour. | What does "Voice Command" "Unexpected server error occurred. Please try again." mean? | android |
Today I received two suspicious SMS from two different sender - both from the same provider. The messages only contained the text "request failed". The numbers do not look like some special expensive numbers. Can anyone guess what happened? Is there a way to find out if there is an app which is allowed to send SMS on my phone? Update: now that I've seen that there is no suspicious app with permissions to send SMS, I try to reconsile the SMS in my SMS history with the ones from my bill. But I noticed that it's hard to get a chronological list of SMS from the build in app - any idea how I can get a chronological list of sent SMS and not conversations? | I got the same problem. Received two messages with "Request Failed" and am curious where they are from. I noticed that they always seem to arrive shortly after Google Calendar SMS. So maybe that's somehow connected. As you might be able to see - the SMS is sent to you and not from you. In previous days I got the Google SMS sometimes twice. So maybe Google tried to fix the problem - what's left is a false request from Google using your number with their calender application, instead of replying to Google that the request is from it gets send to the alias number - being your number. I guess there's nothing to worry about. But anyway I'll try to remove my number from Google - I saw that somewhere you can just remove all SMS notifications - that might help. | received SMS with content "request failed" | android |
So, I got myself s4 and rooted it. I've tested the root access with several different apps, and all of those work. But now I tried Network Spoofer. The app seemed to download and install successfully, but now, when I try to actually do something, I get this: Screenshot: chroot: can't execute 'spoof': Permission denied (click image for larger variant) How do I fix this? | The app's homepage at http://digitalsquid.co.uk/netspoof/ lists the requirements needed for the app to work: Requirements Network Spoofer runs on Android devices with the following requirements: Which are rooted (‘su’). Have an SD card (or internal storage) with > 450MB spare space. Which has Wifi So I'd start by double-checking how much free space you have on your device. Then it lists the currently supported (and unsupported) models: Supported devices Currently Network Spoofer has been thoroughly tested on these devices: Samsung Galaxy Nexus HTC Nexus One T-Mobile G1 It is reported working on these devices, as well as working on most other devices: LG Optimus 2x Huawei u8150d HTC Hero Droid Bionic Samsung Galaxy S / S II Samsung Infuse 4G However, Network Spoofer doesn’t currently work with: Droid / Droid 2 / Droid X Motorola Atrix Many other devices should and probably will work, but please report any odd behaviour or crashes, so I can get this working with more devices. Your device unfortunately isn't on the list of currently supported devices, which means that the app's author doesn't guarantee that it will work for you. If you follow the bug reporting link there are ways there for you to provide the dev with more information, so that they can try to get things working on your device. But before you go there, have a look at Network Spoofer's FAQ page which does list some common problems, and some ways to get round them, or what additional information you can provide to help get the problem fixed. Finally there is currently an open bug report about Network Spoofer not working on an S4 , with the same error message that you're getting, that does list how the reporter of the bug got it to work: I had the same problem when trying to run bt5 on my phone using the Complete Linux Installer app, but solved the problem by changing the script from the file bootscript.sh (attached) to the combination of the 4 other files (installbt first, then startbt, and bt, then stopbt to unmount everything). The chroot command is located in the bt script. That could be worth trying (you'll need to visit the bug report to see the attached files). | How do I run network spoofer on S4? | android |
I think the screenshots speak for themselves. Can't pinpoint a reason from what I see. Anyone can help please? Thanks Screenshots (click images for larger variants) | Buggy firmware. Restarted and problem went away. | Why does Better Battery Stats say my Galaxy S4 is awake 100% of the time? | android |
The last Google Play update removed the PIN option. The new solution is email login. My kids know, and should know, their email logins, so that is not protecting me from Google Play purchases. How to enable monetary parental control for Google Play ? I'm only interested in monetary protection (content protection is another topic). | The easiest solution is to not have a credit card linked to their account. Even if you did still have a PIN for protection, they could still use the card online with any place that takes google wallet. The PIN (and now password) really only protects purchases from the device itself. There are a few options that come to mind for them to have paid apps: Second Google Account One option is to add your Google account to their phone, and use it for all the purchased apps. When they want to buy an app, they switch over to your account, and then you put in your password to buy it. The downside of this method is that they could easily change the sync settings so they get your contacts, email, etc. Temporary Second Google Account Alternatively, you could temporarily add your google account, make the purchase, then remove the account. The purchased app will remain on the device and should work, and they won't have access to sync data. But the app won't get any updates, and you'll have to do the same process any time they want another app. Third Google Account Or you could create a third google account that only is used for purchased apps, and not for emails or contacts. They would still need your password to buy the app, and you wouldn't have to worry about them activating sync for your information. And since the account would remain on their phone, their paid apps could be updated as well. Prepaid/Gift Card Another option is to put a prepaid card, or a Google Play Gift Card (min $10), on their account. They can purchase up to the limit of the card, either for paid apps or in-app purchases. Alternative App Stores You could also try using a different app store, such as Amazon's app store. It has most of the apps that Google Play Store has. It doesn't have PIN/password protection for paid apps (but it does have that option for in-app purchases), but Amazon gift cards can be bought in denominations as low as 15 cents. You could just buy the specific amount to cover the app they want, then gift it to them so they can buy the app. | How enable monetary parental control for Google Play ? | android |
I recently received low space warnings on my Huawei Honor so I connected my phone to the Mac and observed the files: As you can see, perhaps 75% is taken up by a file called 'UPDATE' in the dload folder. Can I delete this? Is this an install file or is it the operating system?! Obviously I could answer my own question by deleting it but I don't want to delete the operating system. | This shouldn't delete the OS. Looks to just be a small update file. | Can I delete a file called 'UPDATE' in the dload folder, or will this delete the operating system? | android |
From my understanding, while the Galaxy S4 does offer a memory card slot, it's worth mentioning that you can't install apps on the memory card and can only use it for storing movies, music, pictures, etc. So, is this a problem with the Android 4 OS not capable of allowing phone user to install or move apps to the SD card? or is it that the phone manufacturer are not capable of producing a phone that allow user to use the SD card slot given that the limited space for a 16 GB Samsung Galaxy S4? | Android supports moving apps to the SD card since version 2.2 (only for apps which allow it); however, this feature can be disabled when building the ROM. Apparently Samsung decided that about 9 GB of user-accessible internal memory should be enough for apps, and disabled the “move to SD” function in their stock ROMs for the 16 GB Galaxy S4 model. However, there are recent news that Samsung heard complaints of 16 GB Galaxy S4 users and enabled the “move to SD” function in a software update. | Cannot install or move Android Apps to SD Card - is it a flaw from the Android or from the phone manufacturer? | android |
I'm interested in the following two folders found on my Samsung SIII: <code> /storage/sdcard0/burstlyImageCache </code> <code> /storage/sdcard0/burstlyVideoCache </code> Together they only come to about 1.5 MB on my device. What application creates these, and can they be safely removed? | They're cache directories that hold Ads for games. I've read Angry Birds is one such game that uses those directories. Yes, you could delete them, but they'll keep coming back everytime a game reloads their Ads. | What are the folders 'burstlyImageCache' and 'burstlyVideoCache' and can I delete them? | android |
Anyone can set up a gmail account and anyone logged into gmail account with their android phone or tablet can leave google play app ratings (with android 4.2 I can even have multiple google accounts for the same tablet) So is there anything preventing someone from just creating lots of gmail accounts, then logging into their android device, leaving a 5 star rating for their app? | Short answer: No. There is nothing that prevent developer from making lots of additional Google Accounts to provide 5 star ratings. Google recently made a change that require a Google+ enabled account to post reviews/star ratings on Google Play (at least using the on-device Play-app on certain phones) which is a small improvement from the past where a simple Gmail account would be enough. | Does google do anything to stop an app developer from just posting lots of 5 star reviews for themselves? | android |
The Camera on my Android API 10 Virtual Device isn't working. While creating the AVD there are three options I found for Back Camera: None Webcam0 Emulated I tried all options 1, 2 and 3 to no avail. Also, Front Camera is set to <code> None </code> and selection is disabled. What is it that must be done for the emulator camera to work? Will any Camera app solve my problem? Can I have the Front Camera enabled somehow? What it shows - no matter which option of the above I select - is a white screen with two icons near the bottom edge of the screen. One icon is for setting picture quality and/or restore default settings. The other icon is to enable/disable "store location" See the image below Thanks in advance for help! | Select version > = 4.0 and it will support the camera. | Android Emulator (API 10) Camera Not Working - ADT Bundle Linux | android |
I know that doing a <code> fastboot oem unlock </code> will both unlock the bootloader and wipe the data on the device. Unfortunately, while this allows me to install a non-stock ROM like Cyanogenmod, my understanding is that it also allows anyone w/ physical access to the device to flash or boot a different (potentially malicious) kernel among other things. Is it possible to then do a <code> fastboot oem lock </code> and still be able to load the non-stock ROM? If this is possible, what sort of warnings might appear, if any, during the boot process? And finally, would doing another <code> fastboot oem unlock </code> still wipe the data? I understand that also flashing a recovery like CWM OR TWRP would allow flashing malicious images even ifthe bootloader is locked. Please assume that only the default recovery would be used. Additionally, is doing something like this to secure a non-stock ROM posdible on any non-nexus devices? | Yes. Locking the bootloader is possible after you have installed a custom firmware. A locked bootloader will not allow you to ad-hoc boot custom binaries (using fastboot boot boot.img and will not allow you to directly write to the flash chips. An unlocked bootloader however does offer you this and newly available commands are: fastboot flash partition image fastboot boot kernel-image So, if it's locked you will only be able to either boot the normal or the recovery system which themselves need to enforce the chain of trust and ensure security. Current custom recovery images won't enforce any security, so you will have to install a safe stock recovery after you have installed your custom firmware. Regarding the stock recovery, this will not allow you to install any upcoming custom builds, only stock firmware (that's digitally signed by Google) will install. So, to have a working chain of trust with no holes in it, you will need to first unlock the bootloader, then install a custom recovery, install a custom firmware (etc.), then re-install the stock recovery (extract it from Google's stock image), then re-lock the bootloader. The procedure to upgrade to newer firmware builds will be a bit tricky at the moment: I think there exist user-land tools to unlock the bootloader from a regular (rooted) custom firmware (like CyanogenMod) without the penalty of a full wipe. This way you can unlock the bootloader without a wipe, then (temporarily) boot a custom recovery (via fastboot boot cwm-recovery.img ), do an adb sideload update.zip and finally relock the bootloader using fastboot oem lock again. One note: I think I have read somewhere that the Nexus 4 doesn't to a full wipe with subsequent unlocks after it has been unlocked/relocked once. I'm not sure about this, you will need to test this once. | Can I lock the Nexus 4/7 bootloader after flashing a non-stock ROM? | android |
I would like to be able to turn the automatic date time settings on and off from tasker. I don't see a way to do this directly but I can use tasker to issue a shell command. I know I can just use the date command to change the date to some specific date but is there a way to turn the automatic setting off and on from a command line or tasker? | It might be useful to check the android source to find the exact package name to the system settings , specifically this source responsible for date/time, line 226 is the key! Have played with tasker before, but can tasker directly modify system properties? as in directly do this, I am quoting line 228 the pertinent part: <code> Settings.Global.putInt( getContentResolver(), Settings.Global.AUTO_TIME_ZONE, autoZoneEnabled ? 1 : 0); </code> In short the actual direct name to the package would be <code> com.android.settings/.DateTimeSettings </code> , if that's of any help! By using <code> adb shell </code> 's Android Activity Manager, <code> am </code> , one can start the activity to go directly into that screen as in <code> am start -n com.android.settings/.DateTimeSettings </code> , experiment and see if that fits your needs as I have not actually played with it. :) | how to turn on/off automatic date/time settings | android |
I've bricked my old Galaxy S (GT-I9000) into a bootloop. Trying to fix that, I've uploaded Semaphore's ClockworkMod Recovery to my device successfully via Linux. However, when I press VUP+POWER+HOME, I get to the boot screen and it keeps flashing without booting into recovery mode. Download mode works fine. What can I do to restore the functionality of my device? | Following this worked: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=30206455 . Basically I flashed zImage from FixRecovery.tar and removed my SIM (Don't know why that works, it's probably not required). | Samsung Galaxy S stuck at bootloop | android |
My Verizon Galaxy Note 2 running a nightly from a couple weeks ago is stuck rebooting over and over after I enabled the option in the developer tools to simulate an external screen. I selected the bottom option that mentioned 1080p. It immediately went to the CyanogenMod booting animation. Here's the sequence that repeats forever: It shows the booting animation for about how long it usually shows it when booting normally. Then it shows a black screen with one white, pink, or red (seemingly randomly) pixel in the very top left corner. After a couple seconds it shows another black screen and some of the top right icons (battery and clock) appear quickly. Sometimes it loads the clock and a few other elements. Then it repeats by jumping to the loading screen. When turning the phone on after pulling the battery out, a dim light above the phone flashes red quickly. I can get into Odin mode. Buttons don't do anything on the phone while in the perpetual boot loop. Please help. Thanks. | I was able to fix it by booting into safe mode by holding the volume up button while it booted. Then I disabled the setting that broke it. | CM Note 2 Stuck Rebooting After Enabling Simulate External Screen | android |
So I had this crazy idea: I could play GBA games on my computer AND phone, using Dropbox to sync the save files, and a symbolic link to get the emulator app on my phone to find the save file. However, I neglected to consider that the way Dropbox works on my phone is significantly different than the synchronized folder on my PC. So, is it possible to keep an actively synced copy of a file (perhaps using favorites) from Dropbox in the filesystem on the phone? Where would that file end up? TL;DR: Can I symbolic link to a file in Dropbox on my phone? | Instead of symbolic link, you may use DropSync (Pro) which allows you to define the Dropbox (cloud) directory and also the file (local) directory in your device. | Symbolic link to Dropbox | android |
The icons changed to a green scheme instead of the normal blue scheme, and it persists even after reboot. The autocomplete text is yellow now, as is the browser loading bar. What happened?? This screenshot is from a while ago, when I was using a different launcher, but it shows how the colours were until yesterday. (There's also some unrelated background corruption.) Now the Wi-Fi and cell and messaging and browser icons are green: I tried reflashing the same version of CM7, and it's still green: I don't care too much about the color, but I don't know how this could have happened and wonder if it indicates some kind of corruption of the phone's Flash, etc? | Apparently themes on Cyanogenmod are controlled by an app called... Theme Chooser. I didn't even know they were customizable, and had never opened the app before (and I would expect such a thing to be in the Settings, not in an app). Anyway, mine was on the "System" theme, which is green, and I can easily change it back to the "Cyanbread" theme, which is the blue one I am used to. I don't know how or why it changed, but it's easy enough to fix once you learn where they are configured, and doesn't seem as big of a deal as I thought. | Cyanogenmod stopped being blue | android |
In my Nexus 4, I have the following screen lock options. <code> None Slide Face Unlock Pattern PIN Password </code> How can I get options other than these for my lock screen? I prefer non-rooted ways to get this done. (The option I prefer is what I have in my Jailbroken iPod Touch - AndroidLock XT that allows me to use an unlock pattern with the nine points to create the pattern, invisible. But I don't mind any other interesting options available for a screen lock on android) | To get a lock screen similar to the one available for Windows Phone, try Lock Screen 7 . WidgetLocker Lockscreen is a paid app which promises to give more lock screen options. Quick Launch Social Lockscreen is another option. Then there's Active lockscreen . Holo Locker Plus and its free version. | How to get more screen lock options? | android |
Using GT-I9300, JB 4.1.2. I can't seem to find details on how "Restricting background data" works (with Mobile Data enabled) exactly. What is considered "background" data? E.g., if I'm sending an MMS and the phone goes to sleep, will the MMS be sent? If I'm sending an MMS and press the Home button, will the MMS be sent? Do I need to have the Messaging app open all the time for it to be sent? Is it okay, if I'm looking at the settings of the said app? I've asked questions pertaining to MMS, but I'm also wondering about the general case. | Background data is anything that involves mobile data or Wi-Fi; it will use whichever is enabled (I think Wi-Fi has higher preference). This includes autosync, background polling, notifications, and other similar operations that will access mobile data. Assuming you don't have any task / data killer that runs in the background when your phone sleeps, the MMS will be sent You do not need to have the Messaging app open. However, if the sending fails (after a certain number of retries), it will fail and you will have to resend it manually. Update #1: Autosync depends on background data. If background data is disabled, autosync is also disabled. Autosync is used by accounts defined in settings (In S4, <code> System Settings > Accounts </code> ). BUT it's also possible to have background data enabled, and autosync disabled. In this case, apps could poll and show notifications (e.g. Twitter). | MMS and Restricting background data | android |
I have HTC One X and I have stored my contacts in the People app. I have put Organization name in their details. I want to view all the users belonging to a particular organization. I am unable to find a way to do that. Is there a way to view all my contacts in People app by Organization name or at least search by it? | Just found my answer. In People app go to <code> Menu > Settings </code> and tap on the setting <code> Search contacts by </code> . There mark the option of <code> Company </code> as selected. There you go :) | Get all users by Organization name in People app of HTC One X | android |
For the past few days my Nexus 7 wouldn't turn on. I just assumed the battery was dead but that seemed strange since the battery usually lasts a lot longer than it had. Last night I connected it to the USB and charged it overnight. This morning it still wouldn't turn on, so i followed the troubleshooting instructions from the ASUS site and held down the power button for at least 15 seconds. This worked and my device began to power up, only this time there was something different - something quite noticeably different. The white vignette is visible the moment the device is powered on throughout the boot screen. If you look closer, you can also see that there is a fine gradient split down the center of the screen. The device is still under warrenty so I plan on having it serviced/replaced, but out of curiousity does anyone know what this is and what could have caused it? | The line down the middle points to this being a problem with the screen's backlight. The backlight illuminates the screen from behind: the screen itself is essentially a coloured filter, which you wouldn't be able to see without a light source. From the excessive brightness I'd say it's possible the backlight has been receiving too much voltage from the rest of the system. This could have been caused by a problem in the drivers for the screen. In normal use, they control the voltage to the backlight in order to make the screen brighter or dimmer, but it could be that in this case a bug made them supply too much voltage. The backlight is actually in two halves, which can be independently controlled (but usually aren't): the line down the middle appears if they're not quite receiving the same voltage. If the problem went away on its own, there is probably nothing to worry about, but there is a small risk that the extra voltage may have permanently damaged the backlight. Normally I'd expect a voltage regulator to turn it off completely before getting to dangerous levels, but only the manufacturer would know for sure. As it's still in warranty, you should check with them. (They may also be interested to investigate this to avoid the problem happening again to anyone else.) You say there's still a little whiteness around the edge of the screen when it's on but entirely black: this is normal for backlit LCD screens. It happens because the blackest black the screen can display doesn't quite manage to filter out all the light. The filtering is worst around the edge of the screen because that's where the light comes through at an angle (and on some displays because the light leaks around the outside of the screen). You probably just didn't notice it before because you weren't looking for it. | Nexus 7 White Vignette | android |
Using Firefox Mobile for Android. I want to lock the option for Desktop mode on by default. The menu option only applies per-tab and is forgotten if I open a new tab. I have looked around at extensions and in about:config without finding anything. Can anyone help? | Have you looked at this extension ? Description: About this Add-on This add-on enables desktop mode by default; that is, "Request Desktop Site" is always checked whenever opening a new tab. This is designed for users with larger screens (primarily tablet users). NOTE: Make sure "Request Desktop Site" and/or Phony are disabled when viewing this page; otherwise, you may not be able to see the install button. EDIT: Take this tutorial you can: In the Firefox address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Tap the "Add a New Setting" button, then select "String" as the type. For name, enter "general.useragent.override." For value, enter the browser user agent string you want to use. You can do a Google search for the user agent strings of your preferred browser and OS. In this example, we're using the user agent string for the desktop version of Firefox 17 on Windows 7. Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:17.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/17.0 Restart Firefox and confirm that Web sites are loading the desktop versions. That's it. If you want to change the user agent later, go back to about:config and search for "general.useragent.override." Hit the Modify button to change the user agent or the Reset button to remove it. | Changing default view mode in Firefox to Desktop | android |
If I use no security for galaxy s4 lock screen I can use a custom wallpaper for the lock screen. But if I use a Pin security then the lock screen uses the default wallpaper of a kid running with a bunch of balloons when entering my pin. Can someone confirm this please? Thanks | From what I've read this is a known "issue" with the S4. When using pin security you can't change any lock screen widgets either. If I was sure that my Fitbit Flex would continue to work with the S4 I'd have flashed CyanogenMod onto my S4 (they have been producing nightly versions for the S4 for a couple of weeks now). | Can't change galaxy s4 lock screen wallpaper if security is in place | android |
I have an HTC Desire with cyanogenmod 7.2 (with pdroid patch) and with an partitioned microSD card (first: FAT, second: ext3). The second partition gets automatically mounted read/writeable as <code> /sd-ext </code> as it should be. I'm using S2E to store my apps and the app data on this ext3 partition. The <code> mount </code> command shows me that the ext3 partition is not only mounted to <code> /sd-ext </code> but also to <code> /data/app </code> and <code> /data/data </code> . All of them are mounted read/writeable. My first question: Is it normal and secure that multiple directories are bound to the same partition? Are there no conflicts? In the beginning everything worked fine. I could install and use my apps without problems. But after a while more and more apps begun to crash and I always had to restart my phone to get rid of those crashes again. I discovered that the crashes where caused by a read only data partition. In fact all the directories <code> /sd-ext </code> , <code> /data/data </code> , and <code> /data/apps </code> where suddenly mounted read only. My second question: Why does Android sometimes remount my ext3 partition in read only mode while I work with my phone? | I finally managed to get rid of the filesystem corruptions. I configured S2E so that it mounts the ext3 partition only to <code> /sd-ext </code> and <code> /data/apps </code> . Since then the partition is not remounted read only anymore. So it seems that the simultaneous write access to the different mount points of the ext3 partition ( <code> /data/apps </code> and <code> /data/data </code> ) caused the filesystem corruptions. | /sd-ext gets suddenly remounted read only during work | android |
Short Description: I am using JellyBean in a dual SIM featured phone. I am using Go SMS software also standard Messaging also I used. I find it peculiar to know that there is no such feature to know to which SIM an SMS was received. Detailed Issue: I am using XOLO A1000 Dual SIM phone which is running in JellyBean. I am using two SIM cards one is by Aircel and another is by Airtel who are two different service providers in India. In my inbox (threads of SMS) either using Messaging app or by Go SMS app all SMS are stored by senders. Now my problem is when I receive a new spam SMS I am not able to know to which SIM that SMS was sent to. To my SIM1 or to my SIM2. Both the apps doesn't show any marking to distinguish that. I even checking 'Message Details' it doesn't contain destination number detail. This is important if I need to file complaint against spamming. Any help will be much appreciated. This is basic required feature but I wonder why I am not able to help myself, I even Googled it and found nothing. | Well, At last I found the answer keeping @t0mm13b as inspiration. The problem is on the Messaging app and Go sms app. So I had to find out a suitable app for my need. Youni SMS is one such and it is working so great. It is clearly marking as sim1 or sim2 for every SMS received and sent. | Not able to know to which SIM sms was received | android |
A couple of weeks ago a sliding app section appeared on my home-screen. I have no idea how it got there, and no clue on how to disable/remove it. I tried all I could on the homescreen, to no luck. Using Galaxy S3, Android 4.1.2, everything standard (so no custom launcher). Any ideas on how to remove it? | It's part of Samsung's multi window feature, and was added by a system update. To disable it, go to the main Settings app. In the Device group, click on Display . In the General group, there's a Multi window item. Uncheck this setting to turn off the sliding tray. If you want to use the multi window feature sometimes, but don't want the sliding tray there all of the time, you can add an item to the quick setting menu (at the top of the notification panel). The setting for that is also in Settings → Display . Click Notification panel to go to a page that lets you drag buttons on and off the quick setting menu. Multi window is one of the items, and that button toggles the tray on and off. | How to remove this sliding app section? | android |
FIXED! I reinstalled Tasker (also deleting remaining Tasker folder) and now it works as it should. Not a clue why it didn't work at first. I made a little program in tasker. Two tasks: activate stamina mode, activate normal mode. The first is activated when the screen is turned of, the other when it's turned back on. For this I used the events "Display off" and "Display on". Now I tried the 'Display state' state and set it to "off". Then added the 'activate stamina mode' task to its 'enter'. Also added 'activate normal mode' to the exit. Though for some reason this doesn't work. So my question is, why? Note: Using Cyanogenmod 10.1 on Xperia Z. Tasker version v4.0u1 Edit: I know it doesn't work because I added a notification & buzz to the task, these don't get fired. I also tried to add an exit and enter to the running of an app, and this DOES work. Very weird :s Thanks! | Even though I still don't know what was wrong, I did manage to fix it. A reinstall solved the problem, but only if I also deleted the 'Tasker' folder on the sd. Note: You can export your configuration, and everything will work without any extra work after the reinstall. (menu-> data-> backup/restore) Note 2: When using the state stuff, there's no need for an 'active normal mode' task. It'll revert everything back again. | Tasker: event works, state enter/exit not - Fixed by reinstall | android |
I want to flash a new rom, but it will change my android ID. Is there any way to just back up my current android ID WITHOUT make a whole-system-backup? | Backup the "Settings Storage" app from TitaniumBackup. That will help you store your android ID. If you want to restore it, unfortunately, you'll have to use TitaniumBackup pro since it is the only app which lets you restore your Android ID. Taken from XDA : Settings Storage - Be careful when you restore this. For eg: its not a good idea to restore CM9 settings to an AOKP ROM or vice versa. This is best used when you know exactly what you are doing. Also, a lot of differences between ROMs will probably be the fact that it provides some new customization options in the settings. So restoring this doesnt make sense unless you know for sure that they are the same. Handle with care. | How to back up my current android ID? | android |
I have scoured the Internet and come here as my last hope. I currently have the Galaxy S4, M919v. I own two 24 inch Samsung monitors. Is there any method for me to display my Android screen onto one of my monitors? I want to basically play my Android games, using my Android phone, but have them displayed on my monitors. My 24 inch monitor has the same resolution as my phone, so I figure the graphics should be great. I am trying to find a WIFI/micro-usb cable solution to this problem without buying any types of additional connectors. | You mentioned in your question that you don't want to buy any additional connectors. Any reason in particular? How unwilling are you to spend money? Resolution isn't going to be the problem, it's latency. If you're absolutely adverse to paying, try running a VNC server on your phone then connect to it using a VNC viewer program on your computer. Laptop Magazine has a very good walkthrough here: How to Control an Android Device From Your PC . They reference VMLite VNC Server which is $9.99 but you can find other VNC server programs that are free (though several don't look terribly trustworthy, IMO). You're getting what you pay for, however; a cheap wireless solution means input lag. Your games are going to be very hard to play and the experience will be generally poor. If you can manage a few dollars, then an Micro USB to HDMI MHL Adapter (with 5pin to 11pin Micro USB Adapter for your S4 - be sure to read the fine print!) as referenced in gt7599a's answer is the way to go. $15 (ish) plus an HDMI cable gets you a wired solution with very low latency. If you want something wireless but are also wanting to be able to actually play games, your best bet is an adapter that takes advantage of the S4's WiFi Direct/Miracast capabilities. That means a stackexchange-url ("Samsung WI-FI All-Share Cast Hub") ($55), stackexchange-url ("NETGEAR Push2TV") ($60), or similar. How much is it worth to you? | How can I display my Android on my PC monitor? | android |
Is there way to look up words and phrases while reading an eBook in the Google Translate app? Moon reader can do that in a browser, but the translate app is much better. Here is what I ended up doing: Install Aldiko reader Install Andmade Share Hide all share apps except Google Translate using Andmade Select a phrase in Aldiko Tap on the share button Now the translation of the phrase will appear directly in the Google Translate app. | There are some ebook reader apps with can enable you to share book passages. And you can use Google Translate to share them... So select the passage and share it using Google Translate ! For example, the Kobo app for Android and Aldiko ( free or €2.49 ) are ebook readers which enable to share book passages. Google Play Books have a built in feature to translate passages too (it must use Google Translate). Obviously, you can also copy the passages by hand, open the Google Translate app and use it to translate what you have just copied. It is not quite smart or ergonomic but it works. | How can I look up words in an eBook reader with Google Translate? | android |
I currently use uTorrent but I need to be able to choose one file to download instead of all the available files in a folder. I can't seem to find one Play. Any way to achieve this? OS: 4.1.1 Samsung S3 | I use aTorrent , which has the possibility of selecting which files to download. Just change to the File tab and use the checkboxes. | Are there any torrent clients allowing you to choose one file from a list? | android |
I am in doubt. My Galaxy SII phone began recently to display a standard pop-up notification box with the text "Notification has been set" at each boot. I uninstalled the software that I suspected was displaying this popup, there were no notifications in notification area left, but this popup has kept appearing on the screen. How to track which software is displaying this popup? Android 4.0.4 | Found it. I messed around with <code> adb logcat </code> , <code> adb shell dumpsys </code> and Titanium Backup's Freeze feature. I have succesfully narrowed it down (on my device) to an App called "Pullups 2.04" by "NorthPark" from the Play Store. | My phone displays: "Notification has been set" at each boot | android |
On my Galaxy S3 I have only a few options for locking/unlocking: Either no locking and swiping, or entering a pin every time. Both options are not very attractive. One is too insecure when leaving it somewhere, the other too cumbersome, when I just take it out of my pocket. OK, there are more options, like face recognition and all that, but it never works in the dark. What I would like to have is a more intelligent scheme: That I do not have to unlock as long as my S3 stays close to me. That a pin is only required, when it is further away from me. Is something like that available or possible? Maybe in conjunction with an RFID-chip? Or bluetooth? So I would carry in another pocket that other device. | Maybe you're looking for something like NFCSecure . You can combine normal lock screen (i.e. swiping) with an underlaying NFCSecure lock screen for better security (only lets you in when scanned the needed NFC tag). Your smartphone needs NFC capabilities and you need an NFC tag to carry around with you to unlock your phone. Can not test this as my phone doesn't have NFC capabilities. | Better unlocking schemes? | android |
My employer performs MITM on gmail.com by generating their own certificate authority. I've only noticed this applies to the web version of Gmail. In additon, Chrome on Windows will alert me when the certificate is not completely authentic. Does this also apply to the Android App? Will the same MITM logic for gmail web work on the Android App, or is the app more secure? Note that I do not get the same certificate warnings on the app. It's hard to tell if my traffic is intercepted via the app. Are there any other methods that could be used to intercept and decrypt traffic from the Gmail android app? | Indeed, overriding certificates it's one of the most popular ways to compromise https. So, if your employer can succeed to create a certificate that fools the app, it can easily perform a MiTM attack. Some links to check about mitm attacks on gmail app: [1]: http://www.networking4all.com/en/ssl+certificates/ssl+news/android+apps+vulnerable+to+man-in-the-middle+attacks/ [2]: http://bgr.com/2011/08/30/iranian-government-said-to-be-using-mitm-hack-to-spy-on-gmail-other-google-services/ | Is Gmail on Android susceptible to MITM attacks? | android |
Why can't it simply link to extSdCard? | If it would use the only partition of your SDCard, apps would become unavailable if that card is mounted to e.g. your PC via UMS (USB mass storage). That's what happens with App2SD , and Link2SD wants to avoid that. Ever tried creating links on FAT (which is the file-system used on your card). This adds to the problem. Using a separate partition, Link2SD can make use of "advanced" file-system types, e.g. ext3/ext4, which leads (amongst other things) to better performance. Doing so with your only SDCard partition, this would introduce problems for Windows users, as Windows doesn't support EXT file systems out-of-the-box These are the most obvious reasons for this decision. It might very well be I missed some more -- but these alone are enough to make it a wise decision :) | Why Link2SD requires second partition on sdcard for linking? | android |
My Droid RAZR (original model, 18 mos. old), seems to have an issue where when a call comes in it will start to play the ring tone but then the sound shuts off after half a second. The call is still there, but unless I feel the single vibration in my pocket (I have it set to vibrate and ring), I don't know to answer it. This totally blows. Is there any way I can force this phone to ring a certain number of times? | I just called Verizon Customer Care. They had me dial *900 and that fixed the issue. This cancels any possible call forwarding. Works like a champ now. | RAZR cuts off call ring after half a second | android |
My mobile internet suddenly has stopped working. Chrome complains Error 130 (net::ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED). Google app store and other apps those load content from servers now work only when I connect through wifi. I set in firefox about:config network.proxy.type from default value 5 (use system settings) to 0 (no proxy) and firefox has started working. Proxy Settings app shows empty fields. As I don't use any proxy I would like to see that system wide proxy setup which broke my mobile inet | For GSM devices, as far as I know, the proxy settings for your mobile data connection are defined in the Access Point Name (APN). Go to <code> Settings > Wireless and Networks > More > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names > [Your data APN] </code> (your device's menu may differ slightly). Check the <code> Proxy </code> field - it's possible this got modified somehow. Might also be worth snooping around your carrier's website for the recommended APN settings and double-checking that everything is correct. Once finished, press <code> [Menu] > Save </code> and give it a test. | How to see mobile operator proxy settings | android |
I migrated from <code> Android 4.1 </code> (Omega) to <code> Android 4.2.2 </code> (SuperNexus) on my Samsung Galaxy S3. Before I did the migration I did a backup of apps with <code> Super Backup </code> . After this was done I moved all the files from the <code> SmsContactsBackup </code> folder to SDCard. After flash, I've installed <code> Super Backup </code> again from the Play store and putted the <code> SmsContactsBackup </code> folder in <code> /storage/emulated/0/SmsContactsBackup </code> . Now I see all the backups in the Super Backup app. After I do a restore/install of an app, the settings are not being picked up by the apps. Plague Inc.: I see the settings in <code> data/data/com.miniclip.plagueinc </code> . But the app crashes on launch. Lazors: I see the settings in <code> data/data/net.pyrosphere.lazors </code> . But my progress is gone. Do they need to be somewhere else? Or do I need to use some other tool which can use my previous backups | Essentially, for backing up apps or SMS, TitaniumBackup works wonderfully. I've always relied on it to get my job done. But since you've already backed up your apps, I'd suggest you to try moving your app data folder to storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ folder instead of where it is now, and if it is a .obb folder, move it to /Android/obb. It'll pick up your settings. | Restoring APKs + data from 4.1 to 4.2.2 | android |
Look, about once a week at work I put on my headhpones, choose my music track, and then proceed to play the music for the whole office because I didn't actually plug in the headphones to the player. There are thirty people within earshot of my cubicle, but this place is quieter than a library. Except for me. Is there any way (settings, app, etc.) to make music only play out the headphones? | Estimated, at least 50% of the questions starting with "is there a way (settings or app)..." can be answered straight away with the "big T" -- Tasker . That's an automation tool which doesn't come cheap (about 5 bucks; a free trial is available at its homepage), but is worth every cent. It works with so-called "profiles", where each profile consists of conditions and a task. So let me propose such a profile for you: Condition: Cell Near (set this up at work, let Tasker record all "cells near") 1 State → Headset plugged (check "invert" to make it the opposite) Task: Audio → Silent 2 1 this refers to your provider's mobile cell towers, and is the "cheapest" location mode in terms of battery (as the cells must either be scanned for calls/SMS/mobile data being available). If that's not exact enough, you may add GPS location or WiFi near (to scan for e.g. your office's WiFi AP) -- which then only kick in as soon as one of the listed cells is detected, again to save your battery. 2 Check whatever you want here. You could completely silence your phone (that would affect ringtone and phonecalls as well), but you probably just want the media volume set to zero. So what happens with that profile? As soon as you come near to your workplace ("cell near", the mobile tower(s) close to the office), and the headset is not connected, media volume (assuming you chose that) will be silenced -- as the condition is completely met ("at office, headset not plugged"). Now you start your player and hear -- nothing. But once you plug the headset in, the condition is no longer valid -- and Tasker reverts to the settings as they've been before the profile was activated (so you can hear music via headphones). | Route Media (Music) to headphones only | android |
I was wondering if you are able to install ROMS, for example, the Ubuntu Touch OS for the GS2 i9100 onto the GS2 SPH-D710. Will it brick my phone? | In general, no, it is not possible to flash ROMs made for a different model. Specific to your device, no. Flashing ROMs for the I9100, I9105, I9100G, I777, and T989 on you device will result in you having a phone-shaped paperweight. You can find appropriate ROMs for your device here , among other places. | Installing incompatible ROMS | android |
I have karbonn A15 android ICS(4.0.4) smartphone, its not rooted. I want to move the app Data to my external sd card, i tried to move the (mnt/sdcard/data) folder from the internal SD (android/data) to (/mnt/sdcard/SD_Card/) External SD (root folder), just to check whether it releases any memory in the storage section in phone settings. But the internal storage was same, there was no change, can anyone tell me where does the app data resides in the internal memory, its fine if i can move app data manually to the external sd card. | Most of the app's data is stored in internal memory, below <code> /data/data </code> . You cannot access these directories/files directly if your device is not routed; same applies to moving it elsewhere. But if your device is rooted, the keyword are Data2SD , App2SD , and Link2SD : App2SD: the "official" way to move your apps to the SDCard (see: app2sd and stackexchange-url ("its tag-wiki"), the latter describing it in more details). This method moves a big part of the app itself over to the SDCard. Can be used without rooting the device. Link2SD: an advanced variant of App2SD . This moves the entire app to the SDCard, and then creates symbolic links to the "original places" -- fooling the system to think "nothing ever happened". Requires the device to be rooted, plus a separate partition on the SDCard. See link2sd and stackexchange-url ("its tag-wiki") for more details. Data2SD: doesn't care for the apps, but for their data. Also requires the device to be rooted. We have no tag for that, but you might want to look up the corresponding app on Google Play: Root # All Data2SD card. . | How to move app data to external sd card on karbonn a15 | android |
Every time I attempt to use Google Maps Navigation on my stock (rooted) Nexus 4, I get the <code> Searching for GPS </code> screen. The phone never finds GPS though. I've found that if I go to <code> Settings </code> > <code> Location Access </code> and switch <code> Access to my location </code> off and on again the Navigation app finds GPS instantly, every time. Nevertheless, the next time I try to use navigation, I will have to do this again. Has this been reported as a bug anywhere, or is there a fix? I'm on Android 4.2.2. | Uninstalling the Yahoo Weather app worked for me. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293566&page=2 | Google Navigation forgets/ignores "Access to my location" setting - Nexus 4 | android |
I switched a monthly Tmobile plan several months ago and absolutely hate the voicemail "service". I previously had all my VM's sent to my email via YouMail (kind of like Google Voice). Today while looking through settings I noticed there are three Voicemail Forwarding numbers in the Phone Settings menu. Each for a different scenario (busy, unavailable, unreachable). All numbers are currently set to Tmobile's VM handling number. Has anyone with a TMobile monthly plan had success in changing these numbers to use a third party VM service such as Google Voice or other? | At the suggestion of a forum member elsewhere, I called TMobile and asked them about their new "uncarrier" plan. It is a non-contract, postpaid plan with the exact same pricing and services as my current TMo prepaid plan, but I regain the ability to forward voicemails among other things. You have to submit to a credit check for a possible deposit (max is only one month's plan ie $50). So going to the "uncarrier" plan was the solution for me. Hope this helps. | Voicemail forwarding numbers - Tmo prepaid plan | android |
I have an S3 I'm attempting to import contacts to. I started with a list I've converted to <code> .CSV </code> and then used an online converter to create <code> .VCF </code> files from for each of the contacts. The S3 will not import the <code> .CSV </code> or <code> .VCF </code> files. I've combined the <code> .VCF </code> files into 1 and it still refuses to import them. Is there any other way to do this without creating a GMail/Google account to first import them into? (Device is setup with an IMAP account so no need for GMail). The S3 reports " <code> Couldn't import vCard </code> " then within notification it reads " <code> The format is not supported </code> ". The <code> .VCF </code> 's I have created are version 2.1 . What versions of vCard does the S3 support? | Without finding a way of doing this I ended up bluetoothing all the contacts from the old handset across (A Samsung B2100). Would be nice to find more information about this buggy/broken feature on the S3. | Problem importing CSV/vCARD contacts to S3 | android |
Is there a difference between Google Keyboard , which was recently release on the Play Store, and the Android Keyboard (AOSP) in the open source project? Update: I need the difference from a feature prospective | It's exactly the same keyboard as the Android Keyboard from Jelly Bean (4.2) as I read. See i.e. this article. Rereading exactly points out that this app should expose the keyboard which was only installed on Nexus phones with Android 4.2 to prior android version (4.0+) on other smartphones and tablets including features like "swiping" and gestures. There is another article on Androidcentral | Google Keyboard vs Android Keyboard (AOSP) | android |
Is it possible to increase the number of steps in the volume control? I'd like a finer grained control over the volume level. I have a Galaxy Nexus. Note: I don't want to boost the volume just change the number of levels so I can find a sweet spot when listening to music. | Many people have this problem with Android. You can see it has been reported in Android's bug tracking system . The number of levels is controlled by a setting that's compiled into the Android system image. Use a different ROM It's possible that flashing a custom-rom could increase the number of levels, but I don't know which, if any, custom ROMs do this. This bug report in cyanogenmod 's tracker suggests they don't plan to add that feature, for fear it may cause compatibility problems with some apps. Use a different app (easy) Some media apps have their own volume control, on top of that provided by Android. I believe Poweramp is one such (but I don't use it myself). If there's one particular app you need more control of, such as a music app, you might want to replace it with one that has this feature. Edit your phone's OS (advanced) If you're not worried about the risk of breaking some (badly-written) apps, and your device is root ed, then you can follow these instructions to edit the Android system image to increase the number of levels. That site gives step-by-step instructions, including installing the developer tools you'll need to make system changes; a summary for knowledgeable people is as follows: Get <code> framework.jar </code> from your device and run <code> baksmali </code> on it. Edit <code> framework\android\media\AudioService.smali </code> Search for <code> 0xft 0x0t 0x0t 0x0t </code> to find the table of audio levels. Replace the first number of each row with the desired number of levels (in hexadecimal). Run <code> smali </code> to generate a new <code> framework.jar </code> , and then replace the original on the device. | How can I increase the number of volume levels? | android |
I'm have a Samsung Galaxy S3 running <code> Android 4.1.2 </code> which I am trying to encrypt through <code> Settings -> Security -> Encrypt Device </code> . The process I am following is described in this article at Step 2. Upon entering the <code> Encrypt Device </code> screen I am told to "Set an unlock password". How is this password set? My first guess was the Android <code> Screen Lock </code> , but within <code> Settings -> Security </code> I have no <code> Screen </code> option as I would have expected (shown in above article at Step 1). Could this be because I am using the device without a SIM card? If so, is there any other way of using this encryption method, potentially with an inactive SIM card that is not connected to any network? | The screen lock is set in <code> Settings -> Screen Lock </code> . The device can then be encrypted without SIM card. | Encryption and Screen Lock without SIM card | android |
I need a straightforward answer, does the Samsung Galaxy S2 have two microphones? I tried to Google it but was not too successful. Two mics are essential for my upcoming project. Thank you for all your replies. | The Samsung Galaxy S2 does have dual microphones. However, if using Gingerbread (2.3), the device only records mono audio. Using Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) though, the device can record stereo audio at about 130 Kbps with a sampling rate of 48KHz. Source: GSM Arena | Does the Galaxy S2 have two mics? | android |
I have a Samsung Galaxy S II with Android 4.0.3. The problem: It was working fine until today, for both voice calls and Internet use, as well as for Skype calls. (I had installed Skype for Android on it some time ago after buying the phone). But only used it for Skype calls once or twice. Since it supports both regular voice calls and Skype calls, when I go to call log in the Phone app, and touch or swipe a contact name to call them, it earlier used to give the option of calling that person either via a normal phone call or via Skype. Today, while trying to call a person, I think I was absent-minded and may have accidentally pressed some wrong option. As a result, from then on, when I try to call a person, from the call log list in the phone app, it does not show the normal call option and the Skype call option for me to choose from. Instead, it directly goes to Skype and tries to do a Skype voice call. So I am now unable to make regular voice calls with it. I looked in the Skype app settings as well as in the Call menu under the main Settings app of the phone, but could not find any way to restore the earlier behavior, where it allows me to choose whether to make a normal phone call or a Skype call. I also looked at all other options in the main Settings app, at the top level, but could not see any other menu that seemed as though it may be relevant to fix this issue. Any suggestions on how to solve this? Thanks. | You have multiple options to solve this: Go to Settings-> Apps , scroll to Skype , open it, and hit the "Clear Defaults" button If that for some reason does not work: simply install some other VoIP app, try to call a person again (now you should be able to chose), hangup, and remove the other VoIP app again Try Default App Manager Lite , DefaultApp Reset , or similar apps to reset single default actions Chuck-Norris-Mode: try Clear default app for action to reset all default actions Last ressort: uninstall and re-install Skype All above solutions should reset the default app selected. Besides: same procedure works for multiple web browsers, home screen replacements (launchers), image viewers... | Regular voice calls stopped working, was earlier. Maybe Skype related. Android 4.0.3 | android |
I can't find anyone with this problem of not being able to install greasemonkey since installing Firefox version 21 on my android. My ultimate goal is to combine my fitness pal logging with weight watchers so that mfp will calculate ww points. It can be done but only through using greasemonkey. Any help is greatly appreciated :) | The error message in this case is misleading: it's not that Greasemonkey is incompatible with that version number , rather that it's incompatible with Firefox for Android. The extension mechanism in Firefox for Android is somewhat different to Firefox on desktops, so add-ons for desktop Firefox won't work (in general) on Android. To find out if/when Android support is planned, or to help out, you could start by contacting the gresemonkey-users mailing list . | Firefox version 21 installed easily but greasemonkey won't install - error saying not compatible with ver 21 | android |
Android uses the Linux kernel instead of some "Android kernel", so why is ext3 not supported on Android 2.3? | The filesystem support is device-specific, and in fact many devices using Android 2.3 support ext3 in the kernel (or ext4, which can also mount ext3 and ext2 filesystems). Usually the difference in filesystem support is due to different hardware. Older devices often used raw NAND flash chips and MTD drivers in Linux, which did not support conventional filesystems such as ext4; only special filesystems such as YAFFS or JFFS2 could be used on such devices. In this case having ext3 or ext4 support in the kernel was not necessary, and it could be omitted to save some memory; to get ext3/4 support on such device you will need to flash a custom kernel (or, in some cases, an external module could be compiled instead of replacing the whole kernel). More recent devices usually use eMMC storage, which provides a block device instead of raw flash; such devices mostly use ext4 for their filesystems, and therefore should have support for mounting ext3 filesystems (although actually using it to mount a custom filesystem, e.g., on a separate SD card partition, will require root access). | Why is EXT3 not supported on Android? | android |
I wanna buy a second hand tablet (Pierre Cardin 7558) whose home and return buttons stop working when tilting to widescreen. The quality is good in comparison with the price, but there is this problem. Is there any workaround to it? Like a Rom update or something? | The buttons are disabled so that users can grip the sides without causing and action. It would be difficult holding the device if the user is causing the device to go to the home screen. | Buttons stop working in landscape mode | android |
On Android's root (/), what is the purpose of each folder? I am wanting to learn the folder hierarchy structure of Android 2.3 and 4.x, if they have different folders in "/". | First, you need to be aware of two facts: Android uses more than one file system (think of "multiple drives/partitions" when comparing with your computer while sharing a common base, directory structures might differ between manufacturers So as starting points, I further recommend the stackexchange-url ("file-system tag-wiki") and the stackexchange-url ("partition tag-wiki") (you might also want to take a look at the most frequented questions using those tags). In my answer, I will concentrate on the mentioned "common base". However, there still might be deviations made by some manufacturers. Partitions As said, Android makes use of multiple partitions. In the file system, they are represented by "directories", which serve as their mount-points: <code> ┌─────────────┬───────────────────────────┐ | Partition | Explanation | ├─────────────┼───────────────────────────┤ | /boot | kernel & Co. | | /cache | app cache | | /data | user data partition¹ | | /data/data | app data¹ | | /dev | devices² | | /mnt/asec | encrypted apps (App2SD) | | /mnt/emmc | internal sdcard³ | | /mnt/sdcard | external sdcard³ | | /proc | process information² | | /recovery | used in recovery mode | | /system | system ROM (read-only) | └─────────────┴───────────────────────────┘ </code> ¹ Details below ² virtual file systems ³ these might differ. Often, <code> /mnt/sdcard </code> is the internal SDCard, while the external SDCard is found in <code> /mnd/sdcard/external_sd </code> . Above list is far from being complete, but should hold the most important partitions. Directories Here I again will concentrate of the partitions which are most interesting (or this answer would get far to long and, for most readers, boring. <code> /data </code> and <code> /data/data </code> These are in most cases two separate partitions, but there might be cases where this is handled otherwise. One thing they have in common (add <code> /cache </code> here as well): they get wiped on a factory-reset , while the other partitions are usually left untouched by that. As for the directories contained, I will again concentrate on a selection; most things here you either cannot touch without having your device rooted. <code> ┌────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┐ | Directory | Explanation | ├────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤ | /data/anr | traces from app crashes (App Not Responding) | | /data/app | .apk files of apps installed by the user | | /data/backup | Googles Cloud-Backup stuff | | /data/dalvik-cache | optimized versions of installed apps¹ | | /data/data | app data² | | /data/local | temporary files from e.g. Google Play³ | | /data/misc | system configuration (WiFi, VPN, etc.) | | /data/system | more system related stuff (certs, battstat) | | /data/tombstones | more crash stuff ("core dumps") | └────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────┘ </code> ¹ for details on the Dalvik cache, see: dalvik ² each app gets its own data directory assigned here, using the app's package name. There might be a similar directory on your SDCard, mostly used by apps with larger amounts of data. ³ usually, files are stored here temporarily to be installed/executed. Google Play e.g. downloads <code> .apk </code> files to this directory, before installing the downloaded app on your device Of course, I intentionally skipped several directories. If you really want to go into details, this site might not be the best fitting place (as we deal with end-user questions -- and end-users normally don't touch these things). In that case, several places/ressources might be recommended: XDA Developers good technical books on Android (there's e.g. Andrew Hoogs Android Forensics and Mobile Security , which goes much deeper into details here) stackexchange-url ("Where can I ask questions that aren't Android Enthusiast questions?") | Android Folder Hierarchy | android |
I have my bright setting on the lowest in my app and my phone is at the lowest possible brightnes too but I find it too bright to read a page in the Kindle app in the dark. Is there any way to lower the brightness? I only find that the Android stock browser's lowest brightness setting to be bearable in the dark; even the lowest possible brightness setting in Chrome is too bright. Is there some radical way to make the brightness in the Kindle lower than the default? Samsung Galaxy S3 4.1.1 | To break the upper/lower limits of device settings, you'd most likely need to tweak your ROM, which requires the device to be rooted. I know there are some solutions for volume limits around ("booster"), so I won't rule out they do exist here as well. To work around system settings at the "lower end", as it is your intention, you might e.g. want to take a look at Screen Filter : Applies a shade that acts as a dimmer to ensure your eyes don't hurt. Far more powerful than Android's built-in brightness setting. Great for low-light gaming, web browsing, and eBook reading. It even saves battery life for AMOLED displays! So this app uses a trick by adding a semi-transparent layer on top of what's displayed, which makes the display appear "darker". Then there's also Night Mode , which has a similar goal (and uses a similar method to reach it): Night Mode's main goal is to reduce the brightness of your screen lower than you can achieve with the default settings. This application applies an overlay filter that acts as a dimmer to darken the screen and ensure your eyes don't hurt. Pick your choice -- or check for another. Where there are two, there might be more ( Super Dimmer , Screen Dimmer , Screen Filter , ...). A Playstore search will be your friend here (note that that's also all what I did -- I didn't use any of those solutions myself, so no guarantees :) | Is there a way to make a page in the Kindle app less brighter than the options available within the app? | android |
I've Samsung Captivate Glide (i927). When I try to connect the phone to the PC windows says <code> USB Device unrecognized </code> . I've installed the latest version of Samsung Kies , and also installed <code> Samsung_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_v1.5.14.0 </code> from the official Samsung site. Still I cannot connect my phone to the PC. I tried to install the Samsung mobile composite driver manually also. It installed successfully but gives an error that the device cannot start code 10. And again the phone is detected as "Unknown device". I've also tried to change the PDA USB mode in phoneutils by <code> *#7284# </code> , still no luck. Can anyone tell me how to solve this problem? I'm using Windows-7 Ultimate 32-bit Desktop computer. | Finally got solution after 2 days of headache. Problem is my USB data cable. I've got original Samsung's USB data cable with phone but unfortunately it is not working. Though charging can done via this cable. I've tries few Chinese cables also but problem remains there. But as soon as I use my friend's original Samsung cable it working like a charm. So any of you have this problem first thing to do is check from another usb cable. And importantly go for OEM's original cable. | Windows can't identify Samsung captivate glide | android |
Is there a way to use flash-based sites on Android? A browser? Radical app? I want to play videos on this site: http://www.onf.ca/explorer-tous-les-films OS: 4.1.1 | I hope it's okay to answer my own but I thought it might be useful to others. I found these looking around more: Photon browser and Puffin browser. Both play Flash sites without all the complicated installation of Adobe. | How do I play Flash websites on my Samsung Galaxy S3? | android |
I got some files that say "epub+zip" undrr Properties and I wanted to know how can I open it? OS: 4.1.1 | You need an ebook reader that reads EPUB files. Aldiko ( http://www.aldiko.com/ ) is a great ebook reader that supports EPUBs. Or, you could rename the extension to zip and extract the file. Inside, you will see some folders. Within one of the folders are HTML files that can be viewed in a web browser. | How can I open an epub+zip file on my S3? | android |
I am trying to run an ftp server app on my galaxy s4 (tmobile) and it starts ok, binds to the wifi address and port 8021, but then I can't connect to it. I tried pinging my internal ip address as well and it's not responding. I also tried running nmap on it and it says All 1000 scanned ports on 192.168.1.102 are filtered. I haven't been able to find any settings or anything - any idea what could be blocking the ports? I have checked the IP both via a ip info sort of app, as well as through my router's connected devices page. Any ideas? Update: I just tried a different FTP app just to make sure and same thing. Update: Here's my nmap output: <code> $ nmap 192.168.1.102 -Pn -p 8021 Starting Nmap 6.00 ( http://nmap.org ) at 2013-06-08 17:21 EDT Nmap scan report for 192.168.1.102 Host is up. PORT STATE SERVICE 8021/tcp filtered ftp-proxy $ nmap 192.168.1.102 -Pn Starting Nmap 6.00 ( http://nmap.org ) at 2013-06-08 17:23 EDT Nmap scan report for 192.168.1.102 Host is up (0.066s latency). All 1000 scanned ports on 192.168.1.102 are filtered Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 14.77 seco </code> I am trying to connect to the phone from my windows box via filezilla and running the nmap from my raspberry pi, again on the same wifi network. I also checked the router's connected devices and the IP address there matches what the phone shows. Thanks! | This turned out to be a problem with my router - earlier today I also noticed that I couldn't connect to my printer either - it seems like the router had gotten in a weird AP isolation mode or something like that somehow - I rebooted it and I can connect to the S4 as expected now. | Galaxy S4 filtering incoming connections | android |
Today was a bad day for me as I'm having a lot of problems. The latest and important event was I lost my phone. It was registered with my name and email and has information on it about me etc. The sim card is inside (if the robber didn't thrash it). The phone has gps but it's turned off. I hope I can find it. If you have any question just ask me, maybe about the story how it began? Is there any software/tools to track it, or find it manually maybe? | You will need to submit a request to Police Station to track your android device through its IMEI number. As soon as the mobile is switched on and it gets Signal from telecom company, its location will be detected. Or alternatively, If you had any tracking app, installed on your device, then you may contact app developer for help to track your device. | How to trace/track my stolen Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 | android |
I've bought samsung captivate glide I-927 from eBay. It is locked with at&t by default, so seller unlocked device for me and it is working fine. It comes with Gingerbread 2.3.5 and I found that ICS update for this device available from Samsung kies (pc suite). Now the question is Will my device get locked again after update from GB to ICS??? Thanks in advance... | No, software updates do not mess around with carrier info like that. Your phone should still be set to work with AT&T after the latest update is applied. If updating the device meant reactivating the phone, many people would be unhappy because of activation fees. | Will my device get locked again after update? | android |
In my CyanogenMod 10 sound volume settings/equalizer (at least, for headset), there is "loudness compensation" (with values from "disabled" to "strongest"). What is its effect? (I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S, GT-I9000.) | Loudness compensation boosts the volume on the high and low ends of the frequency band. As you might expect, the higher you set it, the more it boosts. It's mostly useful for balancing out the sound on cheap headphones, which tend to have poor response at the upper and lower bounds of their range. If you're putting worthwhile sound equipment in/on/around your ears, you probably want to leave it disabled. | What does "loudness compensation" in the volume settings mean? | android |
My understanding is that a boot loader is like a BIOS in a PC, which will help a device to load the OS correctly. When I unlock the bootloader in an Android device, does this modify the complete bootloader itself? In other words, will this install a completely different bootloader compatible with the device? Or is it just a slight modification in the existing bootloader? | After some research, I finally got some details. Unlocking a bootloader will generally not change the bootloader of a device. The locked bootloader somehow ensures that the device should boot up with the OS that is shipped originally with the device or updated by the vendor officially. Locked bootloader puts this as a security measure so that it can prevent the users from installing custom ROM's. When the bootloader is unlocked it will simply provide the booting instructions to the device without checking for the stock ROM on the device. The device will boot with the ROM present in <code> /boot </code> and <code> /system </code> partitions and thus unlocking a bootloader is an essential step if one want to install custom ROM. Thus overall, locking a bootloader is just an extra built-in security check and unlocking will just remove this check but will not modify the entire bootloader of your device. | What does unlocking the bootloader do? | android |
Ever since the new update of Google Play app, I couldn't get the apps to automatically (in background) update. But instead, they only update, when I open the Google Play app a few times I have auto-update and notificatoins checked. I have auto-update apps ofer WiFi only set. I have JB 4.1.2 and Galaxy S3 GT-I9300. | I think any auto-update/notification settings relate to apps installed via the Play Store, not the Play Store itself. That's updated occasionally by Google. You could try and force an update, if you're convinced one is available and that you're missing it, by going into the Application Manager and uninstalling updates for Play Store, then clear data, and clear cache, then running the app again and seeing if it forces the download of a newer version. (Incidentally, I have the S3 too, and am currently on v4.1.10 of the Play store. Which version are you on?) | Google Play app doesn't auto-update | android |
I updated to Cyanogenmod 10.1 RC 2 and can't update beyond it. When I try to update to RC5, I get: <code> assert failed: getprop("ro.bootloader") not matching "I747UCDLK3" or "I747MVLDLK4" or "I747MUMBLK3" or "I747MUMBLL1" </code> Which naturally causes the update to be cancelled Does anyone have a link that shows how to resolve this, or other suggestions to resolve it? Thanks. | The message is basically telling you that you don't have the correct bootloader version on your device; specifically, you most likely have an older ICS bootloader rather than the Jelly Bean one. You can read a bit about this on CyanogenMod's Google+ page , and the CM Wiki page for the S3 succinctly notes : Going forward, CM10.1 is no longer compatible with ICS bootloaders on this device. Please update or else you will get assert failures in recovery. You'll need to upgrade to a newer bootloader. This carries some amount of risk since it's one of the few instances where you could potentially brick a device, but the risk is still generally pretty small. I found links to the newer AT&T bootloader on XDA that will work with CM 10.1. You can flash them using Odin or Heimdall by following these instructions : Go here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=41503727&postcount=13716 Put phone into download mode and then open Odin. Choose the PDA slot and then select the correct file for your device (AT&T is LK3) Hit start and wait until its finished. Done | Can't update Cyanogenmod on AT&T Galaxy S III | android |
Someone has been harassing me on kik all week by continually adding me group chats that I did not ask to be part of. The person is blocked, but they are still able to add me to group chats against my will - I don't have the option of accepting or not, it just happens. If I have to abandon the platform and find another way to talk with my friends overseas I will, but I'm hoping there's some way I can stop this. (And yes, I've reported the offending user to kik support, but they're terribly slow and now it's the weekend...) I apologize in advance if this isn't a good community for this question, I just can't find an answer anywhere else I can't believe that there isn't one. | The answer is: you cannot. Either wait out the harassment, don't open the app for a while, or switch discussion platforms with the people you care to talk to. All unsatisfying solutions, but... they are the only ones. | Why can't I stop people from inviting me to group chats on kik? | android |
Google of course provides their snapshot of the current API situation . I'm curious to know if there is somewhere published a line graph showing the distributions and their change over time. | There is this graph from over at wikipedia, which uses the data from Google's dashboard. | Graph of Android API distribution over time? | android |
I'm looking to buy a new Android phone, but before I do, I need to know that there's a reliable way of keeping the contacts and calendar data on the phone in sync with the data in Outlook 2010 on my laptop. For the past 8 years I've been using windows mobile phones, where Microsoft's ActiveSync etc worked well. Simply connecting my windows phone to my laptop via USB meant that everything almost always sync'd fine without any issues. I'm looking to get as close to that experience as possible. I also need to avoid putting any of my data in the cloud (e.g. gmail), because my outlook data contains too much sensitive information. Security breaches may be highly unlikely, but the potential consequences are too dire to imagine. One answer to this sync question (stackexchange-url ("Sync setup question: will Android, Outlook 2010, Gmail, calendar and contacts sync?")) has a comment which says that Android phones will always sync with google, so I need to disable that. Is that possible? I'm aware of Samsung's Kies , but I've never tried it. If anyone can assure me that Kies works well for what I need then I'd be quite happy to restrict myself to buying Samsung. I've done other research and found a pcmag.com review from Feb 2012 that suggests in general this isn't an easy problem. However, that link (and answers that I've found here) are all over a year old, so what's a good way of achieving all this in June 2013? | I finally ended up getting a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini i9195 LTE 4G, so I tried Samsung's Kies . As far as I can tell after just 1 day's use, it syncs the phone perfectly with my Outlook 2010, and avoids the cloud too (as long as the cloud sync to my google account is turned off on the phone). | Sync contacts and calendar from Outlook 2010 on my laptop with Android phone, avoid data in cloud? | android |
I've had a few missed calls from private numbers now, and I'd like to see who it is. Is there a way to do this with a Galaxy S4 running Jellybean 4.2? I installed the app 'CIA caller' but that simply listed the private number as '-2', and when it looked up that number, it unsurprisingly said 'number not found'. Any ideas how to get at these private numbers? | I don't think there is a good way to do this - the issue isn't that the private number is being hidden by your phone, it's that the phone company isn't transmitting the caller id info to you at all. So there shouldn't be any way for you to get that data working strictly from your phone. Unless you know people who regularly block caller ID data, but don't leave messages, I'd just assume it's spam callers and ignore them. | How can I see what a private number is? | android |
It's getting very hard to root a Motorola Defy+ (mb256). My cellphone is accepting non android market apps, and USB debugging mode is enabled. I tried: - using z4Root app. - doing the scipt commands one by one with adb tool. - using superoneclick - using UnlockRoot. Basically all the scripts I tried returns the same error. Seems like the file system of my android is protected, so can't mount folders, can't change permission of files, etc.. at the end, the Android is not rooted. These are some prints of the problems occurred: Content of the Easy Root script showed bellow here . | I solved! I flashed a hacked chinese sbf. This sbf let me use z4root.apk to get root access. Sorry about don't put the file name, that's because it does not have a meaningful name, it's just firmware.zip, I found it in xda-developers forum. Be careful using the files above, you can easily brick you cell phone. The Chinese hacked firmware is this: Firmware Part 1 and Firmware Part 2 . The application who enables rooting is this z4Root.apk . *Sorry, I don't know how much time the links will be available. | Motorla Defy+ being not possible to root. Script commands throwing errors when rooting android 2.3.6 | android |
<code> CM10.1 now cannot record any inbound audio on phone calls </code> I was running Jellybean stock on my i9300 and used Total Recall to record telephone calls, recording both inbound and outbound audio correctly. I have now flashed CM10.1 and tried Total Recall to record telephone calls and I can no longer call inbound conversation. I have also tried Sanity, Call Recorder Demo and Digital Call Record. Whenever I change the source for each of these respective programs to MIC everything works - except of course I cannot clearly record the inbound audio (the voice of the person on the other end). When testing this I was sure to uninstall the other recording applications as I understand that 2 or more recording applications may cause conflict. Any ideas about what I should do? | The issue is related to, as far as I know, Cyanogenmod policies.. In some countries call recording is illegal and therefore CM team hasn't implemented this feature. It's really annoying because the issue applies to certain (but not all) regions of the world. I do hope that CM developers will come up with some sort of hack in the future. For now I am using Auto Call Recorder ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appstar.callrecorder ) and using Mic as a source. The volume of inbound audio is very low unless the mic is turned on during the call. Call recording is the only feature I lack in CM... | CM10.1 now cannot record any inbound audio on phone calls | android |
I bought a Nexus 4 (LG E960) yesterday, and from the first moment there was a problem that it did not accept touch in the line of the volume down button. In a horizontal line, half a centimeter (1/5 inch) high, in the full width of the screen. If I tried to click in the line, it happened above or below. If I tried to slide a widget through the barrier, there was a visible jump. If I tried to sroll a list, it was interpeted as scroll-stop-click. So a random list item was selected. Quite disturbing. I was sure it was a hardware problem, because the line was at the same place when I held the phone horizontally. Then suddenly the problem was gone, scrolling, sliding was smooth again. For 2 hours. This morning the line was misbehaving again. Now it works fine. I have no idea what triggers the bad behavior, and what stops it. What could I do? If I take it back to the shop, they will sit on it for a week, and they might not even encounter the problem, much less solve it. Did anyone have similar problems? | So I've had this same problem for the past month. There is a 1cm or so high deadzone that spans the width of my screen just about lower than the midway point from top to bottom. It is mostly always there, but some (seemingly) random times it goes away and all works well. My troubleshooting led me to this: If it's hardware, it's only because the software is telling it something it shouldn't be. I'm sure nothing is broken (i.e., from being dropped, etc.) Something is wrong, for sure, but not broken per se. I took screen shots of temperature and voltage (using CPU-Z app) trying to figure it out. I paid attention to when it happened and when it did not. I boiled it down to two possibilities: temperature and/or voltage (I can explain how I came to this conclusion if you want... would take a bit more explanation). I charge my phone with the charger plugged into the wall typically. I live in Asia so the voltage is a lot higher (but within the appropriate range of the phone). Yet, lately when I! go to sleep, I plug my phone into my laptop to charge, rather than the wall... when I wake up the problem isn't there. About 2 hours later or so the problem comes back. I tried this for a week (charging my phone with my laptop) and the problem is dissipating. As quickly as it escalated (getting gradually worse) it is now getting gradually better. Try it and see if it works for you. At night when your phone is nearly dead, charge your phone with your USB port attached to your laptop. Maybe it will help. I'm still troubleshooting specifics to see if it is definitive. UPDATE: today, the day of writing this, I haven't had the problem at all and it's been nearly 7 hours and the 3rd consecutive night of charging with USB on my laptop. UPDATE 2: happy new year! I've been charging my nexus 4 with my laptop's USB port since my original reply and the problem had disappeared. Let me know if this works for anyone else! Nexus 4 - 4.4.2 | Nexus 4 does not perceive touch in a line | android |
When I write the word "OK" in Swedish it says "Ook" which doesn't mean anything in swedish. I haven't added this ook myself so I can't find it in "Personal dictionary". I wonder if it is possible to simply remove this strange word that comes with the stock swedish dictionary? Perhaps I should add that I use the new Nexus 4 google phone with latest everything. thanks for any help. | I actually managed to temporarily solve this: add OK to your personal dictionary and be done with it. | Remove a word from Stock dictionary | android |
I have just received my Nexus 10 - my first Android tablet! I bought the tablet partly for giving presentations. My presentations are created by using the LaTeX package "beamer", which produces PDF files. Acrobat Reader (on PC) has a presentation mode that works perfectly well for all purposes, but I have trouble finding this functionality in the Android version. There is a full-page display functionality in Adobe's app, but it has some animation for the page transitions. This means that "revealing" of new content (which is implemented by having successive slides that are identical except for the parts that are being revealed) will not work. This is one of the main functionalities that I want in my PDF presentations, and I seem to be unable to find any setting that would turn off the animation. I have also tried ezPDF reader, but did not find any presentation-style display at all. So my question is this: What apps on Android tablets have a mode that is suitable for Beamer PDF presentations? (Ideally the app should work with standard bluetooth presentation devices.) I apologize if this question has been answered before, but the searches I have tried have either given results on general PDF viewers or on PowerPoint (etc) presentation apps. Rather than trying all the different PDF/presentation apps there are, I was hoping that someone on SE might already be using their tablet in this manner, and would be able to help me out. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. | I had the same problem and had to try out a bunch of apps. In addition to what you were looking for, I was also interested in the possibility to add comments during the presentation using the s-pen of my galaxy note. All the apps listed below support full page view, so there are in principle an options for presentations. Moon Reader Pro This is an excellent ebook reader. You have to pay for the full version, since the free version wont support pdf display. You can select full-page mode. By default there is no transition effect. You can also annotate while viewing. The pdf quality is very good and I have not seen any lags. Tons of options. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flyersoft.moonreaderp Aldiko Book Reader Also a very good ebook reader that supports pdfs. Very much the same as the Moon reader, but it wont allow annotations. Also Moon reader has more options. The main advantage is that this reader is free. So try this one out first. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aldiko.android Acrobat Reader FoxIt and FoxIT Mobile PDF lit Both viewers are fast and allow annotations, but you cannot turn off the page transitions. Very annoying for presentations. Both apps are free. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.reader https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxit.mobile.pdf.lite PDF Viewer This viewer was first slow, but one can change the options such that it performs okay. It has no page transitions, but it wont allow you to annotate. Free. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=the.pdfviewer3 | Android App for PDF presentations (Beamer LaTeX / Adobe Acrobat Reader) | android |
Can someone explain how tablets like the Nexus 7 detect a magnetic cover closing? I have tried putting magnets over the spots where the magnets in the cover are, but it will not lock. How does the tablet know if it is a cover? | It's widely believed that the Nexus 7's magnetic sensor works in an almost-identical fashion to iPads' smart cover; I couldn't find direct information about the N7, but iFixit has a great teardown of the iPad smart cover that goes into detail of how it works. The Nexus 7 has a magnetic sensor that can tell when a magnet of sufficient pull force is nearby. The sensor is located under the screen near the pogo plug on the bottom-lefthand corner , estimated to be 45mm up from the bottom left corner and 15mm in from the left side. | How do android tablets use magnetic Auto-Lock | android |
I have HTC One X running Android 4.1.1 and Sense 4+. Under <code> Settings > Power </code> I have an option of <code> Fast Boot </code> . The text under it says "Start up and shut down quickly". How will my device be affected if I turn on/off this option? | "Fast Boot" is basically analogous to the hibernate or possibly S3 (STR) sleep functionality on regular PCs (HTC isn't very clear on what precisely it does, but analysis of its claims and action suggests it's one of these). Rather than fully shutting down and restarting, the OS resumes where it was after a shutdown, allowing the system to get from "off" to "ready to use" much faster. As mentioned, some apps don't play nice with this, such as the case is in stackexchange-url ("this SO question"). Unless you're regularly needing to shut off your phone for some reason and want it to start back up faster, I'd personally just leave it off to avoid the potential for weird issues. | What is Fast boot in HTC One X? | android |
I want to customise my Galaxy S4 home screen and it seems Touchwiz will not allow me to change many options (like the quick launch icons etc). I was thinking of GO Launcher, but wish to know if the 'special' extras Samsung has included (such as eye scrolling, air gestures, smart stay etc) will still work or are they Touchwiz only? | In general, anything that works regardless of which app you have in the foreground will work regardless of which launcher you have installed. That includes eye scrolling, air gestures, smart stay, smart orientation change (I forget the marketing name for it), and so on. Changing to a different launcher will only replace the home screen and the "all apps" menu. Note that the old launcher is still installed: the first time you go to the home screen, you get a chooser to pick which one to use, the same way as if you have more than one web browser and click on a link. | Will an alternative launcher stop Galaxy S4 additions from working? | android |
I would like to (repeatedly) measure the RSSI of a given Wi-Fi access point while I am (physically) approaching it. It is important to mention that at the beginning, my phone is not associated with the AP, hence reading RSSI via <code> wpa_cli signal_poll </code> does not work. The best I have found so far is to repeatedly issue a <code> wpa_cli scan </code> and read the results using <code> wpa_cli bss <BSSID> </code> . However, this gives me new results with much too low frequency, as the scans take too much time. I target to get a new RSSI every second. (even if I limit scanning to the 5GHz band only, it is too slow). Is there any way to scan for a single channel only (as I know the channel the access point is transmitting on)? | Install <code> iw </code> and then issue: <code> iw dev wlan0 scan freq 2417 </code> It synchronously scans only the frequency(ies) you specify. This can give your multiple results per second! | Scan a single channel to measure RSSI of a specific AP when not associated | android |
I have messed the ext4 partition resizing it with Gparted, it still works but shows the old size and Link2sd doesn't seem to be able to link all the pieces. I was wondering if I could backup the content with Titanium or other, format the partition at the correct size with Gparted and then restore the content to the new larger partition. I know the ext4 cannot be resize but I guess that it can be deleted and created again, what I am not sure if there is something in the current ext data that is dependent on the size of it. I think that is why I should not be doing a backup image directly but instead backup the files individually. | Speaking of GParted, I assume you have a Linux computer available. So steps to be performed are quite simple -- speaking of an external SDCard: Unmount the card from your Android device, and take it out Put it into a card reader, attach it to your Linux computer. Mount it there. Copy all contents into an empty directory on your Linux machine. From the command line, you can use the <code> cp </code> command for that to ensure everything is copied: <code> cp -a </path/to/source> </path/to/target> </code> (replace <code> </path/to/source> </code> with where you've mounted the card, and <code> </path/to/target> </code> with your empty directory's path; for details on the <code> cp </code> command, run <code> man cp </code> or see its man-page on the net ) Optional: check that everything was copied fine. If there were no errors displayed in the previous step, it should have worked fine. If your card has multiple partitions containing data, repeat the previous two steps for each of them. Use GParted (or whatever tool of your preference) to drop and re-create partitions as needed, and re-create the file systems Repeat steps 3-5, reverting source and target (to get your data back on the SDCard) Unmount your SDCard, safely remove it from the computer, put it back into your Android device, and enjoy! If everything went fine, and all data is available on your device as hoped, optionally remove the "backup directories" created in step 3. Job done :) | Backup Link2sd ext4 partition, resize it and restore | android |
I have a Nexus 4, and everything is OK, but I have realised that the power button is not working as well as I want. Sometimes I have to press it twice or push harder, so my question is: could I set up my phone to unlock with a different button, for example with the volume buttons? Is there any solution in case that the power button becomes inoperable? | When the power and back button failed in my rooted LG P500, I used Button savior . This app works without any restriction on rooted devices and with few limitations on unrooted. This app creates a small overlay on the screen (which is customisable in terms of its size, visibility, position etc.) and pressing this overlay slides a virtual buttons on screen to lock, volume up and down, back, home, search, menu, camera etc. It was indeed aptly named for as it saved my trip to service centre to shell out money on my phone to replace the keys. | Unlock phone with a different button | android |
I'm using TSF Shell, which allows you to drag your application icons around in an overlapping manner. But how do I tell TSF Shell to automatically arrange my icons neatly in rows using a grid? | You can use the 'lasso' option for that. It works real cool. | how to arrange icons in TSF Shell? | android |
What does "Add to Queue" mean in "Play Music"? I've seen an answer elsewhere which said "it adds to the current play list." That answer makes no sense. What "current play list?" There is no such concept in the application. For example, I'll start the application and no music is playing yet. I'll go to my playlists and pick one. Again, no music is playing yet. Then I can pick "add to queue." Nothing happens. I have no idea what that just did. I then select a song to start playing, and I'm on my way. I still have no idea what the "add to queue" accomplished. I'm using the Samsung S4. | This is the expected behavior. Queue is the "Currently Playing Playlist" You have Playlist A with Song 1,2,3 and 4. If you start listening to Playlist A, The Currently Playing Playlist will consist of Song 1,2,3,4. If you see Song 1337 , then "add to queue" while listening to Song 2, the Currently Playing Playlist will consist of Song 2,1337,3,4. If the next day, you start Playlist A from the beginning, it will still only hold Song 1,2,3,4. | What does "Add to Queue" mean in "Play Music"? | android |
Often after downloading a file, I try to open this from the notifications page, only for the wrong app to open it. Since I've clicked on it the link has disappeared. Now I have to go through tonnes of menus to find the file! Is there a quicker way? | From the home screen, click the "all apps" button, then there's an app called Downloads . By default, downloads are sorted most-recent-first, so the one you've just downloaded will be at the top. If even that method is one step too many, you can long-tap on the Downloads icon in the apps menu, then drop it on the home screen to create a shortcut to that app. Now you can open it from the home screen directly. Additionally, if the wrong app opens a certain kind of file, you can stop that and go back to having a chooser to pick which app to open files with. Open the Settings app, then go to Apps (on some phones it's called Applications manager ). Choose the offending app from the list: if it's a built-in app, you'll need to swipe to to the All page. Scroll down and click Clear defaults . Next time you open a file that would open with that app, you'll get the chooser instead (assuming you have another app installed that can open that kind of file). | Quick way to go to downloads from Chrome? | android |
I have updated and replaced Google Talk with Hangouts on my tablet running Cyanogenmod 10.1. Now every time I open the Hangouts app it shows me the following error message: Can't sign in because we couldn't reach Google. Try again How can I fix this? | Re-installing the 'Google Play Services' updates solved the problem for me. Simply go to <code> Manage Apps </code> → <code> Google Play Services </code> and press <code> Uninstall Updates </code> . Now if you start Google Hangouts again it will ask you to update Google Play Services. If you do so, it will bring up Google Play where you can install the update. After this, Google Hangouts started without any problems on my tablet. | Google Hangouts gives "Can't sign in because we couldn't reach Google. Try again" error | android |
My phone keeps disconnecting from the WiFi network, saying "avoided poor Internet connection"... but I'm less than 20 feet from the router. It shows full bars while connected and the speed is fine. How can I make it stay connected? | Figured it out...go to the WiFi settings, hit the menu key and choose "Advanced", and uncheck "Avoid poor connections". | "Avoided poor Internet connection" even though signal strength, speed is great | android |
This question is about a Nexus 4 bought in the United States and used in India. Backstory: A friend from US gifted the phone to me. When I first switched the phone on, it had the app google earth . After configuring the phone with accounts and installing apps, the google earth application disappeared from the apps shown in the App Drawer. I initially presumed that the app may have been uninstalled after learning that Google Earth app is not available for the country India. Few days later, I installed AppBrain , a third party app market app on the phone. AppBrain lists all the apps I have on the phone and even shows Google Earth. From the AppBrain app, attempting to open the Google Earth app gives the message "This app is not executable"; attempting to uninstall the app gives the message "Uninstall unsuccessful". Questions: How do I use this hidden app (or how do I unhide the app) on my phone now that I know its present and installed? If I wanted to uninstall it, how would I be able to do it? | You can't uninstall it. On Android, the apps you install yourself are stored in the main internal storage. The apps that come pre-installed are not installed there, but rather in the phone's ROM. They're not taking up space that you could use for other apps, and they can't be changed or deleted. To remove this one app, you'd have to replace the whole ROM (including the operating system) of your phone with a custom one such as Cyanogenmod. (See the custom-rom tag info for more information on custom ROMs.) This would have other effects too, so it's probably not something you'd want to do just to remove an app that doesn't run and isn't occupying any internal storage. | How to use or uninstall a hidden app in Android? | android |
My HTC Sensation's battery does not last long. I'm going for a Marathon race which should last at least 5 hours and I'm going to use 1 app (RunKeeper) for that period. I would like to preserve as much batter as possible by turning off all other apps including their services e.g. Whatsapp until I'm done with the race. I've install Task Manager by Toni Dinardo and it seems to have the functionality I need, only not working for me now. What should I do? Updates: I've tried another task manager app and it seems that the apps actually work. The problem is services are automatically spawned again after they are killed by the task manager app. | Task killing is never a solution when it comes to "preserving battery". As you discovered, most things restart themselves automatically. What could help, however, is (temporarily) turn off all services you don't need -- after all, it's just for that one run, and (as you already pointed out) you can resign from some of them: Do you need a data connection for RunKeeper ? If not: switch it off, that would save the most. If it's really needed: disable account synchronization, and do the same for all apps which are periodically syncing (e.g. RSS reader and the like). While running, you won't pickup phone calls anyway -- switch off the radio (if no data are needed: just switch to airplane mode. While in airplane mode, you still can enable some services separately, such as e.g. Bluetooth and GPS). Big savings again Minor things include Bluetooth. I don't think you want to listen to music via a BT headset while running -- so switch it off. If you really need audio, use a wired headset. Display: turn brightness down as much as possible. If it's rarely turned on, this might not have much effect -- but it contributes. Some apps which you won't need "on the run" might offer to exit them completely. Do so. This altogether should save a lot of juice -- and should preserve enough power for 5h runkeeper with GPS, I'd say. Good luck, and have a successful double-Marathon (one for you running, and one for power-saving ;)! | How to stop all but 1 one app including their services? | android |
I have tried by using samsung kies but it says there are no updates. i have even tried to update it within the phone (software update). Other people are on android 2.3 but i am still on 2.2.1 and it won't update | As you've got your device with a contract, this added a special barrier to updates. Short explanation how that goes: Google (or rather the AOSP, Android Open Source Project ) releases a new Android version. This is usually immediately available to Nexus devices -- but... Device manufacturers need to adapt it to their hardware (drivers etc.) and, in many cases, their special "skinning" ( HTC Sense , Samsung Tourchwiz , Motorola Blur , etc), which again at least delays availability of this update Carriers using their special branding (boot logo, special apps, and more) So if there's a new Android version released by the AOSP does not necessarily mean it becomes available for all Android devices. It might get stuck already in step 2 if a manufacturer decides to no longer support a device (in your case that happened after the 2.3 release, so 2.3 is the latest "official version" available to the device) -- and even if it passes this step, but you've got a branded device, it might get stuck in step 3 (which most likely is what happened to you). The only way out if got stuck in steps 2 or 3 is checking for custom ROMs. As that "getting stuck" also affects developers, they often decide to build their own ROMs. Many times this is done by porting a ROM from compatible devices, adjusting the missing stuff (or leaving some gaps, so there might be things not fully working, which then is pointed out in the instructions). So if you want to go the "do-it-yourself" way (after having t-mobile unlocking the device, if needed), check stackexchange-url ("How do I root my Samsung Galaxy S?") for how to root your SGS, and stackexchange-url ("Where can I find stock or custom ROMs for my Android device?") for fitting ROMs. The "how-to-flash" usually is described on the page you can download the ROM from. | Why is my Samsung Galaxy S still on Android 2.2.1? | android |
I have Locked myself out of my phone because I entered too many pattern attempts. I can't sign into my Google account because my wi-fi isn't turned on. So I need to factory reset it. I'm just wondering what will I lose. My photos and videos are saved onto my phone, will I lose them? If there are any other options in getting back into my without factory resetting it, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks By the way I have a Samsung Galaxy Xcover | A factory reset wipes the internal storage of your phone. This includes all apps, their settings, and all the files and data saved onto your internal storage. Any apps or other content you've downloaded from Google Play, you can download again (you don't have to pay again). If you previously updated the system or flashed a custom ROM, it will still be updated or have the custom ROM (because system updates update the ROM, not the internal storage.) Similarly, if you rooted the device or unlocked the bootloader, it'll still be rooted or unlocked. It won't erase any data from the SD card. Usually photos and videos are saved onto the SD card but it depends on the software and the device. | What will I lose when I do a factory reset? | android |
I have bunch of usual stuff going on in my phone (Samsung Grand, Android 4.1.2) like app auto-updates, Twitter, Dropbox, etc. Most of the time it's clear what the network-related settings for them are (wifi-only all the things) and they are clearly reflected in data stats. The one exception is "CloudAgent" process, which: does not really make it obvious what it belongs to (is this part of Android? Samsung custom stuff?) eats space like crazy (its folder was well over 1GB out of 4GB system space) eats network, even when not on wifi While it doesn't really cause any serious issues, it is highly confusing - what it is, what it does and which settings control it? | It's Samsung software, built into the system in certain Samsung phones. Like the Dropbox app, it's a service to automatically upload photos you take on your phone; it connects to your "Samsung account" if you create one. It also integrates with Dropbox to sync photos to the device Gallery; if you have "Camera upload" turned on in Dropbox as well, this probably results in your phone having two copies of each photo: the usual one, and one in CloudAgent's storage. You can change its settings by going into the main Settings app and choosing Cloud from the Applications manager list (in the Device section). You can clear its data and disable it, or "freeze" the app if your device is rooted, and the only consequence is that photos from Dropbox won't show up in Gallery. If you have the Dropbox app installed as well, Dropbox can still sync (and automatically upload photos) without CloudAgent running. | What precisely is CloudAgent process? Its files eats space like crazy | android |
is it possible in Android(> = 3.0) to launch/start an App (Activity) by a gesture on the homescreen. For example: if the user swipes from the bottom to the top on his homescreen, then App XY should be started. Thank you | You can install a third-party homescreen (launcher) app which supports gestures. Some examples: Holo Launcher HD , Apex Launcher , Nova Launcher . Note that such gestures will work only when the launcher is active (i.e., they are not global gestures accessible from any app), and may be eaten by scrollable widgets if they are present at the homescreen, and you start the gesture inside such widget. Globally accessible gestures are possible too (e.g., there are apps such as SwipePad ), however, this will increase resource consumption, because such app must be running all the time and listening for touch events, and also may conflict with other apps. | launch/start an App (Activity) by a gesture on the homescreen | android |
From what I understood about Android securty all applications are separated by different user-accounts and different filesystem locations. BUT: After GPS-test has fixed my location for the first time after powerup, all other applications will fix very fast. My conclusion: This has to be something not in Android user space. So how does this work? | If every app had to interpret the raw GPS input itself, it would be very silly. Different apps would duplicate the same effort of decoding and interpreting the GPS input to compute a location. Different apps would end up using different libraries to do it, so each app might end up with a different idea of your location. Instead, the process of interpreting the GPS data to compute with a location is handled centrally in Android itself. The Android system offers an interface for apps to query the location without having to worry about the details of whether it came from GPS, cell towers, or Wi-Fi networks. This way, only the Android system has to compute the location, using any possible sources, it can give this location to many apps without duplicating effort, and (as you've noticed) each app doesn't have to start from scratch to compute the location. More recent Android versions also do clever tricks like giving a less precise location to apps that have the "approximate (network-based) location" permission but not the "precise (GPS) location" permission, regardless of which methods were actually used to determine the location. Internally, this works with what's called a bound system service: an IPC mechanism for different processes to receive data from the service that actually computes the location. The service does run in user space, not inside the kernel, and like any other Android app it runs inside its own process. (Only the very low levels of the GPS receiver driver run inside the kernel.) The details of that are well beyond the scope of this site, but if you're interested, you can learn more by reading the Location Strategies page in the official Android Developers' Guide . | Is there a common GPS cache on Android? | android |
This is my use case: I'm trying to improve my Spanish so I've started reading Spanish-language newspapers in the browser on my phone. What I'd like to do is this: when I need a word or phrase translated to English, highlight the text, hit the settings button, and have a translate option show up. Or something comparably simple. Currently the only options that show up under settings when a word is highlighted are: Share, Find, Web Search I have Google Translate installed and I realize that I could copy the highlighted text and then paste it into that app, but I'd prefer something that didn't require jumping between apps. | You describe the options displayed with a word highlighted including "Share". Behind this item hides an entire menu, the so-called "Share menu", where many apps plug themselves in as receivers for compatible content. A highlighted word might serve as such content for several things -- e.g. a web search (so Google Search could pick it), send by mail/SMS, or -- the interesting part here -- some dictionary/translator app. While I'd suspect Google Search could cover that as well, I want to give you another interesting idea: ColorDict Dictionary Wikipedia is an app that can be used for online and offline "word lookup" in dictionaries, be it translation, synonyms, or definitions. The app supports a bunch of dictionaries for offline use, as well as several online dictionaries and, the name suggests it, Wikipedia. If it integrates with the "Share menu" (which I guess it does), this would make the perfect candidate for you: ColorDict (source: Google Play; click images for larger variants) | I am looking for a simple way to translate words highlighted in the browser | android |
I'm disappointed that Google Hangouts is going away from XMPP. If I download the "Hangouts (replaces Talk)" app on my Galaxy Nexus (Google Nexus 3), will I be able to go back to Google Talk, if needed? Is there a way to keep Google Talk? Or is there a way to communicate with people who use Google Hangouts through Google Talk or XMPP? | As far as Android is concerned, they're the same app, and Hangouts is just a new update for Talk which happens to change the user-facing name. (Apps also have a package name , which is how Android decides if they're the same app.) It works like any other update: it completely replaces the old version in your phone's internal storage. Like any other update, once you've updated, you can't go back to the version you had before. But in this case, Talk is an app that's built into your ROM (assuming you're not on a custom ROM: if you don't know, you're not). Like any other app from the ROM, you can uninstall all updates and go back to the original version. To do this, go to the Settings app, go to the Apps page, find Hangouts in the list of apps, and click Uninstall updates . This won't restore the version you had before the update: it'll go back to the original version that was on the phone last time you did a system update. (If you've never done a system update, that's the version that was on the phone when you took it out of the box.) There's no guarantee that such an old version will continue to work. | "Hangouts (replaces Talk)" -- can I replace Hangouts with Talks if I don't like it? | android |
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