# Question
Title: "accounts and sync" has dissappeared, how can I fix this?
A few days ago I had a system update. Now under accounts my option "accounts and sync" have disappeared. Can't sync calenders. How can I fix this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
**Settings** -\> **Data Usage** -\> Press **Menu Key** -\> **Auto Sync Data**

In settings go to Accounts section--\>Google and select your account and check what ever you want to sync

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, settings, samsung-galaxy-tab
---


# Question
Title: How to enable haptic feedback in Samsung Galaxy Y?
Actually I had the haptic feedback option enabled by default when I bought the Samsung Galaxy Y mobile. But it seems that somebody has changed the Settings. So I would like to know how to enable haptic feedback in Samsung Galaxy Y?

But I need it badly. Anybody please help out. Thanks in advance.

# Answer
As far as I know, SGY has tactile feedback *only*, but **NO** haptic feedback. If you require a reference, have a look at this xda thread. But, there are many (almost everything) custom keyboard apps that provide haptics at the Play Store.

If you love your built-in keyboard so much and don't want other keyboards, then you have a choice. Just root your phone. Use a root explorer. Peek into `/system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl` using a text editor (some apps have in-built editors). There is a list of all keys that your keyboard has (including the menu, back, volume, lock & home keys).

Change from "whatever value they are" to `WAKE_DROPPED` and reboot your phone. That's all. Now, you'll definitely have haptics for every key you've changed.

> Well, If you aren't aware of rooting, please **don't do it**. It may void your warranty. There are a lot of posts here that may help you with rooting. For instance, check out
> 1 votes

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Tags: settings, vibration, samsung-galaxy-y, haptic-feedback
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to get GPS to work without Google Location Service constantly enabled?
The GPS on my Samsung Galaxy S2 cannot find my current location whenever Google Location Service is disabled. I have it disabled most of the time because my battery drains much faster when the service is enabled. I disable the option via `System Settings -> Location Services -> Google location service`. In the figure below I'm referring to the top option.

Is there a way to do one of these things:

1. Somehow obtain my coordinates using GPS without Location Services enabled?
2. Intelligently switch on/off Google Location Service when I need it (i.e. like when I'm using my GPS)
3. Keep Google Location Service enabled, but somehow prevent it from draining battery.

In short, the problem I want to solve is to get my location coordinates without having Google Location Service drain my battery.

I'm running ICS 4.0.3 on AT&T's network.

# Answer
You can still use GPS without having Google location services enabled. When you disable the location services you are opting out of sending data to Google. Google location services is actually an internet database (Google Location Server) that is made available to mobile device manufacturers as an application licensed by Google. This is the database that is updated with WiFi and cell ID data from devices running Android, and was initially populated with data collected by the Street View cars (up until 2010 anyway). It helps your device obtain a quicker initial fix by using WiFi AP or Cell ID information. It is used to augment the GPS, uses less battery life, and is sometimes used instead of GPS if you are indoors or do not have strong GPS signal.

As noted on Google's support site, for ICS 4.0+ Maps will still work with just the GPS activated. http://support.google.com/gmm/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=165333

In short, the settings you have above should allow you to use your GPS without the help of the cellular network or nearby Wi-Fi APs. You will have to be outdoors in order to use this feature though, and it can take **up to 4 minutes** to get a location. So if you are waiting on a fix and you have Google location services disabled, you'll have to be patient.

Let's address the battery drain--review the third-party location-aware applications you have installed. Some are poorly programmed and could be requesting GPS refreshes at a high rate, taxing your battery. Also if you are only using GPS to navigate, it is a battery hog.
> 4 votes

# Answer
With the recent update google navigation service only works with location activated. I could not get it to work with location disabled regardless of gps status.
> 2 votes

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, gps, geolocation
---


# Question
Title: Deleted some apk files - but the apps are still there after reboot
This seems really weird to me.

I followed the instructions given here

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=835861

and deleted the apk files of some stock applications like Layar. I also removed the odex files if I could find them.

Strangely, even after wiping the cache and a reboot, I can still run the apps from my launcher.

Samsung Galaxy S with CWM 3.2

# Answer
> 1 votes
Some vendors set up their phones to reinstall system applications at boot in case they go missing. Try finding a directory that contains a copy of the APK that's used to reinstall it, and delete it from there.

A simple alternative solution is to freeze the unwanted apps rather than uninstalling them. Titanium Backup and Link2SD can help you with that (both require root). In ICS+, there's also a user-accessible mechanism to deactivate apps from the settings menu.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Clear dalvik-cache, and you are done.

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, clockworkmod-recovery
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# Question
Title: Is it possible to pull data using Android Debug Bridge on an N7 while soft bricked
I've tried countless fixes for my N7 being softbricked (No idea how it was done). I've resorted to using Android Debug Bridge, however I cannot get access to the device (device not recognized from CMD using "adb pull").

The last time the device was used it wasn't set to USB debugging mode and now that it is always stuck on the nexus loading screen I can't change the options. Right now I'm stuck on what to do from here is there anyone out there with the time to help.

The only reason why I'm so eager to not just send back the device is because I have photos on the device I cannot afford to lose. Both Google and Asus, have stated they would not recover any of the files for me and that I have to do it myself if I want them.

Alternatively Could I Wipe/factory reset then use a photo recovery software on the nexus to get the images back. Just to state, my Nexus is stock nothing modified in anyway.

Any advice would help me greatly thanks

Anya~

# Answer
> 1 votes
It's alright I found a more simple method. I just wiped/factory reset the tablet that made the nexus boot up to the welcome screen again. Then I used an image recovery software program to retrieve the photos so now I have a fixed nexus and memories back, good times. The recovery program is called Recuva. –

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Tags: adb, nexus-7, factory-reset, data-recovery, unbricking
---


title: error with adb push

text:
# Question
Title: error with adb push
Hi I want to push an APK Expansion file to my phone so I am executing:

`C:\Users\dogface\AppData\Local\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>adb.exe push c
:\main.1.com.redcricket.Audiobook.obb /mnt/sdcard/Android/obb/com.redcricket.Audiobook\main.1.com.redcricket.Audiobook.obb`

But that fails with this error:

`failed to copy 'c:\main.1.com.redcricket.Audiobook.obb' to '/mnt/
sdcard/Android/obb/com.redcricket.Audiobook\main.1.com.redcricket
.Audiobook.obb': Invalid argument`

So what am I doing wrong here?

# Answer
First, especially for "Newbies": Hovering your mouse over the tag will reveal some info. Clicking the info link there brings you to the tag wiki, providing you some information to get started. The second link there (Everything about ADB) contains the answer to your problem:

> `adb push C:\Desktop\TitaniumBackup.apk /sdcard/`

For the target, only specify the **path**, do not include a file name. So your command should look like:

```
adb.exe push c:\main.1.com.redcricket.Audiobook.obb /mnt/sdcard/Android/obb/com.redcricket.Audiobook

```

A special error you included is the backslash (`\`) which, on Windows systems, is a path separator -- but on Posix systems (Unix/Linux/Android) is an "escape character" (directory separator on these systems is the "forward slash", `/`).
> 2 votes

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Tags: adb
---


# Question
Title: How to know the MAC and IP of my device?
The screen shot of my device looks like this:

Screenshot (click image to enlarge)

Could anyone help me to know the MAC and IP Addresses please? My device runs Android ICS.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can get the MAC address from Settings \> About \> Hardware Information. IP address will only appear on the page shown on your screenshot once you have connected to the wifi dhcp server. Another way to find out IP is to use the browser and go to the website www.whatsmyip.org/ - this will tell you the address your router is on however, and not your local (wifi) network IP.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Install this application, it may help you to get IP and MAC.

Network Info II

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Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, networking
---


# Question
Title: Hindi font not display in htc_salsa_C510e_android2.0.3?
In My app display Hindi font. so i use the **DroidHindi.ttf** font to display the font. and i run this app output in **SonyXperia\_MT27i** like this! \[Sony\_Xperia\_MT27i\_android\_4.0.4 Image screen\]

and same app run in **htc\_salsa\_C510e\_android2.0.3** Display this type output

Please any help me. what is the problem i don't know.

# Answer
See my answer and my comment about replacing a font file `Droidsansfallback.ttf`. I am sure you can search and find many file sharing sites sharing this file. You can also extract the font file from any of the Android device that you may have.

After replacing the font file and restarting the phone, chances are pretty high that you might not be able to see the word हिन्दी as you see here, rather you might see it split as ह ि न्द ी without spaces. Nothing much you can do if it shows up like this as I my question is all about that :(
> 1 votes

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Tags: htc, fonts, sony-xperia-arc
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4.1.2 Unable to connect to mobile network
I recently purchased the handset from the US and currently using it in Vodafone (India) . I upgraded the firmware to 4.1.2 it was working fine and then all of a sudden I am not able to connect to any mobile network.

My IMEI number / Baseband version all say unknown

Is there anybody facing the same problem? Any tips to troubleshoot this problem?

Thanks

# Answer
(Per originator in comments:)

Pulled battery and also did factory reset. All now works.
> 0 votes

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Tags: connection-issues, imei, mobile-network
---


# Question
Title: Can I have a separate notification sound for my Twitter alerts
As above, I want a different sound for incoming Twitter alerts so they are not the same as my normal texts. It's so frustrating to keep looking at the phone when I am waiting for a particular private text, but I dont want to get rid of my Twitter alerts. Surely like email sound can be different this should be too. How do I do it please? I have an HTC Sensation.

# Answer
In the Twitter app...

1. Tap the Overflow menu (three vertical dots) and choose "Settings"
2. Tap the account (your username, not general) you want to change
3. Under "Notification Indicators" tap "Ringtone"
4. Choose the Ringtone you want to use for Twitter notifications for this account

For more recent versions of Twitter, this something controlled at the OS level.

1. Long-press the app icon and choose App Info, or go to Android Settings, Apps & notifications, and choose "Twitter"
2. Tap "App notifications"
3. There, for each Twitter account, you can control which notifications you get, whether they make a sound, and whether they also show a pop-up
4. Tap the notification you want to change, make sure "Make sound" is on, and then tap "Sound" to choose the alert ringtone for that notification.

(These instructions are based on Android 8.1 and Twitter 7.40.0.)
> 8 votes

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Tags: notifications, twitter
---


title: Turn on Mac with Tasker

text:
# Question
Title: Turn on Mac with Tasker
Is there any way to tell my iMac to turn on via tasker. If so, would both devices have to be on the same network? Is there a way to do this without being on the same network? Would my computer have to be plugged into the router or can this be done wirelessly? I guess I am trying to use wake on lan. So for instance, when I come home and tap my phone to a NFC sticker, my computer would turn on. Is this possible?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yes, you are talking about Wake-on-Lan. And as far as I know, the device to be awoken this way must be plugged-in via an ethernet cable (how else? when it's turned off, so is its WiFi).

As for the network: either both devices have to be in the same network, or you have port-forwarding enabled on the router connecting the different networks (otherwise your target cannot be reached).

Now for the remaining part: How to use your Android device to trigger this? You were asking for *Tasker* -- and yes, that should be possible. There is a Locale Wake On LAN Plugin (and *Locale* plugins do work with *Tasker*. I cannot see that *Tasker* natively supports NFC -- but there's e.g. a Youtube video, so there must be a way -- hm, maybe this Locale NFC Plugin?

So now there should be everything complete, and you can start testing :)

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, tasker, macos
---


# Question
Title: data packet automatically activated on gingerbread 2.3.6
I just upgraded my samsung galaxy SL to gingerbread 2.3.6 After that, everytime my data packet is automatically activated all the time. I switch off my mobile network data and lock my phone, and then switch it on again/unlock, the network data are automatically enabled. I ve noticed, that when i un-tick/deactivate "use packet data", lock my phone with power/lock button and then unlock it, this option is ticked again (= data are enabled).

Please advise.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Install CatLog to check what's happening at the time of unlocking. Without logs, its hard to tell how to fix it.

Factory reset is the last option (not applicable if your firmware is broken).

If factory reset is unable to fix it or you don't want to do factory reset, install third-party apps which could turn off data by renaming APN. I'd recommend Widgetsoid for it. After installing it, add `Data Toggle` widget on homescreen & choose `APN Renaming` as data toggle method from its settings. The bug can't by-pass it, for sure.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Maybe a factory reset will solve the problem, or if your phone is rooted and you have a custom recovery, then clear the Dalvik cache.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had same issue I think. When you power off in gingerbread you get a power off popup confirmation screen. one of the other options shown will reset packet data. if you hit that by accident it will restore the packet data connection. There is an alternative way to stop 3g rather than turning packet data off but its pretty permanent for the mobile network you use.

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, data-connection, mobile-network
---


# Question
Title: How would you turn a tablet into a keyboard + easy-to-reach touchscreen (mirror the desktop) (not a touchpad) for a desktop PC?
How would you turn a tablet into a keyboard + easy-to-reach touchscreen (mirror the desktop) (not a touchpad) for a desktop PC?

### Numerous remote touchpads on Android

I asked a question on askubuntu.com (Can you design buttons on a Ubuntu/Android tablet that is to be used as a virtual keyboard for your desktop?), and someone mentioned RemoteDroid.

I haven't used it, but from the videos that I see online, your Android tablet becomes a touchpad.

In a question on superuser.com (Use a touchscreen as a keyboard and mouse for a desktop), and in the answers here, Bob speaks of the “indirect virtual touchpad”, and Lèse majesté notes that “you can only use the touchscreen as a laptop-style touchpad, not as an actual tablet device”.

I want the cursor to move to where I touch.

# Answer
### Use android-vnc-viewer to mirror the desktop PC screen, and control the desktop

I had another question on android\[dot\]stackexchange.com: (In using a VNC to control a computer, is it possible to have the cursor go to where you touch? - android\[dot\]stackexchange\[dot\]com/questions/34668/in-using-a-vnc-to-control-a-computer-is-it-possible-to-have-the-cursor-go-to-wh)

In the question, I included a video: Remote control of Ubuntu with android-vnc-viewer - www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTKX6QMBgck#t=0m30s

android-vnc-viewer

> “See and control your computer's desktop from your phone, from anywhere. androidVNC is the Open Source (GPL) remote desktop program for Android devices. Connects to most VNC servers: incl TightVNC, RealVNC on Win and Linux, x11vnc, and Apple Remote Desktop on OS/X.”.

In the video, I don't know the input mode that is being demonstrated at 0:30, but it looks like the mouse cursor goes to where he touches.

http://code.google.com/p/android-vnc-viewer/

I'm guessing that the input mode in the video was either:

> Touch Mouse Pan and Zoom
> This is the default input mode and is designed to work like the Android browser. You can both pan the display and control the mouse using the touchscreen and gestures. You pan by dragging or flicking on the touchscreen; you click the mouse by tapping on it. You right-click by double-tapping (or by holding down the camera button while tapping). You drag the mouse by doing a long press on the display, and then dragging. In this mode the trackball or DPad (if your phone has one) can also be used to control the mouse; this may give you finer control. You can zoom the screen size with the +/- buttons, or, if your device supports multi-touch and has Android 2.0+, you can pinch to zoom out and spread to zoom in.

or:

> Mouse Control Mode
> In this mode, use the touchscreen to control the mouse. Touching the screen generates a mouse click at that point; dragging on the screen creates a mouse drag. Keyboard events are sent as normal. The trackball is used to send arrow-key events to the VNC server. Pressing the trackball toggles between Mouse Pointer Control and Desktop Panning modes.

Port forwarding

> If the PC you're connecting to accesses the internet through a router, this will be the WAN address assigned to the router by your ISP; you'll also need to forward the VNC port (5900) from the router to your PC (exactly how you do this depends on the details of your router, so I can't give more explicit instructions here).

### Hacker's Keyboard - use a full soft keyboard on Android

From what I've read, the stock android keyboard doesn't have buttons such as Ctrl, Alt, Esc, arrow keys, Home, End, and Delete.

You can use the free, open source, app call Hacker's Keyboard to gain access to the buttons of a full keyboard:

> “Are you missing the key layout you're used to from your computer? This keyboard has separate number keys, punctuation in the usual places, and arrow keys. It is based on the AOSP Gingerbread soft keyboard, so it supports multitouch for the modifier keys.
>
> This keyboard is especially useful if you use ConnectBot for SSH access. It provides working Tab/Ctrl/Esc keys, and the arrow keys are essential for devices such as the Xoom tablet or Nexus S that don't have a trackball or D-Pad.”

http://code\[dot\]google\[dot\]com/p/hackerskeyboard/

### A patch that allows android-vnc-viewer to recognize all the keys of Hacker's Keyboard

In “Frequently Asked Questions” of Hacker's Keyboard, there's a section called “Android VNC Viewer doesn't recognize the extra keys”.

It directs you to an issue called “Issue 238: Support additional keys, fix modifier handling” (code\[dot\]google\[dot\]com/p/android-vnc-viewer/issues/detail?id=238). The patch there will make it so that Android VNC Viewer recognizes buttons of a full keyboard.

### Update: bVNC

> bVNC is a secure, open source VNC client.
>
> * Tested with Hackerskeyboard. Using it is recommended (get hackers keyboard from Google Play).

play\[dot\]google\[dot\]com/store/apps/details?id=com.iiordanov.freebVNC&hl=en

github\[dot\]com/iiordanov/bVNC

### Update 2: Jump Desktop VNC

I currently and personally use Jump Desktop VNC because the “bring-out-the-keyboard” is close, and easily reachable. With bVNC, I have to tap near the middle of the screen, and then I press a keyboard button on the right to bring out the keyboard. Jump Desktop VNC also lets you use a Google account, so you don’t have to deal with addresses.
> 1 votes

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Tags: keyboard, tablet, vnc, open-source, mouse
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy Ace - Disconnects from some networks
I have a rooted Samsung Galaxy Ace GT-S5830L with Android 2.3.4, with factory ROM. It works pretty well with most WEP/WPA2 wifi hotspots. When I try to connect to an open one, no matter the signal intensity, it connects for a couple of seconds then disconnects and keeps doing so. I can't state for a fact that this is only restricted to open hotspots but so far thats the pattern I have identified.

I have heard that Galaxy phones have some wireless issues but I'm not sure how to deal with mine.

Any ideas?

This might be related to: https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/20921/why-smartphone-disconnects-from-certain-hotspots-sometimes

# Answer
I think I can guess what is happening. When I first started using free hotspots I was connecting with no problem and often they will have a logon screen to insert the locale password. Some places however like hotels seem to give free access for a limited time or for first use without logging in and then later they will expect you to register. When I have returned to these places a second time I find that the phone finds the network and claims to be connected but every use returns a network error or appears to connect and get cut off. In fact I am getting rerouted to their logon page, only it seems to often only open in background in gingerbread so you don't know it is happening. After fiddling around you can sometimes get the logon page to show and then register. Often I can only do this by attempting a google search. Google somehow seems to know to route via the logon pages whereas other apps play ignorant.
> 1 votes

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Tags: wi-fi, connection-issues, samsung-galaxy-ace, wifi-hotspot
---


title: Is my data secure?

text:
# Question
Title: Is my data secure?
My Android phone was recently stolen, so will the thief have access to all my pictures in the thumbnail folder? I have hidden the pictures in an app called Vaulty so will they still be visible in Thumbnail folder (I mistakenly removed the file manager from my phone a day before the phone was stolen)? Please help me out with this ! :(

# Answer
If your memory card is not encrypted then your images and other data is not safe from the thief. Vaulty simply *hides* files, not protect and encrypt them.

But then again, most thieves are only after the money. Mostly likely they will find a way to reformat your phone, delete all contents, and sell it as refurbished/used on ebay.
> 2 votes

# Answer
If you think the phone might still be on / not deactivated, you could try installing Plan B from Lookout Mobile. There are other apps that you can remotely load and wipe your memory card remotely so the thief cannot access your photos. However if the thief has since removed your memory cad, he can unfortunately access your photos.
> 0 votes

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Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, security
---


# Question
Title: Deleted all Google Calendar events by mistake (web). How to I push my local android calendar to the web?
I just deleted ALL my events from Google Calendar (website) by mistake!

My calendar events are still intact in my Nexus 7 because I have not synchronized after the mistaken deletion.

I would like to know how can I make sure that the events in my tablet will be pushed to the web on my next sync (I fear that syncing will delete my local events)

Please help!!!

# Answer
> 1 votes
My first thought is for manual sync. iCal import/export can export your events. The second step would be to import those events to google (in Google Calendar -\> other Calendars -\> import Calendar).

Not tried it myself, but you get the idea.

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Tags: sync, calendar, google-account, google-calendar
---


# Question
Title: SGN 4.2.1 - stuck at < waiting for device >
I own Samsung Galaxy Nexus, it has been unlocked, rooted, I'm using CWM Recovery Touch and a few weeks ago I updated firmware to `4.2.1` (build `JOP40D`). It seems that `Superuser` is no longer working on `4.2` versions and I must use `SuperSu` (so I installed it from the Play, but probably it's not at all). Problems:

* can't start Recovery in fastboot mode, it shows something like `no command` on some error screen (but in my language). Before this screen it tries to boot or something (Google logo for a while).
* can't do anything with ADB or Galaxy Nexus Toolkit, after reboot to the fastboot I stuck at `<waiting for device>` message.
* can't update CWM Recovery from CWM Rom Manager, probably due to `su` problem.

I haven't found any solution within discussions (useless as always), but everybody's asking about `adb devices`, so my output is: `0149A5310A021040 device`

I can hack it with my Windows or Linux, but need some advice, thanks.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Problem solved, but I don't understand what happened. While I got stuck on `<waiting for device>` message, I've tried `Reboot bootloader` option and process has been successfully completed. But I haven't to do this first time when I was unlocking, rooting, and installing Recovery and AOKP.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-nexus, adb, 4.2-jelly-bean, recovery-mode
---


# Question
Title: Disable connecting USB as media device with Jelly Bean
I got a new update on my Samsung Tablet and I recognized a change / problem. I want to connect my Tablet to my PC without connecting as Media Device. I like to transfer Files from my Aclipse ( Java ) to the tablet. For that the MediaConnection should be disabled, I guess :-)

Any hints ?

Regards

# Answer
I have no XPs with JB but Google closed UMS (USB Mass Storage) support. My device with Android 4.2.2 suppors only MTP and PTP protocols and I can switch between them in the storage settings. Check this out.
> -1 votes

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Tags: usb, usb-connection-mode, usb-debugging
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# Question
Title: Is it possible to connect the Google TV remote with an Android tv-box like Minix?
I have found the Google TV remote source code. Would it be possible to modify the code so the Google TV remote could work on my MiniX box? It should be possible since their both are on a android platform? Or am I wrong?

# Answer
This is highly subjective in the context of hardware/software hacking.

MiniX indeed uses the Android platform (judging by their website), however, it is a dedicated set top-box and maybe the protocol for talking to the remote is different to one of Google TV kind.

Have the crowd behind it, shared some source code or protocol specifications?

Might be worth checking around on forums to see if anyone has hacked the top-box that can do so.

Its a gamble having said that but it does sound fun trying to get the Google TV remote to work with it :)
> 0 votes

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Tags: google-tv, android-tv
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy S2 Android 4.1.2 - calendar sync option disappeared
I just upgraded my SGS2 to 4.1.2 and I have huge problems synchronizing my Google calendar.

First of all, my Google calendar app disappeared. Until here ok, I reinstalled it from Google Play. When I try to add my google calendar accounts, they are just not there.

I try in *Settings→Accounts→Google* and choose my Google account to see the sync options inside. The option "Sync Calendar" does not exist anymore.

Did anyone have this problem? How did you solve it?

# Answer
i just found out that there was one process - CALENDAR STORAGE - which was disabled. I enabled it, and then i could see the option SyncCalendar in my google account again.

after that my calendar is working fine again.
> 1 votes

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, sync, 4.1-jelly-bean, google-calendar
---


# Question
Title: How to pair ICS phone with other device that has no Bluetooth PIN
I have a Galaxy S3 i9300 running ICS Cyanogenmod and I am trying to pair it with a Bluetooth device that has no PIN - a Wii Balance board.

The balance board does not have a PIN, however whenever I try to connect to it, my phone prompts for a password. I have tried the default 0000 and 1234 to no avail.

Is it possible to connect to a Bluetooth device without using a PIN?

# Answer
I don't think it'll work out of the box, you'll need an app that has the required code to work around the default Bluetooth protocol of requiring a PIN for devices to be paired securely.

There is an app called WiiScale which allows a user to link the Wii Balance Board with their Android device, provided they're rooted. The plus point of course is that it's compatible with CM which you're running. :-)

Alternate app: FitScales
> 1 votes

# Answer
Can you leave the code blank?

I can.

If not, the wii stuff controlling app can start a pairing without key from within.
> 0 votes

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Tags: bluetooth, connection-issues, bluetooth-pairing
---


# Question
Title: Why my sdcard suddenly re-mount when phone in use to play game, watch movie or idle?
I'm still newbie to android, I'm a little confused whether my android phone fine or damaged, or my sdcard is broken, because when I use the phone to play games, watch movies, or is in the idle position, sdcard suddenly unmount and then mount again (like doing re-mount). When running game or watch a movie suddenly close itself, and a notification appear "Preparing SD card". Anyone know why this could happen?

Here my phone information :

RAM : 256MB, ROM : 256MB, Model number: Device-01, Android Version: 2.3.6, baseband version: VENUS\_BP\_00.03.63.b501, Kernel Version: 2.6.38.6-perf zly @ HL120 # 1

My sdcard : V-Gen 2GB.

Thank you.

# Answer
> 0 votes
sdcards remount by default as read only on errors, could be one.

or the contacts of the sd slot are dirty or loose

or the micro usb port is so overused that random connect events happen that might get your card unmounted for a mount on a then not existing pc.

^that paragraph

is based on what happened to my motorola milestone 2, if I plugged that into the car charger it want crazy activating and deactiving dock mode 6 times per second. maybe something similar goes for charge indicatiors.

also magnets in vicinity of androids can cause the strangest quirks

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, troubleshooting, external-sd
---


# Question
Title: How can I root my Samsung Galaxy S3? Should I defer the system update?
I pre-ordered a Verizon SGS3, and it shipped to me before it was even available in stores. Since then I have not updated any programs that were Verizon-related.

If at some point I want to root my phone, does it then make sense to not update these programs? I have heard that in the past, certain over-the-air updates have closed holes which are used to root. Is this the case so far with this phone?

# Answer
> 6 votes
**Update:** Verizon's Galaxy S3 is locked and cannot as of now be rooted or updated to a custom firmware. See this XDA thread.

As far as I know there are no current pending security holes that can be exploited by circulating rooting apps at the moment.

Samsung does however not lock its phones if you buy them directly from them, i.e. you are free to install aftermarket firmware or modify the existing firmware via Odin quite easily (without having to hack/exploit/etc. anything). Some carriers, including Verizon however do indeed lock it.

If you have an unlocked S3 or as soon there's an exploit for the locked booloader:
CF-Root by Chainfire supports rooting stock firmwares of the S3 models GT-I9300 and GT-I9300T so far in a very easy way. It does **not** depend on an root exploit but rather modifies the system partition in another way that cannot be closed by a firmware OTA update. Just see the above referred blog post and the linked XDA forum thread in there for more info.

# Answer
> 3 votes
**Step 1**

> Hold down Volume Down, Home Center, and Power buttons together for about 20 seconds until your phone resets and shows you an option to get into download mode.

**Step 2**

> Next hit Volume Up button to enter download mode.

**Step 3**

> Once in Download mode, you can connect your micro-USB cable from your Galaxy S3 to your computer.

**Step 4**

> Next, download GalaxyS3Root.zip and unzip

**Step 5**

> Next, make sure you have drivers installed, you should see “Samsung Mobile USB CDC Composite Device” in Device Manager. If you don’t, simply download Samsung Kies and install it. (Then unplug, plug the micro-USB cable.)

**Step 6**

> Double-click on *odin3 v1.85.exe* file to start ODIN. You should see a yellow highlighted box with a COM number. The number doesn’t matter just so long as you see a yellow box. If you don’t see yellow box, your drivers are not installed correctly OR try killing Kies in Task Manager as sometimes it can interfere.

**Step 7**

> Choose “PDA” and choose “CF-Root-SGS3-v6.1.tar” file in GalaxyS3Root folder. Then hit “Start”.

**Step 8**

> In about 10 seconds, your phone will reboot and give you ClockworkMod Recovery and full root.

**Step 9**

> You will get a “PASS!” if everything went correctly.

**Step 10**

> Your phone will automatically reboot into ClockworkMod Recovery and install root/Superuser files.

**Step 11**

> Once your phone reboots, you will find “SuperSU” app, which is the Superuser app.

**Step 12**

> You can verify you have root by running a rooted app such as Titanium Backup app, you will see Superuser request window pop up. Hit “Grant” everytime you see this.

**Step 13**

> You can now get into ClockworkMod Recovery anytime by holding down Volume Up, Center Home, and Power button together for 20 seconds.

**NOTE:I'm not responsible if you mess up your phone. Make sure you know what you are doing before following any instructions. Go here .Just read it**.

---
Tags: rooting, samsung-galaxy-s-3, verizon
---


title: Reducing notification frequency

text:
# Question
Title: Reducing notification frequency
I would like to find a way to reduce the global number of notification sounds my phone (4.0) plays, setting a maximum number of plays per minute to avoid multiple applications sending a bunch of noisy messages.

Is there a way to do this?

# Answer
Not really, no. It's generally up to each individual app to control how often it checks for updates and raises notifications. Not all apps allow you to control that (except, of course, for turning off notifications for that app altogether.)
> 4 votes

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, notifications
---


title: Partial adb restore

text:
# Question
Title: Partial adb restore
ICS devices support creating backups using `adb backup`, and restoring them using `adb restore`. Using `adb backup`, one can select that everything should be backed up, or only a certain package.

However, `adb restore` lacks all the options of `adb backup`. When I call `adb restore backup.ab`, where `backup.ab` is only the backup of a single package, the phone shows me a warning dialog saying that all settings are going to be lost after restoring the backup. Is it true that restoring a single package backup wipes all data on the phone? If yes, is it somehow possible to restore a single package using `adb restore`?

# Answer
Picking up my comment on the question:

> Is it true that restoring a single package backup wipes all data on the phone?

No. As I suspected in my comment, *the warning just relates to the settings of the app being restored, as they would be replaced by those from the backup.* I used `adb backup` to backup a single app on one device, and restored it to multiple devices. I didn't miss anything afterwards, all other apps (and data) remained untouched.

It wouldn't make any sense the other way, either. And Carbon - App Sync and Backup couldn't offer to restore a single app, as it itself would be gone then as well :)
> 11 votes

# Answer
If you're rooted you can now use Titanium Backup Pro (5.6+) to restore from `adb` backups.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, backup, adb, restore
---


# Question
Title: Stuck mid-way through Root process (Samsung Galaxy S3 SCH-1535)
Root Instructions

I've been following the root instructions above. I'm at this step:

Using your custom recovery flash the download you chose above from Step 1 (#3)

However, I had forgotten to move the SU/Bootloader zip file to my SDCard (not a removable SD, the system SD). So I connected to my mac, used android file transfer to move the zip file to the SD card root directory (/sdcard/), and rebooted into recovery mode.

Now I'm in the samsung recovery mode (3e), with the little android fella and the red triangle, (manual mode), and if I select 'external storage', obviously since I don't have any (no removable SD), I can't seem to get to the file.

The first time I had rebooted into recovery I had gotten this screen:

TWRP Screen

But now I can't seem to get back to that screen to attempt to install the Super SU and Bootloader zip file.

Help?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I'll put this here so you can mark your question as answered.

Some phones' stock ROMs automatically replace custom recoveries with the stock ones on boot, so when you rebooted to put the ZIP on your phone, TWRP was wiped away. So, simple, reinstall it.

As for a good ROMs, I use ParanoidAndroid on my Galaxy Nexus and I love it.

---
Tags: rooting, samsung-galaxy-s-3, recovery-mode, twrp
---


# Question
Title: No "delta updates" in Google Play Store on Android 4.1+
I have noticed that since updating my Asus TF300T to Android 4.2.1 (official stock rom) I no longer receive **delta updates** (i.e. where only changes are downloaded instead of the complete file). Before the update it worked perfectly (on Android 4.1.2). The device is NOT rooted.

I have tried resetting the store's data, rolling back the store updates, and disabling the new app auto-scan. None of these worked :(

Is anyone else experiencing this on the Asus tablet, or any other Android 4.1+ device?

Update (29 Mar 2013): I have been checking this every day since posting, and finally today it seems that delta updates are working again. I guess it was a server side problem because the store was not updated on my device and I made no other changes anywhere.

Update (30 Mar 2013): And today I'm back to full updates :( This does seem to be a server side issue though; not sure if it affects any other versions/devices. If anyone on any 4.1+ build (any device) could indicate whether they have problems with it that would be great :)

# Answer
> 1 votes
I've got a Nexus S running a 4.2.2 ROM. I just noticed I'm not getting delta updates about a week ago. Though I've been on 4.2.2. for much longer, so it could be another problem not related to the Android version, especially since the Play Store can update independently from Android.

---
Tags: google-play-store, updates, 4.1-jelly-bean, 4.2-jelly-bean, asus-eee-pad-transformer
---


# Question
Title: Questions on phone contacts and Google contacts
I am using 7562 Samsung S Duos.

I merged all the phonebook numbers to my Google account. Those numbers are not shown in phone book, but are shown in the Google account in my phone.

* How do I copy all the numbers to the phonebook?
* Where are the numbers actually stored now? Is it in Google server or is it in my phone only?
* What will happen to these numbers if I log out my Google account from my Android phone?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to Contacts. Press contacts to display, then select which merged contact you want to display. Or, select all contacts. You can also customise the contacts to display.

# Answer
> 0 votes
* Remove Unnecessary Contacts, take a backup contacts to SD Card using the option \>\> back up to SDCard/Storage or something similar.
Delete all your contacts, then Import form SD Card, you will get an option to select to which the contacts has to be saved. Select Phone and you are done.
* Your contacts are always stored in your phone, at `/data/data/android.providers.contacts` a copy of it is stored in your Google Account when you sync. Remember the contacts that are under `Google` only will get synced.
* Nothing will happen when you log out from your Google account. Only Auto Sync is off.

---
Tags: contacts
---


title: Video Player App for MKV?

text:
# Question
Title: Video Player App for MKV?
Having trouble finding an app that will smoothly play .MKV (matroska video) files. (For those unfamiliar with the format, MKV is commonly used for HD video.)

The popular QQ, Mobo, Mvideo, and MX players result in choppy, un-synced play. These apps do the same on my 2.1 device. I am using Samsung Galaxy Ace with Android 2.3 and these QQ, Mobo, Mvideo, and MX players are not able to play .mkv file smoothly.

# Answer
> 6 votes
HD Player and Real Player sound promising to play mkv videos smoothly. But, if video quality is overloading your hardware capabilities, no software can help playing that HD video smoothly. However, you can do one thing: Install Hot Reboot from Play Store and run it once before video playback. It'd reduce load on system.

If you're unable to play that video on your device, I'd recommend you to use Handbrake to rip that video for your device.

# Answer
> 7 votes
VLC media player beta for android was just released today. You can take a look at it. I am not sure if it works fine on Ace though

# Answer
> 4 votes
I think the problem might be with the phone. The galaxy ace is at the lower end of the scale hardware wise so I imagine it can't handle HD files.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This article of Best Android Video Players for Android Phone will be helpful, I think.

Good luck. Personally, I prefer VLC and MX player (also allows background playback)

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you find your mobile stutters with HD videos.... This is because of the limitations of your hardware... You can convert the videos before watching them.... The player of my choice is MX player... It is perfect.... For playing files not supported on your mobile, you can go to the list option and add the extension manually after which you will be able to play....

# Answer
> 0 votes
Maybe you can try RealPlayer or VLC for Android Beta. But I am not sure whether it supports it or not. For detailed information, you can view this article: Top 6 Video Player Apps for Android Mobile Device in 2012

Anyway, I have downloaded the QQ player on my HTC One X, and found that it works well on my phone. So if the video player still can't play the mkv video, maybe you can convert the mkv video to mp4 or 3gp format. Then, watch it on your phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
MX Player works fine with `.mkv` files.

You just need to make sure you turn on all the H/W settings and select H/W+ when playing an .mkv file.

Go to

* Tools\>Settings\>Decoder
* tick all the boxes in the Hardware Decoder list.

That worked for me.

---
Tags: video, media-player
---


# Question
Title: Cost of using AGPS for satellite location
Can anyone tell me, if I want to use GPS or AGPS with an app to locate a satellite for TV reception, will I be charged for the data. I'm thinking of buying a Huawei g300 Pay as you go from Vodaphone but don't want to be landed with heavy charges to use this facility while abroad. Thanks

# Answer
Assisted GPS may cost money: it depends on your cellphone provider, and you should check with them first. See this old CNET story for more info. For Vodafone, I couldn't find any official information online, but this thread by a user on the official forum suggests they charge A-GPS data the same as any other Internet access.

If you're worried about the data charges, go into **Settings** -\> **Wireless and networks** -\> **Mobile networks**, and turn off **Data roaming** (the names may be slightly different depending on which device and Android version you have). While data roaming is turned off, your phone won't try to use mobile data while you're roaming (that is, abroad). The GPS will still work fine, but it may take longer to fix your position: maybe as long as 12 minutes, according to Wikipedia.

Whether the app you want to use will still work without an internet connection depends on the app you're trying to use. You should probably test this before getting abroad: if it turns out you have to download and use a different app, you won't have saved any money at all!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: gps
---


# Question
Title: How to regain control over a Samsung Galaxy S II with a Boot loop?
My device is in a wicked boot loop and I cannot get any control over the phone.

If I take the battery out and put it back in, it just restarts again and again. I don't feel like I have any control over the buttons on the phone.

Any way to solve this?
I'm completely willing to restore factory settings, but I just don't know how I could do so because the phone does not shut off, it just continues to restart.

# Answer
Enter recovery mode and do a factory reset and wipe cache and install any ROM you like.

It worked for my S2 which got stuck during boot-up. I kept flashing my ROM without factory reset and wipe cache and nothing happened.

It went back to normal when I did those procedure above. Hope it will solve your problem. My S2 is fine and running again. I almost gave up on it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, boot-loop
---


# Question
Title: How should I correctly turn on my phone?
This is regularly driving me nuts. Every once in a while, my phone freezes for whatever reason. I press and hold the power button to shut if off. Now comes the part that's giving me trouble.

* If I just press the power button, nothing happens.
* If I press and hold the power button, at some point a picture of a battery appears. It will disappear again after a while (probably because I'm still holding the power button and shutting the phone back off)
* If I press and hold the power button and release it when the battery image appears, the image will stay and indicate that the battery is being loaded.
* If I press and hold the power button for *just the right amount of time*, the Galaxy S2 logo appears and my phone boots.

So, usually I find myself going through this cycle a couple of times until I finally get my phone booted. What am I doing wrong?

# Answer
I'm assuming you have a power cable plugged in.

In that case you'll have to unplug the cable, turn it on and plug it in as soon as something appears on the screen.

I've had this problem several times when trying to flash the phone while tethered to a computer and forgot to take out the USB cable when rebooting.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, power-on
---


# Question
Title: I accidently deleted LG home on my LG p500 phone
I did a system reset after having deleted LG home on my LG android phone p500. I thought the system app would be restored, but the fact is now. I don't have a "desktop". I cant get to anywhere now on my phone, it is just one big black screen. Anyway that I could fix it? Thanks a million.

# Answer
Your best bet would be to reflash the ROM, since system reset only clears the user data, it won't restore system apps. A quick google search revealed this tutorial on how to reflash stock ROM: How to flash Original Firmware on the LG Optimus One P500
> 3 votes

# Answer
As long as your Google account still is configured on the device (and the latter is connected to either WiFi or the mobile network), the simplest solution would be to visit the Google Playstore, log in with the same account you're using on your Android device, chose an alternative launcher app (e.g. Holo Launcher), hit the "Install" button, and approve its permissions. A few minutes later, the app should be installed on your device -- and you again have a working home-screen.

There's a big mis-conception about , as the name is misleading: It won't reset to "as shipped from the factory", but simply remove all settings and user-installed apps -- so it looks like "fresh from **a** factory". For details, see the factory-reset tag wiki.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: settings, lg-optimus-one
---


# Question
Title: Cracked screen, menu buttons non-responsive, need to wipe my phone! Ideas? HELP!
Like so many of us, I have dropped my phone and cracked the screen on my LG optimus ls970... which, In my very special situation, makes the menu buttons stop working. However, unlike other posters, I can still SEE the screen. I even managed to somehow (and I have NO idea how) to get into the boot options. But I CAN'T CLICK THE OPTION TO WIPE THE PHONE OR CONFIRM. I can press my glass at a million angles and make the equivalent of a pretty, pretty light show, but the only portion of my screen that ever responds to touch now is the top-right corner.

I work for a security company and have customer-sensitive information on that device. I too have already received a replacement and need to send the old device back. ...I even have an old microwave and have SERIOUSLY considered both using it and "dropping" the phone in a lake before I send it back (as it is covered for water damage), but I have seen phones recover even from water damage. I have NO idea how I'm going to solve this. ...Thoughts?

# Answer
> 2 votes
The answers to Is there any way to erase personal information from my phone that has already been stolen? might help you here. Although your phone hasn't been stolen, the same solution seems like it would be appropriate to your case.

If you have sensitive information on your device, and your company doesn't already have a way to remote-wipe it, then what you work for is an *in*-security company. You should figure out what to do about lost or stolen devices before it happens. Right now, you're putting your customers at risk.

---
Tags: screen, factory-reset, buttons
---


# Question
Title: Getting internet for Galaxy Tab 2 from Galaxy S3
Is there a way to use the Galaxy Tab 2 with my Galaxy S3 (SPRINT) to get an internet connection?

# Answer
> 7 votes
Yes, very easily actually.

**To Make your S3 emit a WiFi network**

1. Enable 'WiFi Tethering' in `System Settings->More->Tethering and Portable Hotspot->Portable WiFi Hotspot`.
2. Configure the hotspot (name, password etc), in the `Setup WiFi Hotspot` menu.

**To Connect your Tablet to the WiFi network**

1. Enter the tablets WiFi settings, and turn WiFi on.
2. Select the WiFi network you configured on your S3).
3. Select connect. If you setup a password, you need to enter it.

**Other Info**

If you do not see the WiFi Hotspot option, then your network has disabled it. If you're rooted you could use an app such as WiFi Tethering \- just be aware that this will produce an Ad-Hoc hotspot, and Stock Android cannot connect to these types of hostspots.

There is currently no way, AFAIK, to create a standard WiFi hotspot without using the stock android tethering system.

# Answer
> 4 votes
I assume that you have `3G/LTE` connection on your `Galaxy S3` and want to use that connection on your `Galaxy tab2`, so you would have internet on it. OK! here is the solution:

**On Galaxy S3:**

* Enable Internet (3G/LTE mobile data)
* Go to Settings -\> Wireless & Networks -\> Tethering & portable hotspot (the path and names may be different on your phone)
* Enable **Portable Wifi hotspot**
* Click on "`Configure Wifi hotspot`" and define a desired SSID and password for your network.

**Now, on your Galaxy Tab 2:**

* Go to settings and enable Wi-fi
* In the list of available wireless networks, find your wireless network created on Galaxy S3, and tap on it to connect
* Enter password of the network you created on S3 and then it should connect to your Galaxy S3 and use its internet connection.

more info: http://support.google.com/android/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=168932

* If your network (Sprint) has disabled Tethering on the phone, you may want to use 3rd party apps to enable tethering (Liam has pointed to one of them in his answer)

# Answer
> 0 votes
What I did is to root my Samsung S3 and install a WiFi Tether apk file so I can get free internet on my Samsung Tab 2.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Samsung galaxy tab 2 and Motorola photon you can get internet thru Bluetooth

# Answer
> 0 votes
Best way is to enable WiFi Tethering. Bluetooth also works.

---
Tags: tethering, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7
---


# Question
Title: Wipe before upgrading from stock nexus to CM?
Since CM is based on stock Android (AOSP), and the Nexus 7 is a stock device, can I just flash the CM zip without first doing a wipe/factory reset?

I just wonder if it's possible to avoid the hassle of backing up and restoring all my apps and settings, widgets, email settings, etc...

# Answer
What you are describing is what's known as a "**dirty flash**" which is a no-no! Especially from AOSP to CM and vice-versa, could lead all sorts of force closes etc. Likewise, *\[a particular custom ROM (insert of your choice)\]* to another but different *\[custom ROM (insert of your choice)\]* and vice-versa.

The *only time* a dirty flash can be performed if going from CM nightly to the latest nightly, or *\[custom ROM\]* to a more recent version of same *\[custom ROM\]*, theoretically, although *no guarantees* that everything will work "proper". Occasionally force-closes will be exhibited or some "weirdness" will manifest, hence no guarantees.

Really, if going from one ROM to another - best to wipe cache/data completely **provided** a backup has been done in the first place :)

Why not use a backup tool such as Titanium Backup or the basic backup tools found on the Play store *in the event you are not rooted*? :)
> 3 votes

# Answer
Not recommended. You'll more than likely run into issues and just eventually have to wipe and reset anyway.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, nexus-7, vanilla-android
---


# Question
Title: What happens to my google account if I factory reset?
I've been using this Android phone for just over a year, but I'm worried about my Gmail and Google account which is connected to my phone. I want to change the email address on my Android because it's my main one. If I lose my phone, someone can access my YouTube account which I've worked hard on. They could also access my emails.

I'm worried if I do factory reset or the remove account, it will delete the account that it is connected to. Will it?

# Answer
> 5 votes
No! Your google account is not stored locally on your device. It will still be available on any other device and on any other desktop browser you choose to use!

---
Tags: gmail, google-account, factory-reset
---


# Question
Title: When I write an email using the Android mail apps, how can I send it 2 hours later?
When I write an email at 2:00 AM or 2:59 AM I don't want to send it at that time (because I want to go to sleep), but instead tell Android/GMail to send this email a few hours later, because of timezone differences.

Right now I can only send immediately, not planned email. Are there any GMail apps which can do that, or other apps which can use this concept and send the email via GMail in Android?

# Answer
check this article out.
Using m.boomeranggmail.com you can sign in with your gmail account and schedule delivery times for your emails.
As of now there is not a standalone app, only the mobile web app. But it will do what you're wanting!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: email, gmail
---


# Question
Title: How can I "right click" with a USB mouse on Android 3.1?
I've got a Logitech USB mouse and keyboard plugged into my Xoom, which is running Tiamat 1.4.4 kernel on top of Android 3.1. Both are recognized and provide input correctly, but I noticed that the right mouse button is treated just as a left mouse button click. I had hoped that this would instead act like a long press since that's something of an analogue to the right click concept, but I can't find a way to do so. This is particularly annoying because I'm trying out Splashtop and it makes a lot of things really awkward or downright impossible.

Is there any setting (or other method) to make the right click button actually perform a "right click" type of action, such as a long press?

# Answer
Unfortunately there is currently no way to get the right mouse button working as a right mouse button. Long press is the only way to do it. Sorry.
> 2 votes

# Answer
middle mouse button does it for me!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: usb, 3.1-honeycomb, mouse
---


title: How can I find my phone without an app

text:
# Question
Title: How can I find my phone without an app
I just lost my phone today and I dont have any Find Me app but I am logged in with all of my information. Like my email, facebook, and such things. How can I possibly find it?? I also know that my GPS is set on On.

# Answer
You could log into to your Google account and check your location history...assuming you've turned on Latitude: https://latitude.google.com/latitude/b/0/
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lost-phone
---


# Question
Title: Where I can find my own Google+ Play reviews and ratings?
I know that now Google Play reviews and ratings are connected with my Google+ account and my name. But where exactly I can find **list of my own reviews and ratings** Google Play apps?

# Answer
Unfortunately to this moment Google not provide such feature to list all our reviews and ratings from Google Play.

But there is method to search all of ours reviews by typing to google.com phrase:

```
inurl:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details +"John Doe"

```

where **John Doe** is our name we use in Google+, but of course this name should be unique.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, google-account, google-plus, app-ratings
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy S3 Active Sync is not working, any help?
I cant sync my business email on my Android mobile (a Galaxy S3 with Android 4.0.4).

I tried to set up a business email account but all I get is *unable to connect to server* after I'm done with the set up. I'm pretty sure server and configuration details are correct.

I'm trying to connect to Microsoft exchange 2010.

Any idea how I can fix this issue?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had the same problem and downloaded Touchdown for Smartphones, which worked. Will Send the phone back as clearly the bundled app that came with the phone isn't working but another program with the same settings worked. Only bought the S3 a week ago, first phone the WIFI and the Bluetooth wouldn't switch on, 2nd phone no exchange e-mail, third time lucky?

---
Tags: exchange, connection-issues, active-sync
---


# Question
Title: What is the main activity of Google Keep called?
What is the launcher activity of Google Keep called? I thought a short Google search would help, but apparently not.

# Answer
## How to find the activity?

Activities are listed in the `.apk` file's `Manifest`. This is e.g. explained in Run Android Application from Command Line. The linked page gives a short example:

```
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
 package="com.iftitah.android.contact">
  <application android:icon="@drawable/icon">
   <activity class=".Contact" android:label="@string/app_name">
    <intent-filter>
    <action android:value="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
    <category android:value="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
   </intent-filter>
  </activity>
 </application>
.
.
</manifest>

```

The activity is listed in the `<activity>` element, which also holds the intent to be called (in the contained `<action>` element).

## How to investigate the `Manifest`?

Now for the tricky part, as we are no developers: How to view the `Manifest`? Luckily, we can get some help from the Playstore for this -- e.g. in the form of an app called App Detective:

App Detective and AppExplore (Source: Google Playstore; click images to enlarge)

As you can see in above screenshot, this app allows the user to investigate the `Manifest` files of installed apps, but does not stop at this. Ressources, libraries, signatures, and more can be looked up.

Alternatives worth mentioning are the ManifestViewer and the AppExplore. Pick your choice :)

## So what is the main activity of Google Keep?

Using above "investigation methods", Kevin figured out it is `com.google.android.keep.BrowserActivity` (see below comment if you don't believe me ;)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-apps
---


title: Briefing news not updating on S3

text:
# Question
Title: Briefing news not updating on S3
I have set up a `Briefing` alarm clock. I love hearing news when I wake up.

The problem is that since a week the synthetic voice of Samsung always reads me the same headline. Right now I tried to recreate the problem setting a briefing alarm. Right now, the news got updated, but reading the screen I found something the voice doesn't tell: the article was written on 16/3 and today is 20!!

News should always be fresh. There is always something new for Reuters to write...

Anybody had the same experience? Anybody knows if the app needs tweaking? I don't think it's a DroidWall problem otherwise I couldn't get any news!

# Answer
> -3 votes
I had the same problem now I finally worked it out basically you need to go to widget on your phone and look for yahoo news. Then drag yahoo news to your screen and the problem will be solved.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, alarm, news-and-weather
---


title: How to launch Google Keep from shell?

text:
# Question
Title: How to launch Google Keep from shell?
Using command from this blog

I want to launch keep from shell.

# Answer
Yay! Thanks to a lot of help from Izzy, I was able to extract the name of the launcher activity from Keep's `manifest`. So that means that the console command is:

```
am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.google.android.keep/.BrowseActivity

```

It goes without saying to make sure to preserve proper capitalization (casing). If you want me to find out the names of any of the other activities (so your command launches *that* activity instead of the main page), just let me know!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: shell, google-keep
---


# Question
Title: What is error code 495 on Google Play and the YouTube app?
> "Facebook" could not be downloaded due to an error. (495)

How do I solve this error?

# Answer
According to a user on The Transformers' Forum:

> *"I had the same problem but fixed it. Go to* `Settings - Apps- All- Download manager` *and Clear data. Then go to* `Settings - Apps - All - Google Play Store` *and Clear cache. Play Store should work and if not try restarting your device."*

There is another answer that says that Uninstalling the updates of Google Play app and restarting the device and updating it again solved the issue,

> *"Uninstall all updates to Google Play, reverting to the original market, then re-starting that, and letting it re-update to Google Play, then re-starting it again."*

However vague, clearing the data on Google Play Store app might do the job.
> 5 votes

# Answer
I get this error myself, and it looks like this is mostly a network issue. May be because of some stale values on device, clearing application cache for Google Play or Download Manager can help.

However trying a different network (wifi instead of data) works for me. It might also help if you change DNS addresses on device, I guess.

```
D/Finsky  ( 4507): [1] DownloadImpl.setState: com.google.android.apps.books from DOWNLOADING to ERROR.
D/Finsky  ( 4507): [1] DownloadQueueImpl.onError:     com.google.android.apps.books: onError 495.
D/Finsky  ( 4507): [1] DownloadQueueImpl.remove: Download    com.google.android.apps.books removed from DownloadQueue
D/Finsky  ( 4507): [1] InstallerTask.cancelCleanup: Cancel running installation of com.google.android.apps.books
E/Finsky  ( 4507): [1] RestoreTracker.onInstallPackageEvent: Restore package com.google.android.apps.books download error 495
I/ElegantRequestDirector( 4507): I/O exception (org.apache.http.NoHttpResponseException) caught when processing request: The target server failed to respond
I/ElegantRequestDirector( 4507): Retrying request

```
> 2 votes

# Answer
Had the problem on an Alcatel device where "all apps" in settings - apps does not exist. Using WLAN instead of 3g for downloading from Play Store worked. Not sure if it will now also work again on 3g.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, youtube
---


# Question
Title: Get data/data/com.android.browser/databases/webview.db from backup.ab
I followed Nikolay Elenkov's method of unpacking `backup.ab`.

Is it possible to get `data/data/com.android.browser/databases/webview.db` from `backup.ab`?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I found a bypass to this problem. Just do a full adb backup including all app data, apk and system data. Then root the phone and restore everything from backup. Then I would be able to access data/data/com.android.browser/databases/webview.db using Root Explorer on my phone.

---
Tags: backup, webview
---


# Question
Title: Samsung tablet 2 10.1- why is the adaptor in two separate parts
We have just purchased a Samsung galaxy tablet 10.1 and there are no directions for charging - so we put the adaptor together to plug into the wall and it does not come apart - why is it in two separate pieces and why can't we get it apart? Thank you

# Answer
> 2 votes
It's to make it cheaper to manufacture in bulk. The part with the actual transformer in is the same for every country, and the other half (with the plug itself) is different for each country. Making the complicated part global means they don't have to redesign the whole transformer for each country, and the manufacturer can benefit from increased economies of scale, reducing the price.

Most transformers for today's gadgets follow the same design. In the drawer in front of me I have examples from Apple, Sennheiser, and Asus, as well as Samsung, all in two parts.

Usually, it is possible to take the two pieces apart again, it just needs a bit of a wiggle and some practice. This makes it easier to use another country's plug if you're travelling, but apart from that there's no reason to. If you can add a photo of the particular kind of adaptor you have, I can probably add instructions for how to take it apart.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-tab-2-10.1
---


title: Why did my wallpaper stop working?

text:
# Question
Title: Why did my wallpaper stop working?
I just upgraded to Android 4.1 Jellybean (OTA carrier update to my Verizon Droid RAZR MAXX), and my Multipicture Live Wallpaper app is not loading any pictures. Previously, each screen would load pictures from a folder on my SD card. Now, it says "Picture is unavailable. Need to setup or reload". I checked, and the path is still the same in the settings, and the pictures are at those locations. Why did this stop working and how can I fix it?

# Answer
I solved the error. Instead of selecting pictures from a folder, use the album, and the picture folder will be listed as an album. Deselect all the other albums, and pictures should show up.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, motorola-droid-razr, live-wallpaper
---


title: How to get Google Play in China

text:
# Question
Title: How to get Google Play in China
I just bought the Samsung S3 in China and Google Play is not installed - how can I get it, or at least get my Gmail?

# Answer
I don't know it works or not. I just Googled and found this link.

According to the link you might want to use VPN services which changes your IP to other country IP which is valid in Google Play and also according to comment on same link one has changed his OS to Hongkong OS(i.e Google Play available OS).

You might want to go through LINK once. Hope this might be helpful for you!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: How to factory reset without data loss and undue pain?
I ran into a serious SMS bug, which knowledgeable users seem to be saying means the SMS message database is corrupt (source 1, source 2). This is consistent with my current experience. In my case I lost all ~1000 messages and still have some issues after that.

So I want to factory reset my phone. While I have not rooted my phone, I have performed significant customization, and have somewhere around 150 apps installed, including a few paid apps (UltimateJuice, ...). What things do I need to explicitly backup? What can I do to minimize the pain? I don't care about save points in games.

Surprisingly, I cannot find any good documentation of this using any obvious Google search terms. (I am aware of How do I perform a full pre-rooting backup of an Android phone?, which doesn't really offer an answer to my question.)

For Google cloud things such as contacts, do I need to backup the cloud version just in case, so the phone doesn't wipe them from the cloud? Fortunately, most of my personal notes are stored in cloud applications like Catch and Evernote. I presume these should be unaffected.

As far as I can tell the BackupMySettings option is not available for my phone (Samsung Epic running 2.1). My paid apps come back from Market anyway, right? I guess I could pay $4 for MyBackupPro if it really made things simpler, but there would need to be some way to NOT backup the corrupted SMS database files. Also I am assuming carrier-bundled apps such as Swype will automatically work.

---

P.S. I have Marigold Android Backup and backed up to the SD card (except SMS/MMS). I also have mIQ but I'm not sure I trust that to do a restore. Factory resetting the phone will not affect the SD card, correct?

P.P.S. I have AppBrain. Is that automatically remembering all apps I have on the phone, so it will suggest installing all of them if I just install AppBrain? Or will it only do that for apps installed through AppBrain?

# Answer
> 5 votes
AppBrain will make it easy to restore your apps. After the reset, install AppBrain first(ish) and use it to get back all the apps you had before. (Sync before you reset.)

Market will remember your paid apps so you'll be able to get those without having to repay.

Your Google app data (e-mail, contacts, calendar) are backed up to the "cloud" already, so you shouldn't have to do anything special with them. If you REALLY want to you could export them to a CSV file, but you shouldn't have to.

You probably don't need to, but I would copy the contents of the SD card to a temporary location. Just in case.

As for other apps that keep data only local...I can't speak to those. I know that for myself everything important has a backup somewhere else. (Yay Dropbox!)

Unfortunately (or, actually, fortunately), I don't have any personal experience with a factory reset. Everything I've read says that it's really not that bad, excepting those apps that don't have dynamic storage strategies.

Good luck!

# Answer
> 4 votes
*For Google cloud things such as contacts, do I need to backup the cloud version just in case, so the phone doesn't wipe them from the cloud?*

If you set your contact list to sync with Gmail's contact list, you do not need to backup your Gmail's contacts list; just like every cloud-based services you would need to change how you think about where data is stored, Gmail's contact list is NOT **a backup of the phone's Contact list**, the Gmail's version is **the primary reference copy** and the phone's contact list is just a local cache of the online version.

Unfortunately (or, in your particular case, fortunately), SMS storage is not a cloud service. If you do a factory reset, you lose all your SMS messages. Therefore, you need to do manual backup of your SMS messages. There are multitudes of SMS backup apps in the Market, both free and paid; I don't know which ones plays wells with the SMS bug since I don't experience the bug myself.

*Hard resetting the phone will not affect the SD card, correct?*

Yes. Your SD card is your own data, Android will not touch the SD card in any way when doing factory resets.

*My paid apps come back from Market anyway, right?*

Yes, Android Market purchases are tied to your Gmail account, and you should not need to repay any of your paid apps as long as you used the same account. However, if you purchased apps outside of Android Market, you may need to contact the developer of those app or the alternative market where you made the purchase and ask their policy on this.

*P.P.S. I have AppBrain. Is that automatically remembering all apps I have on the phone?*

Yes, including those you install directly from the Market. Just make sure you sync your app list with AppBrain *before* you do a factory reset.

# Answer
> 3 votes
While you're not currently rooted, then, assuming you can get your device rooted, I can recommend Titanium Backup.

The basic version is free, and allows you to back up whichever apps and settings you want to your SD card.

I have used this myself when upgrading from 2.1 to 2.2, and it kept every single app setting in the condition it started.

If this sounds interesting, an easy and painless way to root your device, is by using z4root, which lets you one-click root on a lot of devices, including the Galaxy S, which Wikipedia tells me the Epic 4G is a variant of.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well, Titanium Backup is a great choice for you. Besides that you can backup your data, settings and APN to some safe place or move them to your SD card. Although, it is not necessary don't keep your SD card in while doing a factory restore. As mentioned earlier, your data is already stored in Google Play account, so you do not need to pay multiple times for the app you purchased. The other issue would be backing up games and other data so you do not have to start from the scratch.

---
Tags: backup, factory-reset, restore
---


# Question
Title: Play Store not downloading app without wifi
I have just bought Samsung Galaxy Grand phone featuring android jelly bean. I am trying to download some app using my mobile data. But, it doesn't download application, while I am not connected to wi-fi network. It downloads apps while I am connected to wi-fi without any issue.

Can anybody suggest me, what setting is restricting me to download without wi-fi network?

# Answer
Finally, I got it resolved. The issue was with APN settings provided by my service provider. Fixing that fixed downloading issue.
> 2 votes

# Answer
There are two things to check.

1. Go into **Settings** from the Play Store app's menu. At the time the question was written, the third one down is **Update over Wi-Fi only**. Turn this off if you want to download apps over a cellular internet connection.

In more recent Play Store versions, it's at the top of the list: it says **Auto-update apps**, and the default is **Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only**. You need to change this to **Auto-update apps at any time. Data charges may apply.**
2. Apps larger than a certain size (I think 50 MB) only download over Wi-Fi regardless of this setting. (The Play Store app will prompt you if you try to download a large app and you're not on Wi-Fi.) This applies to lots of games but not many applications.

The reasoning behind all of these restrictions is because many users pay per kb of data, or they pay extra if they go over a limit. The default behaviour is safe and avoids surprising users with large bills.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, 4.1-jelly-bean
---


title: Google Now suddenly disappeared

text:
# Question
Title: Google Now suddenly disappeared
I'm running Android 4.2.2 on a Galaxy Nexus with the February 13, 2013 update of Google Search installed. **Google Now was working great until it suddenly ceased to appear today.** Widgets now display "Get Google Now", and the Google Now screen itself only contains a search box, not even showing the Google Now-related items that were in the settings menu previously.

I rebooted the phone multiple times and upgraded all apps, but the problem has persisted for the last few hours. What gives, and **is there a way to "reset" Google Now?**

# Answer
> 2 votes
I'm not sure why Google Now ceased to appear, but here is how to reset it:

1. Open `Settings --> Apps.`
2. Scroll right to `All`.
3. Open Google Search, hit `Clear Data` and `Clear Cache`.

Open `Google Now` again and it will walk you through the initial setup guide. My personalized card settings were retained after the clear.

---
Tags: applications, samsung-galaxy-nexus, 4.2-jelly-bean, google-now, google-search
---


# Question
Title: Was Firefox ever the default browser for Android?
Before I bought my Android, I heard that Firefox was its default browser. Upon noticing that this is not the case, I had assumed that the Internet browser on the Android was Google Chrome, but I just installed that today. Was Firefox ever the Android's default browser, and what is it now?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Firefox was never the default Android browser. The actual default browser is based on the open-source WebKit engine, which also powers the Safari browser on desktops, laptops and Apple's iOS-based mobile devices.

In the other hand, Chrome is based in Chromium and offers more options and performance than the stock browser.

---
Tags: browser, internet, chrome-for-android, default-applications, firefox-for-android
---


# Question
Title: Push a ROM to Galaxy S3 (d2att) while in TWRP/CWM?
My friend has royally buggered up his phone and we can't get a file onto the phone in order to reflash the ROM. We are able to get into the recovery (either TWRP or CWM) and reflash the recovery via Odin- but not able to get anything to onto the phone to flash!

CWM doesn't seem to have an `adb sideload` option on version 6.0.1.2 and adb wouldn't recognize the device in TWRP.

Any ideas?

# Answer
> 2 votes
First of all, do a **nandroid backup** to save the current state of the phone.

Get a ROM that can be flashed via recovery (usually .zip, not .img or .tar.img), then just execute:

```
adb shell mount /sdcard
adb push <romname.zip> /sdcard

```

If the first option to mount the sdcard fails, you can manually mount if from recovery. Also sdcard path might vary from ROM or recovery.

Once the ROM is uploaded to the phone, you can then use the recovery option to install it.

If you're comming from a different ROM, be sure to wipe `/system`, `/data` and `/cache`.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, clockworkmod-recovery, unbricking, twrp
---


# Question
Title: Delete a folder in my home screen Android 4.0, Aquos?
My home screen looks like this:

```
Empty_folder | Application 1 | Application 2 | Application N

```

When I long press over the folder, I have the option to rename it. How do I delete the folder, though? I've been moving them to a different screen, but now I have three screens of blank folders that I accidentally created by trying to rearrange icons.

Also, I wonder how do I switch two icons on my home screen? When I drag two items into each other, they don't switch but rather create a folder and then add themselves to it, which seems ridiculous. In any other OS, if I want a new folder, I have to be very specific about that.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you press and hold the folder, one of the home icons will turn into a trash icon. Just drag the folder to the trash icon.

# Answer
> 2 votes
If you long press over something in the Aquos, "Peel off" is used to remove it.

---
Tags: home-screen-folders
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to scan unusual barcodes?
I know there are plenty of apps that can read QR codes and standard barcodes.

Does anyone know of a way to scan unusual barcodes, such as ones found on mail trackers or flight tickets, etc? I imagine the encoding isn't encrypted, just obfuscated, so there's probably something out there already that can read the codes. But I haven't found anything on my own.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The Bar-coded Boarding Pass (BCBP) code is common for flight tickets. There could be other codes too, but there doesn't seem to be any app for it yet.

Mails also have different codes. The US seems to be using Intelligent Mail barcode (IM barcode). IMb Reader can be used for this.

Bottomline: there are several possibilities for the codes. You need to check first what code an airline or postal service is using. Then, check if there are apps for it.

---
Tags: barcode, qr-code
---


# Question
Title: Some applications seem to always stay open, even after I exit them. How do I close these?
When I hold the Home icon down, several apps appear that I thought I exited - how do I actually close these?

# Answer
The apps you see when long-pressing the "Home" button (or with newer devices, the "MultiTask" button with the two rectangles) are not the "currently active", but the "recently used" apps. With Android 4.0 and higher, you can simply swipe them out of that list -- which will not only remove them from the list, but also "kindly ask them" to close themselves.

For details on what happens with apps swiped out of this list, please see What actually happens when you swipe an app out of the recent apps list?
> 3 votes

---
Tags: applications, task-management, services
---


# Question
Title: Installing Jelly Bean on China-made Ice Cream Sandwich tablet
I just bought this China-made tablet, **Flytouch**, and it has Ice Cream Sandwich installed on it.

Is there anyway to install Jelly Bean? I Googled some and couldn't find a good source. Do you know any? thanks

# Answer
I found this forum thread that tells you how to update the firmware to one that runs Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1). It appears to be an update to a stock firmware update that came out for the tablet sometime last year.

**This does appear to require your tablet to be rooted**
> -2 votes

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean
---


title: Battery usage for keeping apps open

text:
# Question
Title: Battery usage for keeping apps open
How much of an effect does it have on the phones battery life to keep applications such as the contacts application open. I ask because that app sometimes takes long to open the first time depending on how many contacts you have I guess. I'm running android 4.1.2 on an galaxy s3 if that makes any difference. But I'm wondering whats the best practice from an user as well as developer perspective with regard to keeping apps open as a posed to the old school conservative thinking of closing everything when it's not needed.

# Answer
> 5 votes
In Linux/Android it is not recommended to close apps or use task killers. Unlike a Windows computer/phone, Linux/Android can keep applications "running" in the background which doesn't use any CPU or networking (unless it's a media player). It has actually been proven that closing apps causes more battery drain, because instead of Android being able to recall the app that was in memory it has to relaunch it, which requires more memory use as well as CPU.

You are better to leave apps running.

Sources: How To Geek and LifeHacker

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, battery-life, ram, task-management
---


title: Connecting to Google Talk on tablet

text:
# Question
Title: Connecting to Google Talk on tablet
I am trying to connect to Google Talk on my Android tablet. The error message is saying 'the connection interrupted'. The tablet has connected to Wi-fi and I can browse the Internet. I am using version 4.0 OS.

What might be stopping it from connecting to Google Talk?

# Answer
You might have a too restrictive firewall, either in your WiFi router or your tablet. Try opening up the ports that GTalk needs and check that access to GTalk servers isn't blocked.
> 1 votes

# Answer
If you are connected to Google Servers over your wifi connection the wifi bars in the status bar should be blue. If they bars are gray then you are not connected to the Google Servers.

I have run into this issue on open wi-fi and on some corporate wi-fi networks with a firewall. The only solution I've found is to use a third party app like Trillian. I can use Trillian (with my GTalk account) to GTalk when I'm not connected to the Google Servers.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: tablet, google-talk
---


title: Android 4.1.1 consumes too much memory

text:
# Question
Title: Android 4.1.1 consumes too much memory
My HTC One S has been upgraded to 4.1.1 and I noticed that it started consuming too much memory.

When I had 4.0, average memory consumption was about 300-450 MB. But now it is on the level of 700-850 MB. Is this a normal situation for the current version of Android or did something go wrong after the upgrade?

All system apps were upgraded with the OS. I have 1 GB of RAM.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This could count as a good sign: There should not be such a thing as "unused RAM". Linux and Android in special do a good job to make the best use of it by caching things. If there is any RAM not currently needed by running apps, it can be used to keep e.g. pieces of the file system for faster access -- which also helps to save battery life. Once there is additional RAM needed, those caches are the first things to be cleared.

For more details, I recommend to take a look at the following related questions and their answers:

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, ram
---


# Question
Title: Select music quality when syncing Google Music with Android
I uploaded my whole music library on Google Music (through Google Music Manager) in order to have quick access from the web and sync it with my android phone (Galaxy Nexus). The original size was slighly more than 2GB but when I try to sync after a restore on my phone, the new size is nearly 10GB since Google performed the match and is now providing me high quality tracks (originally the quality was quite poor). Since I have overall 16GB on my phone, this is a bit too much to keep my whole library there and I would like to have lower quality (e.g. 256kbps or lower over the google default 320kbps) to save some space. Is this possible configuring any setting? If not, is there any workaround based on additional tools?

Thanks in advance, Michele

# Answer
Unfortunately, I don't think there's a simple solution.

Your simple options seem to be:

* Use Google Music and select a subset of music to keep offline
* Don't use Google Music for offline tracks; instead sync them yourself
* Use the "fix incorrect match" button on the web interface to force your low-quality songs to be uploaded (you can use gmusicapi to automate the process)
* Make enough noise that Google devs take notice (I'm willing to bet their servers support this feature)

One last thing: I was under the impression that matching a song didn't automatically get you access to a 320kbs copy. When uploading, the Music Manager actually provides the bitrate of your copy of the song (here's my code); I've seen low quality (eg 128kbs) local copies matched and then produce a \< 320kbs copy when redownloaded.

So, if you've got time to burn, you could conceivably use this to your advantage: re-encoding to poor quality locally and reuploading *may* result in lower-quality server matches.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sync, music, google-play-music
---


title: How do I manage CalDAV-provided tasks?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I manage CalDAV-provided tasks?
On my phone, I have a calendar synchronized via CalDAV-Sync on a server of mine. On the desktop, I edit them with Thunderbird, and since Thunderbird can associate tasks to a calendar, I was wondering, if is there a way to see those tasks on Android too, since I can already see (and edit) the calendar itself?

# Answer
CalDAV-Sync provides another app, OpenTasks to support task. From its description,

> To get task support, please install this task app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dmfs.tasks

The following YouTube video is a demo of the task app in progress: Preview of task sync in CalDAV-Sync for Android
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sync, to-do-list, caldav
---


title: SD Card messed up

text:
# Question
Title: SD Card messed up
I had recently partitioned my SDCARD to work with my phone. Added an EXT4 and FAT32 partitions. After a power failure the data got corrupted. I can still see it but it's not the same as before. I've tried the following programs:
dd
fsck
e2fsck
fsck.ext4 Works but doesn't do anything. After a relaod of the card still shows the same.Applies to all of the above
palimpset -- Error calling fsync(2) on /dev/sdd1 : I/O Error
gparted -- Attempt to write sectors 128-128 outside of partition on /dev/sdd
None helped.
So my question is. What can i use to make it work again. Any low-level formatting tools? Can my card be somehow in R/O mode?
Also ClockworkMod Recovery seems to not be able to partition/format it. It just says it completed the operation but nothing changes.

# Answer
Using a card reader, try HP's Disk Storage Format tool

I use this to reformat fake overcapacity flash disks to proper size before and it made my kingston 4gb usb work again after getting corrupted.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, usb, recovery-mode, external-sd
---


# Question
Title: How do I remove an app installed if the buttons in "Manage Applications" are locked and can't be pressed?
I didn't download the application from Google Play and got the apk from a website and installed it on my tablet. But the app wasn't the one I needed and it was just making offers for me to get other apps.

Now I want to uninstall it but in "Manage Applications " all the buttons there are locked and can't be pressed, including the uninstall and move to SD card.

What do I do to get rid of it? It's taking up space on my internal memory.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Some apps register with the "Device Administrator" to avoid accidental/unwanted de-installation (e.g. child-protecting apps, so the child does not simply uninstall it -- also stuff which implements additional "rules", such as MS Exchange related apps). In this case, you need to remove them from the "Device Administrator" first:

Go to *Settings→Security→Device Administrator* and check if the app is listed there. If so, remove it from here. Now you should be able to uninstall the app.

---
Tags: applications, uninstallation
---


title: How can I protect my photos from Apps?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I protect my photos from Apps?
Camera saves them on SD, so everything can just upload them wherever it wants.

I heard of apps that claim to protect photos within them but the only thing they did is making them hidden from the user with hidden folders, but thats not what I call protection. It also doesnt protect them from apps which dont care about dotted .files or .nomedia.

Is this lack of protection intended? What can I do?

PS: If the protector you recommend is an app, please let it be one that is available on the developers site because I have no access to playstore.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I'm afraid there is no real protection possible, for multiple reasons:

* as you stated, all apps can read everywhere on the SDCard. This does not require any special permission
* apps with the `INTERNET` permission are not restricted in using the network in any way -- they even can create their own sockets and implement their own ways of communication
* while using an encrypted container would look promising on a first look, the camera app could not access this container either when it's not opened -- and if the container is opened, other apps could access it as well. So even using such a container and have it replacing `/sdcard/DCIM` does not work for your purpose

Summed up: if you want that level of protection, you either...

* cannot use any app requiring the `INTERNET` permission (no way for that, as several of them already come pre-installed with your device)
* need to root your device and set up a firewall forbidding all apps to access the internet (which, outside the EU, would void your warranty)
* need to have mobile-data as well as WiFi disabled all the time, and never connect your device to any network

As none of the above is really practicable, you need to compromise: When selecting the apps you want to install/use, check beforehand how trustworthy they are -- and keep your fingers away from "suspicious apps" as well as "suspicious sources".

As long as you're only concerned about the photos you take: If you find a camera app which can use an encrypted container solely by itself, this might be a way to go (I never heard of such, but it would be possible to create it, so it might exist). Another possible thing would be a "container app" that lets you specify which apps are permitted to access it. But keep in mind that your gallery app (which you use to view the photos) most likely will have the `INTERNET` permission as well...

**EDIT:** As Compro01 pointed out in his comment below, with Android 4.1 and up you can add some protection by enabling the "protect SD Card" item in the developer options. If that is activated, apps (including your camera app) need to have the `READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE` respective `WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE` permission to access the SDCard.

Moreover, PerennialPinömpel found an app named InformaCam:

> InformaCam, part of the SecureSmartCam suite of mobile apps, is a tool that allows users to embed expansive metadata into video or still images; encrypt media to trusted destinations using PGP; and securely upload media to trusted destinations who are capable of accepting InformaCam media.

Unfortunately, neither that app nor the full suite is available on Google Play currently. I also could not find an `.apk` on the mentioned site, so one would have to clone its Git repository, and compile the app.

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Tags: security, images
---


# Question
Title: What are the location based alarm applications available for Android?
I want to know what apps can sound an alarm depending on my location.

Obviously it would be better if the battery consumption is low.

I'd be happy if the application is free but wouldn't mind paying if it's working properly with not much battery consumption. Also please post (if you can) only applications that you've used.

UPDATE: Sorry guys, I should have been more clear. The alarm I am looking for is something where I can set an alarm when I am in the bus/train and make it sound the alarm and wake me up before my stop.

# Answer
Llama. A laymans version of Tasker. It can do so much more but should suffice with minimal battery impact as it uses cell sites to identify rather than gps.
> 5 votes

# Answer
A quick search on the Market found a number of these. Here are a few that seem to fit your description.
> 4 votes

# Answer
Remember The Milk can do this: although it is a todo list utility, and a very good one, you can also set tasks to be triggered by geolocation (at the railway station? remember to text the parking fee) and these will set off the alarm of your choice.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I haven't used it personally, but many of my friends will tell you (and so will a lot of people on this site!) that Tasker is what you're looking for, and it's well worth the price. It not only can make certain alarms active per location, but it can do any number of tasks, depending on if you're in a certain spot, if you have wi-fi access, if your battery is low, and so on. Here's the full description:

> Automate everything from settings to photos, SMS to speech. ADC2 prize winner. Total Automation, from settings to SMS. ADC2 finalist!
>
> * Triggers: App, Time, Day, Location, Hard/Soft State, Event, Shortcut, Widget, Timer
> * Actions: 175+ built-in, any Locale-compatible setting plugin
> * Tasks: loops, variables, conditions
> 1 votes

# Answer
I'd like to propose an app I just published; it's Are We There Yet?, it has a fancy new Holo based UI, it allows you to save alarms for quick access and it is free.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Check this Milwus Location Alarm app.

Works nicely, it's exactly what you're looking for.
> -1 votes

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Tags: alarm, geolocation
---


# Question
Title: The process has stopped unexpectedly - recovery
When I start my tablet `Archos 7 Home tablet` it shows this message box:

```
Sorry!
The process android.process.acore has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.
Force close

```

The only possibility I have is to press the button `Force close` and then the message appears again.

I tried to reset the tablet with pushing the needle into the `reset hole` on the back of the tablet,

but after starting the tablet the message appears again.

Now, I'm trying to solve it inspired by this question as follows but I have stuck

```
$ adb shell
$ recovery --wipe_data

```

I can only mount the tablet and browse through the directories in it. Can I destroy the files of the application that cause this error message? How would you solve it?

# Answer
> 2 votes
## What is a force-close?

If an application encounters an unexpected state or some other programming error, it will issue an force close. In most cases you will be presented with a form that allows you to send log files and the cause of the force close to the developer. Doing so will help the developer to fix the bug.

## First aid

* if it happens rarely, you might be able to "ignore" it. Contact the app's developer if it repeats from time to time. An extract of the might be helpful to locate the issue.
* if it persists: a *might* solve it
* if it still persists in a loop, preventing you accessing the device otherwise, and the app in question is one you installed yourself, you can boot into and remove that app
* if instead it's a system app, a might be needed
* if your device is rooted, you might boot to and "Wipe Cache" before going to factory-reset. If this works out, you won't lose any data.

## Helpful questions/answers dealing with force-closes

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Tags: adb, factory-reset, recovery-mode, system-error, force-close
---


# Question
Title: Can I run Samsung apps (app market from Samsung) without a SIM and mobile connection?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S with Android 2.2.

I have read that now there is a "Kies" app available from Samsung which would allow to upgrade the OS on the phone without connecting it with the USB cable to another computer.

That article said I have to install it through the "Samsung apps" app. So I started it, but it said it won't work without a SIM card.

But I intended to use only WiFi, I don't need the SIM card and the mobile connection.

Why this problem? Is it solvable (without a SIM card)?

# Answer
No, the Samsung apps market won't start without a SIM card, because the card is used to determine the country of the user.

There is an App called "Kies Air" which allows you to connect your device to the Kies App installed on your PC over WiFi. But I doubt that you are able to upgrade the OS this way. It's more meant for synchronization (calendar, email, ...) use.

IMHO you need a USB cable to update the SGS, either with Kies or Odin/Heimdall.
> 3 votes

# Answer
There is probably no Kies app for Android, as @onik notes in the comments.

I was mistaken probably when I thought that there is one.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Im able to get Samsung apps market app on my phone with no sim card it can etect country via wifi, works on Galaxy s3
> -1 votes

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, samsung-kies, sim-card
---