# Question
Title: Any success with external microphones for Android phones or tablets?
What's the best way to record a video with high quality audio? Specifically, this is for a presentation where a microphone could be placed by the speaker. I know that an app that records with the right codec is necessary, but what about the microphone?

I'd prefer to use a USB mic but, even though Android 3.1+ supports USB host mode, it doesn't appear that this is easy to accomplish. What about a 3.5mm microphone - would that yield acceptable results, or would it be better to stick with the built-in microphone? Are any of the video-recording apps capable of handling the microphone?

# Answer
> 4 votes
It's not a USB mic, but I have found a solution for external mic via 3.5 mm jack.

Look at my answer on this question: How do I use an external microphone with my Galaxy Nexus?

# Answer
> 4 votes
I bought a splitter ($7.65 on Amazon)to access the headphone/mic input on my HTC Thunderbolt. An Audio Technica ATR6550 shotgun mike works fine with the built-in camcorder software. Note that the impedence on this is 2200 ohms. I have half a dozen other microphones, and NONE of them work (some have an impedence of around 1000 ohms, so maybe this is the problem). So, here is what I know:

1. This is possible (at least with the atr6550).
2. The necessary splitter (i.e. splits input jack into mic + earphone connectors) is not expensive, and there seems no reason to use any different connector.
3. I have half a dozen other mics and NONE of them works.
4. I don't know if the incompatibility of the others is an impedence problem or a voltage / current problem, and don't know how to find out.

Here is the splitter info: StarTech.com MUYHSMFF 3.5mm 4-Pin to 2x 3-Pin 3.5mm Headset Splitter Adapter - M/F Sold by: Amazon.com LLC

# Answer
> 4 votes
I use the Irig Pre interface (30 euro / 30-40 US dollars) to connect any XLR mic to my HTC wildfire. In flightmode I can make good 48khz mono WAV recordings with the Taperecorder app.

When I switch flightmode off there sometimes are some ticks and clicks.

Afterwards you cann edit your recording and convert it into MP3 files.

# Answer
> 2 votes
A USB Microphone as well as any kind of USB Audio device needs a USB host which has drivers for USB Audio devices. Under Win/Mac/Linux these drivers come preinstalled and you can use your USB Audio device in a plug-and-play way. I have experimented with different ways of using USB Audio on Android and this topic seems to be quite diverse.

Depending on the version of Android and especially the Kernel in use you may, or may not, be able to connect USB devices over OTG USB (On-The-Go). With most devices these details don't show in the manufacturer's specifications and has to be tested manually. As far as I got in my research Samsung devices on Stock Android are the most reliable to support USB Audio, but if you start messing with different ROMs and Kernels it is possible deactivate this functionality.

I have been able to record very high quality audio with Urecord and USB Audio Recorder PRO using a stock Galaxy Note 2 and several interfaces (Alesis io4, Shure x2u) and I have been told that Audio Evolution is also able to record from a USB source.

An app that can record video as well as USB audio does not exist as far as I know. And of course, if your device does not support OTG and USB audio there is no way you can use a USB microphone.

good luck!

# Answer
> -3 votes
When you put your android on flight mode u need to go to the setting and put it on mp3 headphone mode, itdeends how sencitive ur android is. And if ur android is not sencitive then you have to go and speaxk to the android network.

---
Tags: usb, audio, usb-host-mode, microphone
---


# Question
Title: How can I hear micromusic.net on Android?
If I start micromusic.net in chrome or Firefox on my nexus, I can't hear the music.

How can I make this work?

# Answer
Use an alternative browser like FlashFox. Its selling point is the fact that it plays flash.

Source: Installed FlashFox, opened a random channel on micromusic.net, there were sounds!
> 2 votes

# Answer
I'm assuming you mean www.micromusic.net? It seems that the site uses Flash to play the music, which is not supported on Android at all. You'd have to get the developers of the site to provide other options for listening to the stream.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: internet-radio
---


# Question
Title: WPA2-Enterprise: PAP not shown in phase 2 auth spinner
I need to setup a 802.1x EAP Wi-Fi network on a JellyBean device (Motorola Moto G).

The network is managed by the university, and they are using eduroam.

In the university configuration guide they show how to setup a TTLS-PAP connection. The problem is, in my device, the only options available in the phase 2 authentication spinner are None, MSCHAPV2 and GTC.

The configuration guide shows screenshots for gingerbread devices where PAP is also available. I've been googling a bit and seems that some ICS devices also have it available.

Could this be a problem of this particular device? Or could it be a problem of all JellyBean devices? Is this option available in KitKat?

Thanks in advance.

---

UPDATE
I've checked this option is shown in an old gingerbread phone. Also being shown in a 4.1 tablet.

# Answer
> 0 votes
At least in this device, the network configuration dialog is plagued with bugs.

What I did is to create the network, save it, then long click to modify it and the options appear. I've also used WiFi Manager to configure the network. Good to know someone developed an app to do what Google couldn't get right.

And I've seen some other bugs in this dialog too. For instance, when you type the CA certificate name, then you save the network, and then you open it again to modify, the cert name is no longer there (this field used to be a spinner in previous versions, but now it is a regular text field).

A similar problem happens with the password. After typing it and saving the network, then opening the network again to modify it, the password field only contains a single character.

And it somehow seems to save the configuration mostly Ok, it is just the dialog is not initialized correctly with the previously saved fields.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Ok buddy, this method works for me:

\*I have found a way to make it connect - at least it worked for me! You have to select the network from the list but while it's trying to connect, you have to long press on the network and select modify to bring up the settings window. Then just enter your settings as normal.

I only had to do this once to set up the network and now it connects automatically.\*

The autor is flarge in XDA forums, i don´t linked, i don´t know if here i can do it.

CYA!

---
Tags: wi-fi, 4.3-jelly-bean, wpa2, motorola
---


# Question
Title: Enable USB Audio out on ASUS Slider SL101?
I have an ASUS slider SL101, and I want to know how I can enable USB audio out. Running Android 4.0.3. I broke the headphone port, so I need an alternative. Solutions greatly appreciated.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Depending on your device (does it support USB OTG) and your Kernel (does it support USB audio) you could probably use any USB class compliant USB interface. You also need to use software that can "talk" to the USB audio device.

One that worked for me was the Shure X2u with one XLR input and a stereo output. I used it to record high quality audio; it also plays back all my music when plugged in. The device I'm using does not have a SIM card so I don't know if this also works for phone calls.

Look at this Android Enthusiasts post for more info.

EDIT: at the moment it's quite hard to find out if those things work on a specific device. Manufacturers don't include the necessary data in their specifications. If your kernel does not support USB audio you can try others but most kernel threads on xda developers don't give information on USB audio so trying yourself is the best option.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, usb, audio
---


# Question
Title: Is there anyway to upgrade to jelly bean while internal memory and resetting
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 with ICS. I want to upgrade my phone to Jelly Bean OS, but I don't have a good enough WiFi connection or enough knowledge, so I want to take the phone to a phone repair center to be upgraded. I have lot of sensitive files on it. I cant remember where some of them were in My phone. Is it possible to upgrade it to Jelly Bean while factory resetting the Phone, because the repair people should not have access to internal files ?. I can do this in my old phone by completely removing everything but I don't know about Android phones.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you ever give your phone to a repair person or a rep at a carrier store you should assume your data can and will be looked at. Unfortunately, I saw this all the time while working for Verizon. We had reps that couldn't wait to get their hands on a phone and start looking through pictures and other private files of customers. I've actually seen reps save customers pictures to their own device! It's one of the many, many reasons I quit. Bottom line: Anything on your phone can potentially be accessed and seen.

# Answer
> 0 votes
No, it's not possible. An update by default saves all files and settings. But you should do a factory reset before giving it to the service people(be sure to backup all files before resetting).

To reset, goto

> Settings \> Backup & Reset \> Factory Reset

After you press OK, your phone will be reset & all old files, apps, settings, etc will be deleted.

---
Tags: updates, samsung-galaxy-s-3, factory-reset
---


# Question
Title: Can I send text using S-voice through Google Voice?
I have a Galaxy S 3. Can I send an SMS using Google Voice using S-voice (like I can natively)?

# Answer
Yes you will be able to send a SMS with S-Voice.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms, google-voice, s-voice
---


# Question
Title: rooting device stops usb-host-mode working
After I rooted a Nexus 10, the USB Host mode is no longer available.

I have checked the original unrooted device with Chainfire's 'USB Host Diagnostics' tool and it recognises a plugged in Arduino whilst scanning for connected devices, but nothing is detected after rooting.

Originally the device had Android 4.3 - build JWR66Y, and USB Host mode worked. I rooted via the Nexus Root Toolkit and installed a rooted image of the same build, and now the device isn't detected.

Has anyone experienced this? If this is being caused by a bad image, can anyone recommend one which will work?

**Update:**

The rooted kernel version is

```
3.4.39-g446c9cf
android-build@vpbs1.mtv.corp.google.com #1
Mon Jun 10 17:11:40 PDT 2013

```

# Answer
According to this forum thread and this bug report, it seems that there has been a regression regarding USB modes in the kernel used in 4,3 (The version that you posted).

It seems that there is a problem with that kernel specifically, but nothing else in the ROM, that breaks USB Host Mode in some cases. There are a few possible solutions:

1. Flash a different Android version. An update to 4.4.2 should fix things (as it did for you).
2. Flash an alternative, third-party kernel and try your luck. You Mileage May Vary.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rooting, 4.3-jelly-bean, usb-host-mode
---


# Question
Title: What are the Standard Controls for Headphones on Stock Android Kitkat?
I have Bose MIE2 earbuds and a Nexus 5 running Android KitKat 4.4.2. The earbuds have a two-sided button:

Hitting this button in different ways during audio playback triggers different actions. I'm trying to figure out the controls. So far, I've found:

* single tap, either side:
    + Google Play Music: **play/pause**
    + Audible: **play/pause**
    + Stitcher Radio: **pause, but no play**
* double tap, either side: **forward one track**
    + Google Play Music: **forward one track**
    + Audible: **nothing, just pauses and plays (interpreted as 2 single taps)**
    + Stitcher Radio: **nothing, just pauses (interpreted as 2 single taps)**
* press and hold, either side
    + All Contexts: **voice google search**

There are also supposed to be ways to answer and make calls, but I haven't discovered them yet.

### Questions

* is there a standard reference for what the different tap patterns are supposed to do?
* is there a way to program the controls to achieve a consistent interface across applications?
* do all headphone manufacturers implement basically the same headphone controls, so that apps for manipulating one brand will work for other brands?

# Answer
1. is there a standard reference for what the different tap patterns are supposed to do?

Basically, what you have noted is how most BT headphones function with their buttons.

1. is there a way to program the controls to achieve a consistent interface across applications?

No, since each app maker decides whether or how to implant/interpret BT controls. It can be quite annoying when playing from different apps and the pause button does not work.

1. do all headphone manufacturers implement basically the same headphone controls, so that apps for manipulating one brand will work for other brands?

From my experience, owning several BT headphones, the buttons are always the same, but the placement is not. I tried finding a BT standard in hopes to find if the buttons are standardized, but I was not able to make any grounds.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, headphones
---


# Question
Title: Rooting Xperia Ray (ST18i) with 4.1.B.0587 build
I've been trying to root my xperia ray device by following the instruction given in this post. It doesn't seem to work properly for me. Whenever I try to flash with 4.1.A.0.562 kernel it says that my device USB debugging is off even when I've ticked it. Also I've put it onto MSC mode. When I try to put it on flash mode both kernel.sin & loader.sin is grayed out. Below is the log what I get.

```
02/016/2014 02:16:42 - INFO - <- This level is successfully initialized
02/016/2014 02:16:42 - INFO - Flashtool Version 0.9.13.0 built on 2013-06-04 22:50:00
02/016/2014 02:16:48 - INFO - Device disconnected
02/016/2014 02:16:50 - INFO - Selected ST18 / 4.1.A.0.562 / Kernel
02/016/2014 02:16:50 - INFO - Preparing files for flashing
02/016/2014 02:16:50 - INFO - Please connect your device into flashmode.
02/017/2014 02:17:28 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging off
02/017/2014 02:17:28 - INFO - For 2011 devices line, be sure you are not in MTP mode
02/017/2014 02:17:44 - INFO - Device disconnected
02/017/2014 02:17:47 - INFO - Device connected with USB debugging on
02/017/2014 02:17:47 - INFO - Connected device : SonyEricson Xperia Ray
02/017/2014 02:17:48 - INFO - Installed version of busybox : BusyBox v1.18.5 (2011-07-18 07:43:28 PDT) multi-call binary.
02/017/2014 02:17:48 - INFO - Android version : 4.0.4 / kernel version : 2.6.32.9-perf / Build number : 4.1.B.0.587
02/018/2014 02:18:14 - INFO - Device disconnected
02/018/2014 02:18:31 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
02/018/2014 02:18:31 - INFO - Opening device for R/W
02/018/2014 02:18:31 - INFO - Reading device information
02/018/2014 02:18:32 - INFO - Phone ready for flashmode operations.
02/018/2014 02:18:32 - INFO - Current device : ST18i - CB511VGBZ7 - 1252-6163_R1I - 1248-9545_4.1.A.0.562 - WORLD-i_4.1.B.0.587
02/018/2014 02:18:32 - INFO - Start Flashing
02/018/2014 02:18:32 - INFO - Processing loader.sin
02/018/2014 02:18:32 - INFO - Checking header
02/018/2014 02:18:32 - INFO - Flashing data
02/018/2014 02:18:37 - INFO - Loader : S1_Loader_Root_773f - Version : R4A066 / Boot version : R9A029 / Bootloader status : ROOTABLE
02/018/2014 02:18:37 - INFO - Disabling final data verification check
02/018/2014 02:18:37 - INFO - Processing kernel.sin
02/018/2014 02:18:37 - INFO - Checking header
02/018/2014 02:18:37 - INFO - Flashing data
02/018/2014 02:18:39 - INFO - Ending flash session
02/018/2014 02:18:39 - INFO - Flashing finished.
02/018/2014 02:18:39 - INFO - Please unplug and start your phone
02/018/2014 02:18:39 - INFO - For flashtool, Unknown Sources and Debugging must be checked in phone settings
02/018/2014 02:18:39 - INFO - Device connected in flash mode
02/018/2014 02:18:55 - INFO - Device disconnected

```

And I've attached a sample screen of what I get. Please advise me what to do.. I'm totally lost... even the log says flashing finished, my current kernel build is in 4.1.A.0.587 but not 4.1.A.0.562.

Model number: ST18! , Android Version: 4.0.4 , Build number: 4.1.B.0.587

# Answer
> 0 votes
Do these:

* Download flashtool(I did from 4shared).
* Turn on *Usb Debugging*
* Turn on *Unknown Sources*
* Install flashtool in `C:` drive.
* Extract doomlord's zergrush tool in `C:`.
* Download both the kernels and first paste first one, which is 4.1.a.0.562 in firmware folder of flashtool.
* Switch off phone.
* Start flashtool, select flash icon, select flashmode.
* When window gets open,double click on the kernel name.
* When prompt window open,connect your phone pressing volume down key.
* Make sure that your adb drivers are installed, then flashing will happen.
* Disconnect phone when completed and restart it.
* After 15 second(even Sony logo won't be shown, only backlight), connect phone to system. Wait for the adb drivers to be installed.
* Go to where you extracted your doomlord's tool and double click `runme.bat` file.
* Wait for around five minutes until it says DONE.
* Disconnect phone and remove battery.
* Replace the kernel in flashtool firmware folder with 4.1.b.0.587.
* Open flashtool and click flash icon.
* DoubleClick kernel file then connect phone in flashmode.
* Disconnect phone when flashing completed.
* Disconnect phone and restart it.

Your *Ray* is rooted now. Then install by using CWM `installer.exe` from the same system. Enjoy romz...

---
Tags: rooting, rom-flashing, sony-ericsson-xperia-ray
---


# Question
Title: LG P500 unplugged during update, now it wont go past telus screen!
I was updating my LG P500 2.2.1. While it was updating, my phone was in emergency mode and it got unplugged. Now when I turn it on it goes to the android screen, then gets stuck on the telus screen! I called lg and they told me to do a factory reset by holding the home, power and volume down keys. This did NOT work, it still will not go past the telus screen.. PLZ tell me there is a way to make it work again..

# Answer
Not sure you have fixed this or not.

If you are still out of luck, try root the phone via below tutorial:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1832485
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lg-optimus-one
---


# Question
Title: Using flash player on android with Hebrew
I am trying to run flash website with my *Samsung Galaxy S3* (running Jelly Bean 4.3). The website is built for Internet Explorer only, but I succeeded running it on my FireFox browser on my PC. When I am trying to run this website on my phone, it runs properly except of one thing: the Hebrew shows Gibberish.

Example:

I know that Adobe stopped publishing Android flash player, but it still can be download from Adobe's website.

I search on the Internet and tried alot of things:

* Flash Player isn't influenced by the browser encoding.
* I tried to replace a lot of browsers on Android, no one solves the problem.
* After understanding the locale can be the problem I decided to make my IE on my PC show the same Gibresih. I change the region on my windows 7 control panel and my IE showed the same problem.
* My device is English but I use application like customlocale2 (I tried a lot of those applications). I tried to run the website on my friend's *Galaxy S3* (genuine Hebrew) and the same thing happend.
* After searching on the internet I found this link, which shows how to change Firefox config on Android devices. I saw that the locale isn't for Hebrew. I tried to change all the configs that look like related to locale from my PC FireFox (couldn't find how to import config to Firefox on Android), but the same thing happended. (Maybe I miss some configs).
* Firefox doesn't have Hebrew edition to android device yet.
* When I tried it on Google Chrome on my PC, the same thing happend. when I change the language of Google Chrome (including UI) and tried it works!
* I tried to enter to other Flash site I know and the Hebrew was upside-down.

# Answer
Two possibilities:

1. Side load flash with the APK found here, and then run Dolphin browser to access the flash site
2. Try running the site through FlashFox app as it has built in flash (no need to sideload anything)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: adobe-flash, locale, hebrew
---


# Question
Title: Make the sleep timer on a tablet dependent on whether it's being charged or not
Is there a way to set the sleep mode timer depending on whether the tablet is being charged or not?

I normally have my Android tablet (Xoro Pad 9718, Android version 4.1.1) next to my computer on the desktop, and I like having some manual page or similar on the tablet while I'm working on the computer. In this case, the tablet is plugged into the charger, and I set the sleep mode to as long as possible, because it's just annoying if the screen turns black every few minutes. When the tablet is NOT plugged into the charger, I want a sleep mode timer of 30 seconds or one minute, to save battery life.

I'm open to a hidden setting somewhere as well as an app that detects when the charger is plugged/unplugged and changes the timer setting.

# Answer
There is no such feature on Android natively.

However, there are quite a few "automation" type apps that can do this for you. Some of the better known ones are Tasker, AutomateIt, Locale and Llama. All of these allow you to define a trigger (e.g. "charger plugged in" in your case) and set up various actions such as toggling settings.

Keep in mind that most of these apps require excessive permissions in order to be able to change system settings (and some toggles even require root.)

Also, some manufacturer UI overlays and custom ROMs allow you to set up profiles with different settings. Switching these profiles is either a manual process, or does not provide such granularity in configuration as the automation apps.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sleep, battery
---


# Question
Title: How can I sync podcasts (with progress) to my Android device with iTunes?
I am a user of OS X, and would like to sync my Android device with iTunes.

I still use an iPhone and have a bunch of existing podcasts, and sometimes I use desktop to listen to podcasts, so two-way synchronization of files as well as progress would be quite useful. By progress I refer to time as well as whether an episode was completed. There is no need to sync with iOS devices directly; syncing with desktop iTunes on OS X is perfectly fine.

Any app that I found so far that even has sync apparently can sync only with itself on Android and iOS, but not with iTunes; or else it can import audio files from iTunes, ignoring progress.

# Answer
DoubleTwist was built for a similar purpose and does the job well. To use it, you can simply install the Mac app and the Android app and use their DoubleTwist Sync feature to synchronize iTunes with Android.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sync, podcast, itunes
---


title: Complete action using

text:
# Question
Title: Complete action using
When I click on a doc file it directly opens with OfficeSuitePro. I don’t anymore have the choice between OfficeSuitePro and QuickOffice because once I have replied Always to the message: Complete action using” that gave me initially the choice. This happens for my files stored in DropBox and GoogleDrive. I went to the apps settings to try to clear the default but found out that there were no defaults set therefore the clear default button is greyed. I uninstalled and reinstalled the apps but the problem persists.

# Answer
If you've tried to clear it from the apps settings for Dropbox and Google Drive, you'll find there are no defaults set, because the default is set with the app that opens the file, not the app you open it from. From **Apps** in the device settings, go to Office Suite Pro's settings, and click **Clear defaults** there.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: settings, dropbox, google-drive
---


title: How to reset Wi-Fi settings?

text:
# Question
Title: How to reset Wi-Fi settings?
Somehow Wi-Fi stopped connecting on my phone. It is not a hardware issue, as it does work when I perform a reset.

What files do I need to delete to get Wi-Fi back working? I don’t want to reset my phone.

If relevant, model is Sony Arc S, using CM9.

# Answer
I removed `/data/etc/wifi`, `/data/misc/dhcp` and `/data/misc/wifi` and it worked.
> 7 votes

# Answer
This has happened to me on several occasions, mostly when backing up/restoring Wifi settings using an app such as TitaniumBackup. Here's what I recommend, starting with the safest solutions:

1. First try going into the wifi settings and removing the problematic network. While you're there you might as well remove any other unused networks:
https://support.google.com/android-one/answer/2819519 \> *Change, add, or remove saved networks* \> *Remove*
2. If that doesn't work, the only remaining option that doesn't require root access is to delete all of your saved networks.
3. If you don't want to delete all of your saved networks and you have root access, the wifi network settings are kept in a text file (`/data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf`), which can become corrupted. I've been able to fix problems by manually editing the file:

1. Turn off wifi (if you leave it on, the corrupted wifi settings may get rewritten)
    2. Back up `/data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf`
    3. Edit `/data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf` and remove any problematic networks.
4. If you've made it this far and you're still having problems, turn off your wifi and delete `/data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf`. Of course this will delete all of your saved networks. The file will be recreated the next time you turn on your wifi.
5. As a last resort, you can delete `/data/misc/wifi`, but I don't recommend it. If you do decide to do this, make sure you back it up first. The folder *should* be recreated on reboot with default settings, then you'll need to set your networks up again.
> 12 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, wi-fi, sony-xperia
---


title: Custom Kernels on Stock ROMs?

text:
# Question
Title: Custom Kernels on Stock ROMs?
**The General Question**: Is it possible to install custom kernels on a Rooted Stock ROM?

**The Example**: I have a Nexus 7 which I have rooted running 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean JRO03D) would it be possible to just flash a custom kernel, say this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1831780, on my stock ROM using Clockwork Recovery?

Sorry if this is obvious, but I've only really done it on custom roms, and I couldn't find a definite answer on the interwebs

# Answer
> 8 votes
Yes, it is possible to install custom kernels on stock roms. The kernel developer will usually say which roms (or types of roms) the kernel supports. If you are not sure you can try reading the kernel thread, and there will always be poeple saying things like "working great on \[firmware version here\]". This way you can also make sure that it will work ok on your version of the stock rom.

As for your example, yes you can flash this on your stock rom: xda-developers

# Answer
> 0 votes
Yes. You can flash a custom kernel on your stock ROM, but it has to be the appropriate kernel i.e. it has to be the version the kernel supports. In this case you will be limited to overclocking only. However, you can download setcpu, nofrills, voltage control, cpu contol, etc to enjoy max.

---
Tags: rooting, clockworkmod-recovery, rom, kernel, stock-rom
---


# Question
Title: What if you accidentally deleted some important apps and can't install them back?
What if you accidentally deleted some important apps and can't install them back because Google Play doesn't have them? For example android system, com.android dun server and com.android.lgsetup wizard (i.e. basically apps that are originally there). And every few seconds this message will appear:

> "Sorry! The process com.android.phone has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again."

And I cannot even go the browser or Task Killer because every time I do, it will force quit. How can I reinstall those apps? I think I cleared all data for those but I did not clear the browser and so why can't I open the browser?

Do I really need to send it for repair or can I fix it?

# Answer
> 4 votes
For common system apps like the ones you've mentioned, there's no way to uninstall or reinstall them: without root, it at all you can disable them (not all of them even). But they are usually not held in the playstore for re-installation. Even if they receive updates via the playstore (like GMail, Maps, and the Playstore app itself), some of them must reside on the `/system` partition in order to function correctly (the *Google Play* app is one example for that).

But as the same situation could also apply to "normal apps", let's take a closer look:

## User apps

Though they are usually coming via *Google Play*, it might well happen they get removed there one day (recent examples are the ad-blockers which got banned). For this, tools like AppMonster come in handy: they enable you to store a copy of the apps `.apk` file to your SDcard (the Pro version even can do so automatically whenever an app is installed/updated). So in case you have to remove an app for some reason, and want to re-install it later (or even if you want to install the same app on a device without Google account), you can do so by the `.apk`. Uninstallation, of course, is easily done either via *Settings→Apps*, or even via *AppMonster* itself.

## System apps

Here it's a lot different. Without root, you can at maximum disable an app (*Settings→Apps*, scroll to the app, open its details, press the *Disable* button) -- if your device is running Android 4.0 or later, that is.

With root, things become a little different: theoretically, you could uninstall everything. A practical issue might be you're rendering your device unusable, if you e.g. uninstall something basic to the system. Also, removing their data might be an issue on re-install. So if you really have need for this, here's my recommendation:

1. Get ADB installed on your computer (either via the full Android SDK -- or using a minimal installation, see Is there a minimal installation of ADB?
2. Make a backup of the app you're going to uninstall to be prepared in case something goes wrong. You can use `adb backup` for this, which backs up the app including its data.
3. Make a copy of the app's `.apk` file for a re-install. You can use `adb pull` for this. The `.apk` is located in `/system/app`, so your command could look like `adb pull /system/app/Browser.apk .` to copy the browser's `.apk` from the device to the current directory on your computer.
4. Now that you have two fall-backs, you can try to uninstall the app. Again using ADB, you first call `adb shell`, then you need to become root (`su`), and now you can use the `pm` (package manager) tool to `pm uninstall com.package.name`. You can also remove the `.apk` from `/system/app`.

To re-install the app, you simply copy the `.apk` back to `/system/app`. To restore the data, you can use `adb restore`.

Note that dealing with system apps always bears the risk to render your system unusable. So it's always recommended to make a complete backup (best using Nandroid backup from your custom recovery) *prior* to such operations -- so in the worst case, you can go back to where you've started.

## Dealing with the "The process X has stopped unexpectedly" error

There are several ways to deal with this error. To my knowledge, none of them includes uninstalling a system app.

* if the app in question is a user app
    + delete its cache. If that doesn't help:
    + delete its data. If that still doesn't help:
    + delete the app. If that cannot be done due to the app being in a "force-close-loop":
    + boot into , and delete the app from there.
* if the app in question is a system app:
    + pray you've got a good backup :)
    + as with the user app: first try delete cache, then data.
    + nothing goes? Then you've got to do a

# Answer
> -3 votes
The best thing to do is to make a backup, and do a factory reset.

---
Tags: applications, data-recovery, force-close
---


# Question
Title: Is there a nice one click alarm for android?
Sometimes when I'm tired, I take a nap of 1 hour. Doing that with the native clock on Android requires a lot of clicks. I would like to have an app that whenever the button is pressed, it starts to count 1 hour.

# Answer
It sounds like what you want is a timer rather than an alarm clock. (Did you look in the Play Store?)

One very simple timer app I use is Tick!.

1. Tap to open
2. Use your finger to spin the dial to the amount of time you want to count down
3. Tap to start the timer
> 3 votes

# Answer
You can use Google Now:

say "OK Google Now",

say "Set Alarm for one hour",

then touch "Set Alarm"
> 2 votes

# Answer
You could try an app called Simple Alarm Clock by a developer called Moula soft Inc. It is in the google app store. I like it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: alarm
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy Nexus doesn't detect charger
This happened yesterday night first. My phone's battery was very slow, so I decided to charge it. It didn't start charging after plugging in the charger. Frustrated, I kept trying with different USB cables and laptop USB ports and wall adapters. I tried with my wife's phone too, and it started charging.
Eventually, the phone died, and I plugged it in anyway. After that, it started showing the battery symbol and the charging animation (as it always does when charging when switched off), but the animation would stop and the display would go off, and the entire symbol and charging animation would repeat. This would keep repeating.
I gave up, stopped charging it and when to sleep.
When I woke up in the morning, I decided to give it another shot, and it just started working! I had to go to work, so it could only charge to around 50% before I left. I tried charging in the office with the USB port, but it very slow, almost not charging at all, just keeping up with the discharge!

I just got back home a little while ago, and it's the same story as last night. It is refusing to charge, and there is 10% battery left!

A few days ago, I left my phone in my pocket when I was on the treadmill in the gym, and it was getting tossed around in the pocket a lot.. I don't know if this has anything to do with it.

Will replacing my battery help? Is there anything else I can do? Software reset?

Edit: It just started charging now. It was just kept switched on and plugged into my laptop, with airplane mode enabled (as battery is low, and I live in a bad area with poor reception). I didn't even try to reinsert the charger. Looks like I am going to sleep a little more peacefully tonight, but I am still concerned as to why this happens, and would like to fix it.

# Answer
The nexus has replaceable charge ports. All you need is a tiny phillips screwdriver and watch one of the youtube videos. I purchased a charge port off amazon for less than 10 dollars and fixed my phone in 20 minutes.
> 1 votes

# Answer
This sounds like a loose usb port on the phone. The microUSB port on smartphones are delicate things and can easily become loose and no longer reliably charge. If you use your phone or leave it connected but with the power connection taut (like if it's plugged into the wall and fully extended so the power cord is putting pressure on the microUSB port), over time this can and WILL loosen (or even break) the solder joints that connect the MicroUSB port to the circuit board. Eventually leading to a scenario like you're seeing now.

Hopefully your phone is still under warranty, as a mainboard replacement is likely in order here...Unless you're VERY skilled at micro-soldering work, then you could take the phone apart and see if you can re-solder the loose/broken connects.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-nexus, battery, charging
---


# Question
Title: how does an android rom decide the amount of phone memory?
I used to mod symbian roms, and would like to know if it is possible in android to allocate extra internal storage memory, by removing unneeded apps, as packed by OEMs.

\[NOOB ALERT\]

if I manage to find a custom ROM that is smaller in size, does it mean I get more free memory?

# Answer
> 2 votes
On an Android device, the internal storage is split into multiple partitions. The data from the custom ROM is stored on one partition, and the apps and user data on another. (Generally there are a few other partitions as well.) Because of this, installing a smaller custom ROM doesn't *directly* give you more free space for data, because they're on a different partition. But if you can make a smaller custom ROM, it allows you to repartition the storage to allocate more space to user data.

Repartitioning the storage is quite risky, as you have to know exactly how large the custom ROM is going to be. If the system partition is too small for the ROM, it will go wrong when or after you install it.

I believe it's more common to simply add some useful apps to the custom ROM, to make it up to a similar size as the stock ROM. This way, you can avoid installing some large apps in the userdata partition, giving you more space without repartitioning. Since updates to pre-installed apps get installed in the userdata partition, not the system partition, even including up-to-date versions of those apps in the custom ROM saves space.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, rom-flashing, internal-storage
---


title: Disable dictionary popup

text:
# Question
Title: Disable dictionary popup
When I'm typing some text and I tap a word that doesn't exist, a popup shows up offering alternative words (as well as a "delete" and an "add to dictionary" option).

This feature is useless for me, because the suggestions don't take into consideration the current language, which makes them strictly worse than the suggestions already displayed by the keyboard.

The problem is that this popup covers up the keyboard's suggestions (which are the reason why I tapped the word in the first place) along with half the keyboard. This forces me to tap on some other region of the screen so that the popup will close and allow me to see the keyboard suggestions.

Is there a way to disable this popup entirely?

# Answer
You can't disable the pop-up alone, but there are some other options:-

1. You can disable the spell-checker completely. If your keyboard already provides all the spell-check functionality you need, then this might be a good option for you. In **Language & input** in the device settings, untick **Spell checker**. This will disable the pop-up and the red underlining for misspelled words.
2. You can change the language of the spell-checker. From **Language and input** in the device settings, click the settings icon next to **Spell checker**, then the globe icon on the next screen. You can only have one language at a time in the default spell-checker, so this might not be helpful.
3. You can install a replacement spell-checker. Android allows other apps to provide the spell-check functionality in place of the built-in spell-checker. A different spell-checker might allow you to have more than one language enabled. Once you've installed the spell-checker, enable it from the same screen described in the above alternative.

In case some visitors are confused about the diffrence between the keyboard and the spell-checker, see this screenshot, from the Android developers' site:

The red underlining, and the vertical menu of suggested corrections, are both provided by the spell-checker. Most soft-keyboards also include a list of suggested word completions, which are usually in a horizontal line above the keyboard. Here you can see ":" and ";", and the rest are hidden by the spell-checker's pop-up.
> 24 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, languages
---


# Question
Title: Windows 7 file sharing , not accessible in Android phone using ES File Explorer
Trying to access a shared folder on Windows 7, using ES File Explorer on my Android 2.3 mobile phone over WiFi LAN.

The scan on APP detects the Windows machine, but am unable to access the shared folder. It shows logon failure consistently.

Tried multiple logins and login names (local user) but in vain.

TCP dump trace reveals the following

```
60867 5015.029850 192.168.1.2 192.168.1.3 SMB 304 Session Setup AndX Request, User: BLR5898L\shashi; Tree Connect AndX, Path: \192.168.1.3\SHARE

63058 7068.758590 192.168.1.3 192.168.1.2 SMB 105 Session Setup AndX Response, Error: STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED

```

# Answer
I had an issue connecting with ESFE to a Win7 PC. This did the trick for me: Go to Network adapter configuration -\> Tcp IP 4 settins -\> WINS -\> Enable NetBios over TCP/IP.

ESFE is looking for NetBios over tcp/ip because android probably doesn't natively run NetBios protocol.
> 1 votes

# Answer
When you input the username, use `host\shashi` where `host` is the NetBIOS of the Windows machine you're trying to connect to: that is, the name that it's listed under after you scan for machines to connect to.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, file-management, es-file-explorer
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy S3 4G notification center NFC button doesn't work
**UPDATE:** This was fixed in the 4.3 update that came out for my phone lately. No need to think about it anymore, also I can't give any further details.

I have a quite new Samsung Galaxy S3 4G (GT-I9305). It is running an unmodified & unrooted version of Android 4.1.2. It works mostly perfectly fine, but there is a slight problem with NFC.

I have edited the buttons visible in the notification center. I have added the NFC switch to the buttons. My problem is, the button is not working. It is disabled, and has no green/gray indicator.

However, when I tap the S Beam button S Beam *and* NFC get enabled.

After this, if I tap NFC with S Beam either enabled or disabled, `System UI` crashes. When the UI reappears the buttons are as before tapping NFC, but now I can successfully turn off NFC, and also turn it on and off again. Restarting the phone brings the problem back again.

Another way to get NFC turned on while the button is disabled is to go to Settings \> More Settings and turn NFC on. This also turns NFC on in the notification center, but again, trying to turn it off causes `System UI` to crash.

What could be causing this behavior?

# Answer
> 0 votes
This was fixed in the 4.3 update that came out for my phone lately. All done.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, crashes, system-error, nfc
---


title: mobile homescreen lost

text:
# Question
Title: mobile homescreen lost
I have downloaded 2 icon packs for android. Now my phone don't work anymore. I am working with smart launcher. I can not even get in to settings or apps. My homescreen is black, but I can see on top the task bar, with notification for emails and our and I have netconnection. what can I do??

# Answer
Try to go to `setting` by any way...

Like: in some launch screens you can get the settings screen via: `options->Device settings` or `Drag the task bar ->Settings`.

And then change the `Home screen settings` to previous home screen.

If these options not available, I think `Factory Reset` is the only option for you.
> 0 votes

# Answer
If your phone is connected to the net, try to install any other launcher from the play store website, for example: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.adw.launcher

Wait the installation to finish on your phone, then press the home button. Now you will able to uninstall then reinstall SL or any other launchers.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: home-screen, launcher
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to sniff HTTP packets of Wi-Fi through firmware?
Regarding privacy matters, I wonder if it is possible, by a party, including myself and mobile telco provider firmware (on stock distributions), to sniff all the outgoing HTTP requests of a Wi-Fi network without the need of the device to be rooted? If such is possible, can you give me an example or two of how could they do it?

I know there are similar apps like Shark for Root, but they all require the devices to be rooted.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you have a compromised kernel, then it doesn't matter whether you have root or not. Packet sniffing app goes through the kernel's public interface for sniffing packets, which is why they're subject to security restrictions; a compromised kernel can simply bypass all that and read the packets directly from the kernel internal data structure or directly from the hardware. Kernel code runs under supervisor mode which gives them direct access to the hardware including being able to read any parts of memory of any program running on the system.

If it's a branded phone that had been customized by your telco, they build the device image for your device, including the kernel image. In non-branded phone, it is similar situation except it's with the manufacturer. Additionally, manufacturers can also install malicious hardware.

# Answer
> 3 votes
If you're only interested in looking at HTTP requests, then it's possible to do that by installing a web proxy and configuring Android to use it. However, that's not completely reliable, as not all apps respect the central proxy settings: Firefox is an example of an app that doesn't.

A web proxy doesn't require root, but the user has to set it up by hand: you can configure it automatically only if you have root. If that weren't the case it would be a bit of a security problem in Android: a normal app could eavesdrop or otherwise interfere with other apps' network communication.

Of course, even for real packet sniffing, you only need to root the device if you want to install the sniffer *on the device*. To see the device's network traffic, it's much easier and more convenient to install a sniffer on a desktop Linux machine acting as a (Wi-Fi) router.

---
Tags: wi-fi, networking
---


title: Reregister device with Play Store

text:
# Question
Title: Reregister device with Play Store
I was recently going through my list of devices on the web Play Store to remove an old device. While looking at the list, I saw that I had two entries for my Nexus 4: "LG Google Nexus 4" and "Nexus 4". As I installed CyanogenMod shortly after getting the phone, I wasn't surprised to see the second entry. I decided to delete the one called "LG Google Nexus 4" as it was registered when I first got the phone.

Yesterday, I went to install an app to my phone using the web Play Store, but I no longer have any devices listed there. I tried reselecting the account to use in the Play Store app, and also wiped data for the app using TitaniumBackup and relogging into the Play Store app. Neither approach caused my device to be added back to the web Play Store device list. How can I readd my Nexus 4 to the devices attached to my account?

# Answer
From my understanding each device listing in the Play Store is referenced to a Unique ID. By removing the device you have removed this ID. You should be able to sign out of your Google account on your device, then sign back in, making sure all of the sync features are turned on, this should create a new UID for your device, putting an entry in devices once again.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store
---


title: Disable images in Chrome for Android

text:
# Question
Title: Disable images in Chrome for Android
I want to save some bandwidth for my mobile data plan, is there a way I can disable loading images for Google Chrome, the way I can for Opera Mini for example?

I couldn't find an option in the settings.

# Answer
Wikipedia mentions that this feature exists, but I can't seem to find it in either Chrome nor in Chrome Beta.
> 1 votes

# Answer
It did exist in an earlier version I was using late 2013..but as of the current release, the option has disappeared.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: chrome-for-android
---


# Question
Title: Samsung galaxy Tab 3 won't show up in My Computer?
I am trying to root my tablet and it won't show up in My Computer when I plug it in. I have tried different ports and have tried rebooting the phone. I just purchased it 5 hours ago. I have Windows 7. I installed some Samsung drivers, but I am not 100% sure they are the ones I need (I got them from a guide).

I don't have an SD Card, but I do have 8 GBs of internal memory. I have Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 T210R with WiFi.

Thank you!

# Answer
Try google search: 'usbdeview' and download it. Now delete all drivers with the Vendor ID '18d1' Search Google again for: 'Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Drivers' and download and install, else use Google's USB Drivers: Search Google for 'Google USB Driver'.

Install them, and try and plug it in again. On your tablet: Go to Settings -\> Development Settings - \> Tick USB Debugging. You might wanna change your USB Storage to 'Charge only' or 'Camera' if possible. Else try to search Google for: 'Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 root'.

I hope I helped.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: usb-drivers, samsung-galaxy-tab-3-10.1
---


# Question
Title: ADB is not detecting my phone (Micromax A35) in CENTOS
ADB is not listing my Micromax a35, but it detects Samsung phones.

How can I install Micromax a35 drivers in **CENTOS**?

# Answer
No drivers are needed for ADB devices in linux. The ADB binary uses libusb to access the device. All you need to do is add device's USB vendor ID to `~/.android/adb_usb.ini`

```
mkdir -p ~/.android
find -L /sys/bus/usb/devices -maxdepth 2 -path "*/modalias" -printf "%h\t" -exec cat {} \; | awk -F: "/icFFisc42ip01/{print\$1}" | xargs -i cat {}/idVendor | sort -u | xargs -i echo "0x"{} >> ~/.android/adb_usb.ini
adb kill-server
adb start-server
adb devices

```
> 1 votes

---
Tags: adb, linux, usb-drivers, micromax-a35
---


# Question
Title: How do I refresh/rescan the SD memory in Android 4.4 KitKat
I received the official OTA KitKat update for my Nexus 4 last week and since then I have been unable to rescan the SD card. I have tried a number of different apps for this task but all of them crash when being opened. A bit of research shows a handful of users with the same issue.

These are the apps I've tried:

* Rescan Media (*Aditya Talpade*)
* Rescan SD Card! (*sTOOPIDfiG*)
* Rescan SD Media Card (*RADEFFFACTORY*)
* SDrescan (*Benjamin Rosseaux*) ***my old standby on Jelly Bean***

Each app crashes when launched. Is anyone able to refresh their SD memory on KitKat?

# Answer
It won't work to detect deleted files, but I just put an app up on the Play Store that will work on new and updated files: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmail.jerickson314.sdscanner

It uses a workaround inspired by Dan Hulme's answer: by using the API that is only for a specific file, but manually generating a recursive list of files on the card. This requires only the read permission on the SD card, not root, and has the nice side effect of allowing a reliable progress indicator.
> 13 votes

# Answer
You can't use any apps like this any more. Because lots of apps abused the `MEDIA_MOUNTED` broadcast intent to cause a rescan of the whole filesystem (draining battery) after they only changed one file, KitKat has a new restriction that only system apps can broadcast this intent. Apps that try will get a `SecurityException`, which by default causes the "... has stopped" dialog.

There's an alternative mechanism for an app to say that it's changed a particular file, and cause that file to be rescanned (not recursively), but (a) there's no replacement that scans a whole filesystem, because that would be abused in the same way; and (b) it's up to the app to call this. It's not something you can change as a user.

An app that used would be able to make this work in the same way as 4.3 and earlier, but again, it would need to be specifically written to request root. Rooting the device wouldn't make your old apps start working again.

For more technical details, see How to trigger MediaScan on Nexus 7? on Stack Overflow, our sister site for programming questions.
> 6 votes

# Answer
This is a very good question and I see it is already answered. I wrote a small application to solve this problem specifically for Kit Kit(Android 4.4+). My application works on all phones.

Here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=burrows.apps.sdcard

This works on the Nexus 5!

Please let me know if this helps you!

**Disclaimer:** I wrote this app.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, internal-sd, media-scanner
---


title: Custom sort the notebooks in Evernote

text:
# Question
Title: Custom sort the notebooks in Evernote
The notebooks in Evernote seem to be arranged in alphabetical order. Is there any way to arrange the notebooks in another order, or maybe custom sort/arrange the notebooks?

# Answer
> 0 votes
As workaround you can prefix the notebook names with non-alphabetic characters to control the sort order. For example I prefix my notebooks with zero to three underscore characters ("\_") to sort the notebooks in four groups, as so

* \_Notebook1
* \_Notebook2
* \_Notebook3
* \__Notebook1
* \__Notebook2
* \__Notebook3
* \___Notebook1
* \___Notebook2
* \___Notebook3
* Notebook1
* Notebook2
* Notebook3

You can use any other renaming scheme you find appropriate in your case, for example, simply prefix the notebooks by numbers ("1\_", "2\_", "3\_", and so on).

# Answer
> 0 votes
Notebooks can only be sorted (in the mobile app, it's the button to the left of the magnifying glass) by:

1. Title
2. Note count
3. User

Maybe you can request for custom sorting from Evernote.

---
Tags: evernote
---


# Question
Title: How to setup an Android tablet for use by an older person
I consider myself fairly competent with tech, but I am more of an Apple guy so I had very limited exposure to Android, so far, and my problem is that I want to set up an Android tablet (Acer Iconia 16GB, running Android 4.2.2) for usage by an older person (my mother).

For the time being she will only use Skype to communicate with relatives and friends.

How can I set up this so that it works basically as a single-purpose device? Are there any utilities or apps I should install? (For example I noticed that the font, even at the maximum size, may still give her problems- she will use Skype for voice/video only, so screen space for text is less important than being able to read messages and labels).

I am also worried that notifications (including the ones about patches/updates) may give her anxiety, at least at the start, so I'd like to know if it is possible to disable most of all of them.

If anyone has other suggestions for this use case, even if not explicitly mentioned in my question, please contribute. It's my first attempt at this so I may be missing a lot.

# Answer
You would probably wanna:

-Setup a launcher like Nova Launcher (my personal favorite) solely to setup gestures for daily used tasks like calling and viewing SMSs.

-With Nova launcher change the icon size to maximum (130% i guess) to make icons more visible.

-Go to Accessibility and change the text size. Since it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, the customizability may be different. Tinker around in the accessibility settings to find something useful.

-Change ringtone, notification sound and alarm to something loud and distinct.

-Turn on Haptic FeedBack in Sound settings (varies from manufacturer to manufacturer again)

-De-clutter the home screen! May even want to sort them by folders (drag an app over the other)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, settings, skype, chat
---


# Question
Title: Not connecting via usb since latest update
Since the latest update on Galaxy S3 (now have Jelly Bean 4.3) my phone will not connect via USB to the USB port on my car radio. It connected before the update. What can I do to correct problem?

# Answer
What protocol does the connection to your car radio use? I can't exactly speak for the GS3 but this is for stock Android so it may be similar. Go into Storage under Settings and hit the menu button (or the menu overflow) then select USB connection (or similar), make sure MTP (you probably need this one) and any other protocols you need are checked. There may also be a Mount USB option present if that the former does not work.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, usb, connection-issues
---


# Question
Title: BlueStacks: Is there a keyboard shortcut for the menu button?
Instead of hitting the menu button with the mouse, is there any keyboard shortcut?

# Answer
> 6 votes
It's the "Menu" key on your keyboard usually located right next to the right "Ctrl" key. (It's the key that opens the right-click menu on windows)

---
Tags: keyboard-shortcuts, bluestacks
---


# Question
Title: Tablet sending Message automatically to a fixed number (everyday)
I have same problem as described in My phone is sending SMS automatically everyday, but I have a Croma CRX-1125 tablet. It's deducting Rs 1.5 almost everyday, and it's sending message to Swipe telecom number. The Croma tablet is tied up with Swipe company; Croma doesn't have its own tablet.

# Answer
Try to force close the particular app/service that is causing this problem (That is the app/service that is sending that message).

And if possible, uninstall that app.

If uninstalling is not possible, you may need to `root` your phone to either

`uninstall`/`stop it from starting on bootup`/`stop it from sending message`.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sms
---


# Question
Title: changing the lock screen time and date display lg l5
How do i change the design and look of the time and date display on my lock screen? Where is the option that lets you change the design/way the time and date is displayed?

# Answer
You can customize these `clock and date styles` only if the `screen lock` is `Swipe`.

Even you can choose between `Analog` and `Digital` clocks and much more.

If `screen lock` option is `Pattern`/`Password`, this `clock/date styles` can not be changed.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I figured out you can't have your screen lock security as a pattern. It can only be swiped to change the clock.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lock-screens, customization, clock
---


# Question
Title: Backup SIM message and contact without transfer to phone
Is it possible to backup the message (e.g. SMS) and contacts inside my SIM card to my external SD Card without transferring them into my Android phone?

# Answer
That should be possible. There are plenty of backup apps available on *Google Play* which allow local backups, such as SMS Backup & Restore or SMS Backup. For contacts, there's e.g. Contacts Backup, and for both together Super Backup : SMS & Contacts. They all store the backed-up data e.g. on your SDCard.

Though I found no explicit mention of SIM messages, I'd assume they are covered – but you might wish to check for yourself to make sure.

**Update:** As it turned out, above apps do not seem to cover SIM storage. But I've just stumbled upon Backup2CSV, which explicitly lists to *Export contact directories (SIM CARD and phone)* (it also lists *Export text messages (SMS)*, but does not explicitly mention the SIM card in that context).
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can use the G Cloud Backup to backup you SMS, Contacts, Call Log, Photos and more to a secure cloud servers.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, backup, sim-card
---


# Question
Title: Do 4.3 JellyBean apps work on 4.4 KitKat?
I am an android developer and would like to upgrade my Nexus 7(2013, JellyBean 4.3) to KitKat 4.4.2.

My apps are all developed to work on 4.3 fine. I'm just wondering if my 4.3 apps will work when I upgrade. Does anyone know?

Thanks in advance.

**EDIT** \- I upgraded and all apps work fine, thanks for answers :D

**EDIT 2** \- Actually, one of my Bluetooth Low Energy Apps does not work. Any Help? I have changed the targetSDK version to 19, but should I install the SDK for 19 as well?

# Answer
> 2 votes
There's no *gurantee* that they'll work, but API compatibility when upgrading is a standing tenet of Android. The odds are very high (above 90%) that they'll work no problem.

In the end, whether they work or not depends on **you, as the developer**. As an Android developer, you should probably read the documentation released with new API's for the features and methods you use.

One way or another, you may need to upgrade to 4.4 as soon as you can - in order to address potential bugs that may pop up for your users.

# Answer
> 0 votes
My guess would be, yes, they will work. As you know, when you develop an app you select the target Android build for your app, which is the lowest version of Android your app is "supposed" to work with. That being the case, your apps are targeted for 4.3 and should easily work on 4.4.2. Likewise, if you targeted 2.3 (as many devs do) your apps should still work. It's not guaranteed, of course, but I think you will be fine.

As a side note, my Galaxy Note 2 recently received the new update and I haven't had any issues with apps that were installed on my phone, and I'm fairly certain they have not all been updated for KitKat.

---
Tags: applications, 4.3-jelly-bean, 4.4-kitkat
---


# Question
Title: What is this "com.android.backupconfirm"?
What is the package on my phone that is called `com.android.backupconfirm`? I tried Googling and found an answer on a random forum that said that is the UI for the backup confirmation dialog. While this sounds correct, could you explain why this isn't a part of the core but instead a separate package?

# Answer
> 2 votes
After googling around a little, I found the source code of BackupRestoreConfirmation.java, which is used to build the `package com.android.backupconfirm`. Quoting from its comments:

> Confirm with the user that a requested full backup/restore operation is legitimate.
> Any attempt to perform a full backup/restore will launch this UI and wait for a designated timeout interval (nominally 30 seconds) for the user to confirm. If the user fails to respond within the timeout period, or explicitly refuses the operation within the UI presented here, no data will be transferred off the device.

So this confirms what I already guessed in my comment on the question itself: it's belonging to the dialog popping up when initiating `adb backup`, and which does nothing but asking you to confirm whether the remotely triggered backup should be executed (and if you want to protect it with a password).

As the comment is further speaking of a *backup manager service*, one could also think of the *Google Cloud Backup* (see: ). So let me again stress some important keywords from the comment's start:

> a requested full backup/restore operation

*Google Cloud backup* neither is a "full backup/restore operation", nor can it be "requested" by the user. The only backup service this applies to is `adb backup`.

---
Tags: backup, system-apps
---


# Question
Title: Which apps show up in the market on an Android tablet?
Is the market filtering the same as a phone (auto detects required features and OS version) or do developers need to specifically set attributes on their apps for them to be available on tablets running Android?

# Answer
> 4 votes
From what I read a few days ago, tablet cannot run Android Market (and therefore will not be distributed with it) until 2.3 is released in the early part of next year. I have heard of a few tablets being released using the manufacturers own market-type application but nothing using the official Android Market.

I think we'll have to wait until 2.3 is released before we hear about tablet support =(

Gary

# Answer
> 1 votes
Since the answer from gsteinert is a little bit outdated, I will try to give an update:

# tl;dr

**Apps on tablet will go to the same filter process as apps on phones on the Market.**

Apps that appear on tablets follow the same filtering rules as with phones. Developers are given the ability to set attributes for their app in the, so called, manifest. For example: If an app declares that it's, for whatsoever reason, only compatible with small screen sizes, it will not show up on the Market on a tablet with greater screen sizes. Note that this case is very rare, because most apps that are only designed for small screens will either be upscaled or just use a small amount of the screen.

There is also a way to declare an app for honeycomb tablets only.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Again an update, as meanwhile Flow's answer also got a little outdated (*LOL*):

If you want to filter for good tablet optimized apps, for one there are specialized apps like Tablified Market or Tablet Market to help you out.

On the other hand, Google started to work on this issue meanwhile. So you find a tab titled Featured Apps for Tablets at least on the *Google Play* website. For details on this, you might also wish to read Google Play tablet apps getting special designation; according to that article, *the Google Play Store is now only showing tablet-optimized apps in its top lists when accessed through a tablet*.

---
Tags: google-play-store, tablet
---


# Question
Title: Problem with downloading files from play market and websites
I have nexus 5 (android 4.4.2, TeamWin Recovery Project, root). Recently, problem with downloading files from play market and websites appeared.

I see infinite downloading in the play market. I see infinite work of the donwload manager process in the action bar, when I download some stuff from website (for example, when I try to download something from my HTTP local file server).

Sometimes I can solve my problem to restart smartphone, to clear data/cache play market app and download manager procces. But the problem occurs again.

Also I tried to boot into recovery, clear cache, fix permissions, and reboot. These actions have fixed my problem, but the problem appeared again.

`(Click on image to show larger preview)`

# Answer
It is possible that the Play Store is having some issues writing on your phone. However, given that your phone is new(ish) and that there is nothing that's going on a SD card, it makes me think that the Play Store is getting confused.

Depending on what GAPPS package you installed, there could be a variety of tweaks that are done to the package. I would double check with goo.im or XDA to see hat GAPPS to install with your rom/device. Perhaps removing the Play Store, then installing a GAPPS with the right play store app would fix the problem.

Additionally, it could be that you have your runtime on ART instead of Dalvik and the Play Store is glitching up. To check your runtime, go to Settings -\> Developer Options -\> Select runtime.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, root-access, 4.4-kitkat, nexus-5, download-manager
---


# Question
Title: messaging push notifications won't work after 4.3 update?
I updated my Samsung galaxy s3 to 4.3 a few days ago, and ever since then, push notifications for the built in messaging app hasn't been working. My phone doesn't ring, the icon doesn't appear in the back on the top of the screen, and the lock screen doesn't show the previews. I have to keep manually checking if i have new texts by opening the app, which is annoying and inconvenient. The sound works for other apps so I know that sound isn't the issue here. Does anyone know how to fix this?!

# Answer
> 1 votes
Could it be, that for some reason--aliens, loch ness, etc.--that some of the apps have "show notifications" checkbox unchecked? To check, go to Settings-\>Aps-\>whatever SMS app and see if you have a Show notifications checked.

Also, have you tried using Hangouts as a replacement for texting?

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, sms, 4.3-jelly-bean, push-notifications
---


# Question
Title: How can I test if my GPS has a hardware problem?
Some days ago, my GPS stopped working. It doesn't lock, no matter how long I leave it on.

I've read this question but had no luck.

Sometimes it reports that it found one GPS satellite available, but most of the time it gets none.

I also read about stability test, but is doesn't seem to report GPS problems.

So, is there any test I can perform to detect if I really have a hardware GPS problem?

My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S2, with android 4.2.

# Answer
Try installing and messing with: GPS info and GPS test
> 2 votes

---
Tags: gps, hardware
---


# Question
Title: Google play paid apps not working on daughters tablet
My daughter received an ASUS Memo pad 7 for Christmas, I set myself up as the main 'owner' and added her as a user and set up her own separate gmail account so she can download apps, etc.

I downloaded several free apps for her on her user profile that have all worked fine, however the paid apps that were downloaded on her user profile using her google account will not open. As soon as I touch the icon the following message appears: 'unfortunately Temple Run: Oz has stopped' with the options: 'Report' or 'OK'. All apps whether paid or free work fine in my user profile on the device.

The only reason I can think of is that I used the same credit card that I use on my own Google account. Ive paid for two apps; Temple Run: Oz and Minecraft PE.

Can anyone help?

# Answer
> -2 votes
you say you've set it up as you being the main owner, maybe that's what's confusing it, can you buy top-up cards, so that your daughter can pay in her name instead, & try doing a restore back to factory settings, & THEN downloading the games. lori

---
Tags: google-play-store, force-close, multi-user, paid-apps
---


title: Mask IP Address Android Device

text:
# Question
Title: Mask IP Address Android Device
How would I anonymize my Android device and it's IP address? I don't want to be rooted as well, using a GS4.

# Answer
You can use a **VPN application**, which usually works with no root access but approaches what you're looking for. In addition, you can use Hideman VPN. Also, one of your question tags are *Tor.* You can use Tor, but only the Orweb Browser will stay anoynmous. Without root, it's **not** your device that's anonymous.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: privacy, tor
---


title: HDMI for Android

text:
# Question
Title: HDMI for Android
I would like to connect my GS4 to my plasma television. I have an HDMI adapter, but will the sound come from the television or my device? And what do I use other than the HDMI adapter?

# Answer
You can connect your Android device to your plasma television with an HDMI cable. (Though I wouldn't suggest buying it from eBay.) Sound should come from your television, I'll bet. Make sure the Android HDMI adapter is compatible with your device first.
> 0 votes

# Answer
What you need to connect a Galaxy S4 to a TV is an MHL-to-HDMI adapter, like this one that I use.

You connect the micro-USB bit to the phone, the big USB end to a charger (the adapter needs power. This will also allow your phone to charge while you're using it like this), and the HDMI to the TV.

Audio will come out of the TV, or whatever it sends the audio to normally.

If you select a different MHL adapter and it isn't specifically advertised as being for a Galaxy S3 or S4, you'll need an 11-to-5 pin adapter, like this one, to use it with your phone, as Samsung uses a different connector for MHL than most other devices do.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: hdmi
---


title: List of all Google™ app developer ids

text:
# Question
Title: List of all Google™ app developer ids
Google Inc "owns" most of the apps made by Google for Android.

However, there are notable ones that most would consider Google apps, such as

Does someone know a list of all the developer ids used for Google-created android apps?

# Answer

> 7 votes

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


# Question
Title: How can I install Jelly Bean on a Micromax Funbook P275?
I have a Micromax Funbook P275 tablet with Android 4.0.4 ICS installed, and I want to install 4.2 Jelly Bean on it, using this guide.

Since the P275 doesn't have hardware buttons for volume up/down, how can I scroll up/down in the recovery mode without the hardware buttons? The only ones on my device are the Home and the Power button.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Flashing CWM recovery directly from your Micromax Funbook. This method is for those who do not want to use a computer to flash cwm recovery or do not have access to a computer to do the same.

Give me credits only for the method. Not for the app and the recovery image.

Things Required:-

1. Data Connection on your Tablet. (via WIFI)
2. An file manager that supports archives. Eg ES File Explorer.
3. A Usable and working mind.

Steps:-

1. Download the necessary files from here.
2. Extract the file to the root of your "internal sd card" and you will get 2 file First "Novotools\_v1.0" and the Second "recovery.img".
3. Install the app Novotools\_v1.0.
4. Run Novotools and you will see and option Flash Recovery
5. Click it and the recovey will be flashed onto your phone.
6. Reboot in recovery with the help of the application or the old method by Holding the Home/Options and the Power button.
7. Now you have fully functional CWM recovery.

Using this custom CWM, you can scroll in the funbook recovery mode using the menu button alone.

---
Tags: updates, 4.2-jelly-bean, installation, buttons, micromax-funbook
---


# Question
Title: Can an encrypted Android phone be unlocked with an USB drive some way?
I want a fast way to login to the system without entering difficult credentials. If the usb key is not present there won't be the ability to decrypt the system ... Some 2-factor solution without NFC because the device doesn't have NFC.

Does somebody know how I could do this, because I can't find a way to do it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
No, this is not possible given how full-device encryption is currently implemented in Android. The bootloader needs your credentials to perform decryption well before anything like drivers for NFC or userland code is loaded.

---
Tags: usb, encryption, sim-unlocking
---


# Question
Title: How do I restrict uninstall of apps in the play store?
I have an android tablet. I also have a kid that doesn't understand enough to actually operate it properly, but more than enough to delete apps through the play store.

Restricting purchases from the play store is easy, but how do i password protect uninstalling apps from the play store?

I have seen a few apps to help me along, but they don't protect from the play store being launched from inside a game through a commercial for example.

How do i password protect either the entire play store, or the removal of apps?

# Answer
> how do i password protect uninstalling apps from the play store?

This isn't possible as of today.

> I have seen a few apps to help me along, but they don't protect from the play store being launched from inside a game through a commercial for example.

Such behavior isn't made explicitly available to third-party apps, the ones that do exist today can only go so far in providing an "app-locker".

> How do i password protect either the entire play store, or the removal of apps?

You can't, at least not in a way that accounts for all scenarios. You may keep searching for "app-locker" apps that attempt to do this and hope you find one that fits your needs. Have you tried Paranoid Android's Lockit

Instead of going down this route, I'd recommend you setup multiple user profiles on the tablet (the assumption here being your tablet is running Android 4.2 or greater). In a multi-user scenario, if one user uninstalls an app, it's only uninstalled within their profile. You may read more about it here
> 7 votes

# Answer
There's a lot of apps for kids, where you can set a mode and only allow certain apps on child mode and you being an adult administrator can unlock other apps, I've used one called Kids Shell it got the job done for me
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store
---


# Question
Title: Setting gmail to sync / push / notify on wifi only?
I have a droid mini that is running 4.2.2 and I want gmail to only sync automatically on WIFI only; never on 4g / network / whatever. How do I do this without rooting the phone?
When I first bought the phone, gmail allowed me to chose to sync on wifi only (and by sync, I mean that it would notify me of new emails and download them or what not on wifi only). This is how it was originally set up. I work for a local cable company and this was great. I know this is how it was originally set up because 1) I set it up that way and 2) when I setup up new internet connections in customer's homes, I would use the wifi on my phone to verify that their internet was working. As soon as the wifi would connect I would usually hear my phone announce I had emails, letting me know the wifi was connected.
Then today, I was having an issue with Google play store. I took my phone into Verizon where they claimed to only have 'soft reset' the phone. Now, not only does gmail download / notify /syn (whatever) whenever it wants but the setting for wifi only is completely gone. I distinctly remember something like 'sync on wifi only' or 'push on wifi only' or something like this. I assume there has been some update or something recently and I have no idea how to check this. I would, however, be happy to uninstall the update if i could get it to work on wifi only again.
So long story short, how the hell do I get gmail to 'whatever' on wifi only without rooting?

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can use an app like Llama or Tasker to activate sync only when on WiFi. If you turn off sync, that also turns off syncing of your calendar/contacts/tasks et al in your Google account.

The Gmail app should have an option to only download attachments via WiFi within your specific account options.

---
Tags: wi-fi, gmail
---


# Question
Title: How to update Galaxy Nexus from 4.0.2 to 4.2?
I had a Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.2.1 and it broke. My insurance replaced it, so I have a new Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0.2. The new phone doesn't show that any system updates are available. (Well, I think it updated from 4.0.0 to 4.0.2 as soon as I turned it on, but nothing since then.) How do I update it to 4.2?

(Sorry if I'm not giving enough information; I'm new and I'm not sure what's relevant.)

QUESTION RESPONSES:
-I am in Canada and my provider is Mobilicity.
-I have tried going to About Phone -\> System Updates and nothing shows up. When I first got the phone, it updated from like 4.0.0 or 4.0.1 to 4.0.2, but that's all that has showed up. I also tried clearing the cache and force stopping Google Services Framework, as suggested in another thread.
-I don't really know what it means to install the update manually; I guess I'm willing to, but I feel that something must be wrong because this is the exact same phone (as far as I can tell) I've had for the last year with the exact same provider. When I got this phone one year ago, it ran Jelly Bean automatically, so I don't get why this one wouldn't do the same automatically.

NEW INFO:
-Sometimes when I click System Updates, after it says there no updates available and shows "Last checked for updates" as the current time, it starts downloading a 41.2 MB "Android System Update". After it downloads, it restarts and gets that picture of the robot having surgery, but it's still running 4.0.2.

---

I don't think this question is a duplicate of the one posted, because this is a case where I *know* there is an official update from the carrier/manufacturer, but my phone isn't seeing it.

I noticed another thing: when it downloads the "Android System Update" and restarts, the picture of the robot starts off as a green guy standing up with a blue thing spinning in his chest, but then it changes to the green guy laying down with a red caution triangle over his chest. Does that tell me anything?

# Answer
> 0 votes
To update the system software, go to

```
Settings -> About phone -> Software update -> Check for updates

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
If Settings \> About phone \> System updates turn out useless, my best bet, would be to look for in the XDA Developers forum.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, updates, samsung-galaxy-nexus
---


title: Can't update apps nor install apps

text:
# Question
Title: Can't update apps nor install apps
I have a Galaxy Nexus with the stock firmware, it's a device that has been powered off for a long time. Currently I can't update any existing apps nor can I install new ones. I have tried with Chrome, Firefox Beta and Opera Mini, I also tried updating existing ones with no luck. Also there are apps that have updates available but Play Store doesn't offer the option to update (for example the version of Firefox is 16), others (actually just one) are listed as having available updates.

There are two different behaviors that occur.

**When trying to install Chrome**

The Google Play says that the app is not compatible with the device, i don't think is the case. The same happens with Firefox which is listed as a supported device in the mozilla page

**When trying to update an app or install Opera Mini**

When trying to update an app with updates available or installing Opera Mini my device is recognized as supported but after clicking install and accepting the permissions an error occur, it says:

```
Error retrieving information from server. [RPC:S-3]

```

I have already deleted the Google Account and recreated it (password works)

Android version is 4.1.2 build number JZO54K. No carrier and no SIM, connected over a working wifi (I can surf the net with firefox)

Any ideas?

# Answer
> 5 votes
Did you try clearing the app-data of play store? If not, try clearing the app-data, and/or any updates installed by play store, and allow it to install a Play Store update again (it will do this automatically), and then try using Google Play Store.

---
Tags: google-play-store, updates, samsung-galaxy-nexus, installation
---


title: Android Version Upgradation

text:
# Question
Title: Android Version Upgradation
I have an Android Version `4.04` ICS on my Samsung Galaxy S Duos phone, how do I upgrade to version `4.1` as I am aware it is possible, did try to `Google`, but in vain as I did not find satisfactory answers. Is it possible to use the Debugging Mode to upgrade the version. Thanks in advance

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can update using kies if samsung has released official update for your phone. If there is no official update, search for custom roms. Installation instructions will be found along with such roms. Use your best judgement.

This question seems to be off-topic btw. Please go through the rules.

---
Tags: updates
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 7 ('13 CM11 Nightly) keeps waking up while charged
The tablet has been plugged into the wall and left alone. Every minute the screen turns on, and I have to press the power button to turn it off. This started last night as the tablet was quite warm from being turned on all last night.

What's the best way of detecting why it's turning on so often?

Looking at the running apps I don't see anything asking for permission.

# Answer
Ah, SuperSU you clever girl! Apparently Greenify was updated and it was constantly asking for root access. The prompt woke up the tablet each time. Boy do I feel silly now!
> 2 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, nexus-7
---


# Question
Title: Digital/Physical keyboard not sending input on occasion
```
Motorola Droid 3
Android verison: 2.3.4
System version: 5.7.906
System update report: "Your device is up to date! No update is necessary at this time."
Phone's age: 1 year

```

After unlocking my screen and opening up an application that accepts keyboard input (texting apps, web browsers, notepads, ect) I sometimes cannot input any characters - both on the physical keyboard and the digital keyboard. I typically deal with this by pressing dozens of characters at random until they start to appear again.

However, keystrokes are being somewhat recognized, which can be confirmed since each keystroke envokes a small vibration (set by the "Vibrate on kepress" switch in the Multi-touch keyboard settings. Further, my choice in texting application "Chomp" attempts to guess the word you're typing as you type it. Although no characters are actually being inserted into a message when this problem is occuring, Chomp at least detects the characters and makes word/spelling suggestions. Still, no words/letters are input into any text field box.

I'm aware that a factory reset would be a favorable method of potentially finding a solution, but am looking for alternatives.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I restored my phone to the factory defaults and hadn't had the problem in several weeks. Unfortunately, the problem is back and I'm left only to assume that my phone is defective.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can try this:

Go into Settings\>Application Manager and locate your keyboard. This could be listed a few different ways, depending on your phone. For example, I'm using Swift Key so that's what mine is listed under. It could say software keyboard, or whatever for your hardware keyboard. Anyway, once you find it, tap the button to clear the cache. Unless you have a bunch of custom settings you are probably safe to clear data as well. Once that is done give it another try. This will solve a lot of annoying keyboard issues, but as you said, who knows. It could be something else going on where a reset is your best bet. Hope this helps!

---
Tags: keyboard, text-input, motorola-droid-3
---


# Question
Title: creating new folder hangs current window on pc?
As all of you might know the galaxy note 2 (n7100) doesn't provide the usb mass storage option when connecting to pc.

It connects to the pc as a media storage or camera storage option. Upon clicking on it, I am able to access my card and internal memory.

But when I try to create new folder in the card or internal memory, the current working window freezes.

Also reading writing everything works just fine. And I can create the new folder on windows desktop and then copy to card or internal memory it works just fine. But not able to create folder directly in the card or internal memory, as every time working window hangs and I need to re connect the phone to pc.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I was having a similar problem. Just wait for a minute or so and that folder does get created eventually. Of course the workaround is to either:

1. Create Folder on a local Windows Drive and then copy it onto the phone OR
2. Install Custom Recovery and reboot into it and activate USB Mass Storage

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-note-2, usb-mass-storage
---


# Question
Title: How can I get daydream mode to remain active throughout the night when using the wireless charger?
Daydream mode is working as it should on a stock Nexus 4 4.2 device using the wireless charger however after a period of time daydream mode will shut off and put the screen in to sleep mode. This is not very conducive to being used as a clock in the middle of the night and thus I need to determine how I can get it to remain active throughout the evening, for an indeterminate amount of time.

I believe this is occurring after the phone reaches a certain charge, power delivery is suspended at which time once the sleep threshold is reached the phone will turn off, unless charging resumes. I could in theory set the sleep time to 30 minutes but would prefer a more elegant option.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Since wireless charging actually stops charging at 100%, daydream will not stay active. There's a open issue for this at https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=48980

As a workaround, you can root your phone and, go to a command prompt and type the following:

```
su
svc power stayon true

```

---
Tags: nexus-4, daydream
---


# Question
Title: How can I test the NFC capability of my Android?
I got a Nexus 7 last week, and I love it! It has NFC functionality, and I was wondering how I could test it?

I don't actually have any NFC tags that I can use (have you seen the price of them?!?).

So, how can I test NFC without NFC tags?

# Answer
Take any NFC enabled thing to test it out and install this task launching app.

Now create an action using the app to do anything (click the `+` icon and follow instructions). When it asks you to write the tag, just touch the back of the device to your NFC enabled thing. It may fail to write, but it will still work.

Examples of some NFC enabled things you might just have lying around:

* Metro cards
* Some electronic keys
* Any other NFC enabled phone
> 2 votes

# Answer
The only solution for you is to use another NFC enabled device. Turn on *Android Beam* and try to beam something to the other device and vice versa. You can find how to use android beam here.

You cannot use apps to check it as they are only capable of checking whether NFC is turned on or not. Also the service menu tests is of no use without a tag.

And by the way, NFC tags are not *that* expensive. Try eBay and nfctagstore.com
> 2 votes

# Answer
I tested it using the built-in NFC share feature of YouTube application between two NFC devices, namely a Nexus 5 and a Nexus 10.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nfc
---


# Question
Title: Why can't I access Google and other sites when tethering my phone?
When I tether my phone, I can't access Google or Gmail (other sites, too).

```
cmd: ping http://www.google.com; Ping request could not find host...

```

---

## **List of problem sites/applications:**

Sites:

Apps:

* ET Naver Line (a.k.a. LINE) (jp.naver.android.npush)

I experience this on various sites and apps; however the above are sites tested as working over emobile (separate modem)--the URLs should be correct. I would change the question title, but I have a support request in with the developers to contact me via this site for a resolution.

---

## **Device info:**

Phones:

* Softbank Fujitsu Arrows 301F; 4.1-Jelly Bean.
* Softbank Aquos 104SH; 4.0-Icecream Sandwich.
* Connected via USB, debugging mode enabled, in MTP mode.
* Phone's DNS: Google DNS; OpenDNS.

PC's:

* PC OS: Windows 7 SP 1 (please request any hardware specs).
* Connection methods tested: chrome latest, IE10 latest, cmd (ping), telnet.
* PC's DNS: OpenDNS; Google DNS; no DNS.

Non-specific:

* Tethering software: EasyTether lite (no root).

---

## **Known error messages:**

*Via Chrome:*

> This webpage is not available
>
> Reload Less Google Chrome could not load the webpage because www.google.co.jp took too long to respond. The website may be down, or you may be experiencing issues with your Internet connection. Check your Internet connection. Check any cables and reboot any routers, modems, or other network devices you may be using. Allow Chrome to access the network in your firewall or antivirus settings. If it is already listed as a program allowed to access the network, try removing it from the list and adding it again. If you use a proxy server... Check your proxy settings or contact your network administrator to make sure the proxy server is working. If you don't believe you should be using a proxy server: Go to the Chrome menu \> Settings \> Show advanced settings... \> Change proxy settings... \> LAN Settings and deselect "Use a proxy server for your LAN". Error code: ERR\_CONNECTION\_TIMED\_OUT

*Via IE 10:*

*Via CMD:*

> Ping request could not find host https://www.google.com. Please check the name and try again.

*Via Telnet:*

> Connecting To https://www.google.com...Could not open connection to the host, on port 23: Connect failed

*Via LINE:*

> Unable to login due to network issues. Please check your connection and try again.

---

## **Question summary:**

Why am I experiencing these issues (not being able to connect to the above-mentioned websites), and how can these issues be resolved? Can you help me test what I think is causing the issues?

---

## **Proposed causes:**

1. **Perhaps the reason I cannot access these sites is because they are in use by the phone?** If that is the case, I am not sure how to test it. So far, when I "force-stop" and "disable" an app like LINE, I still cannot connect. So, I thought: *it's possible that the phone is reserving the app's networking info, somehow.* **So, I went so far as to uninstall Line from my phone and reset the phone and PC. Still unable to use Line on the PC. Furthermore; Skype works simultaneously on PC and Phone.**
2. **Perhaps it's a PC or OS issue?** I still have yet to tether my phones to a different PC or OS.
3. **Perhaps it's a DNS issue?** I still have yet to test this, but I believe I get a similar error with OpenDNS when trying to access localhost.
4. **"Activate EasyTether or use it with UDP and secure sites BLOCKED**? This message appears at the top of Easy Tether's settings screen. I'm very curious to know whether or not this is the cause. It seems highly likely.

# Answer
## **Resolution**

EasyTether Light (No Root) is the best tethering software I've been able to find on the Play store; however, it blocks UDP ports and secure protocols. Updating to EasyTether Full (cost: 9.99 USD) resolved the issues on all of the above-listed sites and services. It was very bothersome to go through all this and e-mail the developer, only to get a kind of boggled response from him. Their FAQ does not mention this, and the message in the app was covered up by the "warning, do not scratch the camera" message I had written on my screen guard, up until yesterday; so, I simply didn't notice. I hope the developer will upgrade the app to include some kind of pop-up message indicating that this is the cause of the issue, or at least add the issue to the FAQ.

Thanks for all the comments and wonderful help!
> 1 votes

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Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, 4.1-jelly-bean, tethering, windows, usb-tethering
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# Question
Title: I don't have a working ROM on my Sprint HTC One. I made an error when flashing; I'm on hboot 1.55 and Android v4.3, S-On
I've been struggling with this for over a day now.

I unlocked and rooted my phone just fine (HTC One on Sprint, 4.3) - but when I flashed a ROM, I flashed Maximus HD, which was apparently an International version and not a Sprint one. I think that messed some things up. After trying a few different ROMs on top of that, nothing works.

Each ROM I flash will "install" correctly, but when it boots to the lock screen, upon unlocking it gives me the HTC splash screen.

I'm convinced that my accidental upgrade to hboot 1.55 is rendering it impossible for me to flash any working ROMs - be it stock or otherwise. I can enter Recovery mode, adb sideload, and flash ROMs, but none of them work.

I've tried Superwipe and then Bad Boyz, but it's the same thing. After installation, it sticks at the HTC splash screen.

So, my options are limited. I think I need to find a way to revert my hboot to 1.44 from 1.55 - that way at least the stock RUU is compatible. However, I can't find any way to do this; since I'm S-On, and I can't access any ROM to mess with settings, I have no idea how to do this, or how to flash a workable ROM in order to switch to S-Off.

Anyone have any ideas. I'm seriously distraught. I just bought this phone, and I love it. I'm so sad that I decided to try this rooting/unlocking/ROM flashing business because it's disrupted my sanity.

Any thoughts or ideas will help immensely. I will give more information if needed. Thanks!

# Answer
> 0 votes
You need to do a factory reset and wipe the Dalvik Cache. What bootloader are you using? TWRP or Clockwork would be examples. I would enter this as a comment but lack the necessary reputation.
This tread on XDA may be of use. Soft Bricked - XDA

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had a similar issue on mine as well. The process to fix it was not to bad, knowing that you have the issue is the key. Once you have gotten the proper RUU for your device in .zip format rename it to firmware.zip for ease of use. Place it in your folder with fastboot (sdk) boot your phone into bootloader hook up your usb cable. make sure you have the fastbootusb in bootloader screen. then type the following commands, hope it goes well.

1. Re-lock your bootloader (fastboot oem lock)
2. call up the RUU boot (fastboot oem rebootRUU) you should get the HTC logo at this point.
3. flash the RUU (fastboot flash zip firmware.zip) at this point you could get an error 90 use the up arrow on keyboard to reselect your cmd command and hit enter. if no error or when complete type (fastboot reboot-bootloader)

GOOD LUCK MANY THANKS TO O.M.J. at xda for helping me with this issue when I ran across it.

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Tags: rom-flashing, 4.3-jelly-bean, htc-one, sprint
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title: Google Tablet help need power

text:
# Question
Title: Google Tablet help need power
Just purchased this for Christmas, it will not charge or turn on, any suggestions. Have tired several different charger

# Answer
> 0 votes
Have you tried connecting it to a computer? Have you tried pressing and holding the power button for a couple of seconds \[say, 10\]?

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Tags: charging, power-on
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# Question
Title: "Avoided poor Internet connection" on LG G2
I'm trying to connect to my home's wireless router with my new **LG G2 (running version 4.2.2)** and it keeps saying "Obtaining IP address..." for three minutes, then momentarily saying "Saved, secured", before cycling through all over again. It does this about 5 times and then eventually stops trying and says "Avoided poor Internet connection".

It seems that the problem is only affecting my Android device. My laptop can connect; my mother's and girlfriend's iPhones can both connect; and this is the second Android device I've had with this connection issue (my old Droid 4 had it too).

I can't figure out what the problem could be. I've tried changing the broadcast channels on the router with no luck, and I'm too worried to mess around with the network settings much more, for fear of messing up the network for more devices.

On top of this, with the recent phone upgrade and data transfer, I'm at 90% of my monthly data usage, with half a month yet to go. :\[

What can I do to connect to the wireless, short of getting a new phone or new router?

***\[EDIT 1\]*** OK. So now I've tried using my desktop as a mobile hotspot, and this is still not working. Perhaps the most troubling part is that it isn't working even when I bypass the router altogether, and plug the computer directly into the modem. It even failed both with and without encryption.

***\[EDIT 2\]*** Here is a screenshot of the Advanced Wi-Fi settings, as requested.

Click image for larger variant

# Answer
> 1 votes
Goto `Settings` --\> `Wifi`--\>(press menu) `Advanced`--\> uncheck "`Avoid Poor Connections`" checkbox.
Then Click on network Available. Now it will connect(or else click `forget` and re-enter your password.

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Tags: wi-fi, connection-issues, lg-g2
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title: How to delete duplicate SMS?

text:
# Question
Title: How to delete duplicate SMS?
After unlucky using some SMS backup tool I have the duplicates of all my SMS. So question is which way better to delete them.

# Answer
Have you tried BackupSMS . It claims to remove duplicates. I've not tried it personally.

Make sure you take backup before trying it.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can use Back up and Restore to manually and multi select all the SMS's you want to delete.
> 0 votes

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Tags: cyanogenmod, sms
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