# Question
Title: Substitute Win7 USB drivers for ADB mode
Under Mac OSX there is no need for a USB driver for ADB mode. Under windows, apparently, there is.

I'd like to be able to `adb shell` to my android tablet from my Win7 PC.

This table gives a list of where to get USB drivers for Windows for different OEMs. My Android Advent Amico tablet's manufacturer isn't listed in the list. Is there a list of what can substitute for what somewhere? How, in general, can one determine which one(s) would be best to try?

**EDIT:** The tablet came with a utility called 'Advent Transfer Companion' for use in mass storage mode. I've uploaded and installed that from the tablet, but it appears to be no more than a pretty way to write files to the tablet from PC - i.e. mass storage mode only, and no USB driver installed.

# Answer
This says you should be able to use the "google drivers" after some minor tweaking. If your device came with any software for your PC, it will have the "official" drivers though, and I recommend using them.

> 1. You must have Android SDK installed before you can proceed. If you don’t have it already, proceed to our guide on what is ADB and how to install it. Make sure you download the Google USB Driver Package as well.
> 2. Open the google-usb\_driver folder that you will find inside your Android SDK folder.
> 3. Open the android\_winusb.inf file in notepad or any text editor to edit it.
> 4. Add these lines under \[Google.NTx86\] or \[Google.NTamd64\] depending on whether you are using 32 bit or 64 bit Windows. If unsure, it is safe to add these under both these sections.
>
> > ;NVIDIA Tegra
> > %SingleAdbInterface% = USB\_Install, USB\VID\_0955&PID\_7000
> > %CompositeAdbInterface% = USB\_Install, USB\VID\_0955&PID\_7100&MI\_01
>
> Don’t edit or replace any other text that is already there; just add these new lines and save the file.
>
> 1. Open a command prompt window and enter this command:
>
> > echo 0x955 \>\> "%USERPROFILE%.android\adb\_usb.ini"

You will also have to enable USB Debugging in Settings -\> Applications -\> Development.

**edit** I would try this first:

This site has the "official" drivers for the tablet. You will still have to enable USB debugging, as I mentioned above.
> 3 votes

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Tags: usb, adb, windows, advent-amico
---


title: Is there an easier way to update Swype?

text:
# Question
Title: Is there an easier way to update Swype?
I currently have the Swype beta installed on my EVO - not the pre-installed one that comes with the newer updates, the actual beta from their site. I noticed yesterday that if I launch the Swype Installer it will check for updates to itself, then download and install the new version for me. This is nice, since it is not distributed in the Market.

However, I can't seem to find the same functionality in Swype itself. The Installer doesn't check for updates to the actual keyboard, and it just greets me with the "Congrats! Swype is installed!" screen after launch (even after updating). The only way I can figure out to update Swype at this point is to:

1. Find out if there's a new version somehow (Google, Swype's website, etc)
2. Uninstall Swype
3. Reinstall Swype

Is there an easier way to do this? It seems odd that they have no update feature built in since they deliberately chose to distribute Swype outside of the Market, but if such a feature *does* exist I have no idea where it is.

# Answer
The latest version of Swype beta (or at least the version before the most recent version) is a bit more self-sustained.

All I had to do when I updated was to go to the Swype installer app. It had an update for itself. After updating, it then presented an option for me to update Swype and stepped me through the process, including disabling, updating, and then re-enabling Swype.

Now the old way of updating Swyped used to be you had to uninstall the current version and it's installer, then re-install the installer, then re-install Swype. It seems as if they have improved on this former method (that often had me raging because it wouldn't generate the license file correctly).
> 3 votes

---
Tags: updates, swype
---


# Question
Title: Local Apache from Android via Connectify
I have the Apache web server running on my PC. I want to view pages on this server from my Android device which is connected to my PC via Connectify.

I believe this is possible because there's an Android app I'm using called Unified Remote and with this program I can manage the computer remotely. So this proves data communication between the PC and the Android device via Connectify is working.

This app connects to the PC using the IP address `192.168.2.1`. When I try the same IP address from the Android browser, it gets stuck at loading for a really long time with no response.

How do I fix this problem?

By the way, I'm using Android 2.2 (it's CyanogenMod 6, but I believe the browser is stuck).

I stopped Apache and installed another webserver called Abyss Web Server and now it works. So the problem IS Apache-specific. Which settings of Apache can prevent my Android device working over this network?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I think this could be a problem with your Apache configuration. Maybe the server isn't listening on the correct address? Check that the server is set to listen to all relevant IPs or all of them with a wildcard if necessary.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Best thing to do would be to check your Apache logs and see if you are indeed getting a HTTP request from your phone. If you seeing entries as requests from the phone then it could be an issue with the Apache setup. If you aren't getting any log entries then most likely the issue is from the device's side.

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


# Question
Title: Easily tabbing to previous or next field
I'm new to the Android UI and I'm looking to see if there's something similar to iPhone's 'next' and 'previous' buttons you see when filling out a form. Currently I have to hit close keyboard then tap on the next field. I tested this in both an app and in the web browser.

Android version 2.1 on HTC Hero.

# Answer
Some keyboards have a tab button that shows up when you are filling in a form. For example the Android stock keyboard has this feature (at least in 2.2+). Additionally you shouldn't have to close the keyboard to click the next field, unless you are zoomed in very close.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: keyboard-shortcuts
---


# Question
Title: How can I diagnose this problem: Can't flash ROM to my Samsung Fascinate
When I boot into recovery all the text moves so fast I can't read what's happening, then it just boots normally without the new ROM. Is there any log I can review to find out what is happening?

Here's a little background on what I'm doing:

I started with a stock Samsung Fascinate fresh from a factory reset. I rooted it using this method. I installed ROM Manager from the Market then I installed Clockworkmod with this method. Finally I tried to install jt1134's Super Clearn 0.9 (DJ05) from ROM Manager. It downloads the ROM offers me the option to backup my current ROM (which I decline because it's already backed up) and the option to wipe cache and data which I choose then hit OK. From here it boots into Recovery and then the text scrolls up the screen so fast I can't see whats happening, then it boots into the regular stock ROM which would suggest the ROM installation failed. One other note, ClockworkMod recovery appears to work except when I manually boot into it and choose "reboot" it hangs on the clockworkmod icon.

# Answer
> 3 votes
It sounds very much like the recovery is borked. I recommend using Odin to re-flash recovery (or even the entire ROM if you can get ahold of an Odin-flashable version). Here's a recent guide from XDA.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, custom-roms, rom-flashing, clockworkmod-recovery, samsung-fascinate
---


# Question
Title: Disabled and need help answering HTC EVO shift with 2.2
I am a disabled guy in a wheelchair with an HTC EVO shift. I need help answering my phone without using my hands. My Motorola phones always had auto answering options but I need that for this super duper fancy expensive phone I just received. There must be more people out there that need the same thing!

# Answer
> 3 votes
I thought this was totally possible but for the life of me can't find anything that says it is. I was sure I had seen that option somewhere but going through the settings on my EVO 4G (similar to the Shift) I can't find anything that says auto answer. Same thing when I searching around online.

**So it appears that there is no built-in way to set Auto-Answer**

*However*, there are a few apps in the market which claim to provide this functionality (this is by no means all of them, just three from the first page of results):

If you don't want to go the app route I also found these Blue Ant Bluethooth Headsets which supposedly allow you to answer the call by actually saying the word "answer". This may be a better option than to always answering a call instead you can tell the headset when to answer or not.

Hope this helps

# Answer
> 2 votes
This phone runs an operating system called Android, and many features can be added by using external applications.

There´s one app calld AutoAnswer, that is very complete and free.

Here is the info about it: http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-everysoft-autoanswer-ApiA.aspx

---
Tags: auto-answer
---


# Question
Title: How can I do a factory reset on a MyTouch 3G Slide?
I have a MyTouch 3G Slide w/ Android 2.2 and am having issues with the text messaging freezing up. I am trying to do a factory reset and looked under settings, sd card memory and security for the factory reset option and didn't see it. How do you reset the phone?

I tried these instructions but couldn't get that screen to come up... is there another way?

1. Turn the power off. If your HTC myTouch 3G Slide is frozen, pull the battery out and reinsert it
2. Hold the Volume Down button
3. Press and release the Power button
4. You are now presented with a menu that allows for Fastbook, Recovery, Clear Storage, and Simlock
5. Select Clear Storage by pressing the Volume Down button
6. Press and release the Power button
7. Now simply confirm your decision: Volume Up for YES and Volume Down for NO

# Answer
To do a factory reset, you should be able to go to `Settings -> Privacy` and hit **Factory data reset**.

Alternatively though, to just clear the SMS data you should go to `Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications` and find the SMS app ("Messaging" or similar) and clear the data for it. There may also be something like "Messaging Storage" that you need to clear.

If you really need to boot into recovery, I would try the following:

1. Hold power and volume down until the phone reboots or turns on
2. Hold the power button for two more seconds, then release it (if the phone reboots again, you held it too long)
3. Keep holding volume down until recovery mode appears
> 1 votes

---
Tags: factory-reset, htc-mytouch-3g-slide
---


# Question
Title: Different volume level for new email notification and new SMS notification?
I have lots of emails coming in all day. For this reason, my notification sounds level is low. But I need to be alarmed when I have a new SMS. Currently I don't always notice new SMS messages because they, too, have low volume level.

How would it be possible to have a different volume level for new email notification and new SMS notification?

# Answer
One simple method would be to use a custom ringtone for SMS where the audio itself is louder. You coould use a loud audio clip or edit one to be louder.
> 2 votes

# Answer
SMS Popup lets you set custom notification sounds, volumes, vibrates, LED flash and icon for popups, separately from the system notification settings.

Well worth installing, it's the first app I put on my phones, and the first I recommend to others, really fixes a hole in the Android notifications.
> 1 votes

# Answer
All of the more popular SMS replacement apps on Android - Handcent SMS, ChompSMS and GoSMS offer the ability to have custom ringtones. They also have customizable vibration patterns and you can also use custom notification icon colours and tones for a particular contact's SMS.

To adjust volume, however, @Matthew's suggestion of different volume levels on ringtones is the easiest way to handle things.
> 0 votes

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Tags: 2.2-froyo, email, sms, audio, volume-control
---


title: Android Log Output KINETO

text:
# Question
Title: Android Log Output KINETO
On my T mobile G2 there is always a lot of action in my Log output that has the tag KINETO these are the two most common things it puts in there:

```
ERROR/KINETO(9304): KLOG0C3- xmk_QueryOSQueue SDL Queue empty : WAIT_FOREVER
ERROR/KINETO(9304): KLOG0A3- ibs_os_GetMsg: Timeout forever for UKCC qHnd 0x80c34e3c

```

but there are a lot of others that it does as well. I am wondering what these logs are related to, because they seem to be happening basically all of the time on my device. I did a google search for KINETO and got a bunch of results for Wifi Calling related stuff, which kind of makes sense. My phone came with a Wifi calling app on it. But I never use this app. My suspicion is that I am getting these messages in the log because the wifi calling app does not have access to the internet on my device because of DroidWall. But my question is why does it try so often? and does anyone know if there is a way to stop it from trying so much I am sure this behavior has some negative impact on my battery life.

# Answer
Kineto is the company that makes the Wifi calling software that is present on some Tmobile phones such as the G2. Unfortunately this software is poorly written. To make matters worse it is only possible to stop or remove the software if you root your phone. (More accurately it isn't your phone - it is tmobile's phone to do with as they please.) Coincidentally I contacted Kineto support yesterday to complain. If more people do that maybe it will get fixed.

* It constantly spews out log messages at the ERROR level every second or so, despite the messages not being errors
* You cannot stop the software (needs root) and the constant logging still happens even if you disable wifi calling
* Sometimes the software gets confused and you have to reboot the phone to get it working again
* They haven't structured it like most Android apps separating the user interface from the service

It looks to me like they had an existing codebase that they ported to Android hence its poor structure and operation.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Carrier apps like WiFi Calling generally try to run constantly as a background service, and stay connected so that they're instantly available. Beyond that, we can't be any more specific about why it runs all the time (you *might* get specific details from the carrier, but don't count on it).

If you don't use it and don't want it to drain your battery, remove it! It's probably a system app, which means you need to be rooted to remove it; you can use an app like Titanium Backup to remove it easily.

Another option is to allow it to connect. Presumably it will stop "spinning" and trying to connect if you just allow it to succeed, and use less battery.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: logging
---


title: Copying files to tablet with Android

text:
# Question
Title: Copying files to tablet with Android
When I copy `file.pdf` to my tablet with the command (in Linux - Ubuntu) `cp file.pdf /media/Archos_7/Data` via USB cable and then disconnect USB and look to the Data directory, `file.pdf` has size 0 B, or the file is not there (e.g. `file.epub`). I don't know what is wrong. I copied a few `*.pdf` and `*.avi` files successfully.

Do you know where is the problem?

# Answer
Does your device auto-mount its storage to the PC when connected? On most devices you need to pull down the notification bar and click the USB notification to mount. You should dismount the same way, after dismounting in Linux, before unplugging the device.

And, how much free space do you have?
> 1 votes

---
Tags: file-transfer, files
---


title: The video file cannot be played

text:
# Question
Title: The video file cannot be played
I have new android tablet (Archos 7) and lot of video files are not playable. The program ends with message "The video file cannot be played". The file type is avi, which is normally playble (I played many other videos). The videos which are not playble in tablet, are playble on my laptop (with Ubuntu). Is it possible to make the videos playble on tablet?

E.g. to convert them with ffmpeg to another form which will be playble, or is there some repair mechanism in Android?

I tried another player Act 1 Video Player, but that didn't help.

thank you for help

# Answer
> 2 votes
There are a number of factors that determine if a video will play on Android:

1. It has to be the correct codec - See this list
2. It has to either be small enough to download entirely before playing or be encoded in a form that allows streaming.

Chances are the problem you are seeing is that the codec the videos are encoded in isn't supported, so yes, re-encoding with `ffmpeg` or `mencoder` or something similar into one of the supported video codecs may well work.

To enable streaming, if you first encode it as an MP4 file then pass it through something like MP4Box it will tag it for streaming so yuo can play longer video clips on Android.

# Answer
> 3 votes
You can find a video player that uses ffmpeg itself to play on Android. Examples were given in answers to this question: State of VLC for Android / Media Player that plays AVI files

# Answer
> 0 votes
I just saw this article today and thought it would be helpful here. It lists 8 of the best video players for Android according to MakeUseOf.com. liori's answer is also a good one.

---
Tags: video, ffmpeg
---


# Question
Title: Why do Seidio's battery charging instructions say to leave it charging after it's full?
I have an HTC Droid Incredible. I bought the "Seidio Innocell 1750 mAh Battery for HTC Droid Eris/Droid Incredible", and the instructions that come with it say...

> In order to obtain the full capacity of your Seidio battery, we highly recommend that you leave the battery/your phone on the charger for an additional 2-3 hours after the charging indicator turns green or the battery status shows full.

Does this advice apply to the Incredible or is the phone smart enough to charge the battery to full (or at least near full) without any extra charge time? If not, does the battery keep getting charged up after the light turns green?

# Answer
> 6 votes
This is for battery calibration. Basically there's a sensor in your phone that is used by your phone to tell how full/empty the battery is.

This sensor doesn't actually know how full your battery is, all it knows is how much power is coming from your battery at the time. The problem it has is that all batteries are slightly different, and their capacity goes down over time and usage (a three year old battery will not be able to hold as much charge as a brand new battery).

Your phone keeps a record of the maximum power it's ever had from the battery, as well as knowing the minimum power that it can safely work with before it has to turn itself off. It uses the difference between those two numbers, and the current power at any time to calculate how much percentage of your battery you have left at that time. So with a new battery, the phone might be telling you that the battery is fully charged because it's charged to the highest level the phone's ever seen, but if you leave it charging a bit longer then it might charge more, and then the phone can recalibrate itself and use this new value as the most it's ever seen.

You should only need to do this "over-charging" with a brand new phone/battery, after that the phone know the maximum values, and can more accurately tell you when it's full.

---
Tags: htc-droid-incredible, battery, charging
---


title: How do I delete a file from my Xoom?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I delete a file from my Xoom?
I downloaded a drawing app for my Xoom and it saves the pictures to the local device (called "SD Card" even though it is internal space).

How do I delete those files? I can find them to attach to email, but they don't appear in my list of "downloads".

Do I need to get another app? Is there nothing that comes with the Xoom that lets me manage those files?

# Answer
You'll need a file manager, and just browse to the same path that you do when you attach to email.

If the Xoom doesn't have a file manager, I recommend Root Explorer. If you don't have root you can try another, like Astro File Manager.
> 5 votes

# Answer
Matthew recommended some good apps (+1) and I wanted to also recommend ES File Explorer. If any of the ones already mentioned don't work here is a search of the file explorer apps in the Android Market. Once you find one you can install it straight from the market page.
> 1 votes

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Tags: motorola-xoom, delete, file-management
---


title: power consumption by application?

text:
# Question
Title: power consumption by application?
Since cellphone application software requires extra power for processing. Is there any application software that indicate power consumption by particular application?

# Answer
Settings \> About Phone \> Battery Use
> 6 votes

# Answer
I don't think this is going to be a popular answer, but you have to realize that your modern smart-phone is an incredibly complex beast, and battery life is affected by all sorts of things:

1. CPU usage (your phone might get warm, or use a system activity monitor for more details)
2. Bluetooth radio, is it on, is it in use (ie, headset or tethering)
3. Wireless radio, what protocol is it using? HSPA, EVDO, EDGE?
4. WiFi radio, are you actively using it? What version?
5. Proximity and power of nearest cell towers (weak towers = cell phone tries harder to connect, using more power).
6. Baseband version (this is the part of the phone os written and maintained by your carrier)

As you can see there are a lot of things that affect battery life, so it's tough to guarantee that any given App will have a given profile, since it's data usage might be over weak signal (which will reduce your battery life more).
> 3 votes

# Answer
I'm guessing it would be a no for all platforms, but Android is the only one I can speak to with certainty.

However, Android phones can tell you battery information for specific items and apps. Also if you are rooted you can use a command line command that gives even more information. If you have a Sprint phone you can try dialing (without quotes):

```
 "*#*#4636#*#*"
or
 "##DATA#"

```

Both are ## codes that give detailed info. The first is a battery info code and the second is one that gives cell radio and all other kinds of detailed info. But I don't think it gets that granular for cell radio.

Sprint might be able to give this information from their 4g app they have in their 2.2 Android OS, but I haven't looked into at all so that is just a guess.

An Android app called "OS Monitor" will give information about CPU utilization, but not cell radio. I think such an app doesn't exist.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Linux-based phones (with a GNU or Busybox userland, I'm unsure about Android) might be able to run powertop. It was designed for desktop/laptops but it could be useful on a phone.

Intel wrote it so there may not be an ARM build, but it's GPL-licensed so some enterprising hacker could port it.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Why not PowerTutor app which is freely available in Android Market.
> 0 votes

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Tags: battery, battery-life
---


# Question
Title: Is Samsung's Media Hub only available to new customers?
Are old donkeys not allowed to eat carrots?!

# Answer
Appears to currently be US only, and only added in the latest Epic 4G update. However the marketing materials keep mentioning Galaxy S devices, rather than any specific models, so it could well roll out to the rest of the Galaxy S range in future updates, or possibly even via the on-device Samsung Apps store that most Galaxy S's have (assuming your phone company hasn't removed it).

However it's worth bearing in mind that this is a transparent attempt to lock you into Samsung for future phone and TV purchases, as once you've built up a large library of paid content on their media store, you're probably not going to want to move to hardware where you can't watch that content. If you're happy with that then ok, personally I'll stick to more hardware independant media vendors.
> 1 votes

# Answer
No, I've had Media Hub since I was running 2.1 in August 2010 (on my Vibrant). I'm sure you could get it from somewhere and side-load it.
> 1 votes

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Tags: samsung
---


# Question
Title: Whats the core difference between Kies, New PC Studio, PC Studio 3.1 from Samsung?
The web site doesn't specifically say...but I assume that Kies is for Android based devices, NPS and PCStudio are for W7p and other Phone OSs?

# Answer
New PC Studio is for Samsung's proprietary OS. I believe PC Studio 3.1 is just an older or region-specific version of NPS.

RoToRa is correct that Kies is for both Bada and Android. It appears they are transitioning to using "Kies Mini" for Android, which is really just a means of updating the device software. Media management, sync, etc. is intended to be done through the "cloud" on Android devices.

After looking at the Samsing website, I believe they do not have management software for their Windows Phone 7 devices.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-kies, windows, pc-studio
---


# Question
Title: Why doesn't my SIM card does allow a connection to this network?
In Android 2.2 from a HTC Desire Z I am frequently finding my phone disconnected from my mobile provider.

When I select my provider from the Settings -\> Wireless & networks -\> Mobile networks -\> Network operators -\> Search networks -\> \<My Provider\> I get the message "Your SIM card does not allow a connection to this network".

The only fix I can find is to restart my phone. Problem appears to widely affect Android phones.

# Answer
It appears several sites suggest preventing the phone from using 3G. I have gone into Settings -\> Wireless & network -\> Mobile networks -\> Network Mode -\> GSM only.

This appears to have fixed the issue for me. Of course this wouldn't be a solution for anybody who relies on mobile data (but my provider charges so much for data that I'm wi-fi only).
> 1 votes

# Answer
Another cause of this error message is that the country in which you are may require your IMEI to be registered with the government - if you have already registered it check whether it has been removed from the relevent list (Turkey in my case so I checked http://imei.tk.gov.tr/tr/imeisorgu.php and found it had been removed) and contact the relevent government official to get it put back on.

I don't understand why the error message refers to the SIM card - it misled me and wasted hours of my time as the problem in my case was nothing to do with the SIM card. I assume this is an Android error message - I think the message should be improved and presumably mention "IMEI" but I am not sure exactly what it should say. Perhaps others in this forum can suggest a better error message.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, connection-issues, htc-desire-z, mobile-network
---


# Question
Title: Calendar Agenda view won't stay on today
I have the Optimus V. I use Google calendar for all my calendaring needs. I'm using the standard Calendar app that came with my phone, build 2.2.1.

I start the Calendar app, and go to Agenda view. It's scrolled so that yesterday is the top. Weird, I don't know why I'd care about my agenda for yesterday. Any normal person would want to see today's agenda plus however much of tomorrow that fits. So I go to menu-\>Today. Now Today is at the top. So far so good.

Now I go to menu-\>More-\>Settings, look at my settings and hit the back button. Grrrr. Yesterday is at the top again. So I go to menu-\>Today. Now Today is at the top again.

Now I hit the phone's power button. Then I hit the power button again and unlock my phone. Now the top entry in agenda is TWO DAYS ago, and today isn't shown at all.

Is there any way to prevent this extraordinarily irritating behavior? I want "Today" to always be at the top of agenda view. Not some completely random day. Today. Always Today.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well, I tried "Business Calendar" which seems a lot less flaky and is free, so I guess the answer is to switch to another Calendar application.

---
Tags: calendar
---


title: Tegrak lagfix: how do I install it?

text:
# Question
Title: Tegrak lagfix: how do I install it?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=920711

I've seen the above thread but I have no idea how to install the kernel. I've got a Galaxy S running Froyo 2.2 "JPO".

Since removing the OCLF lagfix the phone has been really slow, so I need to find out what I need to do to get Tegrak working.

I have Odin 1.3 which I used to install Froyo, but that was following a detailed step by step list of instructions!

It says in the thread I need the latest stock firmware before trying to install Tegrak, but it doesn't state what that is or where to get it. It also doesn't really go into detail beyond saying "use Odin to install it".

Additionally, how do I go about making sure the apps I have bought from the market are saved so I don't have to buy them again?

I'm a web developer, so it's not as if the tech stuff is alien to me, but the Android specific stuff is!

# Answer
Load the kernel .zip file into the PDA field of Odin, and (if you have it, should have come with Odin) load the 512 .pit file into the PIT field of Odin. Then flash it just like you did for the Froyo ROM.

A stock ROM is just a ROM that's not modified by anyone, it came straight from Samsung. If you aren't using a lagfix already, you probably don't need a stock ROM however. You should be able to find one easily enough in the XDA subforum for your device, if you want it; use JS5, since that's what the kernel is based on.

Your paid apps are recorded in your Google account. You will never lose your purchase rights to them (barring any service suspensions and that sort of thing). You can, however, use something like Titanium backup to back them up (requires root). You can back up the entire device using ClockworkMod / Nandroid; look for ROM Manager in the Market (requires root).

One question: Why are you using that over straight Voodoo? Voodoo's perfect, and I believe Supercurio has taken stock kernels and added only Voodoo so you don't get any other random stuff.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, samsung-galaxy-s
---


# Question
Title: Odin not allowing firmware to be flashed
I'm following the instructions here to try and upgrade the firmware to I9000XWJS8: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=846913

As soon as I hit start it does nothing, as you can see in the message window it says it's failed. It does this with JS8 or with the Gingerbread download, in Odin 1.7 and 1.3.

What's going wrong? Also, should the phone be in USB debugging mode or regular? I've tried both to no effect.

# Answer
The phone should be in Download mode:

1. Take out the battery
2. Plug into USB (apparently skip this if you have an i9000 -- see comments)
3. While holding both volume buttons (Note, you may need to hold Home+VolDown instead)
    1. Insert the battery
    2. Click the power button
4. Phone should go into Download mode after a few seconds:

You may need to disconnect from and reconnect it to the computer after this for Odin to see it.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, device-firmware, rom-flashing, odin
---


# Question
Title: (How) can I get contacts with no name to display the Organization instead of "Unnamed" on my Android phone?
I have an HTC Evo with contacts that were imported by Sprint from my old Palm Centro. On the Centro, I could have contacts with no name but a business/organization, and the contact list would use that as the display, and I could search on that field. (Handy for calling pizza restaurants!) On my new Android device, that sort of contact shows up as "Unknown", and the Organization name can't be searched.

1. Is there a way to get the Android contact list to mimic the Palm's (quite reasonable and user-friendly!) behavior?
2. Is there a quick way to copy the Organizations into the (say) Last Name field, if the above is not possible?
3. What is the "right way" to deal with contacts that are businesses, not people, on Android devices?

# Answer
> 2 votes
On my HTC Magic, I just put the business name in the contact's name field, then have all the businesses in a Contacts group called "Businesses" for when I want to find one of them quickly. To be honest this is also the way I used to do it on my old Palm, too.

# Answer
> 0 votes
On my evo when I add a contact with an organization and no name the organization is the displayed name. Maybe try going to a contact and hitting edit? This might get the phone to prepare the contact.

# Answer
> 0 votes
For some reason, my contacts were sorted by organization and name, but something happened that my contacts were linked and the organization name dropped off. If you go to those contacts that just show number, click Edit, then Link, and then from the drop-down, select the organization name...too much work for something that was working fine, but that was my work-around.

---
Tags: contacts, htc-evo
---


# Question
Title: How to keep the Car Home app from opening automatically on my Droid?
Hey all, this is something that's been bugging me for a while now and I just found this wonderful, glorious place so I thought I'd pick your collective brains.

I'm running CM 6.2.1 on my original Motorola Droid. I don't want to uninstall the Car Home app, but I don't want it to open automatically when I put my phone in my car dock either. Aside from ripping apart my dock and pulling out the magnet, is there any way I can accomplish this?

# Answer
> 4 votes
You can use an app like Autostarts (requires root) to manage which apps can listen to which events. You just need to remove Car Home from the docking event.

---
Tags: motorola-droid, cyanogenmod, car-dock
---


title: Installing Froyo on Milestone

text:
# Question
Title: Installing Froyo on Milestone
Is there a way to install Froyo on the Motorola Milestone?

I understand that Motorola is planning a deployment of this release in Q1 2011 but I just wish I had it now!

# Answer
Stock Froyo? No, not at the moment.

Custom ROM? Take a look at XDA Forums, there are some ROMs currently in progress, but might be unstable on your phone.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Froyo is released for the Milestone Go to this page to get it from motorola: http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Support/GB-EN/froyo/milestonenotification.htm
> 1 votes

---
Tags: motorola-milestone, 2.2-froyo
---


# Question
Title: What country is my Motorola MILESTONE from? Can I install a Froyo update from Motorola Droid on it?
I bought it at Amazon.com, and had it delivered to a friend's house in Massachusetts. I flew to the US, visit my friend, did some tourism, and brought the phone back with me to Brazil, where I put in my GSM chip and it works just fine. Here is the phone info:

* Model number: Milestone
* Firmware version: 2.1-update1
* Firmware configuration version: GAS\_EMEA\_USASHLS00RTINT\_P012

The box says: SM,A853,TR,RETAIL,LICBRZ

So, I should be waiting for an update for what? Europe, like it says in this thread? Or Latin America? Or can I get 2.2 safely from somewhere else? The software looks pretty American to me. What if I follow the instructions from this site? Do I risk bricking my phone?

# Answer
> 2 votes
The Motorola update software will recognize the correct origin, so you could always try to get the official Froyo upgrade.

Click around on this page to get instructions: http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Support/GB-EN/froyo/milestonenotification.htm

# Answer
> 1 votes
First of all: Motorola Droid and Motorola Milestone are two different phones, although they look the same. The XT720 (aka Motoroi or Sholes Tablet) is another phone from the Milestone family, but without a keyboard.

The Software is NOT compatible, flashing a SBF file for the wrong phone will result in a bricked device. If you flash a custom ROM via an update.zip or nandroid image, you won't get past the Motorola-Logo on boot, but it's still possible to flash the right ROM.

> * Model number: Milestone Firmware
> * version: 2.1-update1 Firmware
> * configuration version: GAS\_EMEA\_USASHLS00RTINT\_P012
>
> The box says: SM,A853,TR,RETAIL,LICBRZ

This is indicating you got the standard Milestone, the A853, with the South-East Asia firmware (RTINT). You can flash every Milestone (A853) RO, but it's possible, that 3G won't work due to different frequencies.

I think, a Brazil ROM (Vivo?!) was leaked some time ago, but there's no official release yet.

Custom ROMs: Edgard Castro maintains a Brazilian AOSP ROM (http://code.google.com/p/shadowmodbr/) and there is an unofficial version of the CyanogenMod 7 (2.3.3, Gingerbread). More info here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=670

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, updates, motorola-milestone
---


# Question
Title: How Can I get Google Natives apps in Samsung Galaxy S?
As you know Samsung Galaxy S comes with yahoo apps (mail, chat, etc). My First Android Phone was a G1 and I really love the google natives apps like gtalk, search widget, etc.. The problem is that these apps are not in the market and I dont know Where to find them.

I know That I could install another Rom that brings theses apps, but I really like How works my samsung with Eclair. I just need back my google apps.

Some help?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Have you searched in the market using "Google" as the publisher?

Gmail / Maps / Search are available there.

Also found this link - http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/Internet-Utilities/Instant-Messenger/GTalk-106808.shtml

# Answer
> 2 votes
Installing from Market is preferrable, but you probably can sideload them if you exhausted all other avenues.

Download the apk: http://forum.samdroid.net/f10/google-updates-3468/

If you have adb, then you can install the apk using adb install.

If you don't have adb, then save those apks to the SD card and use a file manager (e.g. Astro, Estrongs, etc) to install them.

You need to enable non-Market installation: Settings \> Applications \> Unknown sources

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, google-talk
---


# Question
Title: Is there a zoom and timer functionality on Nexus S camera?
If not, is there another app that gives this functionality?

# Answer
There is no timer built in, but you can crop images in the standard gallery app which is essentially the same as digital zoom.

There are a number of apps which list timer functionality (I haven't tried them myself so can't verify first hand how well they work):

Plus a load of others.
> 2 votes

# Answer
You can definitely zoom. I don't believe there's a timer, but an app like PRO Zoom Camera 5x should work for that (note, it doesn't say whether it works for the NS). Additionally, you could use an app like Tasker to time the shot; its website mentions that specifically.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: camera, samsung-nexus-s, zooming
---


# Question
Title: Are there any "iptables like" firewall for Android?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Are there any good firewalls available?

How can i make my Android more secure with a firewall? Are there any legal/offical ways to do it?
Thank you!

# Answer
> 1 votes
DroidWall is an Android front end for iptables. Root is required though.

---
Tags: security, firewall
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to get a "zoom balloon" (like on the iphone) when sliding over a text input field?
Is there any way to show a zoom balloon (like on the iphone), whenever sliding over a text field to show us where the marker is, and allow us to move it correctly.

# Answer
> 2 votes
My Motorola Defy has this capability. My phone is running Android 2.1. When you hold your finger over the text field, it will pop up a zoomed in window that allows you to move the cursor with your finger to edit text.

---
Tags: keyboard, input-methods
---


title: Wifi tethering unavailable HTC Magic

text:
# Question
Title: Wifi tethering unavailable HTC Magic
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Wifi tethering with HTC Magic

Hi,

Got a HTC Magic (the black one) with official froyo 2.2.1 in it, but when I went to check there is no WiFi tethering available in the menu (although, there is usb tethering).

Is there any way I could put this old phone to work as a portable hotspot? I mean, are there any apps I could download to enable the wifi tether?

I'd just prefer not to have it rooted, custom ROM, if possible...

thanks.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I only tinkered with it a little, but I'm pretty sure that you can only create a WiFi tether with an Android 2.2.x device if the manufacturer allows for it or if you root your phone and install something like Barnacle.

I found this thread over at Android Forums in which the first reply specifies that the Magic doesn't support WiFi tether.

If you can handle having a USB cable connected between your laptop and phone PdaNet seems to work well for people without root.

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, tethering, wifi-hotspot, htc-magic
---


title: Dropped wireless on Android?

text:
# Question
Title: Dropped wireless on Android?
I currently have a Droid Incredible (Froyo with ROM: Skyraider 3.5 w/ Sense)

For a while now, my wireless connection on my Droid Inc just drops and switches over to 3G even though wireless, on both the router and phone, are still on. All my other devices connected wirelessly are still connected and functioning. I had this problem on pre and post rooting and ROMing.

What could be the root cause of this? Has any other Android smartphone experienced this?

Is there a feature/app that could warn you that your wireless has dropped and is switching over to mobile network and vise versa. I only ask because the switch over either way is seamless and can be annoying when browsing or downloading apps.

# Answer
> 3 votes
After reading a bit this seems to be a pretty common issue with folks who are running Skyraider on their devices. I don't know exactly what they're talking about, but apparently your radio needs to be the right version in order for your WiFi to act properly. This thread over at IncredibleForum looks like it might be where you need to start.

---
Tags: wi-fi, connection-issues
---


# Question
Title: I want to password lock my "Applications" settings, but no other settings
I have an AppLock program that locks certain apps with a PIN. In order for the app to have any effectiveness, I include `Settings` as an App to lock. Otherwise, I could go to `Settings -> Applications` and simply kill the task. The disadvantage to this is that if I lock `Settings` I cannot do simple tasks like `Calling Settings` and `Display`. I would like the ability to fine tune exactly what settings I lock. Is this possible?

I'm running Froyo on a Samsung Captivate.

# Answer
I believe the basic answer is no. Obviously it can't be done with AppLock since all the settings are accessed through the same app, but further than that you would have to somehow determine what the Settings app was doing and prevent it. This would be *very* difficult, and impossible without root.

I think the Settings app must be open-source, however, given that manufacturers can customize it. You could possibly modify it to lock out the application settings unless you enter a password, or something. That's beyond the scope of this site, however.

Another alternative is widgets that alter the settings directly. I'm sure you can get a widget that would allow you to edit the brightness and that sort of thing without going through the Settings app. I'm not exactly sure how widgets like this work, however; it's possible they might call into the Settings app, which would prevent this.

In that last case, it might also be possible to set up something like AppLocker that allows Settings to run if it is triggered by a "privileged" application. You could make the brightness widget privileged, so that the Settings app can make the brightness change when requested to, but everything else would still be protected. I assume AppLocker can't do this, but it might not be hard to develop (again, out of the scope of this site).

I know this is kind of vague, but hopefully it provides some sort of help.
> 5 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, security, application-manager
---


title: Anyone know the LG Ally screen density?

text:
# Question
Title: Anyone know the LG Ally screen density?
I'm doing some android development and one of the specific devices I need to test on is the LG ally. The tech specs on their web site list the display resolution as 480 x 800, but I also need the density in order to emulate the screen properly (the difference between 160 and 240 dpi is huge).

Anyone know the screen density for the LG Ally?

# Answer
> 0 votes
It's about 290 DPI (just crunch the numbers: Use the pythagorean equation to get the "pixels" diagonally, then divide by the screen diagonal).

---
Tags: screen
---


title: Problems rooting an evo shift

text:
# Question
Title: Problems rooting an evo shift
I'm on day 2 of the great quest for permanant root. I have followed the guides here and here to the letter and still my hboot shows "S-On". Hboot says:

```
SPEEDY XE SHIP S-ON
HBOOT-0.93.0001
RADIO-1.07.00.1129
eMMC-boot

```

Visionary will temp root, I go through all the steps, the md5's match, but when I go into hboot, it always says S-ON. How do I get this thing rooted?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Did you try to permaroot anyways?

I'd try a factory reset and then try again.

---
Tags: rooting
---


title: android access in some countries

text:
# Question
Title: android access in some countries
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How do I use the US Android Market

Hello I would like to ask if there is any way to get android market in syria cuz it's not allowed Thank you

# Answer
If you have a rooted phone, you can try using Market Enabler to spoof the Market into thinking you're accessing it from a country where the Android Market is available.
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: What makes the Atrix's implementation of Citrix Receiver special?
The Motorola Atrix looks like a nice phone.

A widely publicized feature is the remote desktop function, which uses Citrix Receiver to connect to a virtualized workstation in the cloud, so that one could potentially plug the phone into any TV and start working.

My question is: how much of this function is unique to the Atrix? It looks like Citrix Receiver can be used on any Android device, indeed it's available for other smartphone platforms as well. Other smartphones have HDMI output, so that is not a differentiating factor.

Could I replicate this function on any Android phone with an HDMI jack?

# Answer
The advantage that ATRIX currently has is that the HDMI out can display up to a 1280x1024 resolution, plus the dock provides full function USB keyboard and mouse. Some of the other Androids do have HDMI out, however they only mirror the lower resolution of the phone display ( if at all ) Most of them only output pictures or videos. The ATRIX does the best job of providing access to a Virtual Desktop without compromise.

disclaimer : Citrix worked with Motorola on the ATRIX solution
> 1 votes

# Answer
If you're asking if you can do remote desktop on a phone and also have the phone output to a TV, the answer's yes. I use Remote Desktop Enterprise on my device (Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant), and my device supports some sort of output from the USB port to HDMI as well as wireless DLNA.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: motorola
---


# Question
Title: Run Android application from remote computer
I need to run my Android application from a remote computer (in the same network) via SSH (not using ADB). How do I do that?

# Answer
> 5 votes
You need to run an SSH server on your phone, such as DroidSSH.

You can launch `adb shell` from the SSH session terminal, and then run `am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n <qualified-app-name>`. For example, `<qualified-app-name>` is something like `com.android.settings/.Settings`.

---
Tags: remote-control, ssh
---


# Question
Title: How can I prevent my phone from using any kind of internet?
I have a weird plan and my phone went over its bandwidth usage this month... mostly just syncing up with Gmail, Twitter etc. So right now, every 5 minutes or so, my phone is telling me that it has spent 40 cents here and 30 cents there using up my prepaid money.

I have done the following:

* Turned off Wifi (my phone doesn't see any WiFi spots anyway right now)
* Turned off all apps
* Turned off syncing of data

However its still dinging me here and there and I need my phone minutes to last until it automatically reloads in two days. I've noticed that I will kill certain apps and then I find out they are turned back on... and syncing even though I told the phone not to.

Short of putting the phone on airplane mode (which I don't want to do because I'm expecting an important phone call - also my phone then becomes totally useless.), I can't seem to keep it from using the 3G network!

# Answer
Just kill the APN Connection settings. Somewhere under settings. And there is actually a switch for mobile internet. Disable that as well. Worked like a charm for me. If you can't find it, add the Power Savings widget to your home screen, it has that option
> 9 votes

# Answer
On my Galaxy S, you can hold the power button for a second and a menu will come up. Just hit "Data network mode" to deactivate it. You can reactivate it the same way.

If you don't have that, you should be able to go to `Settings -> Wireless and network -> Mobile networks` and uncheck **Data enabled** or **Use packet data** or similar.
> 5 votes

# Answer
I use APNDroid (Also available in the marketplace for free). You can easily turn data on or off with the press of a button.

Add the APNDroid widget to your home screen to easily turn data on or off.
> 4 votes

# Answer
If you want to use data some of the time (sounds like you might if you're running a twitter app), I'd second Jonathan's plug for APNdroid.

Once you've installed it, longpress on your screen and select "widgets" to place the APNdroid widget on your home screen, and you can turn data on and off. The other really handy widget is "Power Control" which is nominally there to give you control over your power consumption but functionally lets you turn bluetooth, wifi, GPS and background syncing on and off.

Wifi shouldn't be using your minutes at all, though. You should be able to use it instead of the 3G network.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: 3g, data-connection, wi-fi
---


# Question
Title: G1 Misbehaving -- can I (should I?) reinstall donut?
I have an unlocked G1 (b/c I am stuck with an AT&T contract) that recently started to do a lot of weird things all at once. Most notably, it rings but does not show the caller or allow me to pickup. The home key no longer does anything, and when I hold down the power key I see only the "power off" option -- no airline mode or silent mode.

I can make calls just fine but this is obviously an issue.

I've managed to get root on the phone (via UniversalAndroot) and BusyBox and i've been reading this: http://gailly.net/android/android-tips.html but I'm not really sure where to start troubleshooting this. I think I need a development OS to actually run `adb root`. I'd like to at least try installing or upgrading my OS.

Am I barking up the wrong tree? This is my only phone.

# Answer
I'd actually recommend upgrading past Donut, since there is a great custom ROM community for the G1. For example, this looks like the best Froyo ROM for the G1, but you can look around XDA's Android Development forum (specifically the ROM Bible thread) if you want to find out more first.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: htc-dream
---


title: Can I backup my APN settings?

text:
# Question
Title: Can I backup my APN settings?
Where are my Access Point Names stored in the file system? Can I back them up via `adb shell`?

My phone is unlocked (AT&T Contract. *Le sigh*.) and I'm inching towards modding it but I want to be sure I've got my APN settings.

# Answer
> 9 votes
Yes, just copy the `/system/etc/apns-conf.xml` file.

You can also use an app like APN Backup & Restore: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.riteshsahu.APNBackupRestore

**Edit:** To backup manually-entered APNs (or ones otherwise not part of your ROM, such as ones "imported" when you insert a new SIM card) you also need to back up

```
/data/data/com.android.settings/shared_prefs/com.android.settings_preferences.xml

```

APN Backup & Restore does not do this.

---
Tags: backup, apn
---


# Question
Title: How do I know what radio firmware I'm running?
I'm gearing up to mod my phone and reading the Cyanogenmod Installation Support Line which is helpful-ish right up until step 1.3, "1.3 Radio ...aka Which EBI am I?" They refer you to a post that makes almost no sense to me and which seems to be pretty damn important. I can't tell from it where I would look to see which EBI I am. In Recovery Flasher it shows my Phone Type as "EBI0/32B"

Looking at the wiki I find a whole page (I searched for "EBI0") I do see instructions for turning the phone off and holding down the back arrow while I power it back up. Here I see the following:

```
DREA100 PVT 32B
HBOOT-0.95.000
CPLD-4
RADIO-2.22.23.02

Sep 2 2008

```

I *think* this means I'm a 2x radio and thus can safely install DangerSPL. Am I on the right track here?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Yes, based on those posts you definitely have a 2.x radio that does not require the modified kernel. Your radio version is also listed as supported on the DangerSPL page. I think you're good to go, best of luck!

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, radio-firmware
---


# Question
Title: Why can't the Droid 2 connect to 5 GHz WiFi networks?
The Droid 2 can connect to 2.4 GHz wireless networks, such as 802.11b/g/n, but not 5.0 GHz networks such as 802.11a/n. Why is this? Is there any workaround to allow it to connect to both types of wireless-N WiFi networks?

Note, this is similar to a question that was recently deleted by its owner and I didn't get a chance to answer. Hopefully this will be useful to others in the future.

# Answer
> 5 votes
The WL1271 WiFi chip in the Droid 2 does not support 5.0 GHz networks, so there's sadly no possibility of a workaround. Its "better cousin", the WL1273 chip, does support 5 GHz networks; unfortunately, Motorola went the cheap route. You can get more info on these chips at the Texas Instruments website.

---
Tags: motorola-droid-2, wi-fi
---


title: Why can't I boot into recovery mode?

text:
# Question
Title: Why can't I boot into recovery mode?
I think I'm actually missing something here still. Everything I read suggests I need to boot into recovery mode as a first step, and that I ought to be able to do that by holding down the "home" key while I'm starting up. Instead I get a bang (!) in a triangle icon with a phone next to it.

Have I skipped a step or is there something wrong with my phone? I know there's something wrong with my phone ... that's why I embarked on this project to begin with. But could that be some how preventing me from booting to recovery mode? Or is the problem a skipped step?

# Answer
> 7 votes
**Edit:** Apparently download and recovery modes are merged for the G1. Just press Alt-L on your physical keyboard while in Download mode, and Recovery will show up.

---

What you're seeing is **Download Mode**. The key combination is usually subtly different. In the case of my phone, it's just a matter of having the phone connected to USB or not. You should try it with and without USB, as well as removing the battery and doing a fresh boot. (You can also remove the battery, plug into USB, and reinsert the battery and try). Also try other keys -- you already know using Back instead gets you to that device info screen.

# Answer
> 2 votes
> Everything I read suggests I need to boot into recovery mode as a first step,

If you're using Samsung Spica (and probably most other Samsung phones, not sure about other phones), the general idea of rooting/installing-custom-rom is that the very first time you flash your ROM, you need to do it in **Download Mode**. This first flashing uses the system that Samsung itself uses.

This first flash will usually install ClockworkMod Custom Recovery, which will replace the phone's original Recovery Mode with a much more featureful version. Once you have ClockworkMod's Recovery, then you can install any ROM in the Clockwork's .zip file format; nearly all (or all?) modded Android are distributed as a Clockwork .zip format.

---
Tags: recovery-mode, htc-dream
---


title: Video out over USB?

text:
# Question
Title: Video out over USB?
I'm starting to regret not getting an Atrix - the whole docking scheme seems so cool. Unfortunately, it seems that I can't even do much of a DIY thing to output a video stream with the device's screen over USB. I have a rooted G2.

The G1 could do video-out, but only because it had the hardware for it (although it was never implemented). There's apps out there for VNC and for screenshots, although not for screen recording (from which it would be a small step to output to USB).

The most frustrating thing is that this is an area with very sparse documentation. Stuff like this hasn't much been done before, and I can't find any existing software to do this sort of thing.

Is there anything that you guys know of that I could follow for developing an app to do this via software since the hardware for video-out isn't there? Even better yet, is there any software that can record the screen? If I was on a Linux desktop, how could I tap into the monitor's video stream?

Thanks, -Trey

# Answer
This is indeed a question to StackOverflow. I asked a very similar question about a week ago, and basically, the answer is no, to implement that you'll have to dig very deep into the code. See here for more. Hope it fits your question.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: usb, video-out
---


# Question
Title: What is the right way to backup my whole phone?
I did a factory reset last night, and I'd like to try to mod my G1 but I want to make sure I have a good, complete recovery image. Preferably one that will restore things like my K9 mail settings, in addition to my installed applications. If I went ahead right now with the modding I wouldn't need these things but I need to just use my phone for a few days, for which I'd like to arrange my settings.

I think I need to use nandroid, so maybe my real question is: are there caveats to be alert to in a nandroid backup?

# Answer
> 6 votes
If you only want apps/settings backed up, I recommend Titanium Backup. It requires root. Its backup will be saved to `/mnt/sdcard/TitaniumBackup/`, you can copy that folder to your computer just in case your card gets formatted.

If you use ClockworkMod / nandroid, do the same thing (copy the `/mnt/sdcard/clockworkmod/backup` folder to your PC afterwards). The only real caveat is that you *should* flash the ROM you had when the backup was done before restoring the backup. If the ROM you flashed afterward was significantly different, restoring without first reflashing the previous ROM can brick the phone.

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


# Question
Title: Will the AT&T HTC Aria Froyo (2.2) official upgrade solve the Bluetooth reset issue? will it allow free tethering as the unofficial 2.2?
Hi I couldn't wait and dowloaded the 2.2 upgrade for my AT&T HTC Aria just to find out the official one came one a few weeks later.

The only reason I want to upgrade is the Bluetooth reset bug (phone reboots / resets after walking away from a bluetooth source, e.g. when I exit the car while using Vlingo (with car handsfree), my phone resets!

**So my quetions are**

1. What is the best way to solve the Bluetooth reset issue? Will the official upgrade fix it?
2. Assuming most chances it will, will it hurt my phone in any way? (will it unroot it? will it block tethering?)

# Answer
The official update will almost certainly unroot and not allow free WiFi tether. I'll let someone with experience speak to the bluetooth issues.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, bluetooth, att, htc-aria
---


title: Samsung Galaxy S firmware codes

text:
# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy S firmware codes
When Samsung Kies offers an update it doesn't tell you what version of android the update is.

All you get is seemingly meaningless codes like

```
PDA:JPI / Phone:JPP / CSC:JP4

```

or similar

What do these codes mean?

How can you convert these codes to android versions.

If they are arbitrary can this question serve as a list mapping codes to android versions.

# Answer
Well for the Vibrant, the codes are as follows; for example, KA7:

The first letter is the year: K is the eleventh letter of the alphabet, so 2011.

The second is the month: January (A = 1).

7 is the revision or build, so KA6 is older than KA7, etc.

It's obviously different for the i9000 but you should be able to find that info on XDA. They'll also tell you which release is which version of Android, which is not in the code AFAIK.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s
---


# Question
Title: When is the Nexus S Android 2.3.3 update coming to the UK
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> When will my phone get the Android 2.3 update (Gingerbread)?

I have a UK Nexus S and it is still on 2.3.2. It's been a month since this update began being pushed out in the US, but so far I've seen nothing. Have any UK users received it, and is there any news on its UK roll-out?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Offficial OTA updates can take their own sweet time getting to your phone, since they're dependent on not just how Google is rolling down the updstes but on operator arrangements as well. The simplest andquickst way of getting an update is to download the signed OTA update from Google and manually update your phone. XDA forums is typically a good place to find links to those updates - that is also how I downloaded my the 2.3.3 update to my NexusOne, sitting in India. Waiting for an OTA update, I would probably have been among the last people in the world to get it :)

Here is a simple way of manually updating your phone: \- Download the update and rename the file update.zip \- Connect your phone to your PC/Mac and copy that file to your microSD card. \- Power down your Nexus S. Then press ‘power’ and hold the volume button. You’ll see a screen appear with three Androids. \- Using the volume buttons, select ‘Bootloader’ and then press ‘Power’ to select. \- On the next screen, select ‘Recovery’. \- The phone will reboot. You’ll see a triangle with and Android robot and an exclamation point. \- Press the volume up button and the power button at the same time. \- Using the volume buttons, select “Apply sdcard: update.zip”. \- Reboot to get 2.3.3

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, samsung-nexus-s
---


title: Factory reset left root intact?

text:
# Question
Title: Factory reset left root intact?
I rooted my Dream/G1 last night and finally gave up on modding it (not for good mind you, but for the moment) and opted instead to just restore it to factory settings via `Settings > SD card & phone storage > Factory data reset`, which did solve all the problems I was having with multitasking (and not being able to answer it, etc.)

Curiously, I still seem to have root on the phone, despite having reset it. I'd love to understand how that is possible! Superuser Permissions is the only non-stock app still on the phone, and I'm still able to use `su` to gain root privileges from `adb shell`. Is this because BusyBox installs to my SD Card?

My phone works just fine, so this is hardly critical, but the whole exercise was/is about knowing my phone better and this is most def. a mystery. Thanks!

# Answer
> 6 votes
Root things (su, busybox and Superuser.apk) are installed in /system, which is usually on a special partition. This partition is usually mounted as read-only. (Remember mount command, that is neccesary to allow writing there...) It is likely that this partition is not affected by master reset.

# Answer
> 2 votes
If you want to remove root access from your phone you need to un-root it.
Here's a link for Unrooting HTC G1/Dream or Unrooting the G1 | Android Forums

The links I provided are just a starting point - I have never un-rooted so I can't speak to the method but I know that a **"Factory Data Reset"** / **"Hard Reset"** will ***NOT*** remove 'root'. I have done a "Hard Reset" though and have experienced the same thing as you - you still have root and any apps that were part of rooting and whatever custom ROM you flashed - everything else is gone. This will just clear your user-data and apps (and possibly some other things that I just don't know about) but the phone will still be rooted if you had done that before you did the "Hard Reset". As one of the links states one of the main reasons for un-rooting is for turning your phone in for warranty repairs.

Hope this helps.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You should test your phone to see if you actually still have root access, or if for some odd reason restoring your phone to stock didn't remove the icon for the superuser app.

Go to the market and download something like Barnacle (adhoc WiFi AP app) or AndroSS (screenshot app) and try to run whatever you download. If it request su access, you allow it, and it actually performs the task it's designed for then you still have root. If it doesn't prompt you for su access or if it does but them seemingly doesn't respond properly then odds are the factory reset removed your root access without cleaning up after itself.

As far as why you wouldn't have root but still have the superuser app installed? That's something that would require a lot more digging, I think.

---
Tags: factory-reset, root-access
---


# Question
Title: Change default application for handling headset controls
I have a HTC Desire HD running stock 2.2

When using the HTC supplied headphones, the play/pause/nav controls only work with Meridian. I don't remember explicitly setting it up as such, although I may have missed it. I'd like to be able to use them with BeyondPod instead, as I'm about 10x more likely to be listening to a podcast than music.

Is there a way to change the default app for these buttons?

# Answer
A bit more playing around led me to a (if not THE) solution. I found an "enable headset buttons" check box in Meridian, which prompted me to dig further into BeyondPod, where a found a similar setting.

Everything works as I'd like now.

I've since gone back and checked a couple of things though, which are not quite as I expected. I thought if you re-enabled the controls within one app, it might disable the other. This isn't quite what happened. When I re-enabled Meridian, it responded to the controls, although BeyondPod still showed it as supposedly responding, which it didn't. Once I'd disabled Meridian again, I had to go back into BeyondPod, disable and re-enable it's control in order to have it respond again.

My main gripe was that if I were listening a podcast, and bumped the headphone controls, the music would start playing over the top of my podcast audio. While it may be a cute multi-tasking demo, it's not a particularly practical use of this feature, IMH(BC)O.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: headphones, buttons
---


# Question
Title: What does the message: 550 Invalid name or chroot violation mean?
I am trying to establih an Ftp connection between my Archos tablet and my Galaxy phone.

I am using the swiFTP server program on my Archos.

I am able to connect to the Archos from the phone using an TPP client but when I try to copy any file Ireceive the message '550 Invaid name or chroot violation'.

Can anyone explain what this means?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Looks like this is a pretty common problem.

One of the comments in the second link says that you need to change `/sdcard` to `/mnt/sdcard`. Apparently Android 2.2 changed the way the SDCard is mounted and the error you're receiving comes from `/sdcard` being a symbolic link in 2.2 rather than an absolute path.

---
Tags: ftp
---


# Question
Title: Looking for Android equivalent of Clonezilla / Diskimage / Ghost etc
Have been googling for quite a few hours but can't seem to find what I'm looking for, hope someone can point me in the right direction....

I want to basically make a complete image of my phone before I make an changes to it so that I can restore it exactly as it is now. In the PC world I would use CloneZilla / ghost or similar. though I have used dd in the past and don't mind using it.

I am looking for a solution that will work on the following phones:

* HTC Desire (not HD or S)
* Sony Erikson X10 Mini Pro

In my searching I found mention of a tool called Nandroid, but as best as I could tell it seemed to only be for a G1 and required Root. I don't have root on either phone, so solutions offered requiring root are not helpful because (as I understand it) gaining root will wipe the data (at least some) I'm trying to back up.

I also found article about creating a GoldCard for a HTC Desire, is this what I need to do? there was no explanation on what a GoldCard was? It also didn't look like a particularly desirable method as It required wiping the memory card first and had no mention of how to restore if things go bad.

My objectives are as follows:

* Upgrade the SE X10 mini (it's stuck on Android 1.6!) I know there is a 2.1 upgrade for it, but it's not available unless yo have a windows machine??? I only have Ubuntu + Mac. I'm not prepared to buy a windows licence just to upgrade an android phone (seems Odd!)
* Try out Android 2.3 and 3.0 on the HTC Desire and the X10, understandably this is play, so I want to be able to go back quickly, especially on the X10 (wifes phone) as I will be in no end of trouble if I brick that and don't get it back by the morning :)
* If successful with the first 2, then I can look at trying out dev releases and testing them (That is after all my day job) and hopefully being able to contribute. To do this I need to be able to load a release test it out and then roll back on the same night so Ideally I need a process that is quite quick or a bunch of shell commands I can script.

Hopefully someone can steer me on the right course....

Thanks,

Dave.

# Answer
Root should not erase any phone data. How do you expect to back up the entire device with only user permissions? You need root permissions, in the absence of a system-level tool built into the OS or bootloader or a PC-side tool for directly accessing the phone storage (both are very unlikely). **Update:** There is now OS-supported backup which an app like Helium can use to back things up without root.

ClockworkMod / Nandroid is definitely not G1-only, there are dozens if not hundreds of supported devices. It's definitely the best way to back everything up.

I recommend checking out XDA's x10 Mini General forum and possibly the Android Development forum also; read all the sticky threads, they should give you a good overview of all this. You can do the same for the Desire.
> 8 votes

# Answer
With the stock firmware and without root you can’t accomplish what you want.

To backup your entire phone you need complete access to the phone ROM memory to copy all of its contents, and for that you need root access.

I have a HTC Desire and what I’ve done is use Unrevocked to gain root access to the phone and change the android recovery of the phone for one that includes tools to do “nandroid” backups, among other things like install ROM from compressed files on the SD card.

The process is simple and fast and in a few minutes you will have a phone with root access and a recovery system that give you plenty of new tools.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: backup
---


# Question
Title: can automatic update work when app is not installed from android marketplace?
or how can i auto update an app that is not installed via android marketplace. it is useful in scenario where many of our customer uses custom built of android device ( which not yet registered to android ) , and we want to make sure that changes to our app propogate to device ?

# Answer
This sounds like it might be better asked on stackoverflow.

The autoupdate is a feature of the market. If users haven't installed the app with the market you'll have to implement your own update feature. In Android 2.2 you could potentially take advantage of the push notification system for updates.
> 4 votes

# Answer
You would have to create your own process of having the application notifying the user of updates (and providing a link to the new apk. You could do this with a background service that pops up a message in the notification bar). The user has to install the application from the market to receive updates via the Android market.
> 2 votes

# Answer
To notify an Android phone that an application have a new version (without programming all the process) you have 2 options:

1.- Use the market feature, but for your comments I think this one is out of your list.

2.- Use the notification system available on Android 2.2 and 2.3.

To use this push notification service the device needs to be logged on a Google account in order to receive the notification, so maybe this isn’t suitable for your process.

If no one of this options is what you’re looking for, you will be forced to develop your own push notification system and install that system in every Android phone you need update.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: application-autoupdate
---


title: Built-in alarm clock on G2?

text:
# Question
Title: Built-in alarm clock on G2?
I just upgraded from G1 to G2 Android. The G1 had a decent alarm clock application built right into it. The G2 doesn't seem to have this app (or I can't seem to find it.) Anyone know how to access it if there is one?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I think they changed the name of the stock Clock app during one of the Android OS upgrades.

In 2.1 I think it was called "Desk Clock". In 2.2 it's just called "Clock".

---
Tags: htc-desire-z, alarm
---


# Question
Title: Android ASTRO Cannot Locate Download Directory
I have placed apk in download directory. I have also downloaded from web into download directory, but ASTRO does not seem to see this directory. In Astro I see / etc lib data (empty) and sd (empty). On the other hand from windows explorer I don't see these files I see

```
F:Android
F:download/ with apks
F:DCIM empty

F:Android/data with some items like cache but not much.

```

So far searching with Astro I could not locate downloaded files in the download directory which I know are on Android. Any suggestions. Thanks

# Answer
> 1 votes
Look at `/mnt/sdcard/download`. And based on Al's comment, I suggest making sure your phone is not connected to your PC and then reboot the phone before looking there.

---
Tags: apk
---


# Question
Title: How to migrate accounts and data from one Android phone to another?
I have a HTC Magic phone with Android 2.2.1 and I want to migrate all accounts (9), apps, sms, settings, etc... to a new phone with Nexus One.

Do you known some Android service/option or free app on Market to do it?

Thanks a lot!

**UPDATE**

I have migrated successfully :)

Old phone: HTC Magic rooted with Android 2.2.1
New phone: Nexus One rooted with Android 2.3.3

* At first, backup google accounts with Titanium Backup Rooted
* Then, backup SMS and Call logs with Life Saver 2
* At end, restore in the new phone

Some problems with settings restore (Wifi, Bluetooth, apps, etc...).

Thanks!

# Answer
If you are rooted, use Titanium Backup. You won't be able to restore some things, since the Nexus One and HTC Magic have some very different system apps, but most should carry over. After backing up with TB, copy `/mnt/sdcard/titaniumbackup/` to your PC. Then on the N1: install TB, copy the folder from your PC to the same location on the phone, then run TB and restore.

If you're not rooted, it's difficult to back up most things, especially all at once. I'd rely on Google's backup for your list of apps and that sort of thing, as the other answer suggests.
> 6 votes

# Answer
If you're syncing with Google already, most of that will automatically be synced to the new phone when you enable Google sync on it.
> 2 votes

# Answer
If you aren't squeamish about rooting your phones you could use an app like Titanium Backup.

1. Just root both devices
2. Install Titanium Backup on both
3. Choose the apps you want from your Magic and back them up
4. Copy /mnt/sdcard/TitaniumBackup/ from your Magic to your Nexus One (this is the path used on my Droid, it may be different on your devices)
5. Load Titanium Backup on the Nexus One and load the backups
> 0 votes

# Answer
For the SMS messages, see this previous question: How do I backup and restore SMS Messages? out of the suggestions there, I've used Life Saver 2 successfully to transfer all of my SMS and call history between phones very easily.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nexus-one, htc-magic, data-transfer
---


title: Make fonts larger in Galaxy Tab

text:
# Question
Title: Make fonts larger in Galaxy Tab
How can I enlarge all texts in galaxy tab for an old man, specially in contacts and more specially numbers of contacts?

Thank you.

*edit* galaxy tab version 2.2

# Answer
Individual apps might have settings for font size, but I don't think Android 2.2 included any system-wide settings for changing the default font size. Check the Market for a third-party contact list app that allows you to change that setting.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Use IDEAL Text Enlarger. Works without need for root. But not all apps work with it and overly large fonts make the interface more difficult.

I'm looking for a similar solution, but in terms of accessibility, the iPad's triple finger gesture to zoom and magnify any part of the screen in any app is unmatchable in Android as yet.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-tab
---


# Question
Title: Will I get automatically lifetime FREE updates if I pay for an app?
If I buy a paid app, will I be able to get free updates for the rest of the lifetime of that app or should I pay later for the updates?

What's the norm? Can you perhaps give 1-2 examples?

Thanks!

# Answer
> 20 votes
If the developer keeps releasing updates to the app as the same packagename and you already purchased the application previously, then should receive updates for the application for free.

E.g. if you went and purchased my app then you should get updates so long as I keep updating this specific packagename of the app: `net.mandaria.cardashboardpro`

However, I could at some point in the future decide that I want more money for the application and release a newer version of the application under a new packagename: `net.mandaria.cardashboarddeluxe` You would **not** get a free update to this app, even if it is technically the same application, I have chosen to release it as a separate app in the eyes of the Android Market (which determines two applications to be different solely by their package name).

However, I could still charge you for more money by including (optional?) in-app purchases or subscriptions that did not previously exist *without* changing the package name. Carrying the same example, I could still use `net.mandaria.cardashboardpro` but have an in-app purchase for the "deluxe" features.

Most developers will not do these things to users who have already purchased their application, but *it isn't impossible.* Once such example of a developer trying to charge for a newer version of his application was psx4droid. The backlash was so vicious from his users that he went back and updated the older (version 1) of his app to the newer version (version 2). He now has to maintain three versions because of this (version 1 and 2, plus a free version) instead of two. Talk about a developer headache.

So ultimately it depends on what the developer decides to do. In the majority of cases, the developer will keep supporting the same app and you receive the latest updates for free after your purchase.

# Answer
> 8 votes
The norm definitely seems to be for developers to update their app and those who have already paid for it will also receive the update.

However, this is definitely not enforced in any way, shape, or form. Unless you have a contract stating otherwise (and you ensure it's enforced), you only get what you pay for (the current version of the app) and that's it. The developer can easily choose to upload the new version as a "different" app and expect old users who want to upgrade to pay for it.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yes but this is not enforced. I have not seen any android app developer do otherwise

---
Tags: applications, paid-apps
---


title: Notification of new label e-mails

text:
# Question
Title: Notification of new label e-mails
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Can gmail notifications be customized by label?

I have a filter in gmail that sets some of the mail to skip the inbox and be archived (unread) under a specific label. On the desktop Gmail, this label is shown alongside my regular inbox, which makes everything nice and organized.

Unfortunately, on my Gmail android app, I don't get notified of any of these e-mails that skip the inbox and go to this label. I have already set this label to be synced by the app, but I'm still not getting notifications. How can I get notified of e-mails that skip the inbox and go straight to a specific label?

So far I've only found Gmail Label Notifier, but I don't need all this customization and I was hoping to find something free.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Don't know quite how you've got it configured to show your non-inbox mail alongside your main mail in the web interface, but if you're using the Priority Inbox features of GMail then you can set up separate alert settings on Android for mails detected as priority messages, see this Google Mobile blog entry: Gmail for Android: better Priority Inbox support and improved compose

> Ever wanted to know that you got an important message without taking your phone out of your pocket? Now you can set up your phone to notify, vibrate, or ring on just your new important mail (check out Menu \> Settings \> Priority Inbox).

---
Tags: gmail, notifications
---


title: How to fix a damaged sd card?

text:
# Question
Title: How to fix a damaged sd card?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> “SD card is damaged - You may have to reformat.” How do I fix this problem?

I made my SD card available as mass storage, copied one file from the SD card, unmounted the card from OSX (inside OSX) and then .. I am not 100% if I unmounted the card in mobile or it was already damaged at this point.

I tried to reboot the phone but it doesn't help. Removed the card, put back and turned on again. Didn't help either.

Do I have to reformat the card and lose all data on it?

---

HTC Desire + CM 7 RC2 + Kingston 16GB Type 4

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can try to recover files before you format it, but yes you will have to format it. See this question for various methods of SD card recovery: Data Recovery - How to Restore Deleted / Formatted Files on HD Micro SD Card

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you have a card reader, try fsck-ing it. I'm not sure if it is possible do an fsck through Android, though if you don't have a card reader, you might want to try that.

---
Tags: external-sd, data-recovery
---


title: How can I update my Nexus S manually?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I update my Nexus S manually?
I just bought a Nexus S from the USA and it works fine here (Spain). Just realised its version of Gingerbread is 2.3.1 though. While it's no surprise it finds no OTA updates with the local carriers, I wonder how could I get the phone up-to-date, *offline style*.

Suppose I don't have to root and tinker with it right?

# Answer
> 3 votes
With most OTA updates someone inevitably pulls the raw .zip file off some server and posts it online for others to use before they get the official OTA notice on their phones.

1. If your phone is currently on build number **GRH78** then download this .zip file. If your phone is currently on **GRH78C** then download this .zip file.
2. Rename it `update.zip` and place it in the root folder of your SDCard.
3. Shut your phone off.
4. Hold down the **volume up** and **power** buttons at the same time to access the bootloader.
5. Use the volume keys to navigate to **recovery**. Press the **power** button to select it.
6. You should see a triangle with an exclamation point in it. Hold down the **power** button and tap the **volume up** button to access the recovery menu.
7. Use the volume keys to navigate to **apply update from /sdcard**, select it with the **power** button, choose `update.zip` and press the **power** button to start the update.
8. When the update is complete, reboot your phone.

(These instructions were taken mostly from http://www.intomobile.com/2011/02/24/how-to-manually-update-your-nexus-s-to-android-2-3-3/ except for the download links. **I do not own a Nexus S and have not tested this personally.** If these instructions look incorrect to you \[or anyone else!\] don't use them. If at any step during the update process the instructions do not line up with what you see, you should stop proceeding and use menu options to back as far out as you can from the menus. I'm not responsible for anything that happens to your phone, good or bad.)

---
Tags: updates, 2.3-gingerbread, samsung-nexus-s
---


# Question
Title: How can I root my Droid X with Ubuntu Linux?
My sanity is at stake here. I need root but I don't have access to any fancy proprietary OS.

I'd appreciate any help.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I have a T-Mobile G1 running 1.6-donut. I rooted it this weekend from my Ubuntu laptop. Here's what I did:

* install terminal emulator from the marketplace (I didn't end up using it, but it is good to have)
* installed the Android SDK on my laptop (actually, I installed it six months ago, but that's not the point, is it?)
* Downloaded Universal Androot from this XDA forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=747598
* used `adb install` to install the UniversalAndroot .apk -- the command will be something like `adb install /home/amanda/Downloads/UniversalAndroot_1.6.1.apk`
* ran Universal Androot on my phone once it was installed.
* rebooted my phone

Then I had root. I installed the BusyBox Installer from the marketplace (note: there's a $0 version but donating is nice, too) and used that to install BusyBox. Note that I wasn't able to install BusyBox (you install the installer from the marketplace, but then you use that app to install BusyBox itself) until I'd not only unmounted my phone from my laptop but actually pulled the cable. My phone didn't want to re-mount the SD Card with the cable in.

PS. The relative "fanciness" of a proprietary OS is debatable but also offtopic.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well, the one click root method requires Windows. You could try running a Windows VM in Ubuntu?

But you can also do it manually.

---
Tags: rooting, motorola-droid-x, linux
---


title: Good source for genuine batteries

text:
# Question
Title: Good source for genuine batteries
I'm looking to source a genuine original size battery for my HTC Desire. I'd rather not fork out the RRP of ~£35 but lots of the cheaper ones have bad reviews. Will anything much less than the RRP be fake? Does anybody know of any reputable sources in the UK?

# Answer
I always buy batteries on eBay. "But that's not reputable at all," you might say. Indeed. However, I find that as long as you search for the specific part number (e.g. BB99100 for the Nexus One / Desire battery) and ensure the posting contains pictures and guarantees it's genuine, then you'll be OK. EBay sellers avoid lying about that sort of thing because their reputation will quickly be damaged. Also ensure the seller *has* a good feedback rating (97%+).

Here's the cheapest new battery from a very reliable-looking seller that I could find.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: htc-desire, battery
---


# Question
Title: What is an unsupported unsolicited response code 11016?
My UK Nexus S (Android 2.3.2) has real problems sustaining a reliable data connection on 3G even when I have a full signal in London. Connections time out or pages/tweets/whatever load exceptionally slowly and sometimes the green up and down data arrows go grey. The phone works without any problem on WiFi.

I've looked at the radio log using Android System Info and I'm seeing a lot of lines saying:

unsupported unsolicited response code 11016

I've uploaded a log here:

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bz2RssMOCKOIYjkyOTgwNjctZWEzZS00YTBiLWFhYTYtN2MxMjg2ZjQwYzYy&hl=en\_GB&authkey=COa-8uAD

which shows a lot of these errors. I wondered if this could be to blame. I've been having these errors for several days in several parts of London. Happy to provide more information if I can.

Many thanks for any thoughts, Tom

# Answer
> 1 votes
I think it's probably best to do a factory reset and see if that helps. However you could try going to `Settings -> Wireless and network -> Mobile Networks` and experimenting. I recommend shutting off roaming and making sure Network mode is on Auto.

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, samsung-nexus-s, 3g, data-connection
---


# Question
Title: How do I prod my Droid 2 into resync'ing Facebook profile pictures?
The Motorola Droid 2 supports, from out-of-the-box, the notion of logging in with not only a Google account, but also a Facebook and Twitter account, and maintains three separate groups of contacts for each of those. It also supports the notion of both manually and automatically linking, say, a Facebook contact to a Google contact. This merges all of the information into a single contact. As this is my first Android phone, I cannot be sure how much of this is basic Android functionality, but I am under the impression a lot of it is from Motorola's MOTOBLUR, and is specific to Motorola handsets.

One problem with it, however, is that a Facebook contact's profile portrait never changes once it's set! When someone changes their Facebook profile portrait, I even get a notification in my timeline that they changed their portrait, with a clickable thumbnail of the new portrait, but their contact image in my phone doesn't ever actually change!

Is there a way to prod MOTOBLUR into resync'ing Facebook profile portraits? I am ***not*** looking for a basic Android application that will try to manually download images and manually match Google names to Facebook names, which would cause more problems than it would solve. I am looking to leverage the functionality already inherent in my MOTOBLUR contacts, and just prod the phone into realizing all of it's images are grossly out of date.

# Answer
> 1 votes
From what I understand, Contacts is actually fairly decoupled from Facebook because Google doesn't like their API and Facebook doesn't want to let their users export data. I believe this means that if you remove your Facebook account from the phone, those photos will disappear from the contacts. Then you can re-add the account to get them back.

Unfortunately the contacts are not likely to relink automatically after that, and you'd have to do it manually every time. I don't know of a better way.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Note, I don't have a Motorola phone, and my phone's just doing the standard Android contact linking, but it may also help you. I did this because my previous phone was an HTC Magic running Android 1.6, which had no Contact linking (as that only came with Android 2) so I used one of the apps that downloads the Facebook picture and applies it to the contacts, the picture was then stuck there until I manually got it to update again. Here's what I did to get them updating properly once I moved onto a phone with Froyo:

If you go into your Google Contacts on the web, do you see the old Facebook picture on your contacts there? If so, select the contact. Hover your mouse over their picture until you see the Change Picture link, click that and select No Picture. Save the change.

After a bit the change should sync down to your phone and it should then use the only picture it has - the current Facebook picture.

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, contacts, facebook, motorola-droid-2, motoblur
---


title: Diagnosing Angry Birds Crash

text:
# Question
Title: Diagnosing Angry Birds Crash
I have a Samsung Captivate running Cyanogen Mod 7 beta (Gingerbread). I am using Launcher Pro and have AdFree if that matters. Everything has been working fine for a while, I had Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons working. Then I installed an update yesterday (1.5.3), along with about 20 others. I believe I had the previous updates as well.

Now, when I play Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, or the recently installed Angry Birds Rio, the game will randomly crash after a couple of minutes. Usually when I am interacting with the touch screen, but I have had a bird freeze in mid flight while I did nothing.

The crash happens where the game locks up for a few seconds and then the screen goes back and returns me to the home screen.

I had never experienced this before.

Any ideas as to what the cause is or how to fix it? Is there a crash dump/log file somewhere I can check? Any similar issues anyone has?

# Answer
You can use ADB and run logcat by typing the command `adb logcat > logcat.log`. Alternatively you can use an app like aLogcat. That will give show you your systems logs but then you'll have to figure out what it all means.

I have to agree with Matthew Reads comment that it's probably related to CM but there are so many moving parts and different factors it's hard to say. Unfortunately diagnosing through trial and error will require you removing CM to see if it was the cause. I would recommend removing AdFree and seeing if you still have crashes because it could be caused by that. If I were an app dev that relied on ads to fund my company I'd probably make the free flow of ads in my app a requirement for my app to run properly.

Also, I doubt it's launcher pro.
> 1 votes

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Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, cyanogenmod, angry-birds, crashes
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title: Changing Text message limit

text:
# Question
Title: Changing Text message limit
I want to change my text message limit to a smaller size (default 200 msgs per conversation) so that it will be easy to scroll and read messages. But I don't want to lose previous messages. Can I start a new conversation thread with the same contact?

Also, is there a method that will allow me to backup my messages in a text or HTML file? Where are the messages stored (can I just copy to my laptop)? I have not rooted my phone yet. I use a SMS backup+ application which saves in Gmail as separate entries which is not desirable.

# Answer
I use SMS Backup & Restore which backups your text messages to an XML file on your SD card (does not require root). This way at least you can safely lower the message limit and still save your messages somewhere.

I'm not aware of any way to lower the limit without the Messaging application automatically deleting old messages - in the stock messaging app anyway.
> 3 votes

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Tags: sms, backup
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title: How to set the DNS server on Nexus One?

text:
# Question
Title: How to set the DNS server on Nexus One?
The ISP I use on my N1 doesn't allow me to open facebook. Using a PC, I can use Google DNS server (8.8.8.8) to by-pass them but on N1, I can't find where to put the stufff.

Please help if you know how to.

# Answer
> 5 votes
While you're on Wifi, have a look in Wi-Fi settings \> menu|Advanced.

It looks like it's easier when you're on Wifi than when you're on a celular signal (3 or 2.5g).I've found a blog post here that seems to do what your asking, but you may need to have rooted the phone, or at least be comfotable with editing a few system bits and bobs.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The following was added as an edit to the question. It seems like it should be an answer.

1. Go to `Setting - Wireless & Network - Wifi settings`
2. Press `Menu` button, and select `Advance`
3. Check `Use Static IP`
4. Enter `IP adress`, `Gateway`, `Netmask` and `DNS Server 1&2` of associated with your LAN networks.

Eg., for me, I use

* ip=`192.168.1.100`
* gateway=`192.168.1.1`
* DNS1=`8.8.8.8`
* DNS2=`8.8.4.4`

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Tags: settings, networking, nexus-one, dns
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title: Unable to hang up phone call

text:
# Question
Title: Unable to hang up phone call
I'm using a relatively new G2, and when dialing today, the call did not complete. It stayed in dialing forever. The hangup button did not work. I tried to force a connection failure with airplane mode, that did not work either.

Any ideas on what do in this situation? Ideally, I would like to know how to gather more data on the problem, so I can report it to T-Mobile and/or Google.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I'm guessing the Dialer froze. Try holding the Home button, going into Task Manager, and killing the dialier process.

As Matt mentions in the comments,

> You can do the same thing from the home screen by pressing menu then going to settings \> Applications \> Manage Application then choose the "phone" or "dialer" app and click "stop"

# Answer
> 0 votes
If this is an ongoing issue, it is worth watching your logs to figure out what might be happening. I've got a G1 and every few months it chokes on something and I have to reboot it (which I do by holding down the power button until the phone powers off, or, when that fails, taking the battery out, counting to ten and replacing it.)

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Tags: phone-app, htc-desire-z
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# Question
Title: Download from internet to phone hard drive. Droid x rooted
My droid x recently got damaged and the sd reader no longer works, is there some way to download from the internet to the phone's hard drive rather than the sd card?

# Answer
> 2 votes
This is going to be application dependent. For example, Dolphin Browser HD has an option in the Settings menu to specify what directory you download files to, and you can change that to the internal memory instead of the microSD card. I don't believe you can change this option in the stock Android browser.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You could also make `/sdcard/` a symbolic link to somewhere else instead of to `/mnt/sdcard/` like it is by default. That assumes the browser uses `/sdcard`, however. If it uses `/mnt/sdcard/` you'd have to edit the mounting script (part of init?) to not mount the SD card, and then create `/mnt/sdcard/` as a symbolic link to somewhere else. Something like that. Note that most/all of this requires root.

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Tags: motorola-droid-x, internal-storage
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