# Question
Title: How to check, if my ASUS Nexus 7 LTE really is LTE version?
Following this question and my many further tests, I begin to fear, that my ASUS Nexus 7 II (2013) LTE isn't actually a LTE version and I simply has been cheated, paying for LTE version and getting 3G one.

What is the best way to check / prove, that this device really is LTE version?

Does the facts:

* phone detects network as `LTE` (though is unable to connect to it),
* after upgrading system to `4.4.2 KitKat` I have access to new option `Settings > Wireless & networks > More > Mobile Networks > Preferred network` and I can select `4G` there.

are enough to be sure, that this is really an LTE-based version of ASUS Nexus 7 tablet?

My doubts come from three facts:

1. When I insert a LTE-compatible SIM card, tablet is able to detect, that it is in LTE signal range, but is unable to login to LTE network and obtain an IP address. The very same card inserted into another LTE device (some Samsung phablet) logins to LTE network at once and works like a charm.
2. Working Samsung was checked at provider's office and provider's representative did check APN. Beside, SIM cards used by this provider are somehow self-configurable. Once inserted, they set APNs by themselves and select the proper one.
3. I've checked and verified, that my network carrier (Polish Plus GSM) is using LTE on the 1800 MHz band, which is confirmed to be all fine with ASUS Nexus 7 II (2013) LTE tablet.

Are there any other things, that I can check to make myself sure, that I really have LTE model?

# Answer
The issue is most likely caused by a wrong APN configuration. Though customer care told you their card is "self configurable", this may well be relative: many ROMs (especially custom ROMs like ) come with a built-in list of APNs, which are matched against the provider as specified by the SIM card, and used correspondingly.

While those matches usually are fine, there might be exceptions – e.g. when the provider made changes to his configuration after the ROM was released. Or did not provide all details: APNs might need different parameters for e.g. 3G than for LTE. As you've got a second Android device where the card is working fine,

* put the SIM into that device
* go to *Settings* (usually network → telephony or similarly; different ROMs might place it slightly different)
* tap the APN and select to adjust it
* do not adjust anything, just write down its parameters

In a second step,

* put the same SIM to your N7
* go to the same *Settings* page
* compare your values and, if something differs, adjust it

I bet your device then will connect fine. If not (or if there are no differences), it's probably a hardware issue, and you need to send your N7 for service.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: nexus-7, 4.4-kitkat, 4g
---


# Question
Title: How can I merge my social network contacts with regular contacts in android
Suppose, that I have a contact Ann Fisher in my phone (it's syncing with my google account). And suppose that this Ann Fisher has google plus account Annie Fisher.

How can I tell my phone, that this is the same person?

Right now I see, that it would only 'knew' it if both names (in G+ and my phone contact) are exactly the same.

# Answer
Open up http://www.google.com/contacts and perform a search for the person you want to merge.

Tick both contacts, click "Add to my Contacts" and the Google+ contact will have a copy of itself made from "Other Contacts" to "My Contacts", then click More -\> Merge
> 1 votes

---
Tags: contacts, google-plus
---


# Question
Title: Why did my phone start ringing when there is no SIM card installed
My old samsung jet phone just started ringing from inside the cupboard, & unknown caller was displayed, although the children use it as a play phone sometimes there is no SIM card installed, how can that happen I thought you had to have a sim in to operate a phone except for emergency calls?

# Answer
That happened to my Samsung Wi-Fi "not smartphone, just touch".

I live in jordan, and I received a call twice from an unknown number. It rang with no sound on the microphone and no SIM card. It is really weird, but I think the most common factor is the Samsung phone. It might be kind of an emergency call, or the company puts kind of tracking system to see if these devices are still in service.
> 1 votes

# Answer
It might be a call from Google+. See if the Google+ app is installed. If it is, then disable/uninstall it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: calls
---


# Question
Title: My dialer's in-call experience is sideways
Okay... something really weird that just started happening.
Before getting into the details, my phone is an AT&T Galaxy S3.
I'm running AOKP build `aokp_d2att_jb-mr2_milestone-1`.

The in-call experience, and the "answer call" screen on my phone are "sideways", for lack of a better word. Normally, the in-call experience should look like this:

However, my in-call suddenly started looking something like the following image:

I have no idea how it got that way, or how to turn it back. Can anyone tell me how to reset the orientation of the call experience screen? The same thing happens on my "answer call" screen, but the actual DIALER screen, to place a call, displays normally.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This may be solved by clearing the cache and data of the dialler app.

To do this, go to `Settings``Apps` › swipe to `All` › select the Dialler application from the list › Clear `Cache` and `Data`.

---
Tags: phone-app, orientation
---


# Question
Title: How to use adb to back up more than 2GB?
I'm trying to back up my Nexus 7 before installing a new factory image. (There is an issue preventing OTA update from succeeding.) But when I run

`adb backup -f android-nosystem-backup.ab -apk -shared -all -nosystem`

the backup gets stuck after writing 2147483647 bytes. This number is 2^31 minus 1, and I recognize the problem as a lack of Large File Support somewhere. I'm running the `adb` that ships with my current Debian Linux distro "Jessie." The problem occurs whether I try to back up to a local file or to a remote NFS-mounted file server, so I suspect that something in the `adb` toolchain has been compiled without Large File Support.

The Nexus 7 reports total storage in use of 4.2GB, so I'm expecting a backup file on that order of size. Is there some workaround I should be using? Is there a way to split the backup into pieces?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It turns out this is a known issue and there is a patch.

---
Tags: adb, backup, nexus-7, linux
---


title: Can one "saferoot" 4.4.2?

text:
# Question
Title: Can one "saferoot" 4.4.2?
I know that a Samsung 4.3 can be rooted using a method called saferoot. What it does is find a security hole in the OS and performs a "privilege escalation" on the process.

The advantage of this is that it doesn't touch the ROM and has little risk of bricking one's phone.

I assume that they fixed this specific exploit in 4.4.2. I want to know if there is another method like this?

# Answer
Technically speaking there's no completely safe rooting of any devices, this is because rooting allows complete access to device files. So rooting no there's no really 'safe' way. You can however root your phone and then just be careful with what you install and do on your phone. I honestly don't see much of a reason to root a phone, but if you want to then just be careful. Also there had not been a release of saferoot and probably won't be for awhile due to Android 4.4 KitKat still being a fairly new OS.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: rooting, samsung-galaxy-s-4, 4.4-kitkat
---


# Question
Title: Accessing web server application from server itself?
I have downloaded a web server program, and when launched it gives an IP address to access it through port 8080. However, nothing happens, so I can draw the conclusion at these possible problems:

1. The server is not pointing to any files, hence, nothing shows when you type that IP address and port number in the browser. In such a case, I can't figure out how to configure the server, and the developers do not explain in good detail.
2. There's an issue with accessing port 8080, which would be a restriction by the kernel or a related sort(**unrooted operating system**).
3. The server doesn't work correctly.

Now, in general, the program is installed in the SD card, the SD card is obviously mounted, and it automatically is set to access itself in directory format as follows: `mnt/sdcard/server/`

However, the HTML files are stored following: `/server/HTML/index.html`

I do not know how it is, by default, configured, and there's very many configuration files in Extensive Markup Language(XML). So, these following questions I directly ask:

1. Is there any default blocking of port 8080, or otherwise noteworthy issues that could explain this port number, the local machine connection to it, etc.?
2. Is accessing data from the server **while on the server** problematic?
3. Is there any standard way server software is configured/set up(so I could maybe tweak around with a goal specifically in mind)?

The server app is: PAW server. Despite following its instructions just fine, nothing loads when the IP address is typed in, and a "welcome page" reportedly should.

What I've tried:

1. Accessing the IP address without the port number; nothing happens.
2. Changing the directory the app points to; app doesn't work then.
3. Changing the files in the HTML directory; still nothing.
4. Digging through and editing some presets that seemed off in some XML files; still nothing.
5. Changing the port number; still nothing.
6. Accessing from another device; still won't load the page.
7. Using HTTPS instead of HTTP; still doesn't work.
8. Adjusting browser's settings, trying different browsers, etc.; still doesn't work.

Screenshots (click to enlarge)

PAW is supposed to show a "welcome/sign in" page by default configuration, I believe.

# Answer
> 1 votes
No, there's no default blocking of port 8080, accessing an HTTP server from the same machine doesn't itself cause a problem, and there's no standard way to configure a server. The standard way to configure anything in Android is through the application itself, with the GUI it provides, not by editing XML files.

After trying everything you have, I'd suggest it would be best to ask the developer for help directly.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Try accessing your server using the address: `http://localhost:8080/` or `http://127.0.0.1:8080/`

Those are called loopback address and should always refer to the machine running the program.

> Is there any default blocking of port 8080, or otherwise noteworthy issues that could explain this port number, the local machine connection to it, etc.?

Unless your device is configured otherwise (e.g. with firewall or iptables), when an application have privilege to full access to the internet, they will be able to connect to any port and listen to non privileged ports (specifically \> 1024).

Many network providers have firewall which blocks incoming ports, which can interfere with your ability to connect to a device if you are using your external IP address or machine name. loopback addresses are resolved locally and can only be blocked by a local firewall.

> Is accessing data from the server while on the server problematic?

No it isn't, and it shouldn't.

> Is there any standard way server software is configured/set up(so I could maybe tweak around with a goal specifically in mind)?

Refer to your web server documentation.

---
Tags: root-access, internet, mount, web-server
---


title: Fastboot not working for Kindle Fire HD

text:
# Question
Title: Fastboot not working for Kindle Fire HD
When ever I try to fastboot my kindle fire HD 7 inch. Running 7.4.3 it does not pick up the device (it is also rooted) when I try the command `fastboot -i 0x1949 getvar product`.

I connect the kindle and it just reboots as it normally would the command window and it still says waiting for device.

I installed the SDK correctly since it allowed me to root my kindle just fine. Do I need another tool or should my kindle not be rooted?

# Answer
> 1 votes
After some digging, I found a solution that worked for me. I hope this helps you too:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2271909&page=9

1. In Windows Device Manager, find Tate-PVT-08 in on the list.
2. Right click, and select Update Driver
3. Select Browse computer for driver software
4. Select Choose from a list of device drivers installed on my computer
5. Find Kindle on the list
6. Accept ADB composite interface

---
Tags: fastboot, amazon-kindle-fire
---


# Question
Title: How to disable GPU rendering on Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8"
You're reading it right, I'm trying to do the oposite as others. **I want to use CPU for rendering.**
The reason is simple. My tablet is freezing very frequently. I have no warranty, so I'm trying to solve problem by lowering performance of device. I isolated a problem and I'm sure freezing is caused by GPU. It freezes on gfx intese moments(few seconds of video playback), or on overlay (Eg. opening search dialog in google play causes almost instant freeze).
So the question stands:
**How can I disable GPU rendering on my device**(I have terminal with root access if it helps)?
What I already tried:
1. Underclocking CPU has no effect on freezing. I tried powersave mode with 200MHz, with no impact on problem.
2. Underclocking GPU has also no effect on freezing.

# Answer
> 0 votes
After failing to avoid freezing by SW settings, I resorted to last resort: Baking motherboard. :)
Result: Device is bricked. It wont even start. I will buy a new motherboard.

---
Tags: root-access, overclocking, gpu
---


# Question
Title: App download from own server shows unknown resource, How to make it trusted one
May be I am asking discussion related question, I am sorry if you feel it wrong, but I am really stuck while deciding what to do.

For first time app Installation I have to give Download link for users from My own server because users don't have access to other Internet (also play store). I have uploaded app to my own server and gave download link to other users from there.

Now while installing that from that location gives warning that it is from untrusted location and ask to change the setting and tick unknown location. maybe because I haven't signed this app with play store. Now, If I sign it with play store key and upload it to app store also, but for first time If I give same app download from my server, will it give same warning ?

Or else what things I can do to remove that warning while downloading from my own server.

Any other ways of dealing with this scenario will be helpful.

# Answer
> 5 votes
`Unknown Sources` simply means *applications that are not downloaded from the Google Play Store*. Even if you put your applications on Amazon App Store or other alternative stores, your users will have to enable `Unknown Sources`.

You can't change this behaviour, except maybe by modifying Android's sources, but I'm sure you don't want to.

---
Tags: google-play-store, downloading, unknown-sources
---


title: Log off on Nexus 7 2013 V4.3

text:
# Question
Title: Log off on Nexus 7 2013 V4.3
Can you log off gmail on Nexus 7 2013 V4.3 ? I would like to share tablet (to play games) without them reading my mail. I do not wish to open up new accounts. Thanx

# Answer
`Settings -> Sync -> Google` : untick Gmail.

`Settings -> Applications -> Gmail` : Clear Data, Uninstall updates, Disable.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.3-jelly-bean
---


# Question
Title: How do take good close shot photos of documents
One of the purposes of my phone investment is to quickly take photos of documents.

I find this difficult. When I hold it with my hand it takes a long time to get “focused”. I have a Notes 3.

Stability would help of course, but don’t know exactly how to do that. What could help is if the photo is automatically taken when focus is achieved, perhaps with “retries” until it is OK.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Use Evernote. It has a dedicated `Page Camera` feature for your purpose. You can continuously snap documents with it.

If you are a premium user, keywords from your snapped documents will be indexed with OCR technologies (which will be useful in searching). And, it works great (I am a premium user & I have used it). If you aren't, just buy premium subscription for 1 month... Indexing continue to exist after 1 month (but new documents won't be indexed).

---
Tags: photos, focus, document-scanner
---


# Question
Title: adb restore across different devices, android versions
Once upon a time, I ran this on an Android 4.3.0 Nexus 7 2012 running ParanoidAndroid:

```
adb backup -all -nosystem -apk -shared \
  -f backup-all-nosystem-apk-shared-201309132331

```

Now I would love to restore at least one of those apps on my Android 4.3.1 Nexus 7 2013 running vanilla. (I haven't installed it.) I've preemptively ran:

```
adb backup -f backup-all-system-apk-noshared-20131027111818 -apk -noshared -all -system

```

and now I wonder: what could possibly go wrong if I restored the original backup? Would re-applying the backup I've just made on top of it get me to a... working system? Do I want to take additional safety measures?

# Answer
Don't know if you figured this out or not, but Titanium Backup has a feature where you can import an ADB backup and then from there restore individual apps or all apps. Only down side, Titanium Backup does need root. That being said, I think it's worth it.

For details:
http://www.titaniumtrack.com/kb/titanium-backup-kb/titanium-backup-howtos.html#backup-without-root

In case that link goes away:

* Connect your device and make sure its listed with the following command:

adb devices
* Run a FULL backup with the following command:

adb backup -f FullBackup.ab -apk -all
* This will create a “package” called “FullBackup.ab” on the current location in your command prompt. This is your backup package.
* Now you can root your phone.
* Once finished rooting, insert the “FullBackup.ab” package on your sdcard
* Hit the menu button and look for “Extract from ADB backup” option. This will prompt you to search for the file. Use the file manager that you installed earlier and navigate to the directory and select the FullBackup.ab file.
* Now restore like as if the backup was made with Titanium Backup. Don’t forget to make a fresh copy of the backup using Titanium Backup. You’re Done!
> 4 votes

# Answer
First: As you did a backup including all your apps, you cannot restore a single app from it easily**1** (`adb restore` is an all-or-nothing; either you restore the entire backup, or nothing – there are no parameters to specify parts to be restored).

Second: If you'd create separate backups (one per app), a restore should be possible across devices and Android versions (at least "upwards", i.e. backup made on the same or lower Android version as you want to restore it to). I've done that multiple times successfully, even across different brands and Android versions, in this way. Though that's not a guarantee :)

---

**1** There are tools available to decode/split files created by `adb backup`, especially for that reason: to be able to restore a single app if you didn't think of that when creating the mega-backup.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: adb, backup
---


title: Larger edit area for SMS writing?

text:
# Question
Title: Larger edit area for SMS writing?
The Handcent app has a feature where with a click of a button I can switch to a larger edit area. This allowed me to preview my messages in whole before sending them off and edit them comfortably.

Now I've had to uninstall Handcent due to space issues (old Nexus One, very low memory for apps), and this is the only feature I miss in the stock messaging app. Is there a way I can enable this feature in the stock Messaging, or is there some small app that does this in a natural way without interfering with other functionality?

# Answer
> 1 votes
One way to do this would be *rooting* the device, to obtain the "Mms.apk", and manually reverse-engineering it (using tools like apktool), and finding the overlay that's showing the text edit area's size (and the step that naturally follows, increasing it :) )

---
Tags: sms, text-editor, text-input, handcent-sms
---


# Question
Title: testing an app in htc explorer jelly bean
I m trying to run the android application project on my phone htc explorer,developers mode on when I run it shows unknown serial number when i check my devices

# Answer
> 1 votes
You are basically having a "no permissions" error, where your PC's adb is not able to identify the device that you're connecting. As you said, you have a HTC Explorer, which I do too, with KitKat ;) So here's how you'd be fixing this "no permissions" error:

First, you'd need to create (if inexistent), the `51-android.rules` file. Since you have a HTC Device, we'll just be adding the "rules" for a HTC device, so that your adb can identify your device correctly.

First, obtain superuser permissions using:

```
sudo su

```

and type in your password. Note that you can't see the password being typed, but its still being typed. Then, create the file, if not exists, using the following command:

```
touch /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules

```

This basically creates a 51-android.rules file in the appropriate place, if it doesn't exist.

Now, for adding the rules, we'll just append some text to the file, a correct config, which can be done using the following command:

```
echo "SUBSYSTEM==\"usb\", ATTR{idVendor}==\"0bb4\", MODE=\"0666\", GROUP=\"plugdev\"" >> /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules

```

This basically appends the following text, to the 51-android.rules file.

```
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0bb4", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"

```

What the above text is, is the appropriate permissions for a HTC Device.

Now, disconnect your device, kill your adb-server, if running, using

```
adb kill-server

```

and, reconnect device. Now, try running the following command, to see if your device's actually connected :)

```
adb devices

```

You should see an output similar to:

```
List of devices attached
XXXXXXXXXXXX    device

```

Hope this helps :)

P.S. In case you're searching for rules for other android devices, this link at source.android.com might help: Initializing a Build Environment. Look for the "Configuring USB Access" section :)

Also note: A better option would be to install the "android-tools-adb" and "android-tools-fastboot" packages available in the Ubuntu repositories. This can be done using the following commands:

```
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot

```

---
Tags: android-emulator
---


title: Nexus 7 rooting and battery life

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus 7 rooting and battery life
I rooted my new nexus 7 the other day using the Nexus Root Toolkit.

Before rooting I was able to get about a full day out of a charge and still be at about 20-30% but now my battery seems to drain faster and even drain while I have the screen locked.

Can root affect battery life? Or could it be an application?

# Answer
Rooting the Nexus 7 means that just some additional applications are installed, e.g. the su binary and the SuperSU app.

Both are not active in background, therefore I assume that your battery life problem is caused by a different app that had been updated or installed more or less at the same time.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: nexus-7, battery-life
---


# Question
Title: How To Install Latest Cyanogenmod From Clockworkmod Recovery - Galaxy Note GT-N7000 (Intl)
**(Short Version)**

How to install Cyanogenmod from ClockWorkMod Recovery. What tools do I need as a first timer? (I already have ClockWorkMod Recovery installed)

**(Long Version)**

I tried to install Cyanogenmod with the get.cm and get.cm/app instructions. But the install process was interrupted by windows driver recognition.

All I have now is a ClockWorkMod Recovery and, apparently, nothing more. The Cyanogenmod Windows Installer recognize the device but can't continue from this point (it asks for enabling/allowing USB Debugging).

What tools do I need to copy Cyanogenmod in Windows 7 or Ubuntu 12.04 to my Galaxy Note GT-N7000 (Intl) with only ClockWorkMod Recovery and proceed with the install process?

Thanks in advance!

**(My devices)**

Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000 (Intl) - and a notebook with Ubuntu 12.04 and Windows 7 64 Professional

# Answer
I recently installed Cyanogenmod on a galaxy note 8. What worked for me was to copy Cyanogenmod to an microSD card. Then with microSD plugged into phone, boot the clockwork, and install from SD card.

Hope that Helps!!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, installation, recovery-mode, clockworkmod-recovery
---


# Question
Title: Why do so many applications require permission to read the phone state and identity?
Why do so many applications require permission to read the phone state and identity?. Specifically:

```
Phone calls
   read phone state and identity

```

For example Quickpedia is a Wikipedia portal, but wants access to the phone. What is the explanation for this?

# Answer
> 61 votes
It allows the App to read a unique ID (a phone identifier named IMEI) that's associated with your phone.

It can therefore help with copy-protection or the attempt to track the number of users.

# Answer
> 40 votes
There is another reason for this than the unique ID. I would guess that half of the apps don't access those values at all. The problem is that for a lower version up to Android 1.5 this permission does not exist. Everybody could access these values without requesting something.

Therefore if you create an app that is compatible with 1.5 this permission will automatically be added to emulate the lower security of Android 1.5 because of that you could ignore this permission in most of the times because it tends to be just a compatibility issue.

# Answer
> 19 votes
The reason is that Android 1.5 and earlier did not require the application to specifically request those permissions and automatically granted them. Since Android 1.6, those permissions have to be specifically requested by the app. However, if you specify that your application can run on devices with Android 1.5 and less, then that permission is added to the application by default and the market shows that permission as being requested by the application.

So in summary, the application may not actually be accessing your "phone state and identity" but if the developer specified that his/her application can run on devices with 1.5 or less then that permission will be shown.

# Answer
> 19 votes
This question has been bothering me quite some time. So now, finally, I decided to get to the bottom of the issue.

The Playstore has an app named permission.READ\_PHONE\_STATE, which requests `READ_PHONE_STATE` as the only permission, and does nothing else than printing out all data it can access with or without using it. I've installed that on my *LG Optimus 4X*, being rooted on stock Android 4.0.3, and revoked the permission using LBE. Results where pretty interesting, as the following screenshots show:

Information gathered by the app *permission.READ\_PHONE\_STATE* (click images for larger variants)

As you can easily see, even some information the dev though inaccessible without the permission, was freely accessible: my mailbox number (remark: Yes, it's the correct one; with my provider that's the shortcut when dialing from your own device, so I can freely display it ;) At the end of the first screenshot you see:

* **`CALL_STATE_IDLE`.** So no phone call incoming, outgoing, or in progress. No app needs this permission to "background" itself on incoming calls.

It's even possible to see whether mobile data are active (`DATA_DISCONNECTED`; I was on WiFi when taking the screenshots, as you can see in the notification bar), which country you're in, your provider (including some technical data on him), whether you're having a SIM card, or if you're in roaming.

The only things ***not*** accessible hence are identifying data: IMEI, SIMID, IMSI, and your own phone number.

**Conclusion:** This permission is only needed for identification purposes, nothing else.

**Why do so many apps need it then?**

* For the ad modules, most likely1
* Because the dev *thought* he needs it (as pointed out by some answers here)2
* Because the app in question is designed to (also) run on Android 1.5 and below (easy to find out, as that's listed on *Google Play*).

Likelihoods in exactly this order, IMHO.

---

1 Note by Dan's post on chat:

> Google Play policy now forbids apps from getting your IMEI to identify you for advertising purposes. All the ad libraries have been updated now to use the Google-Play-Services-provided "advertising ID", so any that still use the IMEI for this purpose should be reported to Google.

As it's hard for the user to tell what the app is using the IMEI for, you should ask the developer to explain first.

---

2 Another developer just pointed me to a subtle difference: while the permission is not needed to *read* the current call status (as I've pointed out), it might be needed to register a *listener* in order to be *notified* on *changes* of the call status (see: Detecting incoming and outgoing phone calls on Android). While there seem to be means of handling this automatically when the system calls `onPause`, that might not always be suitable: think of your alarm clock. You might not want to have that automatically *stopped* on an incoming call – especially not when your profile is set to ringer volume "muted".

---

3 Again a correction from Dan: *You only get the default extra permission if your app's "target" version is 1.5. If you target a later version but your min version is 1.5, you don't get the permission added automatically.*

---

## Updates

1. Interesting that there's an open issue (21504) to divide `READ_PHONE_STATE` in what's needed to a) detect incoming calls and related (telephony), and a second permission for the identification details (IMEI, IMSI, etc). Opened 11/2011, still not worked on. Star it if interested :)
2. And yes, there's a way to achieve the same (detecting incoming calls) *without* the `READ_PHONE_STATE` permission, as e.g. pointed out by Arno Welzel. As an incoming phone call would trigger the ringer, *that* event could be used with `onAudioFocusChange()`, which does not require any special permission: if triggered by that, the app could check the *CallState* (again, without any special permission required) to see whether there's an incoming call.

# Answer
> 10 votes
Many ad publishers use this permission to get the Phone ID for all sorts of tracking purposes. There are other ways to get a unique ID, but unfortunately they are buggy in older Android versions (the story is more complicated, see e.g. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2785485/is-there-a-unique-android-device-id or http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2011/03/identifying-app-installations.html for a more complete story).

So if the app uses advertisements, there is a fair chance that the app itself does not actually need the READ\_PHONE\_STATE permission, only the ad provider does.

---
Tags: permissions, privacy
---


# Question
Title: Installed google apps on generic tablet, services are there but no entries in the menu
(This post is a follow up of my previous one )

I managed to root and install gapps in my generic tablet, but now there is a small pending issue. When I go to Manage Apps-\>All, I can see some newly installed services like Google Play Services, but nothing in the menu. I have also cleared the cache from the Recovery, with no luck.

My first thought was to just get Google Play's apk from my mobile and install it to the table, but I am hesitating a little. I only care, about Play Store, the others will be retrieved from there on demand.

Has anyone encountered that before?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Usually this should be an easy task – provided you've got a custom recovery on your device. Turned out, it was not as easy in this special case, so I will list multiple options here. In combination, they finally lead to success – as one can see in the comments on the question itself.

## Variant 1: Custom recovery

That's a one-liner: Put the *GApps* archive on your SDCard, boot into recovery, chose "Install update.zip from SDCard", and select the *GApps* archive. Done. After the next boot, *Google Apps* should be there.

Trouble in this case: No custom recovery. OK, next one.

## Variant 2: Use ADB to side-load it

This variant was even figured by the OP himself. Requires ADB to be installed on your computer (see: Is there a minimal installation of ADB?), and your device setup (device drivers etc.) as well as connected via USB. For a detailed how-to, please see How to: use "adb sideload" on your Android device. Here, in short:

1. place the *GApps* zip file in the directory where your ADB executable is
2. Make sure you have USB debugging enabled in *Settings → Development* on your device
3. Boot your device in recovery mode, and connect it to your PC
4. On your device, use the volume `up`/`down` keys to select "apply update from ADB," then press `power` to select it
5. On your computer, open a command prompt window and navigate to the directory from 1., then execute `adb sideload <zipfile>` (replacing `<zipfile>` with the name of your *GApps* file)
6. When the installation is finished, select to "reboot" the device.

Done. Once the device finished booting, your *Google Apps* should be there.

Or not, as in our case. Services got installed, apps were missing. OK, let's trick the remains.

## Variant #3: Doint it manually

### Preparation

* Install ES File Explorer on your device. This will help us a lot.
* Unpack the *Gapps* archive into an empty directory on your SDCard. Might be an optional step, as *ES File Explorer* can deal with ZIPs directly, but might make things easier

### Do it

Launch *ES File Explorer* on your device. Tap the menu button, tap "Root-Explorer" (the text, not the switch next to it – though you must make sure that's switched to "On" as well). A popup should open, where you should find a "r/w" icon (second to last entry). Tap that. This should remount your `/system` partition, so you can write to it.

Now use *ES File Explorer* to navigate to your (unpacked) *GApps* archive. Copy the `.apk` files from `system/apps/` to `/system/apps/` on your device. Similarly, files from `data/apps/` should be copied to `/data/apps/`. Now back to the menu, and re-mount your `/system` partition read-only.

Reboot.

Now, the Google Apps should be there.

Still not? Bang. Variant 4: Get another device... or at least another ROM...

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Tags: tablet, google-apps
---


title: Track republic wireless texts over wifi

text:
# Question
Title: Track republic wireless texts over wifi
My son has a republic phone and I'm trying to find a way to monitor his texts without modifying anything on his phone because he's fairly tech savvy so he'd be able to remove it. I was thinking about a way to track the texts when they go over wifi. is there a possible way to do that?

# Answer
> 3 votes
SMS messages (aka "text messages") don't go over Wi-Fi, so it's not possible to track them that way. If you don't think you can install anything on the phone, the only way is through the carrier, and since intercepting other people's communications is against the law in most places, they're not likely to help you do that.

---
Tags: motorola-defy
---


# Question
Title: Is there a quick-fix for the Galaxy Nexus when it signals "charging" without beeing connected via USB?
My Galaxy Nexus goes into charging mode but when it isn't plugged in. The battery symbol then indicates a charging and when in suspend mode, the display turns on which drains battery rapidly. I am still able to actually charge the phone by attaching an usb cable.

The problem is largely discussed in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1427539 with different suggested solutions:

* send device to Samsung for repair
* use a custom ROM
* fully drain the battery and charge it over night
* replace USB port
* clean USB port

I guess it is an hardware problem. But before sending the device to Samsung (and beeing without phone for a while) I would rather like trying to clean the port or other "quick" solutions. Has anybody instructions to do so?

# Answer
> 4 votes
If you are familiar with such things, iFixit has a teardown report for the Galaxy Nexus, it's fairly easy to disassemble it to reach the micro USB port after step 7 and inspect it.

I use isopropyl alcohol and q-tips for cleaning normally.

I'd however not suggest you try it if you have no experience with such stuff.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Having worked professionally in the phone refurbishment industry, I would suggest using IPA (industrial purpose alcohol) for cleaning followed by compressed air.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BLOW AIR FROM YOUR MOUTH ONTO ANY OPEN DEVICE. This can cause minor water damage from the moisture on your breath or short circuit components.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I was able to fix it just by blowing into the USB port. Try it yourself before going into rooting and disassemble.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Used a needle to poke around gently at the top of the little tab inside the USB port and compressed air. It fixed it.

# Answer
> 0 votes
easy. with a very small flathead screwdriver bend the flag towards the screen very slightly in the charging port. this will fix it. I literally just did that.

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


# Question
Title: Turn Android TV Device into Public Media Player
I've got an Android TV device here and we want to use it in a public media display. We've got a few problems to solve:

1) Have the device turn on when it received power: Looks like this would be a firmware thing and we're not going to solve it.

2) Load tons of media: Solved: Device works great with a USB hard drive.

3) Have a Media Player app start on power up: Solved: Using the Auto Start App

4) Find a media player that will: a) Begin automatic playback of random media when started (no having to press play). b) Allow really easy navigation of the USB Drive folders as albums when the only interface is a remote control.

Would really appreciate some help with finding the right media player app.

# Answer
Closest thing I've been able to find is: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.burningthumb.premiervideokiosk&hl=en

Video Kiosk Display a folder of videos, continuously and robustly in a loop.

Video Kiosk was designed with Android TV Sticks in mind (tested on MK808 and MK812) but also works with any Android device that you want to use to display a continuous series of looping videos.

Video Kiosk can used to run the big screen at a gym, shop, or anywhere where you need to run an unattended display, so you can be sure it will work simply and easily. The only thing other people need to know how to do is turn the TV on and off - Video Kiosk takes care of the rest.

Simply put your video files in a folder, launch Video Kiosk and pick the folder that contains the video. Optionally enable the launch at startup option so that when the device is (re)started, Video Kiosk automatically launches and starts playing video.
> 0 votes

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Tags: media-player
---


# Question
Title: How do I install Cyanogenmod 11 on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (GT-P5113)?
I'd like to install Cyanogenmod 11 on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (GT-P5113), is this currently possible? I see the Rom shows up in Cyanogenmod's Updater.

# Answer
> 3 votes
# Update

Previously it wasn't possible.

> In short, the previously used set\_perms method was deprecated and replaced by set\_metadata. Unfortunately, most of available recoveries didn’t allow users to flash these packages properly, and this has resulted in the following error message: set\_metadata\_recursive: some changes failed

But now all major recoveries support `set_metadata_recursive`. Just use a version of TWRP newer than 2.7.0

What I did was boot into *Download Mode*:

1. Shut down the tablet.
2. Unplug the USB.
3. Hold Volume Up and Power.
4. Let go of both after it boots and you see it is in Download Mode.
5. Plug in USB.

Flash it into the RECOVERY partition,

```
heimdall flash --RECOVERY twrp-3.1.1-0-whatever.img --no-reboot

```

Now when you boot into Recovery Mode and you're in TWRP you'll see the option to flash the CM11 .zip, or `adb sideload` it, which is what I did.

---
Tags: clockworkmod-recovery, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-10.1, twrp, cyanogenmod
---


# Question
Title: Cyanogenmod 11 in htc explorer running on cyanogenmod 10.1
Can I use the CyanogenMod Installer app to flash Cyanogenmod 11 in my htc explorer which is already rooted and a custom rom is installed, and I have a twrp recovery,so I want to know would there be any problem if I do that,please I need some suggestion...

# Answer
> 1 votes
No you can't. The CyanogenMod Installer app is only available for **Supported devices**, which can be found at the CyanogenMod Wiki.

For this device, you'd need to first unlock its bootloader, which I presume you've already done, since you say that you've already rooted, and have installed a custom ROM. Update to the latest version of TWRP recovery which can be found here (which supports installing KitKat), or you could also go for alternatives like Philz Touch recovery (found here), which I am currently using. Note that you need to use the latest version of recovery, as there are certain changes in how KitKat is installed, causing the installation to fail in older recoveries.

You'd need to manually flash the CyanogenMod 11 update, whose two variants can be found:

As for the "problems" part of it, can't really say. Only Instagram is found to be buggy (with the uploaded pics, in black color (?)), and of course, Flappy Bird lags a bit (the solution to which probably lies in reverting some upstream changes, and/or the build.prop). I would really suggest that you take a backup of your current custom ROM, try CM11 (or any other KitKat ROM for that purpose), and restore your backup, if you feel it's not worth the update.

Also, do use Google, to find the answers for your queries first (and a topic that's directly related to a particular device, i.e. HTC Explorer, you'd have rather searched here). Its always probable that your questions' already been answered.

Note: As to why I'd say that you'd turn to XDA Developers, as because development for this device primarily takes place in the XDA Developers forum. That's why.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, htc-explorer
---


# Question
Title: How can I downgrade my HTC Explorer from Android 4.0 to 2.3
Android 4.0 is installed on my HTC Explorer, but now I want to install again the previous version which was 2.3 Gingerbread.

Could anyone please tell me how to do that?

# Answer
> 0 votes
One option is using RUUs. A few Google searches should get you going.

Another is flashable stock ROM zips. A few searches in the XDA Developers forum for that device should put you in track.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, 2.3-gingerbread, downgrade, htc-explorer
---


# Question
Title: How can I find which app slows down my phone?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3.

My phone is becoming slow. I don't know how to find the app that slows it down. Can someone help me with this? My guess that the app is FACEBOOK... worst app ever.

After restart, the phone works fine for some time. Then, it slows down again and becomes lagged.

# Answer
You could try to use some live monitoring app, e.g. OS Monitor. These usually offer you a view on apps currently consuming most of the ressources, e.g. hogging your CPU, eating your RAM, or utilizing your network:

OS Monitor showing running processes, and showing network connections (click images for larger variants)

Running processes can be sorted by several criteria, such as name, CPU usage, and more. The device being "laggy" most times means some app consumes all CPU power, or I/O, or RAM – so this should help you figuring out.

An alternative to mention is SystemPanel, which even offers you a manual (for your situation, the system monitor page would apply). In its payed version, it even offers you background monitoring, so you could first let it collect data for a while, and later check for the "largest consumers".

SystemPanel: running processes, overall ressources (click images for larger variants)
> 6 votes

# Answer
If you already suspect a particular app (Facebook in this case), just uninstall it and see if the problem goes away.
> 0 votes

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, performance
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# Question
Title: Advantages of updating through Samsung Kies compared to OTA?
I have Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and I am still waiting for the KitKat OTA update. If Kies would allow me to end the waiting, I would definitely give it a try.

Does Kies provide any kind of advantage towards getting a pending update?

# Answer
Usually, Kies will inform you of updates faster than OTA will. However, OTA is more convenient because you don't have to plug in your phone to the PC. So, it's really just a matter of getting the updates quicker versus convenience.
> 1 votes

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Tags: ota-update, samsung-kies
---


title: Install fonts to Quickoffice?

text:
# Question
Title: Install fonts to Quickoffice?
I'm looking to get the standard Word fonts on QuickOffice for Android. Is it possible? All my searches on the internet have yielded nothing.

If it isn't possible, are the fonts that QuickOffice does have identical to any of the standards?

I mainly just need Helvetica, Arial, and Times New Roman. (Required for some classes.)

Thanks.

# Answer
An alternative may be to use the OfficeSuite app instead. It has a PAID partner font app (OfficeSuite Font Package) which includes Arial and Times New Roman; sadly, no Helvetica.
> 1 votes

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Tags: google, fonts, quickoffice
---


title: How to get full root on a Samsung S-3

text:
# Question
Title: How to get full root on a Samsung S-3
I have a Samsung S-3 which was updated OTA to Android 4.3. Trying to get root, I downloaded saferoot (source) from xda.

The exploit works, the process gets root permissions (remounting partitions, read/write system directory, and I was able to add setuid bit to a su executable).

From there, I disabled all KNOX related processes. However, the "system" function doesn't work (permission denied) and neither do any "setuid" executables in /system/xbin.

I suspect it's because SELinux.

Did anyone experience these problems, and what did they do to solve them?

# Answer
VZW OTA, right? Well, as per the XDA page in question, I'm supposed to taunt you for not reading the red large writing, but the page says clearly, *twice*, that 'using this WILL NOT set the "Knox Warranty Void" flag.' It sets the "custom" flag; don't worry about that now. **Later on,**

> Resetting the "Custom" and open padlock indication during boot can be worked around using the **Xposed Framwork and Wanam Xposed**. Get those two from the Play Store. In Wanam, tick "Security Hacks", "Fake System Status".

So you're not unlocking that phone any further than it already is; and you're not installing a custom recovery. You can install Safestrap recovery (*unless you have encryption enabled; SS will bootloop if encryption is enabled*). SS is a modified TWRP for your rooted-but-unlocked S3; that's the only recovery we OTA Jellybean users have got right now.

Note: you can only use ROMs based on 4.3 *modified for a rooted but locked* SGS3 (there are a few). Any ROM you install with SS is going to sit on top of the stock ROM that we can't (yet) get access to, and *all of that* goes in internal memory, so keep ROM size in mind when shopping ROMs.

Last thing: before Safestrap, if you want wifi, you need to flash the kernel modules. All that info is in the SS thread which *I highly suggest reading*. (I can only post 2 links since I'm new here; I chose carefully, but please read the SS page.)
> 0 votes

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Tags: rooting
---


# Question
Title: Is this android mobile device credit card payment system secure and safe?
Mobile device credit card payments and credit card readers are appearing everywhere, but then we all know any payment app's security is nought if the android device is rooted.

Before I give my credit card to be read, how can I check that this merchant's mobile device payment system app is legit, and that her phone is not rooted?

# Answer
You know the same way you know that any card reader the merchant is using doesn't clone your card or misuse your payment details: you don't know at all.

It's possible for apps to detect whether the phone has been rooted or not, so one might expect that a payment app would refuse to work on a rooted phone, just like some video streaming apps do. But as the consumer, it's not possible for you to verify the security of the merchant's card reader, whether it's a smartphone or a special-purpose device.

The good news is that it's not your responsibility to do so. If the merchant allows your card details to be misused, whether deliberately or through negligence, they'll get into trouble with their *merchant acquirer* (i.e. their bank). You can "dispute" any fraudulent transactions with your bank to get them reversed.
> 1 votes

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Tags: security
---


# Question
Title: Does purchasing something in Subway Surfer remove pop-up ads?
Pop-up ads in *Subway Surfer* annoy me a lot. Can I get rid of them by purchasing something like Double Coin feature? I am unable to find any information about it on their official website. If you have ever purchased something in it, please share your experience. Does it remove pop-up ads?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Depends on what you're talking about *pop up ads*.

If you're talking about the full screen ad, often for another game, that pop up when you go to the main menu for example, then no, I don't get any ad since I have purchased the double coin bonus.

If you're talking about the push notifications that warn you about daily challenge and new events, purchasing something doesn't remove it, but you can turn them off in the settings (`Reminders`).

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Tags: in-app-purchase
---


# Question
Title: Send SMS instead of MMS when texting multiple people
When I put more than one person as the recipient to my message my Samsung Galaxy S3 vibrates and says it's converting to MMS. When I send my message I know at least one person is not getting the message. However that person can send me a group message and I can see it is as a SMS instead of MMS.

I can't find any options to prevent it from becoming a MMS. I set the delivery report checkbox and sent another one out. I know one person got it and that person did it. I get no report on who got it. I'm using Android 4.3.

# Answer
I was facing the same problem for long time on my Galaxy S3, at last i figure it out

by default android SMS allow you to send same message to multiple people without converting it to MMS. But when you Select the option `Group Messaging` under the `multimedia message (MMS) setting` it now set group messaging only for MMS

try un-checking the option

hope this will help ( am using default sms of android)

Screenshot (click to enlarge)
> 8 votes

# Answer
When I just saw my T-Mobile bill for Feb it became evident that since upgrading the OS from version 4.1.2 to 4.3 when I send a ‘Group’ text message it creates individual MMS messages, one for each recipient. These are picked up by T-Mobile and charged for at 25p each even though they are text only and I have an unlimited texts allowance.

In addition, if somebody sent me a text message as one recipient of a group text message I do not know it is a part of a group text message but if I reply to the sender then a text message from me is created for each of the recipients. Each of these is an MMS message and so I get charged 25p for each reply message even though I don’t know it has happened.

I rang Samsung and said I am fed up with problems with OS version 4.3 and asked for version 4.2.1 to be re-installed. They referred me to one of their Samsung Repair Centres, The PocketPhone Shop in Cheshunt, to re-install version 4.1.2. However, when I rang them they said they are not able to this but if I bring my phone in they will investigate my problem.

Chris at the PocketPhone Shop did some investigation and then told me that if I go into Text Messages, Settings and then scroll down to Multimedia Message (MMS) Settings there is a parameter ‘Group Messaging’. If this is ticked, when sending Group text messages individual MMS messages are created. However, if this is unticked, group text messaging still works but the messages created are SMS messages and not chargeable MMS messages.

Well done to Chris and I hope this adds additional assistance to the previous helpful messages in this forum.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I found that too. Group text wasn't checked to start with so I checked it then unchecked and now it's back to normal. Thanks for your help
> -1 votes

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Tags: sms, mms
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title: Multilingual smart dial in HTC One X

text:
# Question
Title: Multilingual smart dial in HTC One X
I have HTC One X with default firmware and the latest updates installed. I'm totally fine with the default dialer, but the only feature missing is Russian (Cyrillic) symbols in Smart Dialer. It's where you type T9 versions of names to fast filter your contact list.

Is there a way to add Russian symbols to default Smart Dialer? I want to use both English and Russian symbols simultaneously.

I can use separate app for that, like ExDialer, it does exactly what I want. But I don't want to blunt Occam's razor.

Default dialer is to the left. ExDialer is to the right, since it is doing it right.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It turned out, that when I set system language to Russian, Smart Dialer adds Russian letters. I used MoreLocale2 to add Russian system language. And I had to use the "pm grant" trick to make MoreLocale2 work.

---
Tags: languages, htc-one-x, htc, phone-app
---


# Question
Title: Where to report issues regarding the stock-email-app
Is http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/entry the right place for bug reports?

My device is a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE 2014 Edition (SM-P605) with it's original shipped OS (Android 4.3).

# Answer
This depends upon the ROM that you're using.

If its stock, you're stuck, for most OEMs don't allow sending big reports as such.

If its a google device, or any other device running AOSP, then, the link you've posted is appropriate. Be sure to provide as much related and useful info as possible.

If you're running custom ROMs, they'd often provide you with links, so as to where to post bug reports, (most often being the thread itself (assuming that you're using a custom ROM taken from a forum)), which is where you ought to be posting bug reports.
> 2 votes

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Tags: bugs, stock-email-app
---


title: scheduled message feature removed?

text:
# Question
Title: scheduled message feature removed?
I've upgraded my Galaxy Note II to Android 4.3 and if I open the menu when writing an SMS there is no scheduled message option anymore. Where is it gone?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Samsung probably felt the "non-need" of this feature, hence removing it.

You could either use apps from the play store such as "Schemes" which allows you to schedule messaging, or contact Samsung support via email requesting the re-addition of the feature (I'd go with the former because, one mail mostly doesn't make a difference against a huge OEM).

---
Tags: sms, 4.3-jelly-bean, samsung-galaxy-note-2
---


# Question
Title: Chrome Browser does not render mobile site
I use SAMSUNG GALAXY Y GT-S6312.

I was testing my site on google chrome for mobile view render. But it renders desktop site only

Tried clearing cache of browser. Stopped application. But no results.

Any Solutions.

# Answer
Does Chrome render other websites in their "mobile" formats correctly?

If yes, you'd need to correctly configure your website (probably checking for user agent, and redirecting to mobile site) correctly, so as to render the mobile site.
> 0 votes

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Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, chrome-for-android
---


# Question
Title: I can't get any of the Android Virtual Devices started
I copied the ADT in `C:\Program Files`, updated the SDK path, deleted the `.android` folder in my user's folder, but that didn't solve my problem. When I start a virtual device, it shows the load bar, but after that, nothing happens.

What else should I try?

# Answer
So I've managed to make it work by unchecking the option: "Scale display to real size." Very strange...
> 0 votes

# Answer
user3262360,

Try the following:

1. Configure the AVD to have 512k RAM
2. Assign 8 GB to SD space.
3. Keep internal storage at 200MiB.
4. Uncheck the box for GPU accelaration.

Start the AVD and wait at least five minutes to give enough time for the new AVD device to load and display the Android unlock screen.
> 0 votes

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Tags: android-emulator, virtualization
---


# Question
Title: How to read 2 or more documents side-by-side in Android?
When I do my math exercises, I need to view the book and the exercises at the same time. Sometime I need to open a third PDF, but it's more optional. How can I do so with Android? On iPad I use the application Side by Side, which allows to read up to 4 different PDFs side by side.

I use Nexus 7 with Android 4.4.2.

# Answer
Try using floating apps. Multi window feature is only available on a few android devices like samsung Note, etc.

Floating apps will provide similar functionality. Try this:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lwi.android.flappsfull
> 4 votes

# Answer
You may also look here: How do I run two programs at once in split-screen?

Tested on a Samsung Note 10.1 (SM-P605) with Android 4.3 i found some apps which are supporting multi window, e.g:

* My Files (\*)
* stock Video Player
* MX Player
* stock email app
* Gmail
* stock Webbrowser (\*)
* Chrome
* Gallery
* Contacts
* Phone
* Google maps
* Polaris Office 5
* WhatsApp
* Facebook
* Watch now
* Chat on (\*)
* Google Play Store

But there are really very few apps capable to run with multiple instances (from the above list only those which are marked with (\*)). So, you can for example open `My Files` twice (left & right of upper & lower half screen):

Unfortunally, `Polaris Office 5` (pdf viewer) isn't capable to run twice. So if you want to view 2 pdf docs side by side, it seems that you have to install a 2nd pdf viewer app and e.g. open `Polaris Office 5` on the left and the other pdf viewer on the right side of the screen. A short look to Google Play Store for pdf viewers that support multi window:

At the following screenshot I had opened Ivan Ivanenko's PDF Reader & Ebooka PDF Viewer side by side:
> 3 votes

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Tags: pdf, multi-window
---


# Question
Title: On the verge of 3G reception -- how to find the best position
In my apartment, it seems like I'm on the verge of having 3G reception with my current carrier. It's only if I place and leave my Galaxy Nexus on the window, and in a certain position and time of day, that it would finally switch from EDGE to 3G or HSPA.

Is there any way to help one find out the best position to place the phone around a window? (This would be helpful if one only needs it for WiFi tethering, for example.)

The only thing I found helpful so far is running a speedtest, and then moving the phone whilst the speedtest is still being performed, but since the regular speedtest apps are time-constrained and have several distinct components of the test, this doesn't seem like the best approach around. Maybe there's some way to see 3G signal strength in real time?

# Answer
You might wish to take a look at apps like Network Signal Info and RF Signal Tracker, which allow you not only to monitor signal quality, but also show you which cells you are connected to, plus what kind of connection you had (3G/H+/...). You can follow that on-screen (to find the currently best place), and also log it (if you notice "drops", that might be helpful when discussing things with your provider).

<sup>*Network Signal Info* and *RF Signal Tracker* (source: Google Play; click images for larger variants)</sup>
> 1 votes

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Tags: 3g, network-signal
---


# Question
Title: Changing carriers and sims - how do I know if the new network will work?
My family is considering switching to T-Mobile, and I would like to bring my current Droid 4 with me. I have already stopped by a local T-Mobile store to see if their sim would work. The phone displayed the list of available mobile networks, but I could not make a call. Is that because the sim was not registered to my phone, or because the phone could not access the network properly?

Note, I am aware that a stock droid 4 is locked out of US GSM usage - as far as I can tell I overwrote the NV data to allow this.

# Answer
Good choice (T-Mobile). If your phone is unlocked you should be able to use your device with most carriers, especially the ones who activate service with a SIM card.

It's most likely because it's not registered yet, I wouldn't see any reason otherwise.

**Update**

I'll agree with Eldrerathis here. It's possible that the device cannot connect to the network correctly.
> 0 votes

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Tags: sim-card, sim-unlocking
---


# Question
Title: Pulling dbdata file with not rooted device
The screen of my Galaxy S is broken, so I can't see anything and the touchscreen doesn't work. After a while, I managed to get everything I needed from the `/sdcard` folder with adb.

Now I have some very important things in my Memo app that I would like to save, but the problem is that my phone is not rooted, so I can't pull anything from dbdata folder.

So, long story short: I need to pull a file from `/dbdata` but I have no root permissions on my phone, and the data I need to save is not from a debuggable app (it's the `.ab` data of the original Memo app). Is there any way to do it? If not, is there any way to root my phone without having to interact with it, since my touchscreen doesn't work anymore? (I already tried with run-as but as I already told, the app is not debuggable)

# Answer
> 0 votes
You don't mention which Android version is running on your device. With \< 4.0, chances are close to zero: without root access, you cannot access those places.

With 4.0 and up, you *theoretically* would have the possibility to use `adb backup` (see e.g. our backup tag-wiki). Thing is, you have to approve that from your device by tapping "OK" on the authentication popup – which is not possible with a broken screen.

TL;DR: It's not possible.

---
Tags: adb, root-access, samsung-galaxy-s, backup, broken-screen
---


# Question
Title: Android Download PDF Giving Download Unsuccessful
I have been trying to figure out what this error is and how to get rid of it.

Whenever I try to open the pdf file from this website on chrome:

http://www.stdavidtheking.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature\_id=247

I get the error download unsuccesful. What can I do to fix this?

# Answer
In my previous experience, I've always had problems downloading with Chrome. I'd try a different browser like Boat Browser or Dolphin Browser.
> 1 votes

# Answer
This sometimes happens to me in Chrome. What seems to work better is, instead of tapping on the link to the PDF, long-press on the link and choose Save link.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, chrome-for-android, nexus-5
---


title: find the source of an app on my tab3

text:
# Question
Title: find the source of an app on my tab3
It has an Android robot with a cloud over his head with the letters dlna in the cloud? I downloaded an app from google play and can't find the source to look it up to figure how to make it work.

# Answer
In the `Settings` menu look for the `App` section. From there you will be able to select it and find information about it along with the package name.
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: How to identify and remove a looping sound?
I have a Nexus 4 running Android 4.4.2 (not rooted, but with developer options enabled), and it keeps developing a stuck looping sound (I guess part of a notification sound, looping approximately every second). It survives shutdown / restart, and I've been through killing processes and services, and apparently at random at some point after killing everything, it **sometimes** seems to stop (sometimes it keeps going no matter how many you kill)...

...but it keeps coming back. I'm at the 4th or 5th time in 24 hours where I think it is fixed, only to find it bleeping away later. Obviously this makes it hard to leave the volume on!

So: any ideas on identifying the offender? Maybe some tool that can display the sound buffers by originating process? Or just flush them...

Note: it also survives a reboot into safe mode, continuing to play in a loop while in safe mode.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Hard to say what could cause this problem. Maybe you're able to tell what happened before the sound started? Could be a hint to address the issue.

I would recommend start with uninstalling any unecessary apps and going through every app that is/was ever generating notifications for you. Check their internal settings (if there are any) and also check notification settings in app manager.

If you're using developer mode I suppose you can also try to turn it off, just in case.

If it's reacting on shake in a weird way I'd also recommend to run all possible updates, alternatively reinstall apps or in the worst case: reinstall the system. Can't tell more about what could cause the bug.

---
Tags: audio, bugs
---


# Question
Title: Don't charge to 100% when always-on wall-plugged-in
I want to use a Google Nexus phone for an always-on wall-plugged-in WiFi tethering access station.

It occurred to me that if I just do it like this, then I'm risking ruining the battery within a couple of months, and the battery becoming useless, potentially leaving the phone permanently handicapped to a wall-plug operation, and within a year or two, going as far as requiring an external UPS for power-outage situations, too.

Is there a solution to start charging when below 40% or 50%, and stop charging at 60% to 80%?

# Answer
> 3 votes
If you're needing it as always-on wall plugged you will probably need to stick with that. However newer devices stop charge when 100% and then recharge back from ~95%.

Answer here: How to stop an android device from being charged programmatically? Says that you simply can't use any software to stop the charging.

---
Tags: battery, battery-life, charging
---


title: How to disable Google Search?

text:
# Question
Title: How to disable Google Search?
Recently my phone started to lose charge faster. It just occurred to me to check Battery in Settings, and I saw that Google Search is responsible for 29%, Screen coming in second with 23%.

I set up Google Now a few weeks back, is it the same thing?

If not, what exactly *is* Google Search? Is it something I actually use, and Google Search is just a collective name for them? Can I turn it off?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Google Search is the package that contains both Google Search and Google Now. I think you can disable Google Now while keeping the search part by going into `Now->Settings->Switch Google Now (first item)`.

If it doesn't solves your problem, then you can disable Google Search in `Settings->Applications->Google Search->Disable`.

---
Tags: battery-life, nexus-4
---


title: How to get removed default app back?

text:
# Question
Title: How to get removed default app back?
I've removed my Gallery default app with NoBloat. NoBloat is a great app and I've used it to remove all of the bloatware that came with my Note 3. Yesterday I was playing with my phone, then I thought "well, I use QuickPic, so let me remove the Gallery app too". Well, not a great idea (especially not backing it up before doing it). Now, I can't access my pics from the corner of the Camera app. Is there anyway that I can get it back without resetting my phone (it just won't happen)? I've tried looking for the app at the Samsung Apps store but they don't keep it over there

# Answer
> 2 votes
No, you won't be able to get it back without a backup unless you know someone with the same phone who can back it up & provide you with a copy.

You also won't be able to update your system OTA in the future either, as updates check to make sure that all the apps that should be there are present. If they're not, they won't install.

Freezing apps rather than deleting is generally a much better idea.

---
Tags: gallery, default-applications
---


# Question
Title: mount command outputs usage on correct arguments
I enabled root for adb, and then tried the following:

```
root@crespo:/ # mount /dev/block/platform/s3c-sdhci.0/by-name/media /storage/sdcard0
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory
1|root@crespo:/ # mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p3 /storage/sdcard0
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory
1|root@crespo:/ # mount /dev/block/mmcblk0 /storage/sdcard0
Usage: mount [-r] [-w] [-o options] [-t type] device directory

```

but, even if `-t` is optional, I get a different error message by adding it:

```
1|root@crespo:/ # mount -t vfat /dev/block/mmcblk0 /storage/sdcard0
mount: Device or resource busy

```

maybe the arguments parsing of the command is messed up... seems like a bug in busybox, or is something much more pedestrian going wrong?

# Answer
It turned out that mount isn't actually supplied by `busybox`, but by `toolbox`.

With this knowledge, it was easy to track down the cause of the bug: unlike busybox, since I don't have another "toolbox" implementation with a correctly working `mount` command, it's likely that the behavior would've been easy to see from the code.

In fact the problem is here at line 330: it checks if `type == NULL`, but then outputs an `USAGE` that erroneously shows `-t` as optional

Compare with busybox at line 1930: `// Loop through filesystem types until mount succeeds`
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, mount, busybox
---


# Question
Title: Completely wiping all contents and storage in SmartQ T10 tablet. No Recovery, no CWM, no ADB
I wanna hard reset my SmartQ T10 so memory and internal storage become fully deleted, but my device does not have such option in Settings, nor there is ClockWorkMod Recovery released for it.
I did try:
\- Restore firmware.
\- Boot pressing volume up, volume down and both (goes to firmware restore).
\- ADB: adb reboot recovery (goes to firmware restore too).
\- Research at http://www.hard-reset.com/ (no SmartQ models there).
so I was wondering if it exists any generic non-platform-specific trick.

# Answer
> 1 votes
For a real safe and complete wipe, you might want to take a look at Nuke my Device.

If you're just after a factory-reset, this can be find in *Settings*. But then you shouldn't forget about your other storage (SDcards – internal as well as external – are usually not dealt with by a factory-reset, though some ROMs do so).

# Answer
> 0 votes
I think I have finally found a partial solution. By using these commands via ADB, what can be done by USB cable or Wireless ADB (my case), the contents of the internal filesystem of the tablet seems to have become clean:

```
adb shell
wipe data

```

I hope this info will help anyone.

---
Tags: factory-reset, device-firmware
---


# Question
Title: Why is there so many identical Android folders?
I was using the ES File Explorer app, when I noticed there's many different folders with all the same content. Like, there's a "legacy" folder, a "0" folder, and an "sdcard" folder, and it all goes to the same place where my DCIM is and such. I'm wondering if whatever I have takes up three times the space, or its all shortcuts to the same place. I'm confused with all this folder nonsense.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Because of how Android has evolved over the years many newer devices have the same files mounted (usually with a bind mount) in multiple places. Others are symbolic links. It's really too bad that the file manager app isn't showing you these details :-/

# Answer
> 4 votes
Prior to ICS, Android used `/system/mnt/sdcard` as the point for mount.

Some versions by manufacturers used `/system/sdcard` instead.

ICS, thereafter, changed it, but kept existing mount point for backwards compatibility with legacy apps.

Now, `/system/storage/sdcard0` or `/system/storage/sdcard1`, particularly, JB on tablets, is used to accomodate multiple user accounts.

Crucial point is the name or alias for external storage is `sdcard` for legacy reasons and will stay that way. Or in technical parlance, *symbolic link* in filesystem terms points to `sdcard`.

Usually, 0 represented internal storage, 1 represented external storage.

The increased trend in dropping SDCard at expense of cheaper to manufacture rewriteable flash drives, bigger capacities, is prevalent.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I don't know about "legacy" or "0", but /sdcard is a symbolic link to the sdcard device folder.

At the terminal, run "ls -l". Add the end of some lines, you will see:

```
sdcard -> /mnt/sdcard
etc -> /system/etc

```

and maybe others depending on your setup. This is standard Linux setup, and makes both places link the same place - so there is no duplication.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It is not exactly true that they go to the same place. The "0" folder as you call is is what is actually stored on the phone. So if you have your camera taking pictures and storing them on the device as opposed to the SD card, you will see those pictures (DCIM folder) under /storage/emulated/0/DCIM. Under EXTSDCard you will see things stored on your removable card.

---
Tags: file-system, file-management, files, es-file-explorer
---


title: Asus Memopad sd card unexpected removed

text:
# Question
Title: Asus Memopad sd card unexpected removed
At the moment the Asus Memopad HD7 came out, i bought it.

I bought also a micro sd card and inserted it. But frequently the sd card will be unexpected removed.

Is there anyone who recognizes this? Is it a general problem with the Memopad?

# Answer
My wife is having the same issue. It seems to be related to how you hold or handle the tablet. If she hands it to me and I am handling it by the top right corner, it will almost always sense the card is not there. As soon as I change where I am holding it by the card is mounted again. It seems like the card is loosing contact with the port by a minor flexing (just by the weight of the tablet itself) when you handle the top right corner only. It is annoying.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I had the same problem….. downloading the firmware update from ASUS (from the HD7 tablet) appear to have solved the problems. Remember, you must un-mount the Micro sd Before removing it……………… see manual http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/EeePAD/ME173X/e8255\_k00B\_me173X\_em.pdf

Good Luck

Good Luck
> 0 votes

---
Tags: external-sd, sd-card
---


title: How to root a Xperia SP (C530x)?

text:
# Question
Title: How to root a Xperia SP (C530x)?
Simply, how to root a Sony Xperia SP device?

# Answer
There are two ways, depending on your firmware version. They work on both locked & unlocked bootloader.

## Requirements

* Having adb drivers installed (usually installed with Sony PC Companion)
* Having enabled `Unknown Sources`
* Having enabled `USB Debugging`
* PC Companion must **not** be running

# 12.0.A.1.211/257 (C5302,C5303,C5306) ; 12.0.A.1.284 (C5302 only)

(credits for DooMLoRD, guide from this thread)

1. Download this archive and extract it.
2. Connect your phone to your computer.
3. In the extracted folder, double click on the RUNME.bat file.
4. Follow the instructions (usually one key to tap).
5. Reboot your device if it doesn't do it itself.

# 12.0.A.2.245/254 (any device)

(credits for DooMLoRD, guide from this thread)

In these versions, Sony has patched the exploit, so we need to flash an older kernel that has the exploit and then reflash the kernel of our actual firmware version. This requires flashtool.

1. Download this archive and extract it.
2. Download the kernel file from 1.257 firmware.
3. If your actual firmware version is 2.245, download this kernel file. If it is 2.254, download this one.
4. Open flashtool, click on flash icon (see image), select flashmode, browse to 1.257 kernel ftf, validate.
5. Disconnect your device, shut it down, then while *pushing on the volume down button* plug your device to your computer. The illumination bar should go green.
6. Wait for flashtool to finish, then reboot.
7. **CLOSE FLASHTOOL**
8. In the extracted folder, run the runme\_ file (exact name depends on your OS).
9. Once it is finished, shutdown your device.
10. Open Flashtool again, repeat the same steps as before, but select the kernel FTF for your actual version (2.245 or 2.254).
11. Plug your device in Flashmode.
12. When flashtool has finished, you can reboot and finally enjoy your root!

# Jelly Bean 4.3 (12.1.A.0.266) (any device)

*As for 12.0.A.2.245 and 12.0.A.2.254, the exploit is fixed, so we need to root while being on an older firmware (2.254 preferably), flash the new stock rom zip via recovery and flash the new kernel via Flashtool.* (thanks to niaboc79 for this method).

1. Downloads:
2. Update to 12.0.A.2.254.
3. Root using the 2nd method.
4. **CLOSE FLASHTOOL**
5. Unzip the recovery archive and run the .bat file.
6. Put the ROM and fix zip on your phone.
7. Reboot in recovery (Power Off your phone, then power on and press (not maintain) volume up on multiple times until it vibrates).
8. Flash the ROM.
9. Flash the fix.
10. *Advanced -\> Power Off*
11. **IF IT ASK YOU ABOUT A SU OVERWRITE, SELECT NO**
12. Open flashtool and flash **only the kernel** from the .266 ftf. (see screenshot from niaboc79)
13. Unplug, power on and enjoy Android 4.3 with root!
> 3 votes

---
Tags: rooting, sony-xperia-sp
---


# Question
Title: Recovery program only accesible via "adb recovery" but the program closes itself
My tablet (a chinese SmartQ T10 with Android v2.3.4 unofficial Firmware) does not have custom recovery via power buttons combo, nor CWM recovery available to download. The only key combination (`Vol +`+`Power`) that does anything, goes directly to firmware restore from a file named `/mnt/sdcard/SmartQT10` (at SD Card) if this file exists.

But if I completely start into Android, go to ADB on my computer and I do:

```
adb connect IPTablet:5555
adb shell recovery

```

It appears a fancy classic recovery program on the tablet's screen (full screen mode), as you can see:

Screenshot (click image for larger variant)

but with a strange behavior: this supposed recovery program lasts for only a few seconds, and my tablet get back to whatever it had just before on the screen (Android desktop, for example). After a few seconds, the recovery program gets back to screen, a few seconds there, and back to the desktop... and so on. The things stay like this until I press `Ctrl`+`C` on the ADB console of my PC.

If I touch any key of the tablet or press on the screen, the screen goes back instantly to Android screen and the recovery program disappear, so I can not interact with the recovery program. The recovery program is like any kind of "ghost" screen. And one more (don't know if important) detail: the selection menu of the recovery program moves down once each 2-3 seconds, just like if I were pressing any "down" key or so, a thing that I am not doing at all.

I must conclude that my tablet has any kind of recovery program inside, but it can not start for any reason.

This method:

```
adb shell reboot recovery

```

goes into firmware restoration mode, as I told before. This other:

```
adb shell reboot bootloader

```

performs a simple reboot.

Having this recovery program available would be great. **Could anyone, please, tell me how could I do to keep it working?** Or maybe there is any way to start it on boot, as I have seen in many others Android devices?

I see it shows some "can't mount" directory messages, as you can see in the capture, but I don't know how to solve those problems or if solving them would be useful to finally accessing the recovery program.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I don't know for sure if this is your only problem, but I'm posting it as an answer just in case. You seem to be confused about `adb` commands.

```
adb shell foo

```

is a command that tells `adb` to open a shell on the device, and run the command `foo` on the device, whatever you say there for `foo`. Therefore, the command you've been running,

```
adb shell recovery

```

doesn't tell the device to go into recovery mode: it tells the device to run a command named `recovery`, while Android's still running. From your description, it sounds like this is the same program that the recovery mode uses, but it's not intended to be run while Android is running. It's writing to the screen directly, without going through Android, which is why it keeps disappearing and can't accept input. It's actually pretty sloppy work on the part of the manufacturer that you can run this program at all from within Android.

In the same way, the command you want to use to reboot into the bootloader is

```
adb reboot-bootloader

```

(On newer adb versions you can replace the hyphen with a space if you like.) There's no `shell` in the command, because this is an instruction to `adb`, not a command to run on the device.

---
Tags: recovery-mode
---


# Question
Title: Files synced with BTSync not visible to all apps
I have a brand new, rooted Moto G with stock Android 4.4.2. Being new to Android, I was looking for a painless way to push music to my phone from various computers. I opted for using BTSync, pointing it to my phone's Music folder (that is /storage/emulated/0/Music).

Now, when I put stuff into a synced folder on my Macbook or my Linux laptop, it automatically gets synced to the phone's Music folder by BTSync. Works like a charm.

The issue is that certain apps on my phone do not 'see' these synced files.

For example, OI File Manager, AntTek Explorer and VLC see them and I can play back all the audio files with VLC.

But Play Music (from Google) or Pimp My Music just show me an empty playlist. Also, when I connect the phone via USB cable and use Android File Transfer on my Macbook, the Music folder is empty, even though the aforementioned file managers, VLC and BTSync show the files as existing and, as I said, VLC can even play them!

What's more, when I launch Play Music directly, e.g. from within OI File Manager, it will play back the resp. selected audio file too.

What am I missing here?

# Answer
> 2 votes
The missing piece of information is that Play Music (and most other music apps) don't go round looking for music files. It would be a waste of battery if every app had to scan the storage for files! Instead, there's one built-in app, the , that looks for music files and makes a database of their metadata: that is, the app reads the ID3 tags from each file and stores the track name, artist, album and so on. Any app on the device can access this database to find music files. (It works the same way for videos and pictures.)

The app has to know to update this database, so when an app downloads new files, it has to tell this media scanner the new files are there. Obviously BTSync isn't doing this.

On older Android versions it used to be possible for an app to just tell the media scanner to scan everything. This was a useful workaround for when apps like BTSync didn't do their duty, but it also meant some lazy app authors did this instead of telling the media scanner what files to scan, wasting the battery. For this reason, it's not possible to do this on Android 4.4.

In the first instance, you should ask BTSync's author to tell the media scanner when it downloads a file. Then there won't be any problem at all. Until they fix their app, you should try one of the workarounds in this question.

---
Tags: sync, music, mp3
---


# Question
Title: Rooting android via virtual windows 8 on ubuntu 12.04
I want to root my sony xperia p android 4.1.2. I'm using ubuntu 12.04LTS and it seems uncomfortable to root my xperia via ubuntu. So i've installed windows 8 (32 bit) on virtual box. Is it will be safe to root my phone via virtual windows 8?

# Answer
If you can pass the USB control of the device from the host to the guest, then it should be perfectly fine. This requires the closed-source version of virtual box. Source
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rooting, root-access
---


# Question
Title: New android user; switching between wifi and mobile data
When I leave the office my S4 doesn't seem to want to connect to mobile data. So, I end up with no connection at all. Turning mobile data off and on does nothing at all, I seem unable to establish a connection unless I restart the phone.

It happens occasionally in reverse also, if I go to work (or home, it is not exclusive to a single network) my phone maintains the mobile connection and wont join the wifi connection automatically (and sometimes I need to enter my password to connect to the wifi.)

Any ideas?

Note, my issue sounds the same as this one, though there is no solution there; Nexus One: 3G/WIFI Not Switching

# Answer
To answer this question, it appears (at least in my case) that the app Skyvi was the problem. Almost all my Android issues (including random restarting) were sorted when I removed that app.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, 4.2-jelly-bean, connection-issues, mobile-network
---


# Question
Title: Lookout - Which application is trying to access the system with no authorization
Is there any log where I can check which unknown source app is trying to access the phone without authorization? Lookout keeps popping up this message but don't tell me which application is! It happens whenever I connect to Wi-fi/3G. The application says that everything is normal after a scan. I don't want to remove all applications installed from unknown sources!

I couldn't get the message in english just switching the phone language, it only shows partially in english:

# Answer
> 2 votes
I don't use this Lookout app, so I cannot tell you whether it has this hint somewhere. But I can give you some clues how to "rule out innocent apps", so you don't have to "remove all applications". With some luck, this filtering leaves only a few candidates.

First indicator you gave: *It happens whenever I connect to Wi-fi/3G.* So it has to be a) an app with "some WiFi permission", which also listens to the "network changed" broadcast (to put it in easy words). So first let's check for apps with matching permissions:

*Guardian Droid* and *Permission Explorer* (source: Google Play)

Two helpful apps for this are Guardian Droid and Permission Explorer, as shown in the screenshots. They help you identify apps by permissions (and also apps with excessive permissions). Taking the *Permission Explorer* screenshot as a base here, your suspect app should be in one (or more) of the following groups: Internet, Access\_Network\_state. Most likely in both: it needs to know *when* Internet is accessible (so it's interested in the network state), and most likely wants to access it (Internet).

With this check, you will have ruled out some apps already. Probably not enough, as many/most apps will have the *Internet* permission even when not requiring it themselves – to load ads. So the next step is to check which of the filtered apps are listening to the "network state changed" broadcast (an indicator that your suspect does this is that the alert is triggered immediately when WiFi was connected, if I understood you correctly).

*S2 APK Viewer* and *App Detective* (source: Google Play)

For this we take a look at S2 APK Viewer and App Detective. Both of them allow to browse the Manifest of your `.apk`s (Apps). Watch out for `<receiver>`s, which declare what broadcasts an app is interested in.

By these steps, you will not end up with the single candidate, but rather with several. But at least you don't have to check them all. As a broadcast listener can alternatively be declared dynamically by code (instead of in the manifest), our friend might not be listed in the "reduced set" having applied all filters, but must be amongst those left over by the first (permission) scan.

Whilest not completely solving your issue, I hope this at least helped narrowing down candidates to an acceptable level.

---

As it turns out in this case, it still leaves ~200 candidates to check. So let me suggest something I should have thought of from the beginning: investigating Android's logs. There are multiple ways to do this, like using dedicated apps (CatLog, Gemini LogCat, and LogCat Extreme are good examples), or doing it via `adb logcat` (requires ADB to be setup on your computer, see Is there a minimal installation of ADB?). If something raises a security notification, it should show up in the logs at least as warning (so you can restrict your investigation to this loglevel and higher ones). Most of the LogCat apps let you setup filters via their GUI. For the command line tool, you can take a look at its help page. Moreover, there's a nice article on "adb logcat" Command Arguments - Output Filters, which should be quite useful here.

Start the logcat viewer. If possible, clear "past entries" from the output, or set a mark (if the app offers this). After that, connect to WiFi. As soon as the warning pops up, stop log recording (or set the "end mark"). Now investigate the recorded lines. I'm positive this leaves much less than ~200 candidates – and wouldn't even be surprised you'd end up with an exact hit.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have a galaxy s4, I went to the settings,clicked more, then clicked security, then the section that says security update service I only checked the VIA Wi-fi Only box, clicked the home screen, turned off my wifi, turned it back on, clicked that security message that was on the notification bar, an update option came up, I clicked the update, agreed to the terms & conditions and now it never shows up for me anymore!! I also unchecked the VIA wi-fi only box after it updated just for my preference but i don't think its needed

---
Tags: security, malware, antivirus, lookout
---


# Question
Title: Allow only specific apps to use cell data, only when on 3G
I use Tasker to sync every 30 mins when on 3G. I'm on a limited data plan, and the only apps I use constantly are browser, a Twitter app (Echofon) and Whatsapp. Is there a way to allow only these apps when on cell data, and allow access to all on wifi, either with Tasker or otherwise?

I've seen similar questions here, but they're mostly outdated (pre ICS) and/or involve restricting access using DroidWall, which does not differentiate wifi and 3G.

# Answer
> 6 votes
I know of no way to restrict an app to the 3G network (as opposed to 2G/4G), but there are several solutions to restrict apps to either WiFi or mobile networks (or keep/allow them from/to both). Examples include DroidWall - Android Firewall (which you already mentioned, but which is discontinued), its successor AFWall+, ~~its fork Android Firewall (gone)~~, and -- last but not least -- ~~LBE Privacy Guard~~ (no longer updated; go here for it's "big brother"'s English version). As below screenshots show, all four of them support separate settings per app for WiFi and mobile data respectively.

As the comments state, some of them might have issues (e.g. do not install LBE from the playstore if your device runs Android 4.1 or higher, as this will leave you with a boot loop -- check this XDA thread instead). But one of them should do for you, I hope.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can set permissions (Allowed All / Wi-Fi Only / Blocked All) on per-app basis with LostNet Firewall: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lostnet.fw.free

---
Tags: data-connection, 3g, automation, tasker, firewall
---


title: Music Search Lockscreen Widget History

text:
# Question
Title: Music Search Lockscreen Widget History
I have a Nexus 4 running 4.4 (Kitkat) and I use the Music Search widget while listening to the radio on my car.

I have discovered the name of that song or artist I wanted to know many times, but now I realize I can't seem to find my music "search history."

Can anyone point me in the right direction? Is this in the (Play) Music App or Settings? I've looked everywhere! Reading thru the Google Help led me no where...

UPDATE: I answered my own question and cleared up the issue, giving credit where due. BTW the picture above was from illustration purposes only, and apparently from a device that has the Sound Search widget history disabled. Sound Search History is not available is some countries.

# Answer
Correct answer was pointed to in the comments by RossC. Thanks! I'm writing my own here since it's been a while and he didn't write a proper answer I could have selected(!). I did a bit more research to expand on what he found, while also clarifying the original issue which was partly PICNIC... RossC wrote:

> According to here it may only be in the US and depend on what version you have. reddit.com/r/Android/comments/14r6m7/… Apparently the 'clock' icon will do it reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1p7d0w but I don't have that on mine ...

So the second link above gives the answer: On the device one cannot access the Music Search History from anywhere *but* thru the widget's "clock" icon. Since I only had the widget placed in the lockscreen so I did not see the icon while I was actually actively using my phone (unlocked) to look for its history. I can only access the history from the lockscreen widget, that is unless of course I put the widget on one of my panels, which is unnecessary since Google Now can also do music search (just say "what's the song" or similar).

Apparently the Music Search is also unavailable in some countries, so YMMV.

Also, I found out here you **can also access your sound search history on your desktop/laptop** by logging into your Google Account and going to this hidden(?) "auto-playlist" link (I couldn't find anywhere in Play Music site UI):

https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ap/sound-search

Hope this clears a few mysteries regarding Sound Searches and its widget.
> 0 votes

# Answer
My widget has the clock icon at far right which when pressed shows the history. Maybe your screen is not wide enough for it? Their is a music search sync option in your Google account settings in "Accounts & Sync", although I don't think that is the issue. Will keep researching.
> 1 votes

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Tags: music, search, search-history
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# Question
Title: Nexus 4 wont hold charge after screen and battery replacement
I've just replaced my broken screen and put a new battery into my nexus 4 following this you tube vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZDAIgwbXk4.

When I first plugged in the charger (1A generic usb charger) The battery level dropped to critical and the "connect your charger" message popped up about 20 times per second. I turned it off and plugged in the charger but it wont charge. It displays the battery charging graphic, but the battery never takes in charge.

I thought it might be a dud battery so I replaced it with another new battery.

The new battery charged once successfully, (and here I was thinking that I had pulled my home repair off that this point and was just about to break out the champagne and celebrate!)

I just plugged in the charger and the phone did the same thing. Lost the charge, flashed the 'connect your charger' pop up a zillion times per second, and now again, it wont hold any charge.

Any ideas on what I can do?

Any and all help *much* appreciated!

Bruce.

# Answer
I suppose you prob got a new phone by now or fixed it.

But if you say the `"The new battery charged once successfully"` you mean you were able to charge it only with the phone off?

If so, sounds like you might have had a short circuit somewhere near the battery's USB port connection, and only occurs when a certain circuit is on due to the phone being on. Or it could be just something is loose... hard to tell from the details given.

What I'd do is try and take it apart again and see if anything got damaged or loose around that area.

Gotta keep in mind these devices are very delicate and use low voltages. You gotta do fixes like this as if they were "surgery" and take all precautions, proper tools, etc. A bit of static electricity discharging from your hand or even damaging the track in the board somehow can cause big time damage. Tiny transistors are easily damaged by static electricity so always wear a anti-static wriststrap when doing these repairs.

Let us know what happened!?
> 1 votes

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Tags: battery, charging, nexus-4
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# Question
Title: Lost some data (specifically my voice recordings
My phone started acting really weirdly lately. It would shut off by itself and turn on again, and sometimes when it just turned on, it would turn off again. The home screen would freeze, and I couldn't do anything. So I backed up everything onto my computer, and I reset my phone. Suprisingly, my phone went back to normal! So I tried moving everything back onto my phone. lost a lot of my photos and music, but it wasn't a big deal. What I'm upset about is that when I moved all of the voice recordings onto the computer, everything was there. But transferring back into my phone, I lost a few voice recordings, especially this one voice recording that is very important to me. I can't find it in its app folder, and can't find it anywhere. I looked in media, music, sub media, videos, everything I could think of yet I can't find it! Is it possible to get it back somehow?? Or do you know where the voice recording could be(stored) ? Please help!

My phone is a samsung google galaxy nexus version 4.2.1.

# Answer
It depends on what application you record your voice with. But maybe it save the voices in a folder which is hidden. (the folders which have dots at the first of their names.)
> 0 votes

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Tags: 4.2-jelly-bean, backup, data-recovery
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# Question
Title: How to recover Google account without username or Gmail address?
I forgot my username and Gmail address. I had to get new mobile phone with a new number. How do I recover my account?

# Answer
you can go through these links to see if you can get your google account back :

google account recovery - link 1

google account recovery - link 2
> 0 votes

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Tags: google-contacts
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# Question
Title: How can I hide the on-screen buttons but keep the status bar
I have a Galaxy Nexus (rooted, if that helps) and I want to disable the on-screen buttons (back, home, apps), also called the Navigation Bar. Now there are plenty of apps (e.g. Hide Bottom Bar) that remove the buttons, but since they are based on killing some Android process (I believe), they also remove the Status Bar (on top of the screen).

Now I would like to keep the status bar, but *only* remove the on-screen buttons (because I would like to use gestures instead). Any way to achieve this?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I found the answer here \- it's a matter of adding

```
qemu.hw.mainkeys=1

```

to `/system/build.prop` (root required).

# Answer
> 1 votes
*Android 4.4 KitKat* has introduced *Immersive Full Screen Mode*. There's an app in the Play Store exploiting this feature: Immersive Full-screen Mode. It doesn't even need Root access.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There are several roms with this feature baked into them CM10.1 being one of them

But if you like the rom you currently have then I'd go with Stefan's answer

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-nexus, buttons, notification-bar
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