# Question
Title: iPhone-to-Android convert: how do I change the lock screen, set up 2-click speed dialing, etc.
I just left my iPhone 3G for a Samsung Galaxy S II Android phone. I am trying to recreate certain iPhone behaviors and am wondering if it's possible, and how.

1. Android 2.3's default lock screen is just a giant picture tile that you have to tap-swipe out of the way. I don't like it, as the tap-swipe distance required is ~3/4 of the screen. Are there any better alternatives?
2. On the iPhone, I could customize the bottom four "home row" icons. Is there a way to do this in Android? (I couldn't find one.)
3. On the iPhone, I could achieve a speed-dialing of sorts by choosing Favorite phone numbers, then dial them by tapping on "Favorites", then the person's entry. The closest I've found in Android, navigating through the Phone icon, requires a ridiculous five or six clicks. Is there a better way? I tried making a folder and then populating that folder with "Direct Dial" shortcuts for each person in my favorites list. But it seems very manual. I would prefer to have this folder be in my home row of icons as well.
4. On the iPhone, I could arrange the order of items in a folder. Is this possible on the Android?
5. On the iPhone, when someone sent me a text message, the message would appear in a dialog window on my screen. On the Android, I just get a icon indicating I have a new text message. Is there a way to configure Android to just display the text message contents immediately?
6. When I'm looking at someone's text message history, is there a way to call them directly? The iPhone had a button at the top for allowing this.

(Answer to #3: hit the left-menu button and then hit Call.)

# Answer
As you're using a Galaxy S2 which has Samsung's TouchWiz interface layered over the Android OS, some of your questions are specific to Touchwiz, so I'll answer them that way too, in a way that may not be helpful to people with a different interface:

1. Yes, there are a number of Lockscreens built in, if you go into **Settings** -\> **Location and Security**, then you should see a section labelled **Screen Unlock Settings** selecting **Set screen lock** gives you some options.
2. This is TouchWiz specific. On the home screen press the **Applications** icon to get to the Apps list, then press the `Menu` button and select **Edit**. You should now be able to drag any icon off the "home row", and drag any other icon on (to maximum of four apps).
3. There are a couple of other questions on this site about setting up quick dials (like this one) etc. But it sounds like you could do what you want by creating a **Starred Contacts** folder on your home screen. Firstly go through your Contacts and "Star" any contacts that you'd regard as favourites, then find an empty space on your home screen, long-press there, sleect **Folders** from the menu that pops up and then select **Starred Contacts**.
4. Don't really use folders myself, so I'll leave that to someone else.
5. That was the first annoyance I noticed when I got my first Android phone a few years ago, I use the SMS Popup app for that, couldn't use an Android for messaging without it.
6. Never even tried doing that, but when you're in their text message conversation you can press `Menu` then **More** then **Call**.
> 4 votes

# Answer
1. Yes, you can use an alternative lockscreen. Something like WidgetLocker, which happens to have an iPhone theme.
2. Again yes, but you need an alternative launcher. For example, ADW Launcher, or Launcher Pro.
3. You got it.
4. I don't think so. It depends on what type of folders they are. Filesystem folders are usually sorted by date or name.
5. Yes, but you need an app for that. Try something like Handcent SMS.
6. Yes. Tap their picture, and tap the phone icon in the popup that appears below (or above) it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms, lock-screens, home-screen, phone-app, customization
---


# Question
Title: Are there any custom ROMs that can be upgraded without a wipe?
I'm considering putting a custom ROM on my SGS. Are there any ROMs that enable me to install updates without wiping the entire phone?

# Answer
Have you had specific problems with this? Many ROMs will work fine when updating from one version to another. For example, the instructions on CyanogenMod's forums (taking the EVO as an example) say:

> **Upgrading from earlier version of CyanogenMod 7?**
>
> 1. Perform a NANDroid backup of your current ROM.
> 2. Flash CyanogenMod (your Google Apps will be backed up & restored automatically).

Specifically they're referring to a case such as upgrading from say 7.0 to 7.1. The NAND backup is just in the event that you want to roll back or something goes wrong, but in reality you could even consider that optional (though highly encouraged).

Again taking CM as an example, you usually only need to wipe your phone if you're going from one major version to another. A good example would be if you're going from an Android 2.2-based ROM to an Android-2.3 based ROM. This is because there are some significant changes under the hood to Android, and is not really related to the specific ROM itself in most cases. The exception to this is typically carrier OTA updates since they specifically tailor them to play nice with the previous versions (end users wouldn't want to wipe their phone for every OTA, obviously).

**Edit:** Just to clarify, what I mean by the above is that CM won't wipe your `/data` partition (or `/cache`, I believe) on its own, as described here. It will also backup Google Apps and reinstall them to `/system` during the update. You can wipe `/data` manually from your recovery or ROM Manager, but you certainly don't have to. I *have* read, though, that using ROM Manager to flash an update will automatically wipe `/data`. There may be a setting for this or this may not be exactly true - I am not sure because I do not install my ROMs this way (I boot into recovery and do it manually).
> 2 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, custom-roms
---


# Question
Title: Where does Amazon App Store keep the APKs
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Amazon App Store - Location of the downloaded APK

I am trying to find an APK that I downloaded from the Amazon app store but it is nowhere to be found. I have looked in all the normal APK locations but none of the APKs from the Amazon app store are there. Does anyone know where they are hidden?

# Answer
they are on the SD card.

The free ones are put here. (I would assume they all get put in the same spot.)

```
/sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.venezia/cache

```

Their names are by no means associated with the app though.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: amazon-appstore
---


# Question
Title: google-plus application for android 1.6?
Is there a google-plus application for Android 1.6? My device won't be updated to 2.0+, so unless someone writes a 1.6 compatible app, I'm stuck without it.

# Answer
The official Google+ app requires Android 2.1 or newer, and as the market share for 1.6 and older is now vanishingly small, and getting smaller by the day (at time of writing the combined market share of 1.5 + 1.6 is 3.6%) it's unlikely to be modified to work on older OSs. Similarly unless there's a dev who's also stuck on 1.6 himself and desperate to use Google+, a market share like that is barely worth most Devs efforts to create a 3rd party app if there's features in newer platform versions that would make things easier for them.

Your best bet is to use the web interface at http://google.com/+ as the Google+ for mobile page specifically states that that is compatible with Android 1.5 and up.
> 11 votes

# Answer
You have 2 main options:

1) Use web based Google+ through your browser 2) OR, root your phone and put a custom ROM that has android v2.1 or higher.

If you are willing to do the latter, then google around or search here on

http://forum.xda-developers.com

find your device in the master list, and try to find root and rom instructions there. Chances are, if you have a G1, My Touch, Cliq or any of the old devices, you will find instructions on how to get a 2.1+ ROM

Happy rooting! :)
> 4 votes

# Answer
Mhhh... This is gonna be impossible / tricky...

I'd say:

a) Check if you have any custom ROM developed for your phone (cyanogen & co) so you can upgrade not officially your android version

b) Wait for seesmic and similar application to support google+ and use one of those

c) Use the web version (but I suppose you do not like it)

If you give further information about your android I'll try to be much more specific :)
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 1.6-donut, google-plus
---


# Question
Title: How to change default homepage in Android browser?
How to change address that appears in: **Internet**(stock browser) -\> **Settings** -\> **Set home page** -\> **Use default**.

I can set another homepage, or use current, but I'm interesting in changing exactly this field.

# Answer
When you're in the browser, open the Menu, choose `More | Settings` and select "Set home page".
> 1 votes

---
Tags: browser
---


title: SMS to contacts with multiple numbers

text:
# Question
Title: SMS to contacts with multiple numbers
I use to forward SMS to many contacts, most of those contacts have multiple numbers with one number as default.

**Handcent**
When I select a group to send a message, handcent asks me to choose number for each contact with multiple numbers.
**GO SMS**
It does the same as handcent
**Pansi SMS**
It picks the number randomly

Is there anyway it can pick default number automatically, or select the 'home' or 'mobile' number automatically?

Or is there any alternate application, as good as handcent, which can do that?

# Answer
> 0 votes
New version of handcent with its group sms plugin does the job perfectly.

---
Tags: sms
---


title: Ringtones from my MP3

text:
# Question
Title: Ringtones from my MP3
I have in Bluetooth folder some `.mp3` files. How can I make them ringtones? The phone ringtone option doesn't see them.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Add the files to the `/media/audio/ringtones` directory on your SD card.

See also: How do I set a custom MP3 as a ringtone for other notifications?

# Answer
> 2 votes
use Ringdroid! it's got a spectacular GUI, it automatically finds all music files on your phone, and allows you to make custom ringtones and set them directly from the app. Best ringtone app i've ever used.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Open the .mp3 file in the stock media player, and from there choose Menu\>Set as Ringtone.

---
Tags: ringtone
---


title: CyanogenMod USB tether

text:
# Question
Title: CyanogenMod USB tether
I can't seem to find the option to enable USB tether in CyanogenMod 7.0.1 . Several pages and forum threads mention a checkbox under Wireless & network setting, but i don't have it. Is there anything i need to do to get this to show up? Is this not supported anymore? What USB mode should I select? The phone is a Motorola Milestone, computer runs Windows 7 x64.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The Milestone is an unofficial port, and USB tethering is not yet supported. There is a feature request on their issue tracker for this.

---

The most recent comment on the above mentioned ticket indicates that it's been fixed as of 7.1.0-RC15 and should now be included.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, motorola-milestone, usb-tethering
---


title: Gmail stopped syncing messages

text:
# Question
Title: Gmail stopped syncing messages
For some reason, Gmail on my Nexus S is not pulling new messages anymore. I added a second Gmail account; could it possibly be the reason?

# Answer
The second account probably has nothing to do with the other.

You'll want to go to `Menu | Settings | Accounts & sync` and click on the account that's not working. Ensure that "Sync Gmail" is checked.

If that doesn't help, then you should try what I do for all truculent apps.

* Force stop

if that doesn't help

* Clear cache

if that doesn't help

* Clear data

if that doesn't help

* Restart the phone (turn off/turn on the phone, unless you have a "restart" option)

and if that still doesn't help, try the nuclear option:

* uninstall and re-install
> 8 votes

---
Tags: sync, samsung-nexus-s, gmail
---


# Question
Title: Can bought Android apps be shared between devices you own?
On the iPod Touch/iPhone, since it is tied to your iTunes account, I am quite sure you can have your bought apps on multiple devices you own (can't test though, iPod Touch was stolen).

However, now I have the Motorola Droid, and am waiting for a tablet, and am considering getting a Nook and rooting it to run my own apps.

Question is, if you buy an app on the marketplace, how is the security done:

1. Is it tied to your Gmail account so you can share it between devices you own?
2. Is it tied to the device? (Don't break/replace your phone!)
3. As long as it's installed, you're OK? (If you uninstall, or wipe your device, it's gone).

I assume 3 is highly unlikely, though a possibility, so leaving it here as a potential answer to my question.

# Answer
On your phone open the Android Market app, press `Menu`, then select Help, then choose Troubleshooting (under Users), you should now see the "Retrieving previously purchased apps" headline. This says:

> Your application purchases are tied to your Google Account and can be installed an unlimited number of times on any device.
>
> ...
>
> If you change devices, you can install previous purchases by making sure you sign into your device with the same Google Account you used on your previous phone.
> 15 votes

# Answer
Not a technical answer, but in the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement '3.6 Reinstalls' it states that you can (no mention of different devices though).
> -2 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, paid-apps
---


# Question
Title: Transfer applications and settings from my old Android phone to my new one
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How to backup an Android device?

I recently purchased a new Android device and I would like to be able to back up all of my settings/installed applications/app settings so that I can easily transfer them from the old phone to the new phone.

I know that my Gmail synced items will automatically sync, but this doesn't help me with things like bookmarks and settings on my apps.

Are there any good applications available on the market for helping me with this transfer?

I'm not sure if it will cause any problems, but the old device is running Android 1.6, and the new device will be running Android 2.x

# Answer
> 4 votes
Titanuim Backup, MyBackup, Astro FileManager, Handy Backup and there are loads more in the market!

---
Tags: backup
---


# Question
Title: Can I use my Google account on two or more phones?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Multiple Android Devices with a single google account

I want to share some applications and contacts on my girlfriend's Android cellphone, can I do that? Will I lose my Market applications or can I share them simultaneously with another cellphone?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Yes, you can do it and use all your apps. You can't currently use the Market with multiple accounts, though, so if your girlfriend already has her account on her phone then you can't use your account for the Market unless you remove hers and add yours as the primary account.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This is actually two questions: you can have multiple devices connected to the same Google account (I do), but I don't know for certain what will happen if you alternate between multiple accounts on the same phone. I *think* it will work okay, as I've used purchased applications when the phone can't "phone home" to validate me (airplane mode) — but this doesn't test whether being synced to a different account will break them.

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, google-account
---


title: My virtual QWERTY keyboard has vanished

text:
# Question
Title: My virtual QWERTY keyboard has vanished
I have an Xperia X10. Suddenly my virtual QWERTY keyboard has vanished and has been replaced by some other layout.

When I enter the "Contacts" list an try to edit I now get a standard phone keyboard layout instead of the QWERTY one.

What could have happened?

# Answer
> 4 votes
If you long click on a text box, you have the option to change the keyboard to any you have enabled under `Settings -> Language & Keyboard`. Maybe you accidentally switched it ;)

---
Tags: keyboard, sony-ericsson-xperia-x10
---


# Question
Title: How do I delete draft SMS text that keeps reappearing on my HTC Thunderbolt?
My question is essentially the same as that discussed here, but I have tried everything mentioned in the discussion there and none of it has solved my problem.

To briefly summarize the problem, every time I open a thread to send a text (SMS) message to my wife, the same fragment from a previous draft text I once prepared but did not at the time send re-appears in the text entry box as the beginning of my next reply. I have repeatedly deleted all drafts appearing under Menu/Draft (floppy icon). I have deleted the entire thread of prior texts with my wife and started a new thread, hoping to break the connection, only to have her send the first reply in the new thread, and find the fragment there again when I began to reply to her. I have tried just sending the fragment to my wife to "clear the pipes" (warning her that it wouldn't make sense but I was doing it to solve this problem). I have edited the fragment and kept one word of it mixed into an otherwise new message, hoping it would consider this draft to be completed and sent once and for all. You name it, I have tried it.

Please help!

My phone is a stock HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon. I previously had the Handcent SMS app installed but deleted it, and the problem is still occurring in the regular Android (or Sense, I am not sure which) messaging app.

# Answer
Go into `Settings -> Applications -> All -> Messages`. Clear the **cache** and the **data** for the app the restart the device.

I was having the same issue with messages to my wife and it cleared it up.

Hope this helps!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms, htc-sense, htc-thunderbolt, drafts
---


title: Suddenly can't add events in Jorte?

text:
# Question
Title: Suddenly can't add events in Jorte?
Just today I've been unable to add events in Jorte. I can only add in Google calendars and then sync. Anybody know what's going on? I'm so sad!

# Answer
In settings, Click Default Calendar to select a default calendar for new events. Then, when you click new event, there is an option for calendars. Make sure PC Sync is selected and not Exchange.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: jorte
---


# Question
Title: How to get Google+ application even outside US?
I have an account on Google+ but Android Market does not allow me to download Google+ application.

# Answer
Well I couldn't download it from the market app on my phone in Germany, but I was able to install it from Play Store.

Otherwise you might try installing **market enabler** and fake that you are in the US.
> 6 votes

# Answer
You can install from here but may be its in development phase and not activated

Google+
> -1 votes

# Answer
If you don't mind getting it from untrusted sources, you can google "google plus android apk", and this will show you a list of repositories and forums to download it from.

Note that, as a is the nature of such, let's call them, untrusted sources, there's no guarantee that either they or the google query will persist for long, so I'm not even bothering to link to anybody.
> -1 votes

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


title: Rooting acer liquid mini with Ubuntu?

text:
# Question
Title: Rooting acer liquid mini with Ubuntu?
can someone explain how to root android phone using ubuntu or any linux distro please? There are so many app like superoneclick, z4root etc..but android is based on linux right? so it should be easy to root with linux...but how? i'm using acer liquid mini 2.2.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Super One Click is written in C#. You need Mono to run it under Linux and other Non-Windows platforms. You can check your Ubuntu Package Manager for Mono or download it from here.

The XDA-Forum-Link also has a link to a detailed description on how to make it work under Linux.

I have never personally used it on Linux, but once the program is up and running, it should be very self explanatory.

---
Tags: rooting, linux
---


# Question
Title: Find out size of all data ever downloaded
Is somehow possible to find out size of all data I ever downloaded on my HTC phone?

edit:source from which I downloaded data will be also super

Thanks

# Answer
> 1 votes
Your carrier would keep track of how much you've downloaded over 3G. I highly, highly doubt they do enough logging to tell you where all of it came from though (and if they did, they'd probably make you pay to access the logs if they let you at all).

There's no way to tell exactly what you've downloaded over WiFi, apart from browser history for file downloads if you've never cleared the list. Presumably you could modify Android to log everything, but as far as I know it hasn't been done up till now.

# Answer
> 1 votes
A similar question on Stack Overflow says you can find this info through the API - `android.net.TrafficStats`, or `/sys/class/net/statistics` on pre-2.2 systems. This might help you, I hope.

I wonder what happened to the widget that question's poster was writing...

---
Tags: data-monitoring
---


# Question
Title: How To Install/Root Vegan-Tab GingerEdition on Viewsonic gTablet
I recently purchased a Viewsonic gTabet and want to root the device with the Vegan-Tab Ginger Edition. I'm an absolute newbie when it comes to Android, I've been a Windows guy my whole life.

I'm looking for some instructions for "dummies" on how to get this OS installed on the tablet. I found this site here, but I'm not sure if this is enough detail. It looks like some of these steps assume prior knowledge of Android.

Does anyone have any detailed, step by step instructions on how to do this? Thanks for the help, looking forward to exploring this new world.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I actually found this site http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/, reading through it, its great! Just what I need.

# Answer
> 1 votes
**Slight disclaimer**: I don't own a gTab, so I'm not particularly familiar with it. That being said, rooting devices and installing custom ROMs is at least somewhat similar across devices.

I would start by taking a look at this thread over on XDA. It has links to a bunch of other threads with instructions on how to get a custom recovery (ClockworkMod) on your device, how to flash a ROM, and a bunch of other useful things. In particular, there is a pretty good guide for installing ClockworkMod v08, which would essentially get you to a point where you could follow the Vegan-Tab installation instructions.

Be advised that doing this will wipe all of the data on your device, so make a copy of anything you don't want to lose.

---
Tags: rooting, viewsonic-gtablet
---


# Question
Title: Sending notifications from the desktop to an android device
I'd like to be able to be able to send alert from my PC to my phone, preferably via wifi. The only related app I found was Android Notifier, but it does the other way: android to PC.

# Answer
> 5 votes
You should check out Google's Cloud To Device Messaging (C2DM) framework. If you just want to send stuff from your browser to your phone try Chrome to Phone (it's a kind of reference implementation of the C2DM framework).

Good luck!

---
Tags: notifications, remote-control
---


# Question
Title: Why won't Jawbone headset invoke Voice Search/Dialing?
I have an **Aliph Jawbone** (original) which worked fine with Sony Ericsson dumb-phones (K750, K810) but on my **HTC Desire S** (Gingerbread, 2.3.3) I can't figure out how to use it for voice dialing.

The phone can find the headset, pair with it and connect to it.
If I double tap on the Jawbone's call button, it triggers the phone's last number redial and calls a contact; but a single press (which should invoke voice dialing on the phone somehow), has no effect.

With dumb-phones, I would just press the headset button, hear a low-pitched beep, then a higher pitched beep a second later when the phone responds, prompting me to speak. Then the phone would receive the noise I make, and go and do its thing.

With this Android phone, I don't hear that 2nd beep, so apparently the phone isn't responding to the Jawbone.

Am I going about this in the wrong way? Should I be using the Car Panel's Voice Dialer instead?
*** Update ***
I've tried the **Voice Dialer**, and it *almost* does what I need, but to use it I need the phone out and visible, with the screen on, and I have to tap on the screen to trigger the dialer. I didn't have to do this with phones from five years ago.

**Note**
I am looking for a *hands-free* solution, so any advice that involves unlocking the phone, staring at it, and stabbing at the screen simply isn't an answer. It would also be illegal under English driving law.

I *am* considering buying Cyberon's Voice Speed Dial, because that seems to work the way I'd like it to (without needing a data connection to an online speech-to-text service); but I want to check that I'm not missing some daft configuration setting.

# Answer
This link is a discussion of this issue on the Android Open Handset Alliance Project site. Users on this page talk about the problem in detail and discuss some possible solutions. I would recommend you star this issue. If the enhancement is implemented or there is a status change you will be notified and can try again on your phone.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: bluetooth, htc-sense, voice-recognition, htc-desire-s, hands-free
---


# Question
Title: Unsupported File Type: Why did my Samsung Galaxy S suddenly stop supporting MP3s?
All of a sudden my Samsung Galaxy S claims to not support mp3 files (the phone has been idle for a few hours, I did not touch anything). Ogg files however still play without problems. When this happens, no app can play mp3 files, e.g. my custom ring tone is not played anymore (it just vibrates as if it were muted). A reboot of the phone fixes the issue but within 3-4 days the problem comes back. It does not make a difference if files are stored on internal or external sd card.

This also affects video playback, I'm just not sure if it happens at the same time or independent of each other. The youtube app can no longer start videos (unknown playback problem), and the video player app claims all video files as unsupported. I suppose the issue may not be the video playback itself but the audio codec used in the video (mp3).

Any idea how to fix this or debug this? I don't want to reboot my phone every couple of days - it takes 2-3 minutes to do this and a phone should just work.

I applied 2.2.1 firmware lately and this only seemed to make the problem worse. I had this before 2.2.1 (with 2.2) but only very rarely.

I'm curious if TitaniumBackup may be the culprit as the backup scheduler seems to stop processes sometimes. Maybe others experiencing this issue use scheduled TitaniumBackups, too? The hint was that since upgrading to 2.2.1 I also upgraded to the licensed TitaniumBackup version and scheduled daily backups. But this may just be coincidence. What contradicts this theory: Backups are scheduled at night but last time I saw this issue it happened during the day - mp3 worked in the morning, failed in the afternoon. The phone was idle during the time it "decided" to no longer play mp3.

Looking at forums (I only found a few hits in Google), people having the same problems suggest to simply reboot the phone - but that is no fix at all. Or they suggest to send the phone back for replacement - and guess what: It has not fixed the problem for people experiencing this issue. So I suggest it is not a hardware issue (neither related to sdcards nor to the phone itself).

# Answer
> 4 votes
I think I found the problem.

Like bjoernz said, some application is creating many objects from MediaPlayer class and it's not releasing that after. So, I opened an **adb shell**, became root (**su**) and I found the PID (process ID) of mediaserver, using the command:

> ps | grep mediaserver

The mediaserver's PID, in my case, is: 84

Then, I listed all resources used by that PID with the command:

> lsof | grep 84

And I got the following result:

So, it became easy to identify that the official twitter application (**com.twitter.android-1.apk**) was the problem. Then I removed twitter application and I installed TweetDeck instead and the problem disappeared since last week.

Hope this can help you.

\[\]'s

# Answer
> 7 votes
A last resort is always a factory reset, which should fix this problem. You could also have a look at the logcat output, maybe this will give you a hint about the cause of the problem.

# Answer
> 4 votes
I have finally had a chance to look at the logcat while the problem was occuring. The error message reads:

```
Completed command PLAYER_PREPARE status=-17

```

According to this forum "it’s caused by having too many MediaPlayer objects active at once." Unfortunately I have not yet found a fix. The only known workaround seems to be rebooting.

I am still not sure, which app (or combination of apps) reproduce the error reliably.

**Edit**: I guess that any application, that uses the MediaPlayer class can cause the problem. Those apps probably never reach a state where they call MediaPlayer.release(). Maybe we need to contact the vendors of applications that use the MediaPlayer, so they make sure they call *release()*.

My superficial research did not lead to a solution, that would fix the problem without a reboot.

**Edit 2:** I have updated to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and unfortunately this problem still persists.

Some logcat messages around the error:

```
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): CommandCompleted
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Completed command PLAYER_INIT status=1
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PVPlayer( 2377): run_set_video_surface s=0, cancelled=0
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PVPlayer( 2377): run_set_audio_output s=0, cancelled=0
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Send player code: 5
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Create realtime output
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): CommandCompleted
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Completed command PLAYER_SET_AUDIO_SINK status=1
06-08 20:03:08.785 V/PVPlayer( 2377): run_prepare s=0, cancelled=0
06-08 20:03:08.789 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Send player code: 7
06-08 20:03:08.789 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): disable natpkt - 0
06-08 20:03:08.789 D/        ( 2377): After GetDurationFromRandomScan: clipDuration=8716644
06-08 20:03:08.789 D/        ( 2377): After GetDurationFromRandomScan: clipDuration=8716644
06-08 20:03:08.804 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): HandleInformationalEvent: 26
06-08 20:03:08.804 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): HandleInformationalEvent: type=26 UNHANDLED
06-08 20:03:08.804 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): CommandCompleted
06-08 20:03:08.804 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Completed command PLAYER_PREPARE status=-17
06-08 20:03:08.804 E/PlayerDriver( 2377): Command PLAYER_PREPARE completed with an error or info -17
06-08 20:03:08.804 V/PVPlayer( 2377): check_for_live_streaming s=-2147483648, cancelled=0
06-08 20:03:08.804 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): HandleInformationalEvent: 27
06-08 20:03:08.804 W/PlayerDriver( 2377): PVMFInfoErrorHandlingComplete
06-08 20:03:08.804 W/MediaPlayer(22989): info/warning (1, 26)
06-08 20:03:08.804 E/MediaPlayer(22989): error (1, -17)
06-08 20:03:08.808 I/AudioService( 2471):  AudioFocus  abandonAudioFocus() from android.media.AudioManager@480f3630null
06-08 20:03:08.812 I/AudioService( 2471):  AudioFocus  abandonAudioFocus() from android.media.AudioManager@480f3630null
06-08 20:03:08.812 D/PlayTo  (22989): opening content://dtmedia/media/1553 with Android Player
06-08 20:03:08.812 D/PlayTo  (22989): About to set Android Player datasource to content://dtmedia/media/1553
06-08 20:03:08.812 E/PVPlayer( 2377): isDrmfile playing 0
06-08 20:03:08.812 V/PVPlayer( 2377): reset
06-08 20:03:08.812 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Send player code: 18
06-08 20:03:08.812 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): handleCancelAllCommands
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): CommandCompleted
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Completed command PLAYER_CANCEL_ALL_COMMANDS status=1
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Send player code: 11
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): handleReset
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): CommandCompleted
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Completed command PLAYER_RESET status=1
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Send player code: 17
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): handleRemoveDataSource
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): CommandCompleted
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PlayerDriver( 2377): Completed command PLAYER_REMOVE_DATA_SOURCE status=1
06-08 20:03:08.816 V/PVPlayer( 2377): unmap file

```

# Answer
> 4 votes
I have the same problem here, using Galaxy S with Android 2.3.3.

Looking at the log, we can see the PID (proccess ID) used by PlayerDriver.

> V/PlayerDriver( 84): Completed command PLAYER\_PREPARE status=-17

So, I've killed the PlayerDriver process and it has fixed.

In order to do that, you need to root your device and connect with adb as root. Ex.:

> adb shell

su

Next time I'll try identify what files and pipes the process is using through **lsof** command

Hope this help.

# Answer
> 3 votes
The same problem is on my galaxy s. I've noticed that if I use Google Listen and have some queue, mp3 stops playing. After clearing queue it was getting ok! But... It seems Adobe Flash influences on media playback too. If I use it them any media playback fails, before rebooting. Maybe 2.3 will fix the problem. Almost tired to find the solution for 2.2 on Galaxy S

# Answer
> 3 votes
I experience the same problems, and I can't seem to get a consistent cause. After rebooting my phone, I don't see the problem again for another 12-24 hours. Because I use custom music as my alarm clock, I've adopted the habit or rebooting my phone before going to sleep. It's caused many late days to work before I figured out what was going on.

I started with a factory fresh install. Tested it out for a few days with no problems. Begin installing programs one-by-one with no problems. Eventually I started using Widgets, with no problems. I installed Launcher Pro with no problems.

But now the problems have started up again. I uninstalled Launcher Pro altogether to no avail. I removed all of my widgets, which appeared to work. I added them back one by one and I didn't seem to have any problems. But the problem came back. Over the period of two weeks, I couldn't isolate one widget that was causing the issue, so I ruled widgets out all together.

I have custom ringtones for my SMS, notifications, G-talk, Gmail, and ringtones. When this problem occurs, I can't even get my voicemail to play, much less anything else.

I use a program called "Soundhound" to discover music I haven't heard before. I think it might be related. Then again, I also use Advanced Task Killer, but even when I had that installed before it didn't have problems. I think when I use Soundhound, it is setting off some kind of strange chain-reaction which eventually---hours later--causes my phone to have this error.

I don't know enough about the logs or how to access them actual debug the phone, but I do know droves of people have had this issue and there seems to be no fix. In the meantime, I've uninstalled Soundhound and I'm checking to see if I still have the problem.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I noticed this problem on my galaxy s, it took a while to piece together, but it appeared to have started when I began using third party task managers. It happened with advanced task killer and watchdog installed.

I went back to using the native task manager and the problem appears to have gone away.... Hasn't occured in the past week. I'm running 2.2.1.

What I thought was the strangest was it happened on days I didn't even use the task manager, just The mere presence cause the problem...

Unsure of the technical reason behind this, but don't care... Native task mgr is fine.

Hope this helps the rest of you.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Have you tried testing for individual media files causing the problem?

Many moons ago I had a problem where certain files would corrupt the database of music and eventually cause problems for the whole library. This is very hypothetical as my experience wasn't on an android device and my Galaxy S works just fine. Despite this I thought you could try loading only a small subset of your media on and see if you still get the problem. It doesn't look like a codec problem and perhaps the media scanner cleans the database when you restart the phone. Sorry I don't have a better answer.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, media-player, mp3, mp3-player
---


# Question
Title: Prevent my phone from showing messages in the wrong order if I reply quickly?
When I access the Messages app that came with my phone and select a person I am presented with all the SMS messages my phone has stored between me and that person, in chronological order.

However, I get a message from someone and reply quickly, my message is permanently positioned *above* the message it is a reply to, not below it, even though it was sent at a later time.

What is causing this frustrating behaviour, and what can I do to ensure correct sorting order?

# Answer
It *seems* to be related to the local time on my phone, which I suspect was slow compared to the network. So, while the incoming messages where arriving listed as the "correct" time (on the network), I was then replying "before" them as far as my local clock was concerned and thus when the phone sorted on time their positions were swapped.

So, I've manually adjusted my clock forward a minute, and seem to have avoided the problem since.

Speaking to a friend knowledgeable in these things, O2 (my provider) *apparently* do not provide phones with network-updated time, I don't know if this is true or not, but it would explain how a difference could appear in the manner described.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms, htc-desire-s
---


title: How to Sort shortcuts in a folder?

text:
# Question
Title: How to Sort shortcuts in a folder?
I have made many folders on home screen on froyo containing shortcuts of applications.

Is there any way I can sort those shortcuts by names?

# Answer
Like all things in android, there are apps to do what the os was not equipped with. In my case I use a handy little app called simi folder widget. It allows alphabetical sorting of apps along with many other options.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: home-screen
---


# Question
Title: My Samsung Spica can't detect the SD card anymore
Recently I found a surprise on my Android notifications bar, telling me that the SD card is removed.

I unplugged it and plugged it again but it didn't work. I rebooted the device; still not working.

I tested it on my laptop, and in another device. The SD card is detected and it's working just fine.

I tried my friend's SD card but it also couldn't be detected!

By the way I bought this Spica last year and I never had an issue with the SD card before.

Finally and desperately I formatted it to Ext2 format on my laptop, and it still doesn't work on the Spica.

Any one have this issue before? How to deal with or how to fix it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Do like this:

* Perform a **`factory reset`** from
* **Wipe** the `Dalvik cache` as well
* **Reboot** the device

If this doesn't work then **format** the SD in the computer with `FAT 32` and create partition `Ext 2` in the Recovery.

This should work...

---
Tags: external-sd, samsung-galaxy-spica
---


# Question
Title: How to tether an old Android 2.1 phone with the Asus Transformer
I want to tether my Samsung Europia to my Asus Transformer so I can use my phone 3g connection.

Is this possible? The Samsung doesn't have native tethering built in.

# Answer
Acutally for the samsung Europia, a free update can be downloaded via Kies to upgrade to android 2.2. This then allows you to natively turn your phone into a wifi hotspot. It's then the usual connect to wifi affair
> 1 votes

# Answer
Is your phone rooted? If so, try using the WiFi Tether app. You will need to download the APK and side-load it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: tethering, asus-eee-pad-transformer
---


# Question
Title: Open source tasks app that syncs automatically with Google Tasks?
Now that there is an API for Google Tasks (tasks in Calendar), do you know a tasks app with the following features?

* Automatic sync with Google Tasks
* Open Source
* Works offline too.
* Minimalist (same featureset as Google Tasks, plus widget maybe)
* A new task can be added very quickly, without having tens of inputs to enter deadline/assignee or anything that is not available in Google Tasks anyway.
* Available for my poor Android 1.5 phone

# Answer
I think Astrid is open source but you might want to check better because I'm not sure.
> 3 votes

# Answer
I don't know if it's open source but I use GTasks and I am very happy with it. It syncs with Google Tasks, has a nice UI, and you can add a new task by just giving it a name.

-= EDIT =-
> 1 votes

# Answer
I've got it! I think this works... Shuffle for Android
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, to-do-list, open-source, google-tasks
---


# Question
Title: Does LTE require a special modem from WiMAX or just a firmware upgrade?
Sprint has talks of starting LTE data, but for now all their 4g phones support WiMAX.

I am considering starting a sprint unlimited contract with the EVO 3D phone.

The phone supports WiMAX 4g, on a snapdragon msm8660 processor. I'm wondering if this phone will be able to support LTE if sprint does release it, or does LTE require a special modem?

# Answer
The HTC Evo does not contain any LTE hardware, so it wont work
> 3 votes

# Answer
Even on Sprint, LTE will be supported through new devices, just like on all the other carriers. WiMAX is a different technology. Because they are both *called* 4G is irrelevant. HSPA+ is called 4G, too, and is also not the same as LTE (or WiMax),
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4g, htc-evo-3d
---


# Question
Title: In Android (Galaxy S), is there a way to automatically sync photos from camera to picasa?
I want to have it so that when I take a picture it automatically syncs to a private folder in picasa, is there a native way to do this? or maybe a third party way?

# Answer
I don't think you can sync automatically on the Galaxy S at present but I understand it is supported in Froyo which is apparently coming to the Galaxy S soon. In the meantime there is an app or two that does this.

PicPush has a free 30 day trial, then costs $4.99. QRCode for the Android Market below

<sub>(source: 350nice.com)</sub>

Docs Pics apparently does a load of things including syncing files to Picasa. It is free.

I've not used either app yet. I'll update if I get a chance to try them.
> 7 votes

# Answer
I believe this is now possible if you sign up to Google+.

Install the Google+ app. Open it. Then under Menu-\>Settings there is an Instant Upload option with the following description: "Automatically upload new photos & videos to a private web albumn."

There are also a bunch of settings to control it under Instant Upload Settings.

When you activate this and take some photos, they come up under an Instant Upload album in Picasa.
> 6 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, sync, photos, picasa
---


title: Gmail app Hebrew support

text:
# Question
Title: Gmail app Hebrew support
My Gmail app on the Galaxy S2 stock app shows Hebrew reversed and left to right. How can I fix this?

# Answer
> 3 votes
You need to look for hebfix or RTL fix. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a direct download link. Hope this is enough to get you started.

A good place to look would be http://iandroid.co.il or http://www.xda-developers.com/.

If you find a good link to download from, you can update my answer :)

---
Tags: gmail, hebrew
---


title: Voice notification management

text:
# Question
Title: Voice notification management
I got a new Galaxy S 2 and played with it a little. Somehow I activated voice notification, so each SMS message I get someone talking and telling me who sent the message. Each phone call, the same.

How to control the activity of this feature?

# Answer
On my Samsung device it is:

> Home \>\> Menu \>\> Settings \>\> Voice input and output \>\> Text-to-speech settings \>\> Driving mode
> 1 votes

---
Tags: text-to-speech
---


title: How do I video chat in Google+?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I video chat in Google+?
Is it possible to video chat in my Google+ circles on my Droid X?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Currently there is no app released from Google that will let you video chat with Google+ circles like Google+ Hangouts. You can use Google Talk video chat on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

**Edit**: Vtok is an app that allows google talk video chat.

---
Tags: video-conference, video-calling, google-plus
---


# Question
Title: How to receive data from Bluetooth OBD-II?
I am going to order ELM327 Bluetooth on-board diagnostics (OBD) II.

Does Android support Bluetooth OBD-II? Is there any way to pair and receive the data directly on Android?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Torque (lite, pro) works with most of the ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II devices.

Be careful though, some of the "cheap" ones don't work well with Ford vehicles.

---
Tags: bluetooth
---


# Question
Title: How to turn off duplicate email notification messages?
Recently bought a Samsung Galaxy 2.

There's a built-in app for both Gmail and general e-mail. I've been using the general e-mail app.

I'm finding that I'm getting notifications from both apps for the same new Gmail e-mail that comes in. Is there a way to turn off the Gmail app notifications? (I tried deleting the app outright but it seems Samsung won't let me do this. It's not an option in the manage applications menu, whereas it is for other 3rd party apps.)

# Answer
In the settings of the gmail app there is a setting called "Email notifications". Uncheck that setting, and you should stop getting notifications from it.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: email, gmail, notifications, samsung-galaxy-s-2
---


# Question
Title: Where can I download the "Samsung Galaxy Pro PC Suite"?
Where can I download the "Samsung Galaxy Pro PC Suite"? I cannot find it.

# Answer
Do you mean SAMSUNG Kies, PC Sync?
Try on Samsung website, choose your exact model of Galaxy, and you'll find the available software.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: samsung
---


# Question
Title: Gmail app does not refresh email read status
The first thing I like to do in the morning as I wake up is to read new emails in the Galaxy S. I refresh my Gmail account in the Gmail app, the mails show up, I read them and everything works smoothly.

However, when I get to work and open my Gmail account on the desktop, all the emails I had previously read show up as "unread". Why does this happen? I have Google account syncronization off, is this the reason? Doesn't this only affect the incoming email?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It's because you have synchronization off. How else is your device supposed to tell the Gmail servers that you've read a message?

---
Tags: gmail, sync
---


# Question
Title: is there a less cluttered version of the Swype keyboard?
I am new to Android. I really like the Swype keyboard but wish I could remove certain keys on the bottom row (e.g. SYM, the "EN" language button, etc) so that the keyboard is less cluttered.

Is this possible? Are their any Swype equivalent keyboards that aren't as compact?

Thanks!

# Answer
Try FlexT9. It's a bit pricey, but has the same functionality as Swype, with some great added features (Dragon speech support and trace input) and a better layout (in my opinion, let me know what you think of it ;) ).

Here's a screenshot from the app page:
> 1 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, swype
---


title: Error 331 sending SMS

text:
# Question
Title: Error 331 sending SMS
An SMS failed to be sent and when I checked out the details the last line said "Error code 331".

What does this error mean ?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Error code 331 is an error that you would get back from the SMS gateway. It means: No network service is available.

If you continue to get that message, I suggest you call your carrier.

---
Tags: sms, 2.3-gingerbread, htc-dream
---


# Question
Title: How to modify Bash shell prompt in Cyanogenmod?
Has anyone had any success modifying the shell prompt in Cyanogenmod? Presently, # is pretty useless, it would be much nicer to at least display the working directory. Also, is tab-completion possible?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I'm not too keen on the why, but `sh` on CyanogenMod is a bit watered down. As Joachim noted in the comments, usually you can modify `PS1` to change your prompt, but it doesn't properly expand prompt variables:

```
# ps $$  <-- Just showing that the current shell is /system/bin/sh
ps $$
USER     PID   PPID  VSIZE  RSS     WCHAN    PC         NAME
root      1055  129   756    340   c006abb8 afd0c44c S /system/bin/sh
# echo $PS1
echo $PS1
#
# PS1="\w # "
PS1="\w # "
\w #   <-- \w should be PWD

```

However, CyanogenMod does ship with a modified version of `sh` called `ash` (I believe this is for Android Shell), which does support a subset of these prompt variables. Here's some examples of what does and doesn't work, with local echo removed for the sake of clutter/space:

```
# ash
~ # echo $PS1
\w \$
~ # PS1="\u \w \\$ "
root ~ # PS1="\t \w \\$ "
         ~ # PS1="\l \w \\$ "
l ~ # PS1="\H \w \\$ "
H ~ # PS1="\h \w \\$ "
localhost ~ # cd /sdcard
localhost /mnt/sdcard #

```

As for tab-completion: I don't personally know of a way to make this work. I imagine the main problem is actually that the adb shell buffers input up until you press enter, so the tab isn't actually sent to the shell program when you hit it. A good illustration of this is to open a file with `more`. The `q` key exits the `more` program, but you actually have to press `q` and then hit enter to quit because the initial `q` keystroke isn't sent until you press enter to send the whole buffer.

---

Okay, SSH is a different beast. Assuming you have a reasonably sane client `ash` will give you tab-completion along with the prompt variable expansion noted above. If you're using dropbear (the ssh daemon that ships with CyanogenMod) then you can configure `ash` to be the default prompt by logging into your device (either SSH or `adb shell` works here) and doing the following:

```
# echo "/system/xbin/ash" > /data/dropbear/.profile

```

This assumes `/data/dropbear/.profile` doesn't yet exist, because it will overwrite any existing version (this file is not created automatically, though). It can be edited instead if the file already exists, of course. Then restart dropbear and log in again. You should land at an `ash` session:

```
login as: root
Authenticating with public key "rsa-key-20110718"
TRACE (1391): entering fake-getpwnam
TRACE (1391): leaving fake-getpwnam
TRACE (1391): enter sign_key_free
TRACE (1391): enter dsa_key_free
TRACE (1391): leave dsa_key_free
TRACE (1391): enter rsa_key_free
TRACE (1391): leave rsa_key_free
TRACE (1391): leave sign_key_free
/data/dropbear # ps $$
USER     PID   PPID  VSIZE  RSS     WCHAN    PC         NAME
root      1392  1391  1084   416   c006abb8 afd0c44c S /system/xbin/ash
/data/dropbear #

```

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, bash
---


title: No notification from my apps

text:
# Question
Title: No notification from my apps
I have a strange behaviour on a HTC Desire Android 2.2 phone:

Some applications offer notifications that should appear in the *notification bar* and should *make a sound* \- for example Seesmic (Twitter client) and Huddle (from Google+).

On one phone I have here for comparison that happens. Whenever I get a message on twitter or when I receive a huddle, the phone beeps and shows a little icon.

On the other identical phone, which to me seems to be identically configured neither of those applications give me a sound - although sounds are enabled in the applications.

Any suggestions where else I could have another look?

Since there is no sound from any of those apps, it seems to be a "global" problem, but I don't see where...

# Answer
You could try:

Settings-\>Sound-\>Notification Ringtone

It has a Silent option which might be set.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: Android doesn't say it's Ericsson, hard restart does nothing
I bought a Sony Ericsson X8 and saw on YouTube that when we turn on this phone a page is supposed to come up and mention the name of Sony Ericsson. When I turn on my phone just it says Android and that's all.

When I wanted to hard restart it or upgrade it, I pressed the back button but nothing happens. When I hold left and right keys together, the same situation when I release.

Is my phone a fake? Why it is like that?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Hang on a second, you wanted to hard reset your phone because your splash screen didn't look like the one on YouTube?

1. It is very common for carriers to change things like splash screens.
2. You don't say where you bought your phone or who your carrier is. Can't tell you if it is a fake.
3. If it is legit, you don't say if you bought your phone new or used or if you or a previous owner has rooted it and flashed a custom ROM. That would almost certainly change your boot splash screen.
4. I've never owned an Android phone that required pushing the back button during a hard reset. Here is the only method of hard resetting that I have ever needed:

From the main home screen, tap menu Tap Settings, then Privacy Tap Factory data reset Tap Reset phone Enter your password if required, then tap Erase everything to confirm

# Answer
> 1 votes
Out of the 3 Android phones I've had, one had an "Android" startup splash screen, one had a manufacturer startup splash screen, and one originally had a phone network (Vodafone) startup splash screen, but was changed to a manufacturer splash screen in one of the (official) firmware updates.All were bought new and legitimate with manufacturer/carrier supplied firmware.

I don't think you can judge anything by what the splash screen shows, especially as this can be changed by carriers and changed in official firmware updates. You need to compare it to an identical hardware model, supplied through the same channel that is running the same firmware/OS version. It is unlikely that a random Youtube video happens to be identical to yours in all those ways.

---
Tags: sony-ericsson-xperia-x8
---


# Question
Title: How to monitor the amount of data traffic?
I would like to monitor how much data-traffic I use. How?

# Answer
> 17 votes
This is now built into Android in Ice Cream Sandwich. You can view usage per application, set limits and restrict background data.

Some more information: http://androidadvices.com/set-mobile-data-limit-usage-ice-cream-sandwich-devices/

NetCounter monitors mobile and wifi traffic.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I use **Data counter widget**

And **3G watchdog** to keep 3G traffic under control.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Another option: My Data Manager

Lifehacker reviewed it:

> When installed it keeps track of your plan type (monthly or pay-as-you-go), amount of data included per month, and the 1st day of your billing cycle. You may also set your plan's roaming details. From then on it will log your use of mobile data, roaming mobile data, and Wi-Fi data used. You may setup notifications for each of the three categories when they hit a certain amount of data.

---
Tags: data-monitoring, resource-monitoring
---


# Question
Title: What does the option "Allow mock locations" represent?
What does the "Allow mock locations" option under the Applications \>\> Development settings page represent?

# Answer
> 6 votes
Fake GPS data. Presumably this is for testing apps that use GPS, so you don't actually have to travel all over the world :P

Apps such as Location Spoofer take advantage of this. You could probably fake Foursquare checkins or something using it, but they do check to make sure your checkins are "realistic" so you probably don't want to check in to London UK and Melbourne AU within the same hour.

---
Tags: settings
---


# Question
Title: How can I email large videos to someone else?
My sister took a minute long video on her new Droid Incredible 2 and wanted to share it with a friend. The file size was about ~22 mb due to the higher quality of the recording. She's used to emailing videos with her blackberry, which produced far inferior quality videos (and much smaller sizes). But if she tries to share this video via her gmail account, it won't attach the video because of its large file size.

Is there an easy way for her to share this video? Is there a way to shrink the size of the video on her phone by degrading the quality of video or similar? She'd really like to just email it.

Other important information

* She doesn't want to upload the video to YouTube (or any other service)
* She doesn't have access to wifi, she uses her phone exclusively for internet access (no tethering, either).

# Answer
> 3 votes
Best option would be to upload them to either YouTube (marked as Private or Unlisted if you don't want them searchable/viewable by others) or Dropbox. Should take the same amount of time to upload both. Once uploaded to dropbox you can share either the file or a link. I typically use YouTube as it doesn't require the other person to download the large video.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.dropbox.android

# Answer
> 0 votes
I don't have any experience about the Droid Incredible 2, but most Android phones I've used allow to choose the quality of the recorded video from the camcorder app. Decreasing the resolution would be the only way without using hosting services.

---
Tags: email, video, htc-droid-incredible-2
---


title: RemoteDroid connection problem

text:
# Question
Title: RemoteDroid connection problem
Has anyone tested the remotedroid app? I tried (on windows xp and samsung galaxy 2), installed both server app and android app, but nothing happens. Are there any more settings I should make? Thanks.

# Answer
> 2 votes
First, make sure you have Java Runtime Environment installed (version 1.5 or higher) and try running the server program from the .bat file instead of the .jar file. Then check your software firewalls if they have blocked the application from acting as a server, and finally check your router for port redirection (UDP, 57110) if you have a NAT setup between your Wi-Fi access point and the machine acting as a server. Also it could be worthwhile to check that the IP of the PC hasn't changed since you checked it last, or if you can make it static.

---
Tags: wi-fi, samsung-galaxy-s-2, remote-control
---


# Question
Title: Android chroot ubuntu - is it possible to get ubuntu to recognise usb devices
I've managed to setup the chroot but I'm unsure how to get the chroot to recognise usb devices. I'll be doing so work with microcontrollers hence I neeed to to recognise my usb based programmer.

For starters how do I populate the dev directory with the host dev directory(android)?

Is it then just a matter of getting the right kernel modules loaded?

I'm running prime1.5 firmware on the asus transformer

# Answer
> 2 votes
To populate /dev, use a bind mount (rbind=recursive bind, to catch `/dev/pts`):

```
outside# mount --rbind /dev /path/to/chroot/dev

```

You may also want to bind other things, like `/home` and `/tmp` (to make sharing files easier). Just remember to unmount them before `rm -Rf`'ing your chroot!

You can put bind mounts in fstab. I believe that'd look something like this:

```
/dev   /chroot/dev   none   rbind   0   0

```

You may need to set up `udev` to set proper permissions on your USB device. For example, here are the udev rules I use for my phone:

```
$ cat /etc/udev/rules.d/local-android.rules
ACTION!="add", GOTO="local-android_rules_end"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GOTO="local-android_rules_real"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", GOTO="local-android_rules_real"
GOTO="local-android_rules_end"

LABEL="local-android_rules_real"

# Mot Droid X
ATTR{idVendor}=="22b8", ATTR{idProduct}=="428c", MODE="660", GROUP="plugdev"

LABEL="local-android_rules_end"

```

---
Tags: linux, file-system, usb-drivers, usb-peripherals
---


title: Launch browser with --option

text:
# Question
Title: Launch browser with --option
In order to use the remote debugging WebKit's feature, I'd like to launch android's browser (from emulator) with the `--remote-debugging-port` option.

How can I do this?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As far as I understand you can't launch an APK with arguments of that sort. The comments on the page you link to seem to indicate that it's not supported on Android, as well. I find it odd that the instructions appear to be specifically for Chromium if it was meant to work on all WebKit browsers.

---
Tags: browser
---


# Question
Title: Why does Android disable HSDPA/EDGE communication while calling?
My ISP currently has a severe outage, which is why I'm tethering my Android phone and a MacBook over WiFi. The Android phone is a HTC Desire GSM running Cyanogen 7. I have a stable HSDPA/EDGE connection.

Now, as this is my only phone, it rings from time to time. But whenever it does and I accept a call, the **mobile data connection is lost or cancelled**. Same for placing calls. Writing texts won't cancel the mobile data connection.

So, whenever I am on the phone, the internet connection goes dead.

Why is this? Is there any technical limitation that won't allow one to call and send/receive mobile data at the same time? If not, can you somehow trick Android into not cutting the connection?

# Answer
> 5 votes
Most HSDPA / EDGE CDMA networks don't support data and voice at the same time. CDMA Modern GSM networks (including 3G and HSDPA, but not EDGE) do, and LTE will, so I'm not sure why you're having this problem.

It's possible that Dual-Transfer Mode may not be enabled on your phone. Alternatively, your network might not support it. (Info on DTM.)

# Answer
> 0 votes
It all depends on who your mobile carrier is. I have AT&T and they allow one to surf and talk at the same time. This is because their networks are CDMA.

If you want to surf the web while you're talking on the phone it sounds like your only option right now is to change carriers.

---
Tags: calls, data-connection
---


# Question
Title: Same phone number with different code problem
There is a strange bug/issue with almost all phones (non-android phones too). If two different contacts have same numbers with different starting code they appear as one contact.

* In call log both numbers show under one contact
* When any one of them calls, phone shows just one contact

For example, my brother (03331234567) and father (03311234567).

* I dial 03311234567 manually and press call, on screen it appears as "brother 0331123456789
* I dial number of my father from contact list same happens.
* Father calls me but on screen Brother appears

How to solve this issue. I am using froyo

Update: I posted it as a new issue
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=18684

# Answer
I don't think you can solve this issue. (For what it's worth I have the same issue when my wife calls me from our home phone. It looks like I'm calling myself.)

What's happening is the phone is comparing the phone number (being called, incoming) against the list of contacts and selecting the first one it finds. Certainly it can't tell who's on the other line on an incoming call. It also doesn't keep track of which contact you came from when you're calling out. (The likeliest explanation there is that the Contact app is handing off just the phone number to the calling app, which then does a lookup with just the number to get the contact to display on the screen.)

As you say, this isn't just an Android issue. I also saw it with my Palm Centro.
> 3 votes

# Answer
This is because the phone number +123456789012 is the same as 03456789012 when called from the same country and is the same as 56789012 when called in the same area code, the phone has no way to know that +213456789012 is a different contact than +123456789012 if you store your contacts as 03456789012.

Try adding country and area code for these contacts? Also, what happens if you dial the complete number when dialing out, i.e. dial +123456789012 instead of 03456789012.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, contacts
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to backup a ROM before installing a custom one?
Can I backup my current ROM (Samsung modifications plus a few telco specific applications installed) before installing a custom ROM?

# Answer
The best backup you can do is a `Nandroid` backup. I didn't know what it was for a long time, but it works like magic. I'll include instructions, but note that i have an EVO, so they might vary a little.

1. Reboot into Recovery
This is different for most phones, for example, the EVO you reset while holding the \`Volume Down\` button. Or, since you have a rooted phone, you might be able to get to it by holding down the \`Power\` button, then selecting \`Reboot/Recovery\`. 3. Once in this menu, select \`Backup/Restore\`
4. Choose \`Backup\`, or a similarly named option

Flash your new rom or whatever, and if you are not pleased, simply follow the steps back to **recovery** and do a `Restore`. This will reset your phone to it's exact settings from before, down to which widgets you had on your homescreen and what settings you had enabled and disabled.
> 4 votes

# Answer
There's an easier way than this even. I use ROM Manager, and it automatically asks you if you want to back up your current rom before installing a new one. ROM Manager also let's you install directly from your SD card, so you can do your backup, data and Davlik cache wipe, and flashing the new rom all from this app. It comes in most custom roms too.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: custom-roms, backup
---


# Question
Title: How to install cyanogenmod on a Samsung Galaxy Europa (GT-I5500B)
I currently own a Samsung Galaxy Europa (GT-I5500B) phone. I'd like to install cyanogenmod on it.

1. Is this possible? There's a how to available for people without experience rooting phones?
2. If it I don't like cyanogenmod, is it possible to revert the phone to the default Samsung install?

# Answer
> 1 votes
1. From the devices page, it doesn't seem like your phone is officially supported - http://www.cyanogenmod.com/devices . As an alternative, see http://www.madteam.co/forum/development/%28development%29-cyanogenmod-7-1-%27galaxy5%27-port/
2. If you do manage to flash a custom ROM, you can change back provided you use the ROMs supplied by http://samfirmware.com \- not official, just a repository of original factory ROMs.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I like using ROM Manager for CM. If it is supported on your phone it will come up in the custom rom downloads list. However if you want a different rom, ROM Manager is not an all inclusive list, it just grabs the most popular, so don't treat this as the only place to go.

CM is popular enough that it will be in the downloads list if it is supported by your phone, so if it's not there yet, just wait until it is. ROM Manager also allows you to back up your current rom (I'm not sure if you need ROOT permissions, but if you're flashing a new rom you will have them), so just back up the factory rom using this app and if you ever need it just boot up into recovery and restore the rom.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, installation, samsung-europa
---


# Question
Title: What does the *#*#4636#*#* dialer code do?
Has anyone tried the `*#*#4636#*#*` or `*#*#7780#*#*` dialer codes on HTC phones? They're not working for me.

Secondly, what does it show, means what kind of information? Is it safe to run on brand new phone?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Yes, I have a Samsung Galaxy S and the `*#*34636#*#*` does actually work.

It gives all sorts of statistics.

You might read my following question: regarding this exact number and contact lists.

**-- EDIT --**

Sorry, didn't see the HTC phones bit. Just noticed the 'Samsung-Galaxy-tab' tag, and thought you were talking about the Samsung Galaxy S phone.

The part about the statistics , is ok , though.

On my phone.

* Phone information
* Battery information
* Battery history
* Usage statistics ( I was very interested in this option )
* Wifi information

Usage statistics

* Usage time
* Launch count

# Answer
> 2 votes
Are you sure you're dialing it right? I just dialed wrong twice in a row (`*#*#` not `#*#*`) and got this error: "Connection problem or invalid MMI code." When I dial it correctly, my HTC G1 reports Phone information, battery info and history, and usage statistics.

Take a look at this more general question about dialer codes (aka secret star codes) for reference, too: Is there an official dialer code resource? There are some good links there for lists of dialer codes and some caveats about using them without adult supervision.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I use this code to change my network type also. While it does display all this information, this code is very useful for changing from 4G to 3G to 2G, and all sorts of other options in between.

If you do get this working, look under **phone information**, then *set preferred network type*. You'll have to read up on which type means what for your type of network, but this has allowed me to get better battery life and, at times, better cell service even with a 2G network.

---
Tags: dialer-codes
---


# Question
Title: Is there a known issue with HTTPS and the Android browser?
I have a Galaxy S2 running 2.3.3, all up to date and not rooted. On several sites I find that logging in is impossible due to requests sent on HTTPS not returning a response.

I've not tested the issue exhaustively, but the most notable failures for me are my Natwest online banking and signing in to Stack Exchange sites with my Google ID. In both these cases the response from the server never appears, in the case of Stack sites this happens when clicking the 'Log in with Google' button, I never even get a chance to enter credentials.

I've resorted to using Opera Mobile for now, and since this works fine it seems to be an issue localised to the android default browser. Is there a way of fixing it, or should I just choose a different browser and set that as default instead?

# Answer
I don't think there is any widely known issue with this. I am able to sign in to StackExchange automatically on my Nexus S. I looked around at the Android Issue Tracker and while there are a lot of results for "browser https", none in the first 20 or so seemed pertinent.

It might just be a problem local to your phone. I'd try resetting it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, samsung-galaxy-s-2, browser, https
---


# Question
Title: How can I do usb tethering with Mac Os X (using gingerbread Acer Liquid Metal & snow leopard)?
I would like to use my Android phone to let my hackintosh (10.6 snow leopad) surf the internet. The standard way of selecting usb tethering on android and plugging the usb cable tested on windows and ubuntu doesn't work... Thanks.

# Answer
> 1 votes
EasyTether i think would be your best option. The free version is full-figured, and paying for the full market version will get you `https://` sites. And the drivers for it are available on their website for download.

P.S. it's only $4.99 right now in the Amazon Appstore ;)

# Answer
> -1 votes
Did you try the Wifi-Hotspot option (available since Android 2.2 (?))? With this app, your android phone will act as a hotspot and your mac should be able to connect to it.

---
Tags: usb-tethering, macos
---


title: How to keep my battery life?

text:
# Question
Title: How to keep my battery life?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> What can I do to increase battery life on my Android phone?

Today I woke up after a night without charging my phone (galaxy s2). and he's dead, last night he was almost fully charged, what to check ? how can i avoid thids kind of issues?

# Answer
I suggest going for Battery Monitor great app tells you exactly what is running the battery the most and then you can kill that process etc
> 3 votes

# Answer
I use JuiceDefender and JuicePlotter to conserve and monitor battery, almost doubles my battery life on Galaxy S.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Best Option: root your phone and install some sort of CPU governor/undervolted kernel.

Things to try: Set brightness to minimum possible, turn wi-fi off, turn auto sync off or to do it only every few hours, turn data off (if not in use).

**ALSO:** I have an HTC phone, but this may work... type in *#*#4636#*#* in your dialer and call it. If it works correctly it will bring up a menu. Go into your phone information and change your preferred network type to something else (depending on what your carrier is, I use GSM Auto)
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: Should I root before or after activation?
I purchased an evo on Sprint that I'm going to root. I'm wondering, should I root the phone before or after activation on Sprint's network? Does it make any difference?

# Answer
> 6 votes
Do it after, just in case. Rooting *shouldn't* affect this process, but you never know. If it fails to activate you'll need to bring it in presumably, and if they see it's rooted they won't honor your warranty.

Installing a custom ROM can definitely screw this up, though, so I wouldn't do that. The comments on my answer to this question have some insight into that experience (fortunately he got it fixed).

---
Tags: rooting, htc-evo, sprint, activation
---


title: Watch dog and grooveshark

text:
# Question
Title: Watch dog and grooveshark
I'm using 3G Watchdog to track my 3g traffic and noticed that it does not monitor my Grooveshark app. Do you know why? Got a Sniffer that works better?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Grooveshark might not be using that much data; it keeps a cache of songs you have listened to recently so it doesn't have to re-download them each time. So if you're listening to the same songs all the time, they will probably only be downloaded once, same with offlined songs. To see if the app really sees what data Grooveshark is pulling, go to `Grooveshark->Settings->Clear Song Cache`. Then go listen to a playlist or two and see what happens :)

P.S. You can also edit the size of the cache on that menu!

If all else fails, i use Phone Usage, and it tracks Grooveshark pretty successfully:

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, 3g
---


title: CM7 Dialer Problems

text:
# Question
Title: CM7 Dialer Problems
I am currently running CM7 on an HTC Desire HD. When I make a call, CM7's dialer for some reason has the **hold** button right where the side of my face touches the phone. I have tried to use tasker to make the screen lock and have a timeout of one second when I answer the phone or call someone, but this didn't work.

Is there a way to fix this or are there custom dialers out there that changes the look of this screen??

# Answer
The problem is not really CM7's fault. It sounds like you have an issue with the proximity sensor on the device. The screen should go black when you put the phone up to your ear. Searching, I have found that this seems to be a common problem with the Desire HD. You could try some things like recalibrating the sensor.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, phone-app
---


title: Connect with adb to device via network

text:
# Question
Title: Connect with adb to device via network
I want to do some android theming, but I have a question on what the best way is to set up the system.

I have 2 computers here at home. So i was thinking of having the following setup if that is possible.

One one computer I want to set up the whole android SDK plus eclipse and run a device in an emulator. And on the other I want to set everything up so I can push and pull from the other pc. The pc's are connected via ethernet.

Is this type of setup even possible?

# Answer
> 5 votes
Yes. On your second PC, set the environment variable `ADBHOST` to the IP address of the first PC and run the adb server and client. Related steps (more detailed) are here.

Although you're not connecting to a physical device, it is apparently also possible to do so over the network without using USB. Instructions for that are here.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I'm not sure I understand the reason for the 2nd PC. You can push and pull from/to multiple android devices (emulators and physical handsets/tablets) connected to one machine via adb.

Command "adb devices" will return all of the connected physical devices as well as emulated ones, e.g.:

```
List of devices attached
emulator-5554   device
HT035P90XXXXX    device

```

Where "emulator-5554" is the emulator, and the other is a physical handset.

From there on you can target a specific device with adb's "-s \[serial\_no\]" switch.

For example:

```
adb -s emulator-5554 shell

```

or

```
adb -s HT035P90XXXXX pull /system/app/Music.apk c:\

```

or any other adb command.

---
Tags: adb, networking, customization
---


# Question
Title: How do I prevent auto-mounting of ext2 partition on OSX?
I've created a 512Mb partition on my HTC Desire's (running LeeDroid) SD card to store apps. When I used Windows, I'd never had a problem with this partition becoming read-only, unreadable or corrupted.

Since I switched to a Mac, this partition got corrupted several times. Somehow, I thought it was LeeDroid's fault, and didn't blame it on the Mac.

I installed Cyanogenmod on the Desire to overcome this problem, but the ext2 partition on the card still kept getting corrupted. I read on the Cyanogen's forums that Linux and OSX automatically mount the ext2 partition when the phone is plugged in, causing the partition to become corrupted, and then this made sense.

Question: Is is possible to prevent OSX from automatically mounting the ext2 partition on Android phone's SD card?

# Answer
I'm no Linux buff but this Macworld article seems promising assuming you know the UUID for the volume and don't mind working from the terminal. The article wisely recommends backing up the volume before messing around too much.

Also... Googling for Android+phone+UUID is returning links which are related to programming. Perhaps retrieving the UUID from an Android phone is a separate question for this problem.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: htc-desire, macos, ext2
---


# Question
Title: What does "NFC Connectivity (Optional)" mean for the Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II?
I'm considering to buy a Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II. In the specs, I've read "NFC Connectivity (Optional)". What does that mean?

It seems that the first batch of phones won't have an NFC chip. Is it possible to retrofit one or will have I have to buy a new phone for NFC?

# Answer
It means some models have the NFC chip, and some don't. From what I understand, at the moment, only the model released in South Korea has the NFC chip. My model (from the UK) doesn't have it.

Though I've been following SGS2 news, I haven't read anything about the possibility of retrofitting a chip later - either you have it or you don't.
> 5 votes

---
Tags: hardware, settings, nfc, samsung-galaxy-s-2
---


# Question
Title: How can I hide some contacts from dialer?
I am playing around with my brand new Motorola Defy and trying to find a way to manage my contacts. Of course it synced every contact in my Google account... I want to hide some of them, you know, those people you don't contact often but whose coordinates you want to keep in case you ever need to. I haven't had any luck so far.

I have 3 apps on my phone that deal with contacts :

* one called Contacts that is just for managing contacts (no tabs like dial or favorites) -- you can call someone after selecting them, then selecting the phone number, then call -- in there I can select groups I want to hide but too many clicks to call someone
* the dialer (my phone is in French so it's called "Appeler" = Call) with tabs : call, recent, contacts, favorites -- works as I'd want to but display all contacts with a phone number, and I haven't find a way to hide some groups (and it does display "visibility: hidden" when you select the contact)
* Go contacts, that I installed in hope it would be everything I wanted, but I can't hide groups, as when I try remove a group from the app it deletes it from Google

I don't know if the 2 apps that came bundled with my phone (contacts and dialer) are stock Android or Motorola. BTW, I skipped the configuration of Motoblur so no Motoblur account or anything like that. And it's running Froyo (already installed when I got it).

Does anyone have a solution for me ?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I found Dialer One which works exactly how I want : display in the contact list only the groups I want to display, with a big phone icon on the right to initiate the call.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I can't speak specifically to the Defy, but if you've got the stock Android Contacts app and you're syncing to Google, you can tell the phone which groups to display.

From the Contacts app `Menu | Display options | {account}`. Then check the groups you want to see, and the uncheck the ones you don't. "My Contacts" is going to be pretty much everything under your account. If memory serves, this is only for display; the contact info is still on the phone.

Please note that in Android versions 5.x and up this may be no longer valid due to a bug.

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, contacts, phone-app, motorola-defy
---


# Question
Title: What extra features has the Android Youtube application over the HTML one?
It seems the HTML Youtube application has all the features the Android Youtube application has. I want to remove the Android Youtube application. But I want to make sure that I will not lose any feature.

Do you know if the installed Android Youtube application has any extra features that the web Youtube does not have?

# Answer
> 1 votes
You shouldn't lose any viewing features. The YouTube application is simply a way to make it easier to view and search, without having to load the entire html pages. Probably the only feature you wouldn't be able to take advantage of (and i don't know this for sure) is uploading. You can use the YouTube app to upload videos you've taken to your own YouTube account. And like i said, you might be able to do this through the browser, but the app is just a way to make it easier. Simplification is key.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It has one major feature, at least on my phone, I can't watch playlists on the site, but I can from the app. I find that it loads faster and it's interface is much easier to use.

---
Tags: youtube
---


# Question
Title: Where can I find stock Android apps that are not normally in the Market?
I downloaded a custom ROM for my Samsung Captivate phone that is a variant of 2.2.1. Its version of the Camera allows me to use the power button to take pictures. I decided I want the stock camera without this feature. Is there a site from which the default camera.apk is available for 2.2.1, or for that matter, other apps?

# Answer
So I just looked at the firmware for my Samsung Vibrant, you don't actually need to mount the image -- I was thinking of the recovery image or a nandroid backup. The firmware (ROM) should be in a zip file, which you can open up and go to `/system/app/` and grab the camera.apk. I'd put it on your phone's SD card, then use Root Explorer or similar to copy it into `/system/app/` on your device and overwrite the current one (which you may want to back up first).

You can check out my answer to another question for info on mounting, but you shouldn't have to do that :)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, 2.2-froyo, custom-roms, camera
---


# Question
Title: Memory Expansion For Asus Eeepad Transformer
Hello I am planning on getting the 16GB version of the Eeepad Transformer, however I would want to upgrade the memory via the expansion slot.Does anyone have an idea up to how many gigs the expansion slot supports ?

# Answer
> 3 votes
When you say memory do you mean storage capacity? As far as im aware there is no way to increase the 1GB memory it is supplied with.

**EDIT :**

This site states 32GB expansion limit for SD card, which seems like its porbably correct :

http://www.techwench.com/asus-eee-pad-transformer-review/

# Answer
> 1 votes
Limit of the internal reader is that of SDHC format: 32Gb.

But AFAIK, card slots on the Transformer dock is SDXC compliant, so, limit is 2Tb (theoretical)

# Answer
> 1 votes
The SDHC (high-capacity) card family have a capacity of 4 GB to 32 GB http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure\_Digital https://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/sdhc/

---
Tags: internal-storage, ram, asus-eee-pad-transformer
---


# Question
Title: Music player that utilizes ReplayGain tags and can scrobble to Last.fm?
Is there a media player that can read ReplayGain tags from the music files and adjust play volume accordingly? Also it will be appreciated if it can live scrobble playing tracks to a chosen Last.fm profile.

As a bonus: Can it display currently playing song to a bluetooth handsfree with screen, like SE MW600?

Thanks in advance.

# Answer
Winamp supports ReplayGain in its desktop versions, so the Android version might also support it (I'm not positive, but it seems reasonable). It definitely does support scrobbling, though I've not used it myself. You could give that a try and see if it fits your needs.
> 2 votes

# Answer
DeaDBeeF supports replaygain and many file formats. Also has a nice interface, but its integration with the standard music library is not as good. Still, well worth a try.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: music-player
---


# Question
Title: How can I fix my cheap Android 2.2 phone? Should I root it?
I recently purchased a Samsung Intercept for Virgin Mobile. The problem is that it doesn't work very well. There's a delay when doing almost anything on it, even calling or texting. It also has poor battery life. Is there a way I can get it to work decently? Perhaps by removing apps? Would rooting it get it to work better?

# Answer
> 1 votes
IF you know what you're doing, rooting and flashing a custom rom CAN help. Rooting it will allow you to delete some "system" apps that you don't need, and give you access to more control over your CPU, and some ROMs have ways to help save battery. My sister was forced to get a Droid 2 Global after two faulty replacements of her original Droid 1 which she loved, and she hated the Global. Had problems with battery and the way it was set up and everything. So I rooted it for her and flashed a new rom, and she got an extended battery (VERY USEFUL SUGGESTION), and now she loves it. But as rooting voids your warranty, I wouldn't try it if you don't need to or don't know exactly what you're doing.

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, performance, samsung-intercept
---


# Question
Title: What steps should I take before giving my phone to be fixed in a lab?
This is similar to I have sold my phone on eBay. What should I do before I send it off?, but in my case I'm just handing my phone off to be fixed.

I don't want to have to completely wipe or reset my phone, since it would be a pain to get everything back afterwards. Is there some middle ground, or another way to make sure some lab employee can't hack my Google account while they have my phone?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Make a full backup, wipe everything, remove memory cards if present, send for repairs, restore backup after you receive.

This is neither difficult nor time-consuming if you use something like NANDROID backup.

http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/how-to-perform-and-restore-a-nandroid-backup/

# Answer
> 1 votes
Change your passwords before you hand it in. Then go into settings/applications etc and stop all the apps, clear data/cache etc. Remove the SD card.

---
Tags: security, data-recovery
---


title: Gingerbread ROM for Nook Color?

text:
# Question
Title: Gingerbread ROM for Nook Color?
Does anyone know a good place to get a Gingerbread mod for Nook Color?

# Answer
My recommendation, and the ROM I'm running is Phiremod

I can definitely confirm it's Gingerbread, based on Cyanogenmod 7 and built specifically for the Nook Color.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I would start with the latest ClockWorkMod Recovery and then the latest build of CyanogenMod 7.1.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, nook-color
---


title: Text messaging problems

text:
# Question
Title: Text messaging problems
My phone won't receive or send messages from or to certain people. To some people it works and others it doesn't. What can I do to fix this?

# Answer
> 1 votes
The first thing that comes to mind is to check that reply path is not selected in the messaging settings. This setting means that if you reply to a sms, it uses the sender's messaging center, and usually using another operator's messaging center is not allowed. However, this shouldn't affect your ability to receive messages.

---
Tags: sms, samsung-continuum
---


# Question
Title: My phone vibrates 2 times, as some application crashes inside or background
I have Samsung Galaxy Ace running Froyo.

While writing text, installing/removing app or doing any kind of play. My phone vibrates 2 times. Where as I am not using vibration for any event. You have also expirienced this vibration with a popup message that some application stop responding. But I didnt get that message. So that i can identify the porblem area. I guess some inside applicaiton crashes and this vibration happens.

Can any one give some pointer on it? How can I fix it.

# Answer
Its difficult to find the Problem without the Device. But you can Activate the Debug mode (*Preferences-\>Applications-\>Development-\>USB-Debuging*) Then you can start Eclipse. Open the DDMS Perspektive and there LogCat.

Perhaps you find there the BuggyApp.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: crashes, samsung-galaxy-ace
---


title: Use wifi in HTC Dream behind a proxy

text:
# Question
Title: Use wifi in HTC Dream behind a proxy
I wish to use wifi network in my university but the network resides behind a proxy server. So, how do I set my proxy settings (requires authentication) on my HTC Dream G1 (Android 1.5)?

# Answer
`Settings -> Wireless and Network -> WiFi Settings`, hit the Menu button, and choose Advanced.

However, it appears this doesn't support user authentication. I can't find a solution online, either :(. The question I marked as a duplicate may be of some assistance, though your version of Android may be too old for any of this.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, htc-dream, 1.5-cupcake, proxy
---


title: Nexus S rooting warranty

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus S rooting warranty
I know that the Nexus S has an unlockable bootloader and that flashing a custom ROM to it is officially supported, easy and pretty much fail-safe. However, what's the warranty like? Does it get voided if I do this? I'm especially interested if I'm covered in the following situations:

1. I software-brick my device;
2. I successfully flash a custom ROM, but then something else fails (that renders me unable to flash the "stock" ROM before taking it to warranty)

# Answer
> 2 votes
Unlocking the bootloader will void your warranty. The first situation isn't covered by the phone's warranty, but the second might, according to your country's laws. For example in Finland, the repair company has to show that the problem is directly caused by flashing in order to deny the warranty claim. It's possible to get the phone repaired, but you have to fight with the repair shop and possibly with Samsung to get it done, and it could get tricky.

Having said that, flashing is pretty easy as long as you follow the instructions to the letter and don't rush. Bricking is pretty rare if you're cautious, so I'd say go for it :)

---
Tags: samsung-nexus-s, rom-flashing
---


# Question
Title: Which are android OS is for tablets and devices?
I am interested to know that which are android OS is for **tablets** and **devices** among below listed.

Cupcake:

```
Android 1.5

```

Donut:

```
Android 1.6

```

Eclair:

```
Android 2.0, also 2.0.1
Android 2.1

```

Froyo: (short for "frozen yogurt")

```
Android 2.2, also 2.2.x updates

```

Gingerbread:

```
Android 2.3, also 2.3.x updates

```

Honeycomb:

```
Android 3.0, also 3.0.x updates
Android 3.1
Android 3.2

```

Future Versions:

Ice Cream Sandwich:

# Answer
So far only Honeycomb is a tablet-only version. Other versions are used on phones, tablets and other devices (TVs, android-x86 etc.).
> 1 votes

# Answer
While there are tablets that were able to munge other versions of Android to be used on a tablet form factor, only Honeycomb (Android 3.x) was designed specifically for tablets. (And, because of some of the kludgey wizardry they needed to do for that, they've not released the source code for Honeycomb.)

Ice Cream Sandwich merged the phone-only and tablet-only codebases.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: android-versions
---


# Question
Title: How do Android devices receive security updates?
I'm new to Android and I'm thinking about buying an entry-level Android device.

Yesterday I read that Android passwords are stored in plain text. That got me to thinking... how do Android devices get security updates? I know that OS upgrades aren't available to every Android phone, so I was wondering how vulnerabilities like these will be patched. Does it depend on the goodwill carriers?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Android updates are given three basic classifications: major, minor, security. (I'm looking for a source for this, but I've been unable to find it thus far.)

Security upgrades, at least, are supposed to be part of the core code and have the least disruption to customizations the carrier and/or manufacturer have made.

However, it's still up to the carrier and/or manufacturer to take the update and incorporate it into their particular flavor of the OS. Some are better at it than others.

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Tags: updates, security
---


# Question
Title: How to update the LG GT540 Optimus to the lastest stable Android version?
How can I update my LG GT540 Optimus to the latest stable Android? Is if safe to update, or I could *brick* my phone? Or it does it by auto? How are the installed softwares (from Android Market) updated? I have to do manually or is it done automatically?

# Answer
1. **Backup your phone**

* this is important if you wish to keep any data from your phone. You will have to restore backed up data (such as apps) after you update. The only way to update to the latest software is to erase your device, so backup whatever you do not want to lose.
2. **Extract the .zip file**, which you can download from this AndroidForum thread or this XDA thread. Open the folder and install MSXML 4.0 SP3 Parser (msxml.msi).
3. Once that has finished, **install LGAndroidDriver\_WHQL\_ML\_Ver1.0\_All\_Win7.exe** which are the drivers so your computer will recognize your phone. Windows XP Users download this driver, extract the contents anywhere (e.g. desktop), right-click on the 'android\_usb.inf' file and click 'Install'.
4. Next, **open KDZ\_FW\_UPD.exe** (i) Change 'Type' to '3GQCT' **THIS IS A MUST, THE UPDATE WILL NOT WORK OTHERWISE AND YOU MAY BRICK YOUR PHONE** (ii) Make sure 'PhoneMode' is set to 'DIAG' (iii) Browse for the 'V20B\_00+Fastboot.kdz' file.
5. Prepare the phone by enabling USB Debugging by going to Settings\>Applications\>Development\>Enable USB Debugging and connect the phone to the computer via USB cable and wait for the drivers to install for the phone. Sometimes the computer still won't recognize the phone, if this is the case, try this: Windows Vista and Windows 7 users press start and type device manager (Windows XP users right click 'My Computer' and click properties, then click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager) then locate LGE Android Platform Modem, right click it and click disable. Accept any warnings that come up. Also, make sure you've disabled Mass Storage Mode on your phone. To do this, go to Settings\>Storage\>Enable Mass Storage, and untick the box.
6. Click 'Launch software update' and do not use your computer until the update is complete. The update will take roughly 10-20 mins to complete.

This method was found in the AndroidForums. There is also a Youtube tutorial on rooting the GT540.

**Bricking is always a possibility when modifying software that doesn't come directly through the intended channels**

That said, the methods here have been proven to work and your risk is significantly less if you perform these steps correctly.

Let us know if you need any help!
> 4 votes

# Answer
You probably need download and install LG tools and drivers from lg web site. And follow the software instructions.

Also this is the site for ireland http://www.lg.com/ie/android/index.jsp, mentioning Upgrade of GT540 to Android 2.1 Eclair.

You may also check these two references: \- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032744 \- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803695

I learned a lot from xda forums and beware most of things in xda are on your responsibility, meaning yes, there is a chance you can brick your phone.
> 0 votes

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Tags: updates, lg-gt540-optimus
---


# Question
Title: Can a phone manufacturer's custom interface be changed?
This is related to this question about removing apps, but I thought it was different enough to merit separate focus.

I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy 2 S, and it has a custom interface designed by Samsung.

Mostly, it's fine. However, some things bug me. For example, at the bottom of the screen, where there are standard buttons like "Phone" and "Internet" - things I'm likely to access very frequently - they have this stupid "SP Mode" mail app thing that I will never use. Ever.

I'd like to kill it, but after searching options, I don't know if I can make that kind of change.

Is it possible to get different "skins" and load them into the phone? Are existing interfaces modifiable?

Is this another thing that would require rooting the phone?

# Answer
Your best bet would be to go with either LauncherPro: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fede.launcher my personal favorite, or ADW: https://market.android.com/details?id=org.adw.launcher

Both provide customization to the dock (set of icons at the bottom), number of homescreens, transitions, app drawer effects, as well as custom themes and widgets. Note: there are free versions of both, but the paid versions add more features.

While you can cover up some of what Samsung has done, things like the Notification bar and lockscreen aren't affected by these apps. In some cases rooting and/or installing custom ROMs would be required to manipulate them.
> 6 votes

# Answer
I think the SGS2 has a newer version of TouchWiz than my original SGS Vibrant, but hopefully you can still customize those icons. I don't have my phone on me but I believe t The process is:

1. Open the app drawer
2. Press the Menu button
3. Select "View Type"
4. Choose "Customizable Grid"
5. Press the Menu button again
6. Choose "Edit"
7. Exit the app drawer (return to the home screen)
8. You can now drag icons off the dock and drag new ones on
> 4 votes

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Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, samsung-galaxy-s-2, user-interface
---