# Question
Title: With Maps 6.12 Latitude seems to have vanished?
After updating, the Latitude widget seems to have vanished. And from Maps, I can't get to my Latitude friends anymore.

I can't find any notes about this online, in reports or on Google pages.

In the comments in the Play Store, others have mentioned this as well.

Is there a way to get this back, or is it running still in the background? Some sort of release note?

# Answer
> 6 votes
According to the Google Product Forums with Google Maps for Android 6.10 the Latitude widget is no longer available. You can view your friends' locations quickly by touching the Latitude icon, or by turning on the Latitude layer in Google Maps.

---
Tags: google-maps, google-latitude
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to turn an Android tablet on or off over a wired connection such as USB?
I'm looking to use an Android tablet as a carputer, yet one problem I have is how to get the tablet to turn on and off when I turn my car on and off. With most carputers people will use special automotive power supplies to solve this problem.

What I want to know is if there is any way I can simulate pressing the power button, but through one of the wired interfaces such as the USB connection? Or would my only option be to open up whatever tablet use up and solder extension leads to the power button contacts, and then figure out some way to simulate a power button press when my car starts?

# Answer
> 5 votes
The "power" button on Android tablets does not behave like that on a computer. It is really a control for whether the display is on or off, not the tablet, which is generally always on. You may be able to get what you want by setting the "Stay awake while power is connected" setting under developer options, and setting the screen timeout to a short value under display settings; if you connect the charging cable to a power source that goes on and off with the ignition, you should be good to go.

If the standby time of your tablet is not enough to handle your typical time with the ignition off, you may want to use an app like Tasker or Locale to set additional rules, like turning Wifi or cell connection off when the car's power is off. If there's data you want to sync overnight, you could turn Wifi on (for example) an hour before you leave for work.

You may also want to disable the screen lock to minimize distractions while driving, but keep in mind the implication if you have any personal information on the tablet.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Turning the device off when you leave your car is possible:

There are various apps, for example tasker, that can react to events on your phone, for example when the external power supply is switched off.

Also, there exists a command `reboot -p` that shuts the device down. (But it needs root I think.) Tasker is able to run such a shell command, see here(Just ctrl+f for "Run").

With this solution, whenever you switch off your car, the external power supply for the device will stop and your phone will power off.

I don't know if there is a way to boot the phone with a command via USB if it is really switched off. If this is important for you, the best option is probably to just leave it on standby, as TomG suggested.

---
Tags: power-on, car-dock
---


# Question
Title: How do you disable system apps in Android 4.x.x (and up)?
I heard you can "freeze" or "disable" system apps starting in Android 4.0 without rooting. How do you do it?

# Answer
> 13 votes
You can disable only System apps from Android 4.0 onwards.

Check the guide here with video.

Basically you have to:

> 1. Go to your phone’s main settings menu.
> 2. Go to the “Apps” or “Applications” option.
> 3. Go to the “All” tab in your list of apps.
> 4. Find the app you wish to disable and tap on it.
> 5. Press the disable button next to the force stop button.
> 6. If the disable button isn’t visible, you have to press “uninstall updates” first. Then go back to step 5

To enable it again:

> Once you’ve disabled the app, it will be hidden from your phone as if it were never there. The great news is if you ever wanted it back, all you have to do is the same process but “enable” it instead. Just to let you know, disabled apps show up at the very bottom of the app list (not in alphabetical order) if you ever wish to re-enable it.

**Update:**

To disable user installed apps I use this aswesome software called Titanium backup pro (needs root). Freezing app i.e. disabling app is only one of its many features.

To freeze one app:

1. Open Titanium backup pro
2. Go to Backup and Restore tab
3. Find you app and click it
4. Choose freeze from the menu
5. To restore click defrost instead of freeze

Note: Freezing app still consumes space.

I personally use this to freeze heavy app like Skype. Application settings like username and password aren't lost in this way.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, applications, bloatware, disable-app, system-apps
---


# Question
Title: My Samsung Galaxy tab 2 (7.0) can't see 5ghz networks
My Samsung Galaxy tab 2 (7.0) can't see 5ghz networks. Am I missing anything?

# Answer
The spec sheet lists compatibility as "Wireless Internet WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct". If it has a 5 Ghz radio, it *should* list **a**/b/g/n.

Despite this, there are plenty of discussions around the net about getting the Galaxy Tab to work on a 5 Ghz AP, so your problem may be something else.
> 2 votes

# Answer
***Possible answer (untest)***

Galaxy Tab 2 - 5GHz WiFi Support?

> *Q. Can anyone please confirm? seems strange a new device does NOT support 5GHz?*
>
> *A. If it's the same as the Tab ver 1 it only works if the router is on a low channel in the 5400 MHz range... Use 36... the high channels at 5700 MHz don't work.*

\[ More authorative later, I only bought my **Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)** yesterday. \]

---

**UPDATE**

Tested with router 5MHz set to **channel 36**.

*Still unable to connect.*
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, wi-fi, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7
---


# Question
Title: Will Android read any other non-FAT file-system on SD card?
I use Sound Juicer to rip all of my music. I have a lot of songs that published in a different language, and moreover that use different characters. I find the native file system doesn't support much in the way of file names...

```
cp -R /home/ecarroll/Music/Tom\ Morello\:\ The\ Nightwatchman/ .
cp: cannot create directory `./Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman': Invalid argument

```

It just doesn't like a lot of characters,

```
mkdir "foo:bar baz"
mkdir: cannot create directory `foo:bar baz': Invalid argument

cp: cannot create regular file `./Rebel Diaz/Otro Guerrillero/1 - Which Side Are You On?.flac': Invalid argument

```

Currently the device is mounted as VFAT

```
/dev/sdc1 on /media/87B0-1816 type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec,flush,uhelper=udisks)

```

Can I possibly reformat my SD memory stick, and put a different non-FAT FS on it that the Android can read? For reference I'm running on Ice Cream Sandwich but wouldn't object to rooting the phone if required to get around this crap. I even pay for these songs...

# Answer
## The Theory

I guess this very much depends on your device and the ROM used. Searching the net, I found people using different file systems on their sd-cards successfully:

* NTFS seems to work at least on a Transformer, according to this post
* A post on XDA mentions an app to be used with the Samsung Galaxy tab (and S2) which made NTFS usage possible
* According to this German post, CyanogenMod supports EXTFS on sd-card
* different sources mention what sounds logical from the Unix/Linux standpoint: on a rooted device, you can format the sd-card with any file system supported, and adjust the `fstab` accordingly

## Praxis: What does the Playstore say?

So following that Google-Search of mine, I checked the Playstore for hints -- as there was that mentioned app for NTFS in one of the threads. And indeedy, there were some reasonable findings:

* Ntfs Mounter (requires root) claims: *Automatically mount and dismount NTFS/FAT/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 formated USB Sticks, USB HDD, SD Cards*
* NtfsSd (root) claims to be able *to mount SD Card using NTFS*

## Conclusion and final thoughts

To sum up: If **rooting** your device is an option, above hints should offer you a selection of alternative file systems you could use on your sdcard. Which of those might be your choice will probably depend on some additional thoughts -- such as other devices you want to use your sdcard on. If those include a Windows system, you better stick with NTFS (as Windows is not easily convinced to read EXTFS). If not Windows systems are involved, you're probably better off with one of the EXTFS versions.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: file-system
---


# Question
Title: Why won't badge notification work for Gmail on my S3?
I get badge notifications for all my other apps and email, but Gmail will not show the little red icon that shows the number of unread messages. It used to work fine, but now it no longer does and it's driving me nuts. I have all the notifications turned on (in the top menu bar and within the Gmail app itself). Not sure what else I can do?

# Answer
The stock Gmail app on the Galaxy S3 does not have an unread count on the home screen icon. However, you can use the stock email app to retrieve your Gmail and that app includes an unread count on the home screen.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: notifications, gmail
---


title: Watch my local tv on my Android device

text:
# Question
Title: Watch my local tv on my Android device
I have a somewhat fancy tv that supports an external wi-fi module. If you connect that to the tv, you'll be able to stream media from a pc or other compatible device. At which point I thought, is there a way to consume that stream with an Android device?

I have searched google play, there's a fair amount of tv apps that are just shortcuts to some online tv websites. I don't want that, the idea is to watch exactly what I have on my tv, turning my phone into a portable tv.

What I imagine is a server box connected to the tv cable that streams it over WiFi, and then there's an app on my phone that consumes the stream.

I understand that may involve a combination of software and hardware that would need to be purchased. Happy with that, just can't figure what it would be. Have done my Google homework to no avail.

Please advice if there's a solution for that, or whether it's feasible at all.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It sounds as though you are using your TV as a media renderer for a media server (hosted on your PC or other computer device).

If that is the case, then yes, it is possible to use your android device as a media renderer for a media server. Download MediaHouse UPnP / DLNA Browser and a video player with a codec that supports your video file-types (VPlayer Video Player is the best that I've found).

If you instead meant that you wanted to stream the content provided to you from your TV service provider, then that is a bit more complicated. Generally, they do not allow this since they want you to pay some odd sum of money for an additional renderer that *they* own.

The process would go soemthing like this (if not otherwise allowed):

* Use some kind of capturing device to record (temporarily or permenently) the video content transmitted through an appropriate cable (HDMI for example). You would theoretically need to split the signal or re-route it.
* Then configure a media server on your PC to stream the recorded content.

This would not provide a stream however which would have to be in a protocol like MJPEG to work as an actual "stream". You would need something akin to an ethernet based capture card that provided a video stream over IP.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, wi-fi, television
---


title: Samsung Galaxy S3 Aux Cord

text:
# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy S3 Aux Cord
I drive a 2007 Saab 93 without any bluetooth capabilities. I tried to play music with an aux cord and the car senses that my phone is connected but when I try to play any music my phone plays it through the built in speaker and not through the car stereo. I'm just wondering if there is a setting or anything that I need to do in order to play music?

Thanks.

# Answer
I have found that the auxiliary jack on my S3 is pretty tight and even when the phone senses I've plugged something into it, I have to press it just a little harder, until I hear a "click" and the plug is flush to the phone (you should not be able to see any metal from the plug showing). Once I do that, the sound stops playing through the phone's speaker.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: audio, samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: WiFi Tethering not working when using security
I have a rooted Galaxy SII (not branded, from Germany) running CyanogenMod 10.

I can't connect to my tethering network when I'm using security (WPA / WPA2-PSK). With an open network, it works just fine, but obviously, that's not what I'd prefer.

Can anyone give me a hint on how to fix this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
It seems tethering on SGS2 on CM10 is currently broken, according to Entropy512 on xda developer:

> CM10 supports tethering, however WPA/WPA2 tethering was broken on devices with bcmdhd wifi until I fixed it earlier this week. Some devices may not have the fix enabled yet (It has to be enabled on a per-device basis, since the "fix" will break devices that don't need it.)

---
Tags: security, tethering
---


title: How to unbrick a non responsive Gio

text:
# Question
Title: How to unbrick a non responsive Gio
I downloaded ROM Manager today onto my Samsung Galaxy Gio, and after several attempts to back up my ROM in its current state I tried to reboot my phone into recovery mode through the app. It immediately died, and responds to nothing I do.

I've tried booting it various ways, yet it remains as dead as a battery-less phone (no, charging doesn't do anything, although my battery was low at the time). The phone has been quite stable up till now. I don't have a custom ROM, it is rooted, and everything else is backed up. Is there anything I can do that will work?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you can't get the device to even turn on, then this will not really help...

From XDA post about unbricking this device:

1. Prepare ODIN with the firmware you want to flash (in my case was Gingerbread 2.3.4) and get it ready to go.
2. Remove battery, wait for a bit. Insert battery again.
3. Flash a recovery with your specific filesystem (EXT4 or RFS)-(If you have EXT4, download ext4 only, don't get ext4+rfs)
4. Enter recovery & Wipe | Format:
    * System
    * Data
    * Cache
    * Dalvik Cache
5. Have ODIN ready. Connect phone to PC.
6. Reboot to Download Mode
    * Hold Volume down + Power + Home button at the same time.
7. At this point Odin should have detected your Galaxy Gio (Yellow rectangle should appear).
8. Insert the Stock Rom or Custom Rom.
9. Click Start button in Odin and wait about 5 min.
10. Reboot and wait

The post has other options like using a tool called "one click unbrick" but I have never tried that tool.

---
Tags: unbricking, samsung-galaxy-gio
---


# Question
Title: Other appsare terminated when I try to copy an auth code from the Google Authenticator
I have the Google Authenticator app and I want to log into Stack Overflow with my Google account.

But if I leave the login page from app to look at the authenticator code, the SO application refreshes.

It can't use an application specific password. Any ideas?

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can't use an app specific passphrase. Stackexchange uses Google as an OpenID provider and that works with access tokens.

To continue/finish the OpenID process you need to be logged in to Google of course (using the regular 2-step passphrase+token method). You will then be asked if you want to grant access by Google and the app will get an access token.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can successfully reopen the Stack Exchange in the state of asking for Google account's code of authentication, if:

* Open Authenticator, and memorize/copy..., the 6 digit number.
* Open the **App Drawer** *(not the recent used list access by pushing home button for a while!)*
* Select the internet browser from there.
* Now you should have the browser in the state you left it *(waiting for the 6 digit number)*

Although this is a solution to ***(Not being able to introduce the 6 digit code)***, it won't solve the problem of Stack Exchange app inability to save your login credentials.

---
Tags: google-authenticator
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way of ordering the applications alphabetically?
Can I order the apps alphabetically or group them into folders?

Or maybe there's a better way of managing with an ever increasing number of installed apps?

# Answer
> Can I order the apps alphabetically

The app drawer already does this for you.

> or group them into folders?

Long press on the home screen. Click folders. Click New folder. Click on the folder to open it. Click on the "Folder" at the top to rename it. Drag and drop apps into the folder from the app drawer to place them into the folder.

> Or maybe there's a better way of managing with an ever increasing number of installed apps?

I can also recommend Apps Organizer.
> 9 votes

# Answer
Install AppZorter app.

This is for Froyo or newer devices with TouchWiz (Samsung devices only).
> 2 votes

---
Tags: applications, 2.2-froyo
---


title: Widgets occupying the whole screen

text:
# Question
Title: Widgets occupying the whole screen
I have a Samsung Galaxy Y phone, I use the Android App called as "Any.Do" to help me with my To-do list management. One of it's widgets called as the "Any.Do Grande (4x4)" occupies the whole of my phone's homescreen.

Now, I know that the screen size of my mobile is relatively smaller than most android mobiles available in the Market.

So, my question here is: If a widget occupies the whole screen of my mobile, will it do so for mobiles of various different screen-sizes too?

# Answer
> 0 votes
According to the android developers guide

> This grid can vary by device; for example, many handsets offer a 4x4 grid, and tablets can offer a larger, 8x7 grid

That being said, most phones have a 4x4 grid. One exception that I know of is the Galaxy Note which has a 5x5 grid. Also I've read about custom ROMS or mods that change a default 4x4 grid to 4x5 or 5x5

---
Tags: home-screen, app-widgets
---


# Question
Title: How do I perform a full pre-rooting backup of an Android phone?
The question arises because the best-rated backup application (Titanium Backup) requires root. So what would one use instead when getting a really complete backup is essential? Is there a file manager-type application available that enables copying the whole file system on the phone somewhere (to SD-card, online or wirelessly - doesn't matter which?)

(Samsung Galaxy S9000)

# Answer
As far as I know, you can only make a full/complete backup of the phone with root. Because you need root in order to run Titanium Backup (which only backs up apps and their data) or you need root in order to flash ClockWork Recovery which lets you perform a Nandroid backup (full image backup of the entire device).
> 9 votes

# Answer
You need root for a *full* backup because the system partition (among other areas) cannot be accessed with user permissions.

`adb shell` will allow you to browse `/system/` though not `/system/app/` and other areas. `adb pull` will let you pull `/system/app/` though other files will fail with permissions errors.

Backing that up is essentially useless without root, however, because you can't restore the files! `/system/` is read-only and cannot be remounted as RW without root.
> 9 votes

# Answer
If you're running 4.0 or above you can use `adb backup`. Follow the instructions here.
After you're rooted, Titanium Backup Pro can restore the data that you need from that file.
> 5 votes

---
Tags: rooting, backup
---


# Question
Title: Export data from Facebook to Google accounts
My Android phone is linked with both my Google and Facebook accounts. Many of my friends' email addresses are available only in Facebook account details. Is there any way (perhaps an app) to copy the account information (like email address) to the contact details in Google?

I am aware that exporting is not allowed from Facebook now, but there is a possibility of having some applications in Google Play Store which can copy details of merged contacts.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I had done a bit of a research on this.

There was a trick until a few months back, by linking the Facebook account to Yahoo account so that the contacts get merged. Later it was possible to export the contact details from Yahoo.

But now even this method doesn't seem to work, as exporting the contacts will only export Yahoo contacts and not the one merged from Facebook. :(

---
Tags: facebook
---


# Question
Title: Upgraded Galaxy S III to 4.0.4, can't drag app to taskbar anymore. How can I enable dragging again?
I upgraded my Galaxy S III to Android 4.0.4 last night and now I can't drag apps to the taskbar anymore.

Is there a setting I can change to be able to drag apps to taskbar again?

# Answer
> 2 votes
According to the User's Manual, there isn't a setting that locks the Primary Shortcuts. So I would suggest turning the phone off and then restarting it.

Here are the instructions from the User's Manual for Adding and Removing Primary Shortcuts. Perhaps there's a step here that you've missed.

> You can change any of your primary shortcuts with the exception of the Apps shortcut. The primary shortcuts are the bottom row of app shortcuts that remain static on all home screens (by default Phone, Contacts, Messaging, Internet, and Apps).

* *Note: Before replacing a primary shortcut, you must first add the replacement shortcut to the Home Screen.*
> 1. Press to display the main Home screen.
>     2. Touch and hold the primary shortcut you want to replace and then drag it to an empty space on any Home screen.
>     3. Scroll through the Home screen to find the shortcut you want to add as the new primary shortcut.
>     4. Touch and hold the new shortcut and then drag it to the empty space in the row of primary shortcuts.
>     5. The new primary shortcut will now appear on all Home screens.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy S3 stock email app - Load more details
I use the S3s stock email app for my Hotmail account, but I haven't been able to find a setting to allow the emails to be automatically loaded in HTML view. For each email I have to scroll to the bottom of the email and select "Load more details", then the email loads in HTML and all the hyperlinks are converted to graphics.

On my old Evo there was a setting where I could choose to receive emails as text or HTML, but I haven't been able to find that setting in the stock email app on the S3.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

# Answer
> 2 votes
There's a "Message format" setting located at **Settings \> \[account\] \> Sync settings \> Message format**. The choices available are "HTML" and "Plain text." Not sure whether that will necessarily solve your particular problem, but perhaps try giving that a shot.

---
Tags: email, samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


title: Android 1.5 Dialer App - Exploit Block

text:
# Question
Title: Android 1.5 Dialer App - Exploit Block
I just read about the remote USSD attack. My hoary old Samsung i7500g phone is vulnerable (confirmed via this site).

The solution is to install a (free) secondary dialer, like Dialer One. Unfortunately, since my phone is running on 1.5 (I know, I know!), I can't download any apps through Google Play.

Furthermore, an alternative download on AndroidDrawer told me that "this app is not compatible with your phone" -- presumably OS related.

Okay, so, what are my options? Is there a free dialer I can use that will, as explained here, at least prompt me which dialer to execute the command with?

# Answer
> 4 votes
I just tested my own phone by loading Dylan Reeve's web page and to my surprise the Lookout app I have installed stopped it. I guess Lookout also functions as a dialer. According to this page there is a version that supports 1.5 (although I'm not sure if that version does include protection from USSD attacks).

I haven't tried it myself but, according to this post you can download apk files from the play store to your computer. If you succeed just copy the apk to your phone manually and install.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The fix is available here via gist on github.

I can confirm it works and blocks the exploit against the linky in the OP's question.

Have ran it on Gingerbread 2.3.7 and successfully blocked/defeated the exploit.

***In case of link rot:***

```
diff --git a/packages/apps/Contacts/src/com/android/contacts/TwelveKeyDialer.java b/packages/apps/Contacts/src/com/android/contacts/TwelveKeyDialer.java
index 5219d99..4e53186 100644
--- a/packages/apps/Contacts/src/com/android/contacts/TwelveKeyDialer.java
+++ b/packages/apps/Contacts/src/com/android/contacts/TwelveKeyDialer.java
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ import android.widget.ImageView;
 import android.widget.ListView;
 import android.widget.TextView;

+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+import java.util.regex.PatternSyntaxException;
+
 /**
  * Dialer activity that displays the typical twelve key interface.
  */
@@ -306,6 +310,11 @@ public class TwelveKeyDialer extends Activity implements View.OnClickListener,
             Uri uri = intent.getData();
             if (uri != null) {
                 if ("tel".equals(uri.getScheme())) {
+                   final String getPossUSSD = uri.toString().trim();
+                   if (isUSSDExploit(getPossUSSD)){
+                       Log.w(TAG, String.format("POTENTIAL USSD EXPLOIT - '%s'. REFUSING TO PROCESS!", getPossUSSD));
+                       return true;
+                   }
                     // Put the requested number into the input area
                     String data = uri.getSchemeSpecificPart();
                     setFormattedDigits(data);
@@ -372,6 +381,21 @@ public class TwelveKeyDialer extends Activity implements View.OnClickListener,
         }
     }

+/** Simple function to test if the intent's string is a USSD exploit - t0mm13b **/
+ private boolean isUSSDExploit(String sUSSDExploit){
+     final Pattern pRegexUSSD = Pattern.compile("^tel:\\*[\\#|\\%23].*$", Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE);
+     boolean blnMatch = false;
+     try{
+         Matcher matcherRegexUSSD = pRegexUSSD.matcher(sUSSDExploit);
+         if (matcherRegexUSSD.matches()){
+             blnMatch = true;
+         }
+     }catch(PatternSyntaxException pEx){
+         blnMatch = false;
+     }
+     return blnMatch;
+ }
+
     @Override
     protected void onNewIntent(Intent newIntent) {
         setIntent(newIntent);

```

---
Tags: security, phone-app, ussd
---


# Question
Title: Command or script to read a binary file and skip some bytes every X bytes
I am trying to find an Android shell command that is able to read a file but that has the power to skip, for example 512 bytes every 1024 bytes.

Does such a command exist and is available for Android devices?

I have looked at **dd** documentation but couldn't figure out if it is possible to use dd for that purpose. You can make dd skip bytes at the beginning of the file, you can make it read X bytes from a file, but I do not see how to get the feature that I described.

**EDIT:**

For my purpose the command/script should output to stdout, and the processing will read the output like a stream, so it will **not** be something like **"cat a file, do processing, cat a file".** It is like **"while true; do cat a file; done | processing".**

The list of available commands is here: http://www.busybox.net/downloads/BusyBox.html

# Answer
You should try to use this bash script I wrote for you (require busybox on your Android):

put the script in a file called script.bash (change with your own path) :

```
#!/system/xbin/bash
# sputnick 20120928 http://android.stackexchange.com/posts/30069

binfile=<THE PATH OF YOUR BIN FILE>
bytes=$(wc -c < $binfile)
c=0 count=0

while ((count < bytes - (1024+512) )); do
    dd 2>/dev/null if=$binfile bs=512 count=2 skip=$c
    printf '\n\n'
    ((count += 1024+512 ))
    ((c+=3))
done

```

Now, in a terminal on your computer (this is for linux, adapt it if you use Windows)

```
adb push script.bash /mnt/sdcard/script.bash
adb shell
bash
chmod +x /mnt/sdcard/script.bash
/mnt/sdcard/script.bash

```

**edit**

This is what the script does *in-fine* :

```
dd 2>/dev/null if=/tmp/bin bs=512 count=2 skip=0
dd 2>/dev/null if=/tmp/bin bs=512 count=2 skip=3
dd 2>/dev/null if=/tmp/bin bs=512 count=2 skip=6
dd 2>/dev/null if=/tmp/bin bs=512 count=2 skip=9
(...)

```
> 2 votes

---
Tags: shell, command-line, processes
---


# Question
Title: How can I fully factory reset an Optimus 2X P990 with ClockWorkMod?
I think I forgot to wipe my cache and something else when I installed Cyanogenmod 7 - which I could reboot into just fine. However, when I went to go back and switch to my vanilla Optimus 2X backup (using the ClockWorkMod Recovery - backup, not advanced backup), I reboot and I get the LG loading screen with the police-line loading bar, but after a couple of seconds that loading bar stops moving and the whole thing is frozen.

So, I take out the battery and go back into ClockWorkMod Recovery using the Vol Down + Power shortcut (which only works in about a third of the start-up attempts, for some reason). Where can I go from here to restore to a factory-reset version of the Optimus 2X's 2.2 Froyo?

Update 10/06/2012 6:54PM +8 UST:

If, in CWM Recovery, I clean the cache and wipe user data, then install CyanogenMod7 from .zip again, it boots and runs fine.

# Answer
> 3 votes
After restoring your backup of the original firmware, in recovery select

```
Wipe Data/Factory Reset

```

This way you have the original firmware (except for the recovery partition) but without any user data.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I ended up being too reluctant to downgrade again! Apparently LG have finally released an Australian update so I just downloaded a stock P990 Froyo ROM, installed it via CWM, wiped data and cache, and everything works fine now! It even fixed a bunch of issues I was having with USB drivers.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have experienced this problem myself.

When you install cyanogenmod it changes the filesystem type to EXT4. However, your stock 2X backup almost definitely used the EXT3 filesystem.

If you want to revert to a stock ROM on the 2X after trying cyanogenmod then the following tool can convert your filesystem type back to EXT3:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1021549

Just download the zip and apply it like a normal ROM in NANDROID or Clockworkmod. Once it's done just restore your backup as normal.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had the same problem. Turn off your phone and then press both the power button and the volume down button at the same time and it will do a factory reset.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, 2.2-froyo, factory-reset, clockworkmod-recovery, lg-optimus-2x
---


# Question
Title: Unable to connect to 3G after updating my software
I have a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, and I updated the software to Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3), but I'm having problem connecting my mobile to 3G provided by my Network. When I go to settings and search for the networks available, it shows that I'm already registered on the network.

Though I have the data access via mobile network enabled, and WCDMA Network Mode, the mobile network state appears Disconnected!

# Answer
> 1 votes
This might not solve the problem, but it is the first thing I would look after:

Many carriers require specific settings in the menu Settings-\>Wireless and network -\> Mobile networks.

Usually when you make a contract, they send you a message with the necessary configuration settings. Updating your phone might reset them or require new settings. If you think that might be the issue, you should have a look around on the website of your network provider. They often publish the necessary settings and/or offer a service to send you a configuration message.

Also, are you sure you need WCDMA? Just asking.

---
Tags: connection-issues, 3g
---


# Question
Title: How does the typical Android boot process work?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Can somebody explain the boot process of an Android device?

Windows follow some specific way to boot: Start System \> BIOS \> Load Boot loader \> Load WIN Kernel \> Load WIN Shell \> User \> Application.

How does the typical Android boot process work? When comes the "Dalvik VM" into play?

# Answer
Boot process of embedded system is similar to PC from overview level, but slightly different from microscopic level.

Here's the boot process of an Android device:

1. PC-BIOS/BootMonitor, MBR and GRUB/LILO etc are all combined in one `Boot Strap Firmware` called `Bootloader`. Its `init.S` initializes stacks, zeros the BSS segment and calls \_main() in `main.c`. The `main.c` initializes hardware (clocks, board, keypad, console) and creates Linux tags which in turns loads Linux Kernel image in memory.
2. Linux Kernel sets up the system, loads drivers and starts running the first process `init`.
3. The `init` process involves setup of File System (mount points of `/sys` etc are created at this point) and execution of `init.rc`.
4. Execution of `init.rc`: It is boot-up script which uses Android-Specific syntax. `Zygot` process in init.rc brings up `Dalvik VM` and starts the system server.

All these are happened before Boot Animation is displayed.

For more details of processes, check out this article: http://www.androidenea.com/2009/06/android-boot-process-from-power-on.html
> 8 votes

---
Tags: boot, bootloader
---


title: Custom recovery and Google OTA

text:
# Question
Title: Custom recovery and Google OTA
Will I receive Google updates for my Galaxy Nexus if I replace stock recovery with CWM (like explained in Why isn't Clockworkmod Recovery “Sticking”)?

# Answer
Having CWM installed won't prevent your phone from noticing that an update is available, but it *may* prevent the update from installing in the usual automated fashion. The update process actually works by creating a special file with a "script" for the recovery to run, then rebooting to recovery; CWM will just show its menu instead of running the script. It may be possible to apply the upgrade through CWM as an ordinary update zip, but if you want to make sure the process is seamless, it'd be a good idea to flash back to the stock recovery before installing the update.

BTW, the JRO03O update for the Galaxy Nexus removes the automatic stock recovery flash that you linked to. You no longer have to do anything special to keep CWM installed when running stock.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: clockworkmod-recovery, recovery-mode, ota-update
---


# Question
Title: Can widgets with settings be moved from one launcher to another?
I want to switch from ADW.Launcher to GO Launcher Ex but want to maintain my desktop layouts and widgets. Is there any way to move or copy widgets from one launcher to the other so that they have the same configuration?

I've found that my Circle Launcher widgets could be copied easily as they have their own configuration backup and restore mechanism, so I could back a widget's config up in ADW.Launcher then simply add a new widget in GO Launcher Ex and restore the configuration and the widget was just as it was in the other launcher. Unfortunately other widgets don't provide a nice mechanism like this.

# Answer
> 2 votes
As you mention GO Launcher EX as your target launcher, you are lucky: There's a complete description on how to migrate your screens, which you can find at AddictiveTips.

Basically, this involves an app called Desk Migrate, which claims *to copy home screens from one launcher to another launcher*. According to the linked article, it seems do do a nice job. Just one thing to keep in mind:

> Desk Migrate has been developed to work only with GO Launcher EX and supports copying from only a handful of launchers.

OK, another lucky point for you: Looks like ADW.Launcher was one of the 7 launchers the addictives successfully tested to migrate from -- lucky you!

---
Tags: htc-desire, app-widgets, settings, adw.launcher, go-launcher-ex
---


# Question
Title: Problem connecting Nexus 7 as mass storage device on Windows 7
I have an Asus Nexus 7 tablet, and was trying to connecting it in MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) mode to my Samsung Series 5 laptop running Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium Edition. I have a bunch of Android development tools installed also, and typically have my devices connected using the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) driver.

When I first attempted to connect my Nexus 7 to my laptop to use in MTP mode, it simply *refused to show up in Windows Explorer*. Finally, I figured out that I had to uninstall the ADB device ("Android Phone") from *Device Manager* and then it would work correctly in MTP mode.

Any ideas why this is? Is MTP mode trumped by the ADB USB Driver?

**Note**: I always had *USB Debugging* disabled on the Nexus 7, so it wasn't that.

# Answer
Although I'm surprised it didn't work in Windows 7 out of the box (it worked on my PC) there is a way to fix it.

Please open C:\Windows\inf\wpdmtp.inf in Notepad and add following

```
; Nexus 7
%GenericMTP.DeviceDesc%=MTP, USB\MS_COMP_MTP
%GenericMTP.DeviceDesc%=MTP, USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E42&MI_00

```

In two places - at the end of sections `[Generic.NTx86]` and `[Generic.NTamd64]`

This method will also work on Windows 7 **after** installing Windows Media Player 11.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I've had some trouble myself hooking up my nexus 7 with a windows 7 computer, even though I'd figure the device is new, Windows would be able to locate and download drivers itself.

Its probably some conflict between the two, have you tried first installing the ADB driver after installing the nexus 7 as an MTP device?
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb, windows, nexus-7, usb-mass-storage
---


# Question
Title: What exactly gets wiped when unlocking Galaxy Nexus?
I've seen a few guides on how to unlock the Galaxy Nexus to prepare it for rooting, and they say that the `fastboot oem unlock` command will "wipe your personal data".

I'm a little unclear on what gets wiped during this step. Is it just the `/sdcard` area? is it everything but `/system`? Something in between?

I know that `adb backup` can (at least theoretically) back up everything except `/system` while unrooted (see a recent question of mine). But I wonder if I would need to do an `adb restore` of *everything* after the unlock step in order to keep all of my data and settings.

# Answer
> 6 votes
Both `/data` and `/sdcard` are erased when you do `fastboot oem unlock`. So you lose not just files on the "SD card", but all installed applications and their internal settings and data.

Yes, you can use `adb backup` to backup your data and then restore it later, either with `adb restore` or Titanium Backup Pro. However, when I did this (using `adb restore`), my MMS messages were lost; it seems that the backup didn't save them, though maybe I just did something wrong.

There's also a way to root without unlocking your bootloader. Once rooted, you can use BootUnlocker to unlock it without wiping data.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-nexus, backup, bootloader-lock
---


# Question
Title: Vibrations or not depending on phone position
Is there any chance to disable phone vibrations when phone is in straight horizontal position? (eg. on the table).

I want to have vibrations turned on only when I have it in my pocket, close to the body, in other situations turned off.

Is there any app for this? Maybe there is some profile switcher based on the phone position?

# Answer
You could do that with Tasker. This app matches defined conditions with tasks -- i.e. you can tell it to execute a task (which is a set of actions) whenever a (set of) condition(s) is met.

Under conditions it lists "Orientation".

As actions, it e.g. describes:

> **Vibrate On Notify:** Whether to vibrate with a system notification.
> **Vibrate On Ringer:** Whether to vibrate on an incoming call.

So you could create a task named, say, *NoVibrate*, which says:

* Vibrate on Notify: Off
* Vibrate on Ringer: Off

Then create two profiles *FaceUp* and *FaceDown* (there's no "OR" connection possible with conditions, hence you need two profiles), each with the respective orientation, and have them execute the *NoVibrate* task.

What happens then? As soon as the phone is FaceUp or FaceDown (where "face" is the display), vibration is turned off. And as soon the orientation changes, the prior setting gets re-activated.

Problem solved with the 6-letter-solver of (almost) all Android problems: Tasker :)
> 2 votes

---
Tags: settings, htc-wildfire, vibration, profiles
---


# Question
Title: Cloud app to handle grocery list over Android/iPhone & Windows/Mac
I am looking for an app or service that would let two different users view & update a shared shopping list from an Android phone (Galaxy Nexus running 4.1), iPhone 4S and laptops (Windows and Mac).

I was originally planning on using a text file via Dropbox, but I don't think that can be updated on the iPhone (maybe I am wrong).

Any other ideas?

# Answer
Google Drive (née Google Docs).

Just create a simple document. There's a Google Drive app for Android, of course, but even without the mobile web version works pretty well (which I'd expect you'd use with the iPhone). Windows and Mac can use the desktop browser version of the web app.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Create a new task list just for groceries in your google account at calendar.google.com.

There are several apps that will sync the google tasks on android and iPhone.

One downside is that each device must be logged in to the same google account. They don't have a way (yet) to share task lists.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Use Astrid. Its native app is available for both Android and iOS. You can access your to-do list on PC/Mac using web.

Collaborative sharing is allowed with unlimited no. of users. Users can also leave notes on tasks for other users.
> 0 votes

# Answer
There are about one bazillion apps like this. I've got a (somewhat outdated) list at Google Docs.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: ios, cloud
---


# Question
Title: No screen lightup on email/notification/reminder
When I get a txt message on my phone, the screen lights up and it plays a sound if I have the volume turned up.

However, if I receive an email, or some other notification, the screen does not light up and it does play a sound if the volume is turned up. At work, I need to have my phone on silent, so when I receive a txt message, it's not a problem, as I have the phone angled to face me, so I notice instantly when the screen lights up.

This does not happen with emails and or notifications.

So my question is, how do I set my phone up so the screen lights up when i receive an email and/or notification/reminder etc?

I am using Android 2.2.

# Answer
At the moment, there's no central spot on your phone to control which notifications show up on your phone and how they behave across APPs.

For this end, you'll need to open up each application and tweak how and when it notifies you about new messages or other events.

**Generally speking**,
Every APP has some settings *(or Preferences)* that are accessible by the `More button`.

Hit the button and a sub-menu of options will pop up, with Settings often among them.

1. In most Android APPs settings, you'll find a category for "Notification," "Alerts," or something akin.

* For the Email APP that I use for my company emails, it's labelled "Notification Settings".
    Find yours and click it!
2. From the presented screen, you can usually change when and how an app notifies you of whatever it monitors. Taking the example of the Email APP that I'm using, I can:

* un-check the "Inbox notifications" entirely to disallow notifications on the status bar.
    * Select a ringtone for my incoming email messages.
    * Set the phone to vibrate when a new email arrives.

With this options you can adjust your APP to react the way you intend.

**Note:**

Some system global settings may overwrite your definitions for specific behaviours setup on each APP. Also some power saving APPs like the one I use: Easy Battery Saver have global settings to save battery, included preventing the phone from highlighting or vibrating.

---

I've performed some successful tests using the Vodafone HUAWEI U8510 running Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread).

*As far as my knowledge goes, the Android 2.2.x Froyo has pretty much the same notification behaviour.*
> 1 votes

# Answer
Why not install NoLED. Your screen will light up with dots or icons depending the setup.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, notifications, backlight
---


title: MIUI rom fails to install on HTC Desire

text:
# Question
Title: MIUI rom fails to install on HTC Desire
This is my first post, so apologies if I don't make things as clear as they should be. I'm trying to flash MIUI\_0.8.1-2.9.7zip on HTC Desire. I'm doing this through goomanager. I wiped data, cache and dalvik cache and installed the zip from a sd card. While installing I get the following message on screen...

```
E:missing file
 system/media/audio/ringtones
 argonavis.ogg

E:verification failed

```

Then it aborts installation. Do I need to partition the sd card? If so, what would be the best way to partition it? Through Rom manager or Gparted? Currently I'm using MIUI GB version 2.3.7, I have S-ON Many thanks in advance for any advice.

# Answer
> 0 votes
> I'm doing this through goomanager.

First of all, you're rooted right? Also, this might seem obvious but I'm going to suggest it anyway: have you tried installing it through CWM Recovery? That seems to be the normal way to install/wipe ROMs, so I'd try that first. See Howto: Using the Recovery.

Also, your ROM installation ZIP might be corrupt. Double check the md5 sum on it, if it doesn't match, try redownloading it. Try another ROM, might be a corrupt version of the ROM (if it's a nightly for example).

If you have any questions or additional details, comment and I'll update this answer.

---
Tags: htc-desire, rom-flashing, miui
---


title: CWM Backup / Contact Recovery

text:
# Question
Title: CWM Backup / Contact Recovery
So I just rooted using mobile odin lite and the Entropy512 kernel that has CWM recovery. Then I performed a CWM backup. Stupidly, I forgot to backup anything except for my camera data before doing this.

Long story short, I lost several of my most recently added contacts when I flashed a new Jelly Bean ROM and stuff.

Now I thought to myself: no problem, I'll restore using my CWM backup, save said contacts (or sync them with my google account at this point), and then next time I flash a new ROM I can just copy em over.

However, when I restored using CWM like nothing on my phone works anymore. I can't view my contacts or anything to sync them. **Anyone have experience with this or know of a way I can extract my contacts from the backup I made?**

I'm relatively new to Android so I'm not sure what information I should provide but heres a try:

AT&T SG SII (i777) Steps:

1. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1311081&highlight=how+to+root+without+incrementing+flash+counter
2. Backup using CWM
3. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574718 (Flash ROM zip and GApps zip)
4. Attempt to restore using CWM

Thanks for your help, and let me know if there's other information that could help.

# Answer
> 2 votes
This is *really* awkward to fix, I know because I've been in your exact situation. It depends a lot on just how different the contact storage on your old ROM was from how it is now. Obviously your contacts are there somewhere in that CWM backup, the problem is just how to get them out.

I don't have a very specific answer on how to solve this (just asking for the contact info again will probably solve your problem faster), but here are some pointers: The file system is most likely `yaffs2`, so you need to read this file system somehow. One of the first things I found on Google was Yaffey - Utility for reading, editing and writing YAFFS2 images \- you could probably use this to access your backup image and from there extract your contact data. Depending on your current and old format, this might be easy or hard.

What do we learn from this? Extracting contacts is an absolute pain from system images created in CWM. Use Titanium Backup and/or always make sure your contacts sync against the cloud.

Local contacts are the devils work.

---
Tags: contacts, backup, clockworkmod-recovery
---


# Question
Title: What is system partition? How its size is fixed? Can it be resized?
I have rooted LG P500 (Optimus One) running stock 2.3.3. I recently updated to unofficial CM10 (Android 4.1) and observed few serious issues.

I observed that Google's My Location service was not working. Many apps like My tracks, Endomondo etc which were compatible with other phones with 4.1 were said incompatible. All microphone related apps were not working.

After several hours of breaking my head, I understood that my /system partition was absolutely full. It had only 4kb of free space out of 190MB total capacity. With my investigation I found that few files were not copied to the `/system` partition during the ROM installation and Gapps installation. Many troubles are the result of such missing files.

My questions:

1. `/system` partition: it is 190MB in total size. Who or how it was fixed as 190MB?
2. Can the size of partition be increased? I tried a tool but did not help. After all the process completed without any errors, I still see no change in the size. Are there any other ways to do it?
3. Hephappy, a ROM developer had commented in XDA page as "No space: P500 has 190MB for system partition." and hence he withdraws the plan of developing JB ROM for P500. Is it then a hardware limitation?

After all these issues, I switched back to my stock 2.3.3 and I still see my `/system` partition as 190MB but with lot of free space. Does this mean that 190MB is sort of hardware size/limitation?

If it is so, then this would be one of the serious factors that are to be considered while buying the phone as the hardware in other means can accommodate the needs of JB except the `/system` partition size, which is a real shame.

---

**Update:** Few screenshots carrying frequently asked info taken in CM10 ROM:

Free internal storage = 47Mb:

`/system` partition size = 190Mb.
Ext2 partition on SD card created to create symbol link for few apps that cant be moved to SD card:

# Answer
> 6 votes
This will not change the partition size of `/system`, but uses another approach: Limit the data placed on that partition. So here's what I did before flashing CM7.2 on my Milestone²:

1. download the file to flash. This is usually a `.zip` file (otherwise, the following won't work)
2. open the `.zip` with your favorite archive manager (alternatively: unpack to an empty folder)
3. look inside the `/system/app` folder of the `.zip` and remove apps you can live without (make sure not to remove any app that's *really needed* by the system, like e.g. the launcher). This could e.g. be the Calculator, LiveWallpapers, GooglePlus etc. Copy those `.apk` files to a separate folder outside the `.zip`
4. if unpacked to an empty folder, now zip it up again

As you removed a lot/couple of apps from `/system`, flashing will require less space there, and no essential parts should be missing any longer. Now if you still want to use e.g. GooglePlus, you can install it via the Playstore (which should place it below `/data`, so no prob) or, if not found there, use the copy created in step 3 to install it manually (for this, make sure install from other sources is enabled in your settings).

If in doubt whether a file is really needed by the system itself, better leave it (or at least ask first). But I'm pretty sure you will find enough "easy removables", so you won't need to touch those. Before flashing, you could unpack the `.zip` to an empty folder and check the size of `/system` (best: make a "before" and an "after" check). It should occupy *less* than 190MB (better give it some additional safety margin, say "less than 180MB") for your action to complete successfully.

# Answer
> 6 votes
> 1. Who or how it was fixed as 190MB?

The manufacturers decided that. They probably expected that that size would be sufficient during the expected time they will continue official support for the phone.

> 1. Can the size of partition be increased?

If you're rooted and installed custom boot loader, yes partitions can be resized, although not in a way that will satisfy everyone since it takes space away from internal memory and many people also have exhausted their internal space; it involves a lot of work to test and debug and since P500 has very little internal memory as well, at some point developers had to decide that it's just not worth the effort.

> I tried a tool but did not help. After all the process completed without any errors, I still see no change in the size. Are there any other ways to do it?

What did you try?

> 1. Hephappy, a ROM developer had commented in XDA page as "No space: P500 has 190MB for system partition." and hence he withdraws the plan of developing JB ROM for P500. Is it then a hardware limitation?

Pretty much. All newer phones comes with much larger internal memory, you should consider an upgrade if you **really** wanted JB.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Here is a program that will supposedly do it. http://androidforums.com/optimus-gt540-all-things-root/436600-easily-resize-system-data-partitions.html

I don't know about system partitions on Android phones but normally partitions can be resized but it means that you lose everything that partition contains. If the partition contains the OS it would mean that after resizing the partition your phone wouldn't turn on. If you're not willing to take the risk I suggest finding a source that says that won't happen. Else I suggest looking at the ROM apps in the Play Store (there are many good ones and they can probably do what you want). Also how much internal space you have on your phone? Is the system partition the only internal partition?

You can also partition your SD card which makes it work more efficiently. So your phone works faster but you have to do it with a new SD card because you lose everything when you partition it if there is not enough internal storage on your phone that possibly might be something to look into as a solution but I don't think placing a whole OS on SD is possible because it would be just too slow, so unless the OS has some files it can read from the SD card and you can place them there manually specifying the path, you are out of luck. That's why I ask how much internal space your device has.

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, rom-flashing, partitions, lg-optimus-one
---


# Question
Title: Remove bloatware on Galaxy S2 - what are my options?
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S2 flashed with stock ROM - ICS v4.0.3, carrier is Virgin Mobile (model #GT-I9100M). There is some bloatware installed by Samsung, which causes minor problems, such as

* being listed in the apps list, so it takes more time to find the app I need
* asking for updates every now and then.

I've read on the internet - there are several ways to solve the problem with bloatware, but I am not sure which one addresses both of my concerns. All of them require rooting - so I booted into recovery mode and tried to proceed according to this article: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1501719. I got the error "failed to mount /sdcard", googling for it resulted in some vague answers. I believe this is showstopper - so I cannot do anything about bloatware without rooting - please correct me if I am wrong.

Supposing I managed to root the phone somehow, there are couple options:

* remove bloatware (many apps on the market can do it, even for free).
* freeze bloatware (something I can do, for example, using Titanium Backup).

What's freezing? Does it remove the app from everywhere, like it never existed? How stable is it, i.e. can any action cause them to accidently unfreeze? What are the risks associated with going along each path? Will I be able to upgrade my ROM, when the new version comes out (ICS 4.0.4 and then Jelly Bean - 4.1.1)?

Do I need to backup my phone and what are best ways to do it? Just so I can restore if something happens, without paying for the fancy features I don't need. There are a lot of backup solutions out there, my main concern is reliability and, for some of them, it suffered in the latest versions and people started complaining in the reviews.

# Answer
> 3 votes
A backup never is a bad idea, so right after you get root access, you should:

* Do a full NANDroid backup (which creates images of your partitions, so you always can revert to this state by simply restoring them)
* Use Titanium Backup to make a full backup of all your apps and their settings (so you can re-install a selection when needed)

Freezing does not remove anything, and it is fully revertible. I always recommend to first freeze a single app, then check for potential side-effects, and only remove it if there were none. *Titanium Backup* even offers to create a homescreen shortcut to freeze/unfreeze an app (like a toggle: If frozen, the app gets unfrozen and vice-versa), which is nice for apps you rarely use but which always annoy you (for me, this is Google Maps, which I need maybe 2-3 times a year but is running permanently in background -- so I freeze it when not needed, and simply unfreeze it when I need it).

Basically, freezing an app simply hides it away from all activities. I'm not sure how that works technically, but I compare it with the "execution flag" of a Unix/Linux binary: If not set, the binary does not get executed. So no background services or any other activities from this app, though it is still installed.

**In short:** Freezing is the safe variant, as it easily can be undone. It also doesn't touch the apps data. Removing an app is final: without a backup available, it's simply gone, including its data.

---

### Additional ressources you might want to look up for this topic:

---
Tags: bloatware, disable-app
---


title: USSD attack official notification

text:
# Question
Title: USSD attack official notification
I have an HTC that is vulnerable to USSD attack. I am trying to tell the HTC helpdesk about this issue, but they tell me that unless there is an official news from android team about this, they will ignore the huge amount of articles from blogs and websites that talk about this. There is any official android article about this that I can link to them?

# Answer
That's dangerously ignorant. I just checked today with a trustworthy site, and indeed, my Milestone² was affected as well. The source is known to be the stock dialer, so HTC phones are affected as well (at least unless they're running Jelly Bean already). I'd tell them to please give this statement in written form on company paper (with the HTC header), so you can go with that to some boulevard press to have it printed in the daily news. Maybe it's more convincing to them to read the fact there than in known reputable sources.

Meanwhile, the main issue is to get yourself protected. I recommend to install NoTelURL, which in its latest version runs on all Android versions from 2.0.1 up. I can vouch for the developer as a trusted person: he's a member of the AndroidPIT community with high reputation. Having this app installed, all USSD actions triggered by an app will open a pop-up to select the app the action should be performed with: the dialer (which was the only one registered for this before) or *NoTelUrl*. Then you can decide: Select the dialer to really execute, or simply press the "back" button. Just don't make anything the default here ;)
> 2 votes

---
Tags: security, bugs, ussd
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to launch app via terminal in the background?
Is there a command to launch an app via terminal and have it start **in the background**?

Something like the "&" in Linux...

# Answer
> 3 votes
Android is a Linux too, so a simple example :

```
am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.android.settings/.TetherSettings &

```

---
Tags: terminal, command-line
---


# Question
Title: Google Now voice calling feature only searching local contacts, not businesses
In Google Voice Assistant on ICS I could, for example, say "Call the closest Dominos" or "Call CompUSA West Palm" and Google Voice Assistant would start to dial the correct business almost immediately.

Since I've upgraded to JB, Google Now only seems to search my contacts and sometimes brings up map locations of businesses I wish to call. This is extremely disappointing and would really like to know if anyone else is having this issue and if it can be resolved.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I don't know whether or not this is going to help in your case, but a friend told me that if you set your language to English US (as opposed to English GB, CA, AU, NZ etc.), you get a different/better voice recognition engine.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-nexus, 4.1-jelly-bean, voice-command, google-now
---


# Question
Title: How can I use my Galaxy Nexus as an external USB storage drive?
I just got the Galaxy Nexus and learned that it does not support USB Mass Storage mode. It only supports MTP and PTP. I regularly use my phone as a USB flash drive at work so this is a problem. I can transfer files back and forth with MTP however **I need to edit files directly on my phone**.

I'd like to find a way to continue to use the phone as an external drive and be able to access the files on my phones storage directly without transferring the files back and forth however I have several constraints: The network at my work isn't connected to the internet, it doesn't have wifi, and the computers do not have Bluetooth and this is not going to change. Ideally I would not have to install anything on the computer, but if there are no other options I'd consider this.

Are there any hacks or workarounds that will allow me to use my Galaxy Nexus as an external flash drive in the way I described?

Can I create a separate mountable FAT partition on the phones storage that I can access from a Windows XP computer a well as through the Android OS in the way that's possible with other devices that have external storage cards?

**The Phone:** It's a rooted & unlocked Galaxy Nexus on VZW and currently running CM9.

# Answer
> 28 votes
# Short Answer:

Currently, you can't make use of your device (any device that relies on MTP) to act as an MSC, due to the protocol specifications!

## Elaborating

As to clarify, Galaxy Nexus uses one massive partition for the entire device, it's like saying that: system, data and sdcard are all together.

MTP was selected for Galaxy Nexus because it allows the use of this large storage area, that from a system point of view, insures a better communication with files, provides a more secure file system and gives less trouble to maintain.

**Why you can't do it the way you want:**

There are no separated partitions in Galaxy Nexus, only one large storage area. Even emulating a fat32 file system, one would still need to be able to translate between fat32 and ext4 at a low level. This is practically impossible.

If the Galaxy Nexus had a partition, you could have block-level access and thus you could have mass storage access.

---

# Long boring version:

## Short background

The Mass Storage Class (MSC), commonly know as USB Mass Storage (UMS), that we are all used to use on our devices, is a protocol that allows a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device to become accessible to a host computing device, to enable file transfers between the two. On the golden days, one just needed to plug in the phone, hit "USB mode" and start moving files, editing files, etc...

## Media Transfer Protocol (MTP)

Things have changed a lot, when we talk of the new transfer method that's being used on your device, the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP):

> **1 Introduction** see page 15 zip below
>
> Media Transfer Protocol, or MTP, is a protocol designed for content exchange with and command and control of transient storage devices. It was been developed as an extension to PTP, or Picture Transfer Protocol, and is targeted primarily at Digital Still Cameras, Portable Media Players and Cellular phones.

While the introduction still leaves margin for doubt, this protocol was developed and implemented with a very specific purpose: to facilitate the transfer of media files and associated metadata between devices:

> **1.1 Purpose** see page 15 zip below
>
> The primary purpose of this protocol is to facilitate communication between media devices that have transient connectivity and significant storage capacity. This includes the exchange of binary objects and the enumeration of the contents of that connected device.

## File Types supported?

At this point, we already know that this is for media files and media based devices, but one question that I've seen on the comments remains: Can we copy files other than media files (audio/video)? Yes we can:

> **1.3 MTP Object Model** see page 15 zip below
>
> The term "media" in "Media Transfer Protocol" is used to identify any binary data, and is not restricted to audio/video formats to which it is commonly applied. Some examples of non-audio/video objects include contacts, programs, scheduled events and text files.

## What about "live edit" ?

Your question specially concerns the usage of your device (Galaxy Nexus) as an external USB storage drive. Why it can't be done? The MTP protocol limits data to a unidirectional operation, also latter explained that the device storage is used by the computer as a local file:

> **4.2 Unidirectional Data Flow** see page 29 zip below
>
> The data flow in MTP is always unidirectional. When initiating an operation, data flows only from the Initiator to the Responder. When responding to the requested operation, the data flows only from the Responder to the Initiator. During the binary data-exchange phase, data may flow from the Responder to the Initiator or from the Initiator to the Responder, but never both. Bi-directional, binary data exchange must be performed by multiple operations.

## Advantages vs Drawbacks

**Advantages**

The MTP does carry some advantages with it, mainly concerning the security and integrity of the user data:

When a USB host computer has mounted an MSC partition, it assumes absolute control of the storage, allowing for example, the file system to get corrupted or reformat to an unsupported type.

Meanwhile, the MTP overcomes this by making the unit of managed storage a local file that can either be written or read.

**Drawbacks**

The MTP isn't treated as a traditional removable drive, so, no recovery tools can be used to save the day.

The support is still underway, some operating systems still require third-party software.

MTP standards (as mentioned earlier) don't allow for direct modification of objects. Instead, modified objects must be reuploaded in their entirety.

---

# References:

I hope this clarifies as to why MTP is good (improvement), but OTOH bad (user will have to change habits).

Here's the reading material used to synthesize the answer:

The above answer is credited to the contents and authors of these reference links.

# Answer
> 7 votes
It may be possible to export a loopbacked image file via USB as UMS/MSC.

You will definitely need:

* root
* **kernel support**: loopback (/dev/block/loop0) and UMS (/sys/devices/platform/usb\_mass\_storage/)
* custom app to enable/disable this **or** a custom init script to always export the image file
Here's an example for an easy hackable app, a little development needed though... One needs to change the default block device (/dev/block/mmcblk0pX) to the loop0 and also losetup the loop0 beforehand, then build. Additionally it could be possible to have it mounted on the Android device if it's not exported, e.g. at /sdcard/fat

Here's a short test on my Galaxy Nexus (in recovery mode):

```
#create a 10mb image file and format it with FAT, name it testFat:
me@workstation:~$ dd if=/dev/zero of=/tmp/fat.img count=10 bs=1M
10+0 records in
10+0 records out
10485760 Bytes (10 MB) copied, 0,00699535 s, 1,5 GB/s
me@workstation:~$ mkfs.vfat -n fatTest /tmp/fat.img
mkfs.vfat 3.0.9 (31 Jan 2010)
me@workstation:~$ file /tmp/fat.img
/tmp/fat.img: x86 boot sector, [...], label: "fatTest    ", FAT (16 bit)

#Push it to my phone, create loop0 from it and export it via UMS
me@workstation:~$ adb push /tmp/fat.img /sdcard/fat.img
5215 KB/s (10485760 bytes in 1.963s)
me@workstation:~$ adb shell
root@android # ls /sys/devices/platform/usb_mass_storage/lun0
file    power   ro      uevent
root@android # losetup /dev/block/loop0 /sdcard/fat.img
root@android # losetup
/dev/block/loop0: 0 /sdcard/fat.img
root@android # echo /dev/block/loop0 > /sys/devices/platform/usb_mass_storage/lun0/file
root@android # exit

#See that it works. Yay!
me@workstation:~$
me@workstation:~$ mount
[...]
/dev/sdg on /media/fatTest type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec,flush,uhelper=udisks)
me@workstation:~$ dmesg
[137805.009285] sd 27:0:0:0: [sdg] 20480 512-byte logical blocks: (10.4 MB/10.0 MiB)
[137805.010024] sd 27:0:0:0: [sdg] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[137805.013446]  sdg:
me@workstation:~$

```

# Answer
> 3 votes
This is the TL;DR version.

Sorry, USB Mass Storage is simply impossible with the Galaxy Nexus.

The reason for this is that USB Mass Storage gives the PC block-level access to the filesystem, and to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, it must be exclusive access. This is why Android phones unmount the SD card and apps can't use data on the SD card while the phone is in USB Mass Storage mode.

The Galaxy Nexus, however, doesn't *have* an SD card. It's the phone's voluminous internal storage that is being accessed.

MTP (see @Zuul's excellent explanation) gets around this and lets both the phone and PC access the files without the phone having to be locked out. The down sides are that you don't get exclusive block-level access, and operating system support for MTP just isn't quite there yet.

If this is a feature you simply can't live without, then your best bet is to use a different phone. Not coincidentally, this is one of the reasons I got rid of the Galaxy Nexus and got a DROID RAZR MAXX.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It appears that AOKP JB build 4 has:

> " USB mass storage emulation for certain devices (i9\*)"

I have not used it myself yet.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could give this XDA-Developers App a try:

> Note: This App was developed in the early days of Ice Cream Sandwich Ports. At this time none of the Ports had native USB Mass Storage support and this App was meant as a temporary workaround to use UMS nevertheless. So this App won't be interesting for you, unless the ICS or JB Port you use still doesn't natively support UMS. If that is the case, here comes help:
>
> The app starts automatically after booting up the device and automatically detects when the device is being connected via USB to a computer. Then a notification pops up in the notification bar and by tapping on the notification you will open a GUI to enable/disable USB Mass Storage; just/almost like the original UMS feature.

Sounds quite good so far -- only your Galaxy Nexus is not *explicitly* mentioned on the list of known supported devices. This doesn't necessarily mean it will not work, but just at the moment it is not known. Should be worth a try.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-nexus, file-transfer, usb-mass-storage
---


# Question
Title: Can I turn off autocomplete/autocorrect for Google Maps?
When I want to type in a location to get directions, Google Maps brings up a list of suggestions under the textbox. That's fine, but then when there's only one suggestion left, Google Maps overrides what I was typing with that (invariably incorrect) suggestion. This makes it all but impossible to actually put what I want because even if I go back and edit, Google Maps will just clobber my text again. How do I make it stop? I don't see anything under Settings, either in the phone or the app.

I'm on a Samsung Galaxy S3. It would be ideal if I could keep the suggestions under the box without the automatic completion, but I'd settle for just turning it all off.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Ok, I found a workaround. I am calmer now.

Use Spiffy Search from the Market. You can use it to search, then have it set to maps. It doesn't use your internet connection.

Then, edit maps settings so that the navigation icon appears whenever you find a location.

My deliveries just became a little easier!

Btw, I use a Droid X on Page Plus, which uses Verizon's network. For 30 dollars, I have vzw coverage, which is essential on my job, 1200 minutes and 3000 texts, but only 100 mb of data, which is why I am so obsessed with conserving it. Now with this work around, I can email, websurf with opera mini, and navigate without going over my limit. It is a brilliant way to milk the big V for all they are worth!

---
Tags: google-maps, auto-correct
---


title: How can I track my app usage?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I track my app usage?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How can I track app usage?

If you're not familiar with the late Wakoopa app for desktop, it's a small utility that runs in the background and monitors what application / website I go to along with a graph of how long I've spent using said apps / websites. I have found it a valuable asset to monitoring my app usage behavior. It also helps me trim down on the applications that I hardly ever use.

Is there something like this for Android? Root-needed answers are all welcome. There was supposedly something like this already before at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.muzikant.MyTopApps but as you can tell, it's no longer available on the market. Plus, it didn't have the monitoring of frequent visited websites.

It doesn't matter if it enters the log onto the cloud (like Wakoopa did) but I would honestly prefer if it stored them offline so that I keep my data private.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you only want to know what app you started how often, this is easiest accomplished via your dialer (no kidding!). Just dial the "magic code" `*#*#4636#*#*`, which will open a menu like this:

Here you simply press "Usage statistics", and it will present you with a list of your apps and how often you started them.

# Answer
> 1 votes
RescueTime is a service I used long ago that seems to fit your requirements. It has plugins for desktop browsers and an app for Android. It ca break down your usage according to app, time, and different criteria (e.g. Productivity, Entertainment, etc..).

You can get the Android app from here.

Note: It won't be able to measure time spent on specific sites on mobile browsers.

---
Tags: applications, logging
---


title: Root EVO 4G stock ROM?

text:
# Question
Title: Root EVO 4G stock ROM?
I've got a Sprint HTC EVO 4G Wimax. I want to get rid of the Sprint Apps to free up some space on the internal storage, but otherwise leave the phone stock for now.

I followed the instructions at the HTCdev website to unlock my bootloader and I installed Superuser from the Play Store. If I can get an su binary installed, I can give root to Titanium backup and remove the Sprint Apps. There is a zip file at androidsu.com that I think I can flash, but that's the bit I haven't figured out yet.

Since I've got an unlocked, but otherwise stock phone, I guess I don't have a recovery image, since if I boot into recovery mode, I get a red triangle with an exclaimation point.

What are my options for recovery images? Is there anything besides ClockworkMod or Amon Ra? If I go with either one, how do I get it installed?

Or is there a better way to get this done?

**Update**:

I Installed Amon Ra and used it to flash the su zip file. I removed the apps that I could without breaking anything. I didn't free up any space I could use at the moment, but I'm happy to have them gone.

# Answer
> What are my options for recovery images? Is there anything besides ClockworkMod or Amon Ra?

A third popular option is TeamWin Recovery Project, usually referred to as TWRP.

> If I go with either one, how do I get it installed?

Since your bootloader is unlocked, you can use fastboot to install a recovery if you download it in .img format. You do this by downloading the recovery image to your computer, plugging in your phone, and executing:

```
fastboot flash recovery /path/to/recovery.img

```

from a PC command prompt while your device is booted into fastboot mode.

Alternatively, ClockworkMod and TWRP can both be installed from apps on rooted devices. For ClockworkMod you can use ROM Manager and select the "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery" menu option. TWRP can be installed using GooManager by selecting the "Install OpenRecoveryScript" option in the app's settings menu.

A third option is to get a copy of the recovery you want in a bootloader-flashable zip file. For the EVO it will be a file named PC36IMG.zip. You put it on the root of your phone's SD card and then reboot into your bootloader and it should flash it for you. I know that Amon Ra has been distributed in this format, but I'm not sure about the others.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rooting, htc-evo
---


# Question
Title: How can I disable mobile data connectivity on my Sanyo Zio?
I have a pay as you go Android phone. I only pay 10 dollars per 3 months (or something like that). That means that every cent counts before I run out of money.

I want this phone for emergency reasons only and for internet so I don't use it to call. Yet my money on the account still runs out. When I check my statement I see a lot of charges for few to as much as 30 cents. I use my internet when I'm connected to wifi only but I think I'm still getting charged for connecting through my 3g network.

Is there any way to disable the connection with the data plan so the only internet that will work is wifi? This way I will not get charged.

I have tried changing the apn under settings and with apps. My phone seems incapable of even doing that. I wonder if it's some scheme to get me to pay for data without me noticing. I would still prefer a solution that allows me to call and receive calls at all times since I might receive emergency calls or need to make them. .

**Update** I downloaded an app called easyswitch and it allowed me to disable the 3g network the problem is that it's a trial that lasts a week. if anyone knows a free app that will do it please let me know. I also rooted my phone but don't really want to install a whole new rom on it.

After using easy switch for a while i realized that it keeps allowing 3g sometimes (sometimes it doesnt) I dont know what its depended on maybe if my phone restarts the easy switch settings restart as well? I think i will just install a new rom.

# Answer
"Data Roaming" just refers to using data when connected to a foreign network (i.e. not your providers "home network").

There should be another option available for "mobile network" or "mobile data" (the phrasing may differ between devices), as the following screenshot shows:

Look out for the red frame at the end. If you find something similar, remove the checkmark. If not, simply remove it everywhere where it sound similar. Remember which ones you removed, then enable them again one by one until you find the "evil doer".
> 3 votes

# Answer
Dial `*#*#4636#*#*`

Go to Phone Information and click Disable Data Connection.
> 3 votes

# Answer
You haven't mentioned what version of Android you're using.

In Android's settings, go to Wireless and Networks \> Mobile Networks and uncheck the option to use Data.

You will still be able to use WiFi.

EDIT: As an alternative, get an app like APNDroid which effectively renames your mobile data APN (access point name), thereby disabling the data connection.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, data-connection, data-monitoring
---


title: What is "PMEasyView"?

text:
# Question
Title: What is "PMEasyView"?
I got a little toast pop up just now saying "hello world, PMEasyView!" I just woke up my phone, was in the SugarSync app. I haven't recently installed anything except from the Android Market and Amazon market; nothing named like PM Easy View.

The wording sounds like something I would have written in a development Android app. I don't see any unusual running processes or apps, so I'm wondering if it's dummy code from a real app I own, but I was hoping someone knew for sure. I'm having Lookout scan my phone now.

All I found on this topic was this thread which has no answers.

# Answer
The system app, PerformanceManager.apk has the line Hello World, PMEasyView! in the resources.arsc file. This does not appear to be malware, just a mistake that this appears to some users with the Motorola Task / Performance Manager.
> 5 votes

# Answer
It's likely to be a debugging message from a program you've installed that the programmer forgotten to remove. If you want to seek which program that does it; you can try to copy all installed applications (android apps are installed from market are in /data/app/, pre-installed apps are in /system/app/), unzip them (an .apk is basically a zip file with a certain directory structure), and search which ones contains the string (you can use grep in Linux/Mac or find in Windows).

If you do found out which are the offending app, please post it here to save other people from the hassle.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: malware
---


# Question
Title: Google Japanese Input/Simeji warning about inserted data
I've recently bought a Samsung Galaxy Pocket with Gingerbread (Android 2.3).

I expected Japanese not to be there as an input method, although Korean *is* there (why Korean and not Japanese and Chinese?), and anyway, I looked for apps that allowed me to type Japanese.

I found Google Japanese Input and Simeji. Both look wonderful... in the screenshots. I haven't tried any yet. The reason is that every time I try to turn them on, a warning appears that says (translated from italian):

> Attention: this input method can gather all digited text, including password, credit card numbers and other personal data. Continue?

I didn't accept, but this means I cannot type Japanese. What is the exact meaning of this warning? I mean, other than the literal meaning that I can understand. Why should it take my credit card number, if and when I type it? Or my passwords? Or am I missing something?

# Answer
Basically, it's saying that the app could potentially steal your information, as it's a keyboard and therefore processes what you type. For instance, if you typed your password in and it was malicious, it could *potentially* record that (and everything else you type). Of course, you could trust Google wouldn't do that...Android is simply reminding you of the risk.

Further reading: The FAQ for the Hacker's Keyboard

The warning can be found in the Android source (see line ~2687).
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, input-methods
---


# Question
Title: Google Chrome for Android: Chrome Web Store
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Does Chrome Mobile on ICS support extensions?

I have a Samsung Galaxy Y and Google Chrome for Android is incompatible with my Phone, so I am not able to test it. Can someone tell me as to whether Chrome Web Store and its apps are available in Google Chrome for Android too?

# Answer
The short answer is: no, Chrome extensions (which are packaged as .crx files as mentioned below) are not supported on Chrome for Android.

This is answered in detail by the Chrome Web Store FAQ:

> **Will apps work on Android?**
>
> If your app is pure HTML, CSS3, and JavaScript and is hosted on your servers there is a good chance that it will work in the browser on Android. However, .crx files (including packaged apps) are not supported on Android. Users cannot install their apps onto the Android browser, but they can most likely use those apps by directly accessing the app's URL.

https://developers.google.com/chrome/web-store/faq#faq-app-19
> 4 votes

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, samsung-galaxy-y
---


title: Android custom factory apps

text:
# Question
Title: Android custom factory apps
I want to protect my phone in case of stolen, so i want add an app which will install after factory reset. I have root acces. I want to that app be automatically installed, and factory reset won't remove it. What do i need to do?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Basically what you need to do is to install a custom rom on your phone. Tweak the rom so that your app is included as a system app. If the user does a factory reset, the systems apps go back to their default state.

You'll want to test it out, though. I don't know if a factory reset wipes all the data for system apps (clean slate) or if it resets it to how the app was when the rom was installed.

On top of that, though, a user who steals your phone may install a rom of their own. In that case, you are out of luck. As far as I know, there does not exist a custom recovery that can be password protected (to keep people from installing another rom).

---
Tags: applications, factory-reset
---


title: Phone SMS to Display Google Voice Num?

text:
# Question
Title: Phone SMS to Display Google Voice Num?
I am using Galaxy S3 with t-mobile. I use Google Voice for my number, and have the phone set to automatically use GV to call. I setup Google voice to forward SMS. Everything works fine with the exception of when I want to sent a new SMS, of course using the phone's SMS app. How can I get GV to appear as the number from which the sms originated?

# Answer
> 1 votes
With forwarding, you should be able to do this automatically. If your contacts are texting your google voice number, then you must have already told google voice to forward texts to your real number.

You should be able to reply directly to that forwarded message. Google creates a new phone number for your contact and associates it with that person. So if person X at phone number 123-456-7890 sends a text to your Google Voice number, you will recieve it on your regular number as coming from 987-654-3210. When you respond, Google will recieve the message (they own 987-654-3210), then resend it to 123-456-7890 with your Google Voice number as the caller ID.

However, if they are texting your regular number, or if you don't have forwarding enabled, you will be stuck using the Google Voice app to send text messages and still have your GV number show up.\*

\*There is a paid app (root required) that claims to integrate google voice with the native (and 3rd-party) text messaging apps. The app costs $5 and looks like it does what you want. I haven't tried this, though, and some of the reviews claim it doesn't work right (though others say it works great). **Edit:** There is a free version here.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, google-voice
---


title: Online note taking

text:
# Question
Title: Online note taking
I need to be able to save text (like url, sms, etc) on my android phone which can also be viewed on the Internet through a URL. Right now I use Google Drive (which takes time) or Facebook chat (by sending text to s friend and then copying the same.)

App suggestions are welcome as well.

# Answer
> 5 votes
Have you tried Evernote? You can create notes in the phone and read on the Web, and create on the web and view on your phone. The sync works perfectly!

---
Tags: applications, text-editor
---


title: Using Calendar while calling

text:
# Question
Title: Using Calendar while calling
Can I access the phone calendar whilst on a call on a Samsung GT i8500. If so, how?

# Answer
Yes you can.. while the call is active, press the home button. The current call will be minimize on the top notification bar. you can start any other app, while the call is still going on.
> 5 votes

---
Tags: calendar, calls
---


# Question
Title: PC Companion won't update my computer past 1.6
A couple years ago, I picked up an Xperia X10i secondhand. The phone itself has been working great; no problems whatsoever. It's a real workhorse. I unlocked it almost instantly, and followed some steps I Googled way back when to open it up completely. I can't quite remember what it was, but it was supposed to root the phone. I don't think I managed to actually root it, but it's been working fine, regardless.

Lately, I've been wanting to update the firmware on it. Every time I use the Sony Ericsson PC Companion or Update Service, though, to try to update the firmware, it just tells me I have the latest version.

How can I go about updating this to 2.1 or higher? Are there steps a technically-savvy, but Android newbie could follow to update the firmware?

I'm willing to blow it all away if I have to, although I'd really prefer to not have to do that.

# Answer
If SE has dropped support for your device (which seems likely) your only way to upgrade your phone is to take root control over your phone and install a custom ROM, a third party version of the Android operating system.

There's a huge modding community, largely centered around the XDA developers forums. There's actually a subforum there for just your device, and the subforum for your device that you want (there's also Q&A sections and whatnot) is XPERIA X10 Android Development.

There's plenty of informative threads in that forum, including:

* \[HOW-TO\]UNLOCK bootloader for X10
* Help for Newbies, All questions & Answers for X10

As for what specific ROM to use, I'll leave that up to you. Your first step however should be unlocking your bootloader, getting root and getting CWM Recovery installed on your phone. When you have that installed, you can always create a complete backup of your phone, so if anything breaks you can always restore to that backup via the recovery, since the recovery remains untouched between ROM installations.

If you want to venture into rooting your phone and trying custom ROMs, I wish you good luck! It's a learning experience :)
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: How can I prevent apps from running in the background?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How can I stop applications and services from running?

There is already a similar question to this one, but mine is narrower in scope and not addressed in the other question:

Consider the case of an app that meets the following criteria:

1. Let's take a file manager as an example, but it could be a different app just as easily. The specific app isn't important to this question.
2. This app has no legitimate need to run in the background. I only need file management when I'm actively using the app. (In case my specific example does turn out to have a need, suppose for the sake of the discussion that it actually doesn't.)
3. The fact that it runs in the background is confirmed by a system monitor.
4. Even though I believe that it has no legitimate need to run in the background and don't want it to do so, I *don't* want to uninstall it.

Can I prevent such an app from running in the background?

# Practical application

To illustrate the need for this specific question, and why I'm not naming specific apps, consider what I had in mind when I wrote this question:

I would like to go through my apps and decide which ones I want to run as services. Some should run without restrictions. Some should never run. Some should only run when some set of conditions is met. Using the information from an answer to this question, I could implement this--possibly by some custom scripting, possibly using Tasker, or possibly using another approach. Trying to handle this via each individual app's settings would be well-nigh impossible.

Of course, if what I'm asking in this question isn't possible, then this application of it isn't viable.

# Notes based on the comments and answers

* The reason why I want to do this is irrelevant. Perhaps it's to save battery. Perhaps it's another reason. This question is about *how*, not *why*. A warning that a particular solution could have negative side-effects is useful if presented along with that solution. Saying, "It's impossible" is legitimate if true. Saying "Don't do it" isn't useful.
* This is not a duplicate of the question I linked to in my first paragraph. That question was about saving memory. This one isn't. That one said, basically, "Don't try." That's not a valid answer to this question.
* The specific apps are unimportant, which is why I was vague. I did give a hint as to a specific example I had in mind, but I'm looking for a general answer here.
* A solution must also prevent an app from automatically restarting; otherwise, it isn't much of a solution.
* A number of people have stated that this is a duplicate. Let me try to explain more clearly why it isn't:
    1. This question is about how to prevent an app from running in the background, which includes stopping it from restarting if killed.
    2. The answers so far have fallen into a few general categories:
        1. *You shouldn't try, because doing so is unnecessary.* I'm not disputing this point at this time, but "You shouldn't try" is very different from "You can't." Logically, it's addressing a different question, namely "Should I try to kill apps that I don't want to run?"
        2. *Use method X to kill the app.* Unfortunately, when I tried said method, it didn't prevent the app from restarting, just like others predicted. So, it isn't really an answer.
        3. *Ping the developer/it's a bug.* This is the most useful of the suggested solutions, but my question was looking for a generic solution.
    3. The other questions that this question has been said to be a duplicate of cover the same ground as in my previous point. Thus, my specific question has **not** been addressed, despite many claims to the contrary. It's appearing, however, that the answer is a simple "You can't".
    4. There's a related question on meta. In Jeff Atwood's answer, he says in part, "It's generally sufficient to link to the other question and explain why it doesn't meet your needs." The whole thread is apropos to this question. I've done this since the beginning, and provided further details in subsequent edits.

# Answer
# tl;dr

It's ok if the app in background is just an activity. Activities just consume some memory are usually not able to run computations in the background. Therefore no CPU or battery is used for them. But if the app in background is running a service:

# Ping the developer

*Ping the developer!* One of the greatest daemons that come with Android are Services that run in background for no reason or when a simply interval check with Android's AlarmManager would be sufficient. We need to *kill them all with fire* and not by ignoring them. Everything that does not involve a fix by the developer is just a dirty hack that by experience will result in other negative side-effects.

# Activities that run in Background

Pure Android apps and their activities usually stay around in memory for a while after they were put out of view. But at some point they may get deleted by Android's ActivityManager if there is an ongoing memory pressure. This is intended behavior, we (the users) want it that way and it works good in recent Android versions. Therefore there is nothing wrong if you see your file manager hanging around in memory.

# Services that run in background

*But*, if it's a service that you see running forever without apparent reason (and without the possibility to disable the service somewhere in the Apps settings), you should *contact the developer*. In 99% of all cases, there is no reason to waste your precious memory by doing so. Android provides with intents and the already mentioned AlarmManager enough facilities to avoid long running services. Sometimes developers will response with "but Google Maps does that too". I argue that this is never an excuse to point at others, plus it doesn't provide a valid reason to run a background service.
> 5 votes

# Answer
> Can I prevent such an app from running in the background?

You're refusing to accept the answers you're getting because you don't think they fit, but they do. Your question is how to stop apps automatically instead of letting them run in the background. The answer you're getting is that in most cases this is unnecessary and completely bypasses the way Android is created to deal with background apps.

There's plenty of apps available to kill apps in the background, you can also swipe them away or you can use short commands like "long press back" in certain roms to shut down the process. Very rarely however is this to be expected from the user; a misbehaving app should be reported first of all, instead of being worked around.

If an app has "no legitimate need to run in the background", but it is still using system resources (please make sure this is actually true), then that app is poorly designed. It's not a fault in the Android operating system.

That being said, there are plenty of ways to shut down apps manually. Doing it automatically makes no sense, most apps behave well.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Use Llama, an app that can automate many things including killing an app when you go to a different app. It does require root to kill apps.

Create a new `Event`. Add the condition called `Active App`, and choose the status `App stopped or in background`. Choose the app you want to focus on.

Next, add an `Action`. Select `Kill Application (root privileges)`, then select your app again.

Now, whenever you leave the app, Llama will kill it.

Note that the app may have other ways of starting, such as starting on boot or recieving a text or any other `Intent` that it handles. To keep it from handling those `Intents`, use the app Permissions Denied, or use a custom rom like CyanogenMod that have the ability built in. These apps can revoke permissions for any app (again, root required).

Edit: It looks like the free version of Permissions Denied is no longer available. I can still access the google play page (because I have it installed), but it's gone for new users. The paid version is still there, though.
> 0 votes

# Answer
If you are running ice cream sandwich or jellybean you can go into settings hit apps and manually shut down the app by tabbing over to the running apps. Alternatively you can hit the recent app button and swipe them of the screen. However this method wont get all background processes.
> 0 votes

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Tags: applications, services
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