# Question
Title: Joining Contacts has no effect (SG3 4.1.1)
I just switched from the SG2 to the SG3. They transferred all my contacts at the store.

I now have a lot of duplicate contacts, some of which are Phone contacts and some of which are Google contacts. I am working to clean this up.

On my old SG2, joining contacts did what I desired: 2 contacts would become 1 with all of the information from contact A and contact B 'joined' together.

On my new SG3, when I join contacts, I get a message saying 'Contact Joined', but there is no visible effect. No additional data is added, no additional joined contact is present, and when I browse through my contacts, both copies of the contact are still present.

What am I missing?

There are similar questions such as Merging duplicate contacts - is my phone broken?. My question seems very similar, but no one sufficiently answered the poster's original question in my view.

It might be a good idea to start over, but I would need a way of separating out the Phone and Google contacts when I export. Thoughts on that point?

Thanks.

# Answer
> 2 votes
After **much** searching for an answer, I found this in another forum.

I use Companionlink to sync my old Palm Desktop database to my S3. The contact records come into the device showing as a phone record, but most times don't auto join to Facebook and LinkedIn records...even if the names match exactly. I tried in vain on many records to join contacts by clicking on a contact then selecting the paperclip icon to join contacts. I would go through the motions and join the contacts, and get a confirmation that contacts were joined, even though it never actually happened. This solution below **works**! It appears that the 'main' way of getting this done (at least with Jelly Bean) has a programming flaw. Hopefully it will be fixed when Key Lime Pie comes out. In the interim, use this solution below.

Do this:

1. Open the settings for one of the contacts (click on the "pencil" while viewing the contact)
2. Put the cursor at the end of the contacts last name, like you're changing their name, and type a space (hit space bar) then it will bring up other similar contacts below. Choose the account you want join by touching it and the phone will prompt you to join contacts.

This method has not failed!

# Answer
> 0 votes
One of the simple way is
1.**synchronize your phone contacts with Google**.
2. ***merge contacts* in your Google account**.

3.**Delete all your contact in mobile**.
4.**Synchronize again with your Google contacts**.

I just merged most of my duplicate contacts using this way.

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Tags: contacts, 4.1-jelly-bean, samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: Android lost, Gmail password changed. Can Gmail still be viewed?
I lost my Android phone today so I changed my Gmail account password.

Will whomever that finds it be able to view my offline Gmail (cached) content, even though I changed my account password?

I'm concerned because I'm not usually asked for the password and whenever I'm offline I can see the offline cached content.

# Answer
A quick bit of experimentation shows that they will be able to view your cached Gmail, but will not be able to download new mail.
> 3 votes

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Tags: gmail, password, lost-phone, cache, offline
---


# Question
Title: Possible to answer a comment made at the Google Play Store?
Is it possible to answer a comment made in a review at the Google Play Store?

# Answer
It is now the case that all developers can reply to reviews on their apps. The reply shows up publicly next to the review, and by default, the user who left the review gets notified by email (but users can turn off being notified in the settings on the web). There can only be one reply per review. The reviewer can only respond by editing their review, and the developer isn't notified when this occurs.

It's still not helpful to use reviews for reporting problems with the app, because solving them generally needs several messages back and forth to narrow down the problem, and sometimes needs the user to tell the developer how they were using the app or what they wanted to achieve: something you might not want made public.
> 2 votes

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Tags: google-play-store
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# Question
Title: Will rooting or flashing relock my unlocked Android device?
I bought an Haier w718 online from China. It is unlocked but they didn't put Google Play on it. If I root it or flash it will that relock the phone?

# Answer
> 4 votes
No, since it is factory unlocked, nothing will ever relock your phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Back in the days of the ZTE Blade there was a ROM that \[sim\] unlocked the handset, flashing another rom would remove that unlock, but like @Shywim says if it is factory unlocked it is unlikely that flashing another ROM will lock it and like @Izzy says it is also unlikely to happen in a custom rom

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Tags: rooting, rom-flashing
---


# Question
Title: Enable SMS count on galaxy s3 lock screen?
When I first got my galaxy the at the lock screen I could see an icon with a count of unread text messages on the right side of the screen, but now it has disappeared and I did not see any settings for it in the lock screen menu under settings. Is there a solution to this or was this the result of an update?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Hey man you can use this. Notification LockScreen Widget (available for free in the Google Play store). It gives following features.

* View all dismissible notifications including missed calls, SMS, Facebook notifications, Gmail, etc.
* Launch the app directly from the notifications list.
* Combine multiple similar notifications into one notification with counter.
* Allow full original notification content as it appears on notifications bar.

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, lock-screens
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to see numbers I typed in previous call?
Here's the thing, someone called me today and during the call I pressed a few numbers, then the call ended before I could save them somewhere. Is it possible to find them somewhere?

# Answer
Yes you can do it by using this Number Saver App.
App description is as follows:

> Save a number while you're in a phone call, and dial it right after.
>
> Access during call from notification bar, or from app icon
>
> To pull notification bar in the call screen, press HOME first (Android limitation)
>
> The app has two modes for number or note:
>
> * Save it to the clipboard (which later you can 'paste' it wherever you like)
> * Save it in the internal app memory
>
> On both you can later access the last saved number or note and create a contact, dial or SMS.
> 0 votes

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Tags: calls, call-history
---


# Question
Title: Google Play deducted extra Rupee 50 after first-time Play Store purchase of an App/Game. Why is that?
Today I bought Temple Run: Oz from Google Play. When I filled all the credentials in to pay rupee 53.18 for this application then it automatically deducted rupee 50.00 from my credit card and after submitting it again deducted rupee 53.18 from the credit card. But the original price of this game is rupee 53.18, why did the extra rupee 50.00 deduction happen?

How can I get this money back?

Is buying an application on Google Play not secure?

# Answer
Don't worry Vinit, one of the standard way for payment gateways (including Google Checkout and PayPal, PaisaPay etc) to validate your account is by deducting a small amount (typically 1 USD or an approximate equivalent 50 INR) and returning it in next few days.

Please wait for few days and while doing so, please observe for any reversal of 50 INR. If you see a credit to your payment account then all fall in order.
> 25 votes

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


# Question
Title: How do I install the custom ROM with boot.img inside?
I have found a custom ROM in Chinese forums for mY HTC ONE SU (t528w) model.

The ROM is zipped and the folders look like below image

I have no idea to install this ROM. Could anybody please guide me to install this. I dont know how and where to place the boot.img. I have successfully unlocked my bootloader and mobile is rooted too.

Thanks

# Answer
> 2 votes
Please check the place where you downloaded the ROM from, it usually contains installation instructions. In most cases, these ROMs use the `update.zip` mechanism of the recovery mode, as Matthew mentioned. You might need a custom recovery (see and and their tag-wikis, clockworkmod resp. twrp, for examples).

The process then usually is as follows:

1. copy the `.zip` to your SDCard
2. boot into
3. select to "apply update from SDCard"
4. navigate to and select your `.zip`
5. let it flash
6. go back to the main menu and select to "reboot device"

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Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms, rom
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to turn off translation in Google Play
I have HTC Desire with Norwegian language set up. In Google play, all program descriptions are translated to Norwegian. I find this quite annoying because most of the translations are bad, and looks quite silly in Norwegian. Sometimes I need to imagine what it would be in English to understand what it say!

Is it possible to force the Google Play app to display all texts in original language?

**EDIT:**
I have realized that the issue is different for different apps.

Examples:

1. AppLock by **DoMobile Lab**. This one is the description shown as badly translated to Norwegian in Google Play on my phone. When I go to Google Play in a browser on my PC, it shows description in English (My PC has English system language, and I have set up Google settings to use English).
2. MindFeud by **MonkeyBin Studios**. This is shown with English description in Google Play on my phone, but it has a button next to the description header you can click on to translate (which is a function in Google Play, probably using Google Translate). This is exactly how I want it to be.
3. TvGuiden by **MeeTV AS**. This is a Norwegian app, and of course has good Norwegian description in Google Play on my phone. This is also fine with me, since it is a proper translation. When I go to Google Play in a browser on my PC, it shows description in English, which is evidence that it provides description both in English and Norwegian. In this case it's most likely written in Norwegian and additionally translated to English.

In example 1, I suspect the app vendor have translated using automatic tool and reports to Google Play having a translation for that language.

In example 2, the app vendor does not claim to have a translation to Norwegian, so in this case, it is shown in Google Play in English, with a button that the user can ***choose*** to get it translated.

Example 3 has a truly proper Norwegian translation done by humans, so the app vendor reports correctly to have a translation for Norwegian. It would be interesting to get experience from others on this app if it will be shown in English for users that has phone language set to other than Norwegian (example Hungarian).

Is this the result of some app vendors (ref. example 1) misunderstand how the translation system in Google Play is supposed to work?

# Answer
> 22 votes
Three methods available, depending from where are you accessing Google:

1. **Google Play app** usually uses the language defined on your device settings:

1. Tap your device "home";
    2. Tap "settings";
    3. Locate "Language & keyboard" and tap;
    4. Under "Select language" you can define the language for your device that is also used by the Google Play App as to present you the information on your language.
2. **Accessing from a browser:** The Google Play Store sets the language by your IP address, you can update that definition by changing it at the footer (it will persist):
3. **For all Google Products:** From Gmail, you can access your account settings and set the language that you prefer for Google Products:

1. Login to your Gmail account;
    2. On the top right corner, click "account";
    3. On the left vertical menu, click "language".

# Answer
> 12 votes
This also annoyed me. My language is Hungarian, a hard-to-translate language. For example Google translated the "loop-device" to Hungarian as "rotating-device", which is a different thing. I think it is a really bad idea. The app, which does not have the user's native language built-in and the user doesn't speak any language of that app, then that user will not be able to understand and use that app normally. Also 9 of 10 translations aren't understandable.

So after that beginning I solved my problem. I installed Xposed and that appinfo module. Than I changed the language setting in the appinfo for Google Play. Lastly I cleared the cache of Google Play. And voilà! All in English and I can understand everything!

---
Tags: google-play-store, languages, localization
---


# Question
Title: How to disable system apps, or controll which apps launch automatically?
I've been having this problem where the Navigation app launches every 10 or so seconds.

I've heard this is because some pins are short-circuited.

I've tried to install 2 apps that should make this problem go away, but so far nothing worked.

I'm left with trying to control the lifecycle of these apps. They are system apps however, and I can't uninstall them.

Is there any possibility for me to hack my Android a little bit and disable the threads that control these apps?

I'm talking about a HTC Desire HD, 2.3.5. Android version

# Answer
Aside from rooting (temporarily or permanently), you can't disable the system apps prior to Android 4. Your particular case may have a ray of hope, though.

## Alternate app responding to Intent

If the navigation app is responding to an Intent, you could try to find a different app that responds to the same Intent. You'd get a pop-up to choose which app to open when the pins short and the Phone thinks it has been docked.

## Alternate app that can do nothing

Ideally, you could find an app that responded to that Intent and did nothing as a result. Then set that as the default handler.

## Task killer

Another possible option is to use a task killer (a rare good usage of such an app). There should be some that have the option of killing an app as soon as it starts; if not, the free app Llama can do that, as can other automation apps like Tasker.

## Rooting

If none of the above work, you may want to root your phone. This will let you uninstall (or simply freeze) the navigation app so that it doesn't open up.

## Fix/replace hardware

The last resort, and probably most useful, is, of course, fixing/replacing the hardware.
> 3 votes

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Tags: google-maps-navigation, system-apps
---


# Question
Title: What do apps designed for small screens look like on tablets?
Do they get scaled or do they just occupy part of the screen? I mean apps that were designed for 4-5" phones running on 8-10" tablets.

UPDATE: Let me give some details to better explain my question. Given the application developer has provided one layout only (for small devices) and the app is being run on a large display. Scaling may will look terrible (especially if the scale factor is in range 2-3), because it was not designed for this, so maybe a better solution is to show a smaller version of the app in the middle of the screen. Then it will look as designed, except that it will make poor usage of the available space. However, scaling it a little bit should be fine (scale factor in range 0.8-1.5), so that the app occupies entire screen. The question is what Android is doing? Does it scale the app even if it's scaled by a large factor (over 2) or will it stop at some factor and simply place smaller version of the app in the middle of the screen?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It depends on how the app was designed. Android provides means to allow an app to choose from multiple layouts automatically depending on screen size and density, so if the designer cared to, they could provide completely different app appearances for phones and tablets to suit their app to the screen size.

Further information on the tools the developers may have used can be found here.

If they didn't do any of that, then the Screen Compatibility Mode kicks in and its behaviour depends on the version. In version 3.1 and earlier, if the screen is larger than the app is intended for, it will occupy only part of the screen. In 3.2 and later, it will expand to fill the screen.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It totally depends on how the developer has coded it. This can be fine if it's coded reasonably or it can be horrible if the coding is bad. Android makes it pretty easy to design for both and the new development environment they're releasing makes things even easier for developers so hopefully in future all applications should deal with phones and tablets gracefully.

An example of a badly coded app is ViewWebSource where the text blows up massively:

Screenshot (click image to enlarge)

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Tags: applications, tablet, screen-resolution
---


title: How can I disable IPv6?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I disable IPv6?
I have access to the IPv6 internet through Charter Communication's 6rd implementation. A number of CDNs fail to work correctly over IPv6, which causes a number of sites, including facebook, to have significant issues (pictures don't load, pages don't load, etc.)

On my desktop, I can disable IPv6, and these issues go away. Is it possible to do that on a stock android phone / tablet? (not rooted)

*Edit:* From the comments, I've learned that the actual issue is a MTU issue. So I'd be equally interested in a method to set a lower MTU on android as well.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Until Google does something about issue 1008, (which seems unlikely since it's about five years old now) you're unlikely to get a better answer, but for what it's worth, this might help someone in a similar situation.

At the moment you can't alter the MTU without root access to the device. In Linux this operation requires root, so on Android you either need to root the device, or Google needs to provide system functionality that applications can use to perform the operation (i.e. resolve issue 1008).

There is an off-market program MTUchanger which can be used on *rooted* devices to change the MTU. If you can root your device you can sideload this and work around the issue.

Of course, you should complain bitterly about Charter (and Rogers and the dozen or so other ISPs) deploying 6rd in 2013, when the rest of the world is moving past transition technologies and is doing native dual stack. 6rd is essentially ISP-private 6to4 tunnelling, which is why the MTU has to be lowered from 1500. As such, any company that deploys it is eventually going to have to do it again, and do it right.

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Tags: ipv6
---


# Question
Title: How to flash Samsung devices from a GNU/Linux host running on ARM architecture?
To flash a Samsung Galaxy S (where do not have root access in the currently running OS, and with a stock recovery) with a new firmware (OS), I need to connect it with a USB cable to another computer and flash it from there.

There is a further problem if the other computer (which runs a GNU/Linux, Ubuntu) is ARM (it's a Toshiba AC100). So to flash a new OS onto the Samsung Galaxy S through the USB cable from the other computer, I'd need something like `heimdall` for ARM. It's not among the available pre-built downloads for `heimdall`. Perhaps, I will have to try to build it for ARM then...

Is obtaining heimdall for Linux on ARM possible?

# Answer
> 5 votes
ARM is currently not supported officially by heimdall.
You might have luck compiling it yourself:

https://github.com/Benjamin-Dobell/Heimdall/

My advice however:
Use a supported platform **once** (Win/Mac/Linux-x86/x64) and enjoy on-device updates from then on via ClockWorkMod recovery (CWM) or RomManager.

Reason: Heimdall is only needed to install a bootstrap CWM once. After that you use the regular CWM.

Here's the guide from cyanogenmod:
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Samsung\_Galaxy\_S:\_Full\_Update\_Guide

CyanogenMod releases for CM7/9/10 in various flavours (stable, release candidate, nightly build) can be found here (Galaxy S i9000):

http://get.cm/?device=galaxysmtd

# Answer
> -1 votes
Yep, you should be able to compile from source.

Here are the steps to install ClockworkMod with heimdall from GNU/Linux or Ubuntu or whatever (I tested it with Samsung Galaxy tab 2.0 7 P3110): 0. by following the steps below be prepared to lose your guarantee or brick your device. Also make backups of your personal data. 1. install Heimdall (and Heimdall-frontend) this software is a flash tool which copies firmware images to device's specific memory area. You can find several guides how to install this even from source. You don't need windows stuff such as odin or Kies or a fake software which contains the usb drivers because most probably the kerner drivers are preinstalled on your GNU / Linux OS. dmesg 2. download the recovery image to your host computer from clockworkmod rommanager (I'm not allowed to post URL. This is www dot clockworkmod dot com slash rommanager). Find your device on the list and download some files from 3 columns. Currently there are 3 columns: ~ROMs / ClockworkMod : contains superuser.zip: copy to sim card or to device. This zip contains application which allows to execute android apps with root mode. It is not needed to backup/restore device partitions. superuser.zip can be installed in recovery mode. Default recovery of Samsung (stored in RECOVERY partition) does not install the zip due to error: signature verification failed. If you want to root your device you must install a custom recovery image. Backup of original firmware does not require this superuser hack. ~Download Recovery: this is a custom recovery partition: you can install zips or create backup or flash partitions. You can navigate between the menus with keys only - no touch : volume up and down and choose with power button. Copy this to your GNU/Linux host (this image will be written to device with Heimdall) ~Download Touch Recovery: this is a custom recovery image. You can navigate between the menus with keys or touch : volume up and down and choose with power button. Don't forget to scroll there are a lot of menuitems!

1. turn off the tablet (wait around 10 secs while screen goes black)
2. hold down the volume key which is next to the power button and hold down the power button. You may keep it pressed as long as you like: logo appears then device reboots. When logo appears release keys. Android system recovery \<3e\> loads. Choose wipe data/factory reset with volume then select with power button. Choose Yes -- delete all user data.
3. choose reboot system now and don't allow it to reboot: immediatelly hold down the power button and the volume key which is on the far side. Keep it pressed until warning appears. Connect tablet to GNU/Linux host with USB cable then press the volume button next to power button.
4. with root permission run command on GNU/Linux host and be prepared for executing next step immediately sudo heimdall flash --RECOVERY recovery-clockwork-touch-6.0.2.7-p3110.img
5. when it completes it restarts the device: remove the cable and immediatelly boot into recovery mode: hold down the volume key which is next to the power button and hold down the power button: keep it pressed until logo is displayed on 2nd time then release them.
6. ClockworkMod Recovery loads... scroll down to see all the menuitems. You can create backup with "backup and restore" menu then "backup to external sdcard"
7. After all use last menuitem: +++Go Back+++ / reboot system now. "ROM may flash stock recovery on boot. Fix? : If you choose No then you can do the procedure again... / If you choose Yes then Samsung's recovery firmware gets overwritten by ClockworkMod Recovery.

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Tags: rom-flashing, linux, heimdall, arm-processors
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# Question
Title: Different contacts on multiple phones with the same google account?
I own two lines (different carriers), and one of them is currently on my Galaxy S4. I am thinking of purchasing another (open) android device to place the other SIM on. Since I have purchased apps from the Play Store, I wish to install them on the new android device as well.

Obviously, I have different contacts on each phones and I want to keep it that way. Will it be possible to have different sets of contacts under one google account?

# Answer
To my knowledge, there are at least two ways to achieve this:

* **use a different Google Account**
the most obvious variant. But probably not working for you, as you cannot transfer your payed apps to it
* **make use of contact groups**
create appropriate groups using GMail's web interface, splitting your contacts in your preferred way. Then on each device, select to only *show* the corresponding group. (see also How do I sync only “My Contacts” from Google on Samsung Galaxy S? and the questions in its "Linked" section). Though in this case *all contacts are synced to both devices,* you can chose to only show the preferred group on each.
> 2 votes

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Tags: contacts, google-account
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# Question
Title: Samsung Captivate not booting after root
I recently installed Clockwork Recovery, and used that to install CyanogenMod 10 on my Captivate using this guide. Every thing worked perfectly.

I backed up the stock ROM. Then I realized that my contacts and data were gone in the new ROM. I read in an article that you could restore the data part of the backup using the recovery in Nandroid, so I recovered it. But when I rebooted, the phone got stuck at the spinning CyaogenMod screen.

I made the problem worse by trying to flash the mtkareys zImage kernel, and repeated the process described in the guide. Now, I can't get into recovery mode nor the Android (CyaogenMod) OS.

I suspect that I would need to use some tool that uses my Ubuntu 12.04 or Windows 7 PC, because the only resource that I have access to is download mode in the phone. Nothing else seems to work. Please understand that I am a beginner who has never even written an app for android (I do have the sdk installed though).

# Answer
> 1 votes
What Izzy said is correct. Also, never give up! I found that there is always something you can do to unbrick your captivate.

The xda-developers wiki page is very useful in this regard. The sections about bricking and unbricking should be very useful. While it's very difficult to enumerate all possible ways of unbricking here, understanding the nature of the brick (soft or hard) and looking for alternative ways in the forums is always helpful. The techniques that I know of so far are:

* The 3-button method and its variations, as listed in the wiki page above. (There are variations, just search for them in xda-developers)
* Using your PC and the USB cable. Izzy's answer is one such method.
* Hardware solutions that involve cutting a USB cable or using resistors. When you have a hard brick, you may have to resort to these.

Good luck and don't stop searching! There is always a way to unbrick your Captivate.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you had recovery, a simple data wipe would have fixed the boot loop issue. The issue you are describing sounds like a kernel/system issue.

The only fix would be to try and flash a new kernel via download mode - you would have to find a program that could do this.

If this isn't possible (it may not be), then you should consider your phone bricked, and you should take it to your nearest service center for repair (don't tell them you rooted it, just say it wouldn't turn on after you had turned it off).

# Answer
> 0 votes
That's a stack of errors occuring to you. Before I present you a possible solution, let me point out what your mistakes have been -- to avoid those in the future:

1. **Never ever go to restore *system data* (this includes SMS, contacts, and other data from system apps) from a Nandroid backup of one ROM to a different ROM.** This *might* work in *some* cases (when those ROMs involved are *very* compatible), but most likely will bring you in trouble as it was in your case. Apps store their data mostly in SQLite files, which contain databases -- and the structure of those databases very often differs. So you break those apps, which leads to different kind of trouble -- up to the point of boot-loops or incomplete boots, being stuck at the logo. This is also why Liam is correct that a "data wipe" (or "factory reset") would have solved the issue (as it would remove those broken SQLite files, and the apps would re-create them emptily).
If you really need to transfer data of system apps between different ROMs, the best way is to *export* this data *before you flash* (contacts can be exported directly from the contacts app, and would then be stored as `.vcf` file on your sdcard; for other things like SMS there are apps available on the playstore), and *import* them afterwards. Also, as you are rooted, you should consider buying the pro version of Titanium Backup for a complete backup (in addition to your Nandroid backup). *Titanium Backup* includes a "Migration feature" which should work for those kind of data as well.
2. **Never flash a kernel if you are not 100% sure it works for your combination of device and ROM.** If you break things here, you device won't be able to boot in normal or recovery mode, as you experienced. Especially do no such thing if your device already has other trouble -- first solve that trouble before doing such "deep system changes".

Now, you are 100% correct: As you are no longer able to boot into recovery mode, you need a helper tool "from outside". For Samsung devices, this tool is either Odin (which is what Samsung itself provides), or Heimdall, which is a cross-plattform alternative to Odin which will also run on your Ubuntu PC (Odin will not, as it IMHO is for Windows only). Use either of the two to flash *any* ROM compatible to your device, so you get your recovery mode working again. Once that is done, you might start over flashing ClockworkMod recovery, then restoring your complete Nandroid backup, exporting your data as described above, and finally switch to the ROM you wanted to use.

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Tags: cyanogenmod, clockworkmod-recovery, data-recovery, nandroid
---


# Question
Title: How to ban a incoming number on Android 2.3
How could I ban a incoming number?

What is the sequence of menu actions I should follow to get an appropriate menu if any and where to find help documentation on Android user interfaces? I have searched in the net but I'd unable to find any.

I have android 2.3 operating system on my ARM qualcomm 7225a application processor.

# Answer
Use app called Call Blocker to block incoming calls from a number.

* Help you to ban/block calls from specific contacts.
* white list or Black list specific numbers

Check this user guide for Ginger Bread to know about Android User Interfaces(While search for User Interfaces Google will give details about Programming UI in android applications)..

Or if you don't want to use 3rd party apps

> **Black List Feature**
> The Black list feature allows you to choose phone numbers that you don’t want to receive calls from and block them. When the black listed phone numbers tries to reach you, they will always get a busy tone.
> Here’s how you can block calls on Android.
>
> Follow these steps to blacklist phone numbers:
>
> 1.From the home screen, tap ‘Menu’.
> 2.Select ‘Settings’.
> 3.Then select ‘Call Settings’ to reach ‘Black List’.
> 4.Tap on ‘Black List’ option to ‘Add Phone Number’. Type the phone number manually or insert from the contact list.
> 5.Click ‘ok’ and you are done.
> 6.You can also blacklist the phone number by selecting the contact and tapping the menu of the contact to select ‘Add to Black List’. Or else, when the number that you want to block calls you, follow the same method. You can easily remove the blocked numbers from the blacklist by going back to the list and unchecking the contact.

NOTE: This depends on ROM you are using.
> 1 votes

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Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, calls
---


# Question
Title: Do Apps restart after phone restart once "Force Stop" is enabled for them?
Building the question on this What does the “Force stop” button mean? , If I restart the phone , do these Background Apps get started even when ForceStop is enabled?

# Answer
> 7 votes
**Force stop** is a one-off action, not a thing you enable or disable. Force-stopping an app doesn't prevent it restarting any time it would normally start: when you launch it from the apps menu, or through a share action, or automatically via an alarm, broadcast, or on start-up.

The question you link to talks about whether the button is clickable (*enabled*) or greyed-out (*disabled*). That's to say, it's about under what circumstances the **Force stop** button is available for you to click. Force-stopping an app just stops it once, when you click the button. The only long-term effect it has is that force-stopping an app might (in rare cases) corrupt its settings files, making it behave unpredictably in future.

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Tags: reboot, force-close
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title: How to solve a softkey error?

text:
# Question
Title: How to solve a softkey error?
I was on CM9 Alpha 14 for few months, suddenly my phone's softkeys stopped working and then the touchscreen stopped responding. On factory reset the device worked smoother than ever before, with everything working in proper condition for few hours. I installed stock rom xxkpe first and then now I'm on DDMF1, have rooted it. For a while it also worked fine, now touch screen is working extremely well, but softkeys(back and Option/menu) keys are not responding. Checked with key debug in recovery mode. It does not respond. Other stuffs are working fine.

Is it the touchpad? I feel like software error as it worked for a while after installing ROM. Any solutions?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Did you do a full wipe before installing `DDMF1` ? If not, then there is your problem. You must always do a full wipe when you switch roms ! (Exceptions are when you switch a Cyanogenmod-based rom to another Cyanogenmod-based rom)

---
Tags: hardware, touchscreen, samsung-galaxy-sl
---


# Question
Title: How to transfer text message backup file to my Samsung Galaxy S III?
I used "SMS Backup & Restore" to create an sms.xml file with all my text messages from my old phone. My new phone, Samsung Galaxy S III, can't mount as USB mass storage, so I can't figure out how to transfer the file. I've used gmtp to transfer media files to the phone before.

What's the best solution for my problem?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I haven't tested it out, but try the WiFi File Explorer by Dooblou.

Here's the link: http://www.pcworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=648691&expand=false

Sounds like it should do the job you're looking for.

# Answer
> 0 votes
you can try move the file from card reader, bluetooth, or download from email. I use AST android sms transfer, this software have the same functions, and I feel it's easy to use. AST android sms transfer website : http://www.android-sms-transfer.com

---
Tags: sms, file-transfer, samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


title: Photos and chat histories on whatsapp

text:
# Question
Title: Photos and chat histories on whatsapp
I was using whatsapp on my iphone, then I deleted the application without deactivating the account or something, now if I put the SIM card on another mobile and install the Whatsapp application on it, the chat histories and photos shared before will appear on the other phone too ?

# Answer
Simply the answer would be **NO**.

According to Whatsapp FAQ, *Your WhatsApp chat history is not stored on their servers*

**But,** There are certain things you can do to save your chat history.

* Make back-ups of your WhatsApp conversations
If your WhatsApp conversations are important to you, it's a good idea to make backups of them so you don't lose them if there's a problem with the app. To do this, go to the Settings menu, choose 'Chat preferences' then click on the Chat history backup option.
Chat preferences (click image for larger variant)
* Email the conversations
You can send an entire conversation history from WhatsApp via email. In Android, click on the Menu option in a conversation (it's on the bottom-right of the screen), go to 'More' and select 'Email Conversation', before entering the address of the recipient. WhatsApp will create an email with the whole text conversation, including any pictures, voice or video clips.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


title: Can't install Google Play Services

text:
# Question
Title: Can't install Google Play Services
I just upgraded Google+ to 3.6.0.44338848 (released late March 2012) and now it won't launch. It says:

> This app won't run without Google Play services, which are missing from your phone.

If I tap "Get Google Play services" I'm brought to Google Play where I tap "install" and "accept and download" but then I get "Error: No connection."

(I do have a connection. I can browse the web just fine.)

Now, I should mention that Market/Play has been odd the whole time, I've had this phone, a T-Mobile myTouch 4G running Android 2.2.1. Whenever I want to install an app, I have to go into Applications, tap Google Play Store, and tap "Uninstall updates" to restore the Market app. Then I can install applications. Over time, some process upgrades Market to Google Play but I can't install applications until I downgrade to Market to avoid the "Error: no connection" message. The processes is frustrating. On my old LG phone (also running 2.2 Google Play worked just fine).

I'm been putting up with all this downgrading because it's not often I install apps and usually there's no problem after installing or upgrading an app.

But now the Google+ app is unusable so I'm motivated to do something about the "No connection" problem.

I've read through posts such as http://www.teamandroid.com/2013/01/14/fix-google-play-store-no-connection-retry-error-message/ and Google's help page at How to access the Google Play Store app - Google Play Help but I'm stuck. Please help.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I was able to install Google Play Services by browsing to its page at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms and then logging in, clicking install, and choosing my phone.

Come to think of it, I might start installing more apps this way, from the comfort of a desktop browser. :)

Anyway, I'm able to use the Google+ app again.

I'm still puzzled by the "No connection" business and having to periodically downgrade Play to Market to install anything from my phone running Android 2.2, but I'm glad I didn't have to root it and install CyanogenMod as suggested by some friends.

# Answer
> 1 votes
When I've been unable to log-in to the Google account on an old phone or something, it will often work by logging-in to YouTube with the same credentials.

YouTube is usually a default installed app. Open it up, go to the account settings and log-in using your GMail credentials. I get no futher problems with logging into GMail. It does it at the same time as YouTube.

This sorts it out for me. Hope this helps someone.

---
Tags: google-play-store, 2.2-froyo, google-plus, htc-mytouch
---


# Question
Title: how to install gapps on xperia ray with previously installed cyanogenmod 10
I have installed cm 10 on xperia ray, but unfortunately forgot to install Google apps. Can anyone explain how can i install Google apps now? Thanks

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can install Google Apps any time you want. You can download a gapps package from here (pick the one corresponding to your CyanogenMod version). Then flash it like you did for CM10 (no need to wipe anything).

---
Tags: sony-ericsson-xperia-ray
---


# Question
Title: Motorola RAZR D3 move application to memory SD
I'm trying to move the apps that I have installed in the internal memory of the smartphone but I can't because the programs that I'm using say:

> The device does not have a real primary external storage, or the primary external storage is emulated.
>
> Moving app to SD function cannot be supported by this device

I'm using AppMgr II and App2SD and both says some similar.

How can I move the apps?

# Answer
* Root the device (in this case the razr d3)
* Install the application (a game i.e.) in the memory SD.
* Unroot the device (to have the last update of the S.O., i don't have find how to unroot an razr d3)

I don't have test this solution but maybe in a few weeks i will try it :)

Links:

http://youtu.be/3WZBb4W0-ds how to root D1 and D3 device.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JA8TKNWTEk how to use GL to SD (root)

Well, basicly the problem is that we will avoid the warranty of the mobile.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: app2sd, motorola-droid-razr
---


title: Install DSPManager on a non-CM Rom

text:
# Question
Title: Install DSPManager on a non-CM Rom
I would like to install the app DSPManager from Cyanogenmod on my Nexus 4 running ParanoidAndroid.

I grabbed the newest CM and extracted "/system/app/DSPManager.apk" and "/system/lib/soundfx/\*" and copied the files onto my phone. I also changed permissions to "rw-r--r--", then I rebooted and could choose the new Equalizer in the Settings (in Sounds).

However changed Settings did just apply for the next song (not the currently playing) until I started DSPManager again...

What is the proper way to install DSPManager on a non-CM Rom, are there other rom-related things I need to change?

How can I get DSPManager to work on my Setup?

PS: I use the Apollo Music Player

PS2: I'm also open to source changes if necessary, but this might not belong on this site!

# Answer
> 1 votes
Wouldn't you have to chmod rwx-rx-rx? (IE: 755, execute permissions for all users) so that Android can actually run the DSPManager APK/app? Or is this not the case on Android?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Post #8 on this forum has a flashable DSPManager zip file that apparently the user reports worked with Paranoid. If anything, you should also look into flashing Beats Audio which will give you just as good (if not better) equalizer settings.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, audio, system-apps, equalizer
---


# Question
Title: Real time device share on Apple TV via AirPlay
I see that there are apps that will broadcast certain things to an Apple TV via AirPlay, but is there a way to send a view of the screen in real time via this method? I have seen iPhone 4S doing this, but the only apps I've seen for Android advertise that they broadcast media files as if they're being sent as opposed to streamed.

# Answer
I don't know of any apps that can do that, but (supposedly) any Android 4.2 device can do that with a wireless display adapter connected to an HDMI-enabled TV. I also found this project by E.S.R.Labs, which they successfully get a Nexus S to mirror it's screen (albeit onto a Raspberry Pi). Mirroring functionality is also sometimes limited due to hardware requirements.

I also recently found that a developer was able to get Miracast working on Nexus 7 and 4 variants. Check it out on XDA with videos. Something cool to note with this project is that the mirroring capabilities are all software based; no need for additional hardware. Hopefully that will also lead to further development for mirroring on devices that don't already have the hardware inside of them.
> 0 votes

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Tags: streaming, screen-sharing
---


# Question
Title: Incoming call notification that supports landscape mode
With my HTC One V in the car dock in landscape mode, incoming call notifications still appear in portrait mode. Is there a way I can configure or replace this with something that will display properly in landscape mode?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be done natively (as far as my research has turned up). The next best thing I found were car dock apps, like Car Home Ultra, which force everything to rotate into landscape and/or display a driver-friendly UI. I'm not sure if it will work for all versions of Android and what other limitations there are but it's worth a try, I guess. If all else fails, try Rotation Control.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, calls, screen, car-dock
---


# Question
Title: How can I make an Google Talk voice call without hands-free mode?
When you call someone who is online via Google Talk, it use the back speaker in loud mode. Is there a way to use GTalk for calling like a regular phone call?

# Answer
This may no longer be relevant since Voice is being replaced by Hangout, and you can only make video calls with Hangout. You could look into using a Google Voice number with a VoIP client, like Groove IP, to make calls. This is a great tutorial if you need some help getting started.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-talk, microphone, speaker, hands-free
---


title: Cyanogenmod stopped being blue

text:
# Question
Title: Cyanogenmod stopped being blue
The icons changed to a green scheme instead of the normal blue scheme, and it persists even after reboot. The autocomplete text is yellow now, as is the browser loading bar. What happened??

This screenshot is from a while ago, when I was using a different launcher, but it shows how the colours were until yesterday. (There's also some unrelated background corruption.)

Now the Wi-Fi and cell and messaging and browser icons are green:

I tried reflashing the same version of CM7, and it's still green:

I don't care too much about the color, but I don't know how this could have happened and wonder if it indicates some kind of corruption of the phone's Flash, etc?

# Answer
Apparently themes on Cyanogenmod are controlled by an app called... Theme Chooser.

I didn't even know they were customizable, and had never opened the app before (and I would expect such a thing to be in the Settings, not in an app).

Anyway, mine was on the "System" theme, which is green, and I can easily change it back to the "Cyanbread" theme, which is the blue one I am used to.

I don't know how or why it changed, but it's easy enough to fix once you learn where they are configured, and doesn't seem as big of a deal as I thought.
> 0 votes

# Answer
The colours aren't the only difference. Your second screenshot also has a dark background to each shortcut's label, and a different graphic for the tray at the bottom. The combination of graphical changes to the launcher, changes to SystemUI, and different-coloured icons for system apps like the browser, makes me say the second screenshot is of a *different version* of Cyanogenmod, or a different ROM completely.

Could you or someone else have flashed a new ROM onto your phone? If you're not sure, go into the **Settings** app, click **About device** and read the version information on that screen.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, themes
---


# Question
Title: How do I clear the settings of a built in app in Cyanogenmod 9 (ICS)?
I just updated my phone (Galaxy S2) to the latest stable version of Cyanogen, and I can't set any alarms in the default clock app. When I try to go to the screen to set the alarms, the app just crashes. Past experience tells me the solution is the clear the app data/cache, but the problem is that the app doesn't show up in the apps list in the settings.

How am I supposed to clear these settings?

# Answer
The UI is a little different than before, and instead of the tabs all fitting on the screen, you have to scroll to the left or right to see some of them instead. The "All" tab in the apps menu is off to the right of the screen. Simply pull the tabs left, and the "All" tab will be shown. From there, it's the same as always for clearing app data.
> 1 votes

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Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, cyanogenmod
---


title: How to reset usage tips

text:
# Question
Title: How to reset usage tips
My wife requested that I set up her new phone for her, then explain to her how to use it. Well, my phone is a Windows phone, and I've never used an Android before. (You may begin your jeering.)

Anyway, I noticed that there were a lot of usage tips that kept popping up that would be good information for her. Is there a way I can reset those so that she'll see them?

**Note:** I do **not** want a factory reset.

# Answer
There are really only 2 tool tips that you dismiss. You'd be better off finding a tutorial or video to teach her.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: settings
---


title: Android 4.1 with Bluetooth keyboard

text:
# Question
Title: Android 4.1 with Bluetooth keyboard
Do I need to install an application to use a Bluetooth keyboard with an Android 4.1.2 phone?

I am using a Droid Bionic and with an Anker K1280C keyboard ( an Apple keyboard clone). I can pair the phone with the keyboard, but the Bluetooth keyboard does not show up in the input method selection list.

I have tried a few applications which do expose a keyboard in the input methods list and connect to the Bluetooth keyboard (BlueKeyboard JP and Blue Input). They allow most of the keys to work, but the key map is not completely correct.

I am under the impression that Android 4.0 should not need an special applications to use a keyboard. Is this correct?

# Answer
Normally, Android shouldn't need a separate app for that, you're quite correct with that. And normally, it doesn't. But sometimes a little trouble may arise with specific combinations, like e.g. keyboards having a weird layout.

As you write you've got the keyboard basically working, just the layout is screwed: I recommend you taking a look at External Keyboard Helper, which lets you adjust a lot of things to your needs, amongst others the keyboard layout. Though I never used it myself, I already recommended it with a similar question -- and no, I'm in no way affiliated with this app :)
> 0 votes

# Answer
Found a possible solution from Android Central questions give it a shot.

Specifically, this post says to do the following:

> When pairing the keyboard with your device, it will prompt you to enter a pin and say "try 0000 or 1234." You need to:
>
> Step 1) enter "0000" on your android device (tablet or phone keyboard)
> Step 2) hit "okay"
> Step 3) type "0000" and hit enter on your BLUETOOTH keyboard
> 0 votes

---
Tags: external-keyboard
---


title: What is sync for?

text:
# Question
Title: What is sync for?
I purchased my phone over the Internet, but the instructions turned out to be written in Chinese. What is sync and what is it for? Should it be on or off? My phone model is CJ-THL V9 3G, running Android 4.0.3.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I assume this option came up when you activated your Google account when you turned your phone on for the first time. This option permits your phone data to synchronise with Google services, like calendar, contacts, email etc. Whether you select it is up to you, however the answer is usually yes. It provides a backup of this data on Google servers and also allows you to access it via the online google website. You can always toggle this option in the phones Settings menu.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, sync
---


title: specify a delay in camera upload

text:
# Question
Title: specify a delay in camera upload
Is there a way to specify a delay before my Dropbox app uploads photos into my Dropbox account. I normally take a lot of photos, and delete many of it. Dropbox app puts it onto my space before that. How do I specify a delay before it copies? Right now, I have to go to Dropbox and delete them again

# Answer
> 0 votes
The only way I think of would be to disable wifi and data while you take your photos and delete those you want to... Or enable the upload only on wifi, if you're not connected on wifi when you take your photos.

---
Tags: dropbox
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to remotely access my desktop and transfer files over the net to my S3?
I have Win 7 Pro on my home desktop and a 4.1.1 OS Samsung S3 phone. Is there a simple tool or something I can use to move around and transfer files directly from my desktop to the internal drive on my Android phone? It would be good if I can stream videos to my phone too. I have no knowledge of how to setup ports etc. too so something simple.

Edit: I need to fransfer files that are like 700MB. Desktop is in another city so wifi won't do. And, I need to be able to set it up on the desktop by just a simple software download because someone else who is not conputer savvy has to setup the desktop while I do my Android.

# Answer
To **transfer files** you can try AirDroid. But it is free only when the device are on the same wifi network. Access via mobile data is limited to 100 MB/Month.

For **video streaming**, you can try Emit. The free version puts ads on your stream and you can stream to your phone even when not on the same network, but you'll need to mess a bit with ports.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: file-transfer, remote-access
---


# Question
Title: Missing device driver for "Android 1.0" in Device Manager while in HBOOT menu!
When I enter HBOOT menu with the phone connected to the PC with USB I get the missing driver prompt in Windows and there's an exclamation mark for a device called **Android 1.0** in Device Manager.

I have been following this guide for preparing the device with Android SDK tools and ADB before rooting: http://wiki.rootzwiki.com/HTC\_Desire

I have installed Android SDK tools, got the ADB server running, configured PATH variable for CMD, and I have installed the HTC drivers provided. I have not installed HTC Sync, not on this PC (to avoid any conflicts with the standalone HTC driver).

```
Android SDK package: installer_r21.0.1-windows.exe
Installation path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Android
HTC driver package: HTCDriver3.0.0.007.exe
Installation path: C:\Program Files (x86)\HTC
Installation path of driver: C:\Program Files (x86)\HTC\HTC Driver\Driver Files\Vista_x64

```

So why is it giving me this crap about missing driver for Android 1.0? What's Android 1.0 anyway? This device is on Android 2.2!

This is on Windows Vista 64-bit and when I choose the option to browse for a driver in the missing driver prompt and I specify the path above, it simply doesn't find an appropriate driver for it. But that's what the guide said I should do.

Also, this device called "Android 1.0" disappears from Device Manager when I boot the phone normally. So it is only presented when the phone is in the HBOOT menu and it reads "HBOOT USB PLUG" on the screen.

I think this step is important in order to successfully use a rooting tool or method like Revolutionary or Unrevoked. So how do I solve this? Anyone else who had this problem who can share a solution?

# Answer
Installing the driver from the XDA Dev website should solve this issue.

(There is also a driver and a tutorial on the Unrevoked website. But the this driver didn't work for me. While the driver from the XDA Dev worked every time.)

You essentially need to download the `adb_driver_htc.zip` file and view the hardware ID of your HTC device (Properties dialog of the device in Device Manager) and make sure it matches the ID in the INF file for this driver. You then need to update the driver for the device (in Device Manager) with the missing driver (yellow triangle with exclamation mark).
> 1 votes

# Answer
I recently had the same problem when rooting my Nexus S, I found that instead of letting Windows try and find the driver in the folder choose the `Let me choose a driver on the PC` and then pick the Android Phone drivers and the driver was (in my case) the `Google Nexus S ADB Interface` however you'll be looking for the particular driver your phone needs.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, htc-desire, adb
---


# Question
Title: How to install from unknown sources on AT&T?
A friend of mine has an HTC Aria on AT&T. On his application settings screen, he does not have the option to allow installation of apps from unknown sources. Is there any way to change this option to allow him to install downloaded apps (\*.apk files) without rooting the phone?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Unfortunately, it seems like the HTC Aria does have that ability, but AT&T has removed it.

# Answer
> 6 votes
You can install apps on the HTC Aria using the ADB client.

You'll need to install the android SDK on your PC, and then use ADB to install the .apk files.

To install the android SDK, follow the steps in the Android Developer's guide to setting up your phone for development.

If you're on Windows, you'll need to go to HTC to get the device drivers, as Google only provides drivers for their devices. For some reason HTC doesn't publicise the ADB driver well, but it is included in the HTC Sync software. You can grab the latest version from HTC's Aria downloads page.

Mac and Linux users do not need to install device drivers to use ADB.

Finally, connect your device to your PC, making sure that debugging mode is enabled on the device. You should see an entry in the system tray stating that the device is in debug mode. On your PC, run the following command:

```
adb install yourapp.apk

```

This will install the app on your phone, and you'll be good to go! Note that you'll either need to have the android-sdk/platform-tools directory in your path, or run the command from that directory.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I know this is a really old (and probably no longer relevant) post, but as I have an HTC Aria and I shared the same issue, I thought it was worth posting another option. I would suggest checking out a program called SuperOneClick. With it, I was able to permanently enable my Aria to install non-market apps. It will also allow for the installation of the Amazon market. All of this without having to root your phone or do anything to void the warranty (at least to my knowledge). It was very easy to use.

# Answer
> -1 votes
You could try the instructions in this XDA post. Be aware that doing this will disable your ability to send/receive MMS messages, and will require a hard reset to fix:

> 1. Go To Your "Settings"
> 2. Go To "Applications"
> 3. Go To "Manage applications"
> 4. Go To The "All" Tab (or any tab that will display all your apps)
> 5. Find The Applications "Customization Settings Provider"
> 6. Click On "Clear data"
> 7. Go Back To "All" Tab (or any tab that will display all your applications)
> 8. Find The Program "Settings"
> 9. Click On "Clear data"
>
> Finished If You Go Back To "Applications" You Will Now Have The Option To Enable "Unknown Sources"

---
Tags: applications, att, unknown-sources
---


title: Displaying Android Screenshots

text:
# Question
Title: Displaying Android Screenshots
I have a few screenshots of an application that I want to display on a website.

I remember there used to be a web site that had all the "frames" or "skins" of Android devices; you would upload your screenshot and it would embed them in the frame and you would get images like this:

I can't seem to be able to find the site or these "frames". Can anyone please point me to a direction where I can get these frames?

p.s. I can do photoshop myself if I can get these "frames" (or whatever they're called).

# Answer
You're looking for the Device Art Generator.
> 6 votes

---
Tags: screenshots
---


# Question
Title: How can I install APK file on Bluestacks app player?
I have created an Android application using Eclipse, and now I'd like to install the APK on Bluestacks which is running on Windows 7. How can I install an APK on the Bluestacks player?

# Answer
> 13 votes
I just copied my APK file into the `Apps` folder, which is created by default in the `Libraries` folder at the time of BlueStacks installation. Then I just double clicked on the APK file to install it to the App Player. Now I can see the application icon on the home screen of the App Player and I am able to run it from there.

# Answer
> 32 votes
Save as `app name.apk` and right click on that file and open with `HD-apk handler.exe` which is located in `C:\Program Files (x86)\BlueStacks`.

# Answer
> 6 votes
To install an app from your pc, just double click on its apk file; it doesn't matter in which folder it is.

# Answer
> -1 votes
its quite simple...... you need BlueStacks app player for this just download the .apk file of whichever app you wish to install. and then open the downloaded .apk file with ""APK handler"" of BlueStacks(the .exe file of the apk handler is present in the root directory of BlueStacks)

---
Tags: apk, bluestacks
---


title: How do I save purchased apps as APKs?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I save purchased apps as APKs?
I am unable to save APK's that I have purchased (actually paid for) through the Play store. Usually SaveAPK is able to save the APKs that I'm interested it, however this didn't work: it sais `Copy failed.` I also tried Astro File Manager, but every app that I purchased had a lock symbol on it, and it didn't allow me to back it up.

Next, I tried looking in `/data/app`, and I couldn't find the APK either. Any ideas where they could be? Maybe it's some sort of copy protection in 4.x+ which I haven't heard of previously.

*I am running Cyanogenmod 10.1-20130714-NIGHTLY-i9300*

# Answer
`.apk` files are usually installed in `/data/app`, as you already pointed to. I find my "bought apps" in this place as well; so it might be you've looked for the wrong name: the files usually have the "syntax" `<package_name>-<n>.apk`, where `<package_name>` is the app's package name as it appears in the URL when looking it app in Google Play via the web browser, and `<n>` is a digit. I bought e.g. ROM Toolbox, and can find it here as `com.jrummy.liberty.toolboxpro-1.apk`.

There are several options to get hold of an app's `.apk` file:
> 0 votes

# Answer
Yes, this is a new feature (app encryption with forward locking) introduced in Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) which is intended to prevent casual copying of `.apk` files. See this blog post for a more detailed description of this feature, with some technical details.

Part of the post text which is most relevant to this question:

> A typical forward locked app's mount point now looks like this:
>
> ```
> shell@android:/mnt/asec/org.mypackage-1 # ls -l
> ls -l
> drwxr-xr-x system   system            2012-07-16 15:07 lib
> drwx------ root     root              1970-01-01 09:00 lost+found
> -rw-r----- system   u0_a96    1319057 2012-07-16 15:07 pkg.apk
> -rw-r--r-- system   system     526091 2012-07-16 15:07 res.zip
>
> ```
>
> Here the `res.zip` holds app resources and is world-readable, while the `pkg.apk` file which hold the full APK is only readable by the system and the app's dedicated user (`u0_a96`).

So a normal app like SaveAPK cannot read `.apk` files of forward locked apps in JB (but app resources are still world-readable, therefore apps which contain icon sets and themes for other apps will still work properly).

However, this protection is effective only in the locked-down state of Android as shipped by device manufacturers. If you have root, you can still access `.apk` files of all applications installed on your device and do whatever you want with them. The only problem for you is that some backup apps you have used previously will no longer work, and you need to find a working replacement (now a backup app will need to use root access in order to backup all `.apk` files).
> 4 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, 4.2-jelly-bean, apk
---


# Question
Title: Haptic feedback settings in Android 4.1.1?
Just got a Samsung Galaxy S3 **mini** with Android 4.1.1 factory installed. The phone is not locked to any carrier. My problem is that I can not for the life of me find the setting to turn on the haptic feedback, neither for the keyboard nor other touch events (such as the menu button, etc.). I've looked through the settings menus several times without finding anything.

The actual vibration hardware is working, because if I go to Settings -\> Sound -\> Device Vibration it vibrates.

The only other mention of this issue I've found was one unanswered thread on the Samsung Galaxy Forums.

This is the kind of thing that makes me wonder if Google (and others) are actually trying to make things worse with every update. My HTC Nexus One running Android 2.3.6 never had any oddities like this. Only problem with that old phone is it's limited internal memory.

# Answer
`System Sounds > vibrate on touch`.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I finnaly found it and I hope it helps:

Unless you already did so, go to *Settings→Language and Input*, tap the setting icon on *Samsung keyboard*, go to *Advanced*, and uncheck *Vibration* and *Sound* -- depending on which one you want!

This works for the jellybean update ok 4.1.2 . Hope I helped!
> 1 votes

# Answer
In some versions of Jelly Bean the setting for activating haptic feedback is hidden. But there are a couple apps that can be used to enable it:

(Source)
> 0 votes

---
Tags: settings, 4.1-jelly-bean, haptic-feedback, samsung-galaxy-s-3-mini
---


# Question
Title: Flashing new rom, are old files deleted or hidden?
I'm not sure whether I'm doing something wrong or it's something normal.

I had CM9 on my Galaxy s3 and decided to try another rom (Paranoid). I didn't like the new one I installed and downloaded another (Carbon). But I am noticing that my internal storage is close to being full now. But when I browse the phone from my PC, I'm not seeing anything out of the ordinary.

I copied Carbon zip onto the phone, but clockwork mod is not even seeing it, I am noticing a lot of files from the sd and I'm still seeing the Paranoid zip from clockwork mod, but I cannot see it from my PC.

Did I skip a step somewhere? What should I do?

# Answer
What happens to existing files when flashing a new ROM very much depends of the location in question:

* your SDCard (internal or external) is not touched at all, apart from the fact you're placing the `update.zip` for flashing there.
* your internal storage (`/data` and `/cache`) is neither touched by the flashing process itself. But when switching between different ROMs, it's recommended to wipe these two to avoid complications
* some other locations are usually wiped and rewritten. This includes for sure `/system`, and in most cases also `/boot`

I know of no case where files are "hidden". Either the entire partition is not touched at all, or it is wiped. It *might* be that on some partitions files are simply overwritten, though I've never heard of such a case either.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, sd-card, clockworkmod-recovery, partitions
---


# Question
Title: Can adb backup/restore be used to root a device?
I have read a bit about the adb backup format, and it seems quite straight forward.

Is it possible to use `adb backup restore` with a specially crafted backup to root a device? If not, why not?

The idea is to restore something to some place on the device that usually could only be there when the device was already rooted. Like the `adb backup` service itself. It must run with quite high permissions. So why not restore a special tool with appropiate permissions?

# Answer
Your assumption that the process which writes the restored files to the storage device runs with "quite high permissions" is wrong. Backup service calls backup agents (implemented by applications themselves) to backup and restore data. So each app backs up and restores its own backup data.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rooting, adb, restore
---


# Question
Title: Video stream from Android phone to laptop over the internet
I would like to transfer a video stream coming from my Android device to a remote PC through the internet. I want to connect to the Android device from my PC to see what is showing on its camera.

I tried TeamViewer but it does not allow the user to access a mobile phone from a PC.

I tried Skype & Tango (Video call) but they do not automatically answer calls.

I am struggling to find a solution. Is there any?

# Answer
> 3 votes
I guess there is: WebCam Free consists of an app for your Android device, plus a server component to be put on your computer. From the apps description, this could do what you want (didn't try it myself, but it's certainly worth a look). I linked the free version; a paid version is available for about 1.50 Euro.

If that doesn't do (or you don't like the idea of a PC component), you might give a try to Cloud Spy Cam (it also has a demo available on the play store). Sounds even more promising (I'd say this is exactly what you're looking for).

But since all good things are three, a third option is IP Webcam, which "Turns your phone into a network camera with multiple viewing options."

So now, happy play!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Look for VLC Player on Google Play. Then, install VLC your PC, and read this article.

---
Tags: applications, video, streaming, video-calling
---


title: Nexus 4 download issue

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus 4 download issue
I own a nexus 4 and since then i am unable to download anything via 2g/3g. I am able to download content only through wi-fi. The same applies for PlayStore. I have even tried in safe mode. I have tried to clear data of Download Manager and even Playstore but in vain Please help.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I finally solved the issue. It was related to my APN. My Access Point allowed only browsing. I changed it to another access point, and it worked!

---
Tags: nexus-4, mobile-data
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy S2 through USB won't connect to my Mac?
I have an Android Evo, and it connects to my Mac just fine when connecting the USB cable. I can access the entire phone data.

However, my wife's Samsung Galaxy 2's data can't be accessed on my Mac, even though the Mac recognizes the USB connection. How do I fix this?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If phone data/photos is all you're after, I suggest using Airdroid instead. No wires required, and will work on any computer.

If you're really set on using the cord, you may be missing GS2 drivers. You'll need to install Kies from Samsung.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, connection-issues, macos
---


title: Upgrade Samsung Galaxy S2 to Jelly Bean

text:
# Question
Title: Upgrade Samsung Galaxy S2 to Jelly Bean
What is the easiest way to upgrade my Galaxy S2 to Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean? Also, how do I update it?

# Answer
Here's some ways to update your firmware, from easiest to harder (not necessarily hardest).

1. OTA (Over the air) update. Trigger it via `Settings > About > Software update`.
2. Kies. Install Kies on your PC, run Kies, and connect your mobile phone to your PC using USB cable. There is an update function in the Kies software.
3. Odin (Windows). This is a 3rd-party tool that you use to flash (or install, in layman's terms) a stock (or default) ROM or custom ROM on your phone. You will need to download Odin and the custom ROM or stock ROM from somewhere. There are several guides on Google on how to flash a stock / custom ROM for Samsung Galaxy S2. For Linux, you can use Heimdall.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.2-jelly-bean
---


title: Difference between two Rooting methods

text:
# Question
Title: Difference between two Rooting methods
I bought a new XOLO Q700 last week, with Android jelly bean 4.2.1

I found out two ways to root the phone.

**First**, as per the instructions given in this website

\[ROOT\] Xolo Q700 Rooted before it hits the shelves!

> **As quoted in the website...**
>
> The process is really simple for rooting the phone:
>
> * First what you need to do is download "MotoChopper" on your PC.
> * Extract the .zip file to a specific folder Install the USB drivers using PdaNet+
> * Enable USB Debugging mode on your device.
> * For Windows users, execute the "run.bat" inside the contents of the extracted archive. Be sure to run it as admin.
> * For Linux or OS X users, execute “./run.sh” via terminal window.
>
> And its done! I have tested this method on windows and it is working. It will continuously repeat that adb server is outdated and it is killing it but don't worry about it, it will still continue...
>
> Follow the steps carefully in the terminal window. After the window closes itself REBOOT YOUR PHONE!!!
>
> To check if the phone is rooted correctly or not use, Root Checker Basic from the playstore, it should do your work

**Second**, is using the software UnlockRoot

> Though the second method is pretty simple, connect your phone and hit ROOT and UNROOT to revert

While the First method is a little more tedious.

So I would like to know what is the difference between the two methods. Also which would be safer.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I would use the motochopper exploit from the first thread. The exploit is from Dan Rosenberg (djrbliss on XDA), a known security researcher who has published some Android root exploits so far.

If the exploit doesn't work, there's no harm it can inflict. If it does work, harm can only be done while persisting the root access but I haven't seen any problems with that (either it doesn't work at all or it just works). The second alternative seems to be a streamlined free/paid service that's probably probing your device and it will eventually use the same motochopper exploit from the first thread.

Background info:

# Answer
> 1 votes
Since both sets of instructions you link to consist of running some closed-source software that interacts with your phone through the debug interface, only the authors of those programs can tell you precisely what they do.

As ce4 says in his comment, the one on the XDA-Developers website exploits a *vulnerability*: that is, a defect in the phone's software. The defect lets a program run as root on the phone, and this software uses that to install a program permanently so that it always runs as root.

The other software could be doing anything. If it works for your phone, it probably exploits the same vulnerability, but only the author can tell you for sure.

---
Tags: rooting, 4.2-jelly-bean
---


title: Upload battery status to a website

text:
# Question
Title: Upload battery status to a website
I would like to maintain a central list of the battery status of my devices. For my Linux laptops, I will write a small shell script that reads the battery information from the kernel and uploads it to my webserver.

I have no idea how to do this for Android devices, though. Basically I would like them to open `http://example.com/tracker.php?id=cell&battery=0.67` every 30 minutes or so.

Is there an app that can do that? Although I have never programmed on Android yet, I have experience with Java and Linux. Is it possible to program something like that with reasonable effort?

# Answer
> 1 votes
There's a tool on Google Play called Batman, which collects battery status information in the background and stores it into a CSV file on SDCard. That done, you could use sync tools like e.g. FolderSync to have the file uploaded to your Linux machine in regular intervals, where you can have it processed by any tool you prefer.

Another variant (a little more tricky) could be using Tasker to create the data: *Tasker* offers the variable `%BATT` to give the current battery level in percent. It also supports things like HTTP\_POST, so you could have *Tasker* post the current battery level in fixed intervals, and let your server do the rest (see the Tasker UserGuide for details).

Note: Tasker doesn't come for free, it's about 5 bucks. But you can download a free 7-day trial at the homepage for testing.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can also write a script shell for Android. You just need an app like Script Manager that can run your script periodically.

You can read value from the kernel like on a "vanilla" Linux : the actual battery capacity is stored in `/sys/class/power_supply/battery/capacity`.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I don't know of an app that can do that, but it would be easy enough to write one if you already know Java. You can get started with programming Android by reading the guides and documentation on the official site for Android Developers.

Do remember that once you've started programming, you should ask questions about that on our sister site Stack Overflow, which has a lively community of Android programmers. This site is for questions written from a user's point-of-view only.

---
Tags: battery, automation
---


# Question
Title: Set Chrome to use desktop version of website
How can you get Chrome to always use the desktop version of websites? I am on a Jelly Bean tablet and I can't see any reason to use the mobile versions at all.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You could try adding a chrome-command-line file which causes chrome to load sites in desktop mode by default. The only way to stop this however, is to remove the file. See here

Or you could install the Chrome UA Switcher app although this requires root access so may not be suitable if you're not rooted.

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


title: Get rid of virus that downloads apk

text:
# Question
Title: Get rid of virus that downloads apk
My android tablet, a zoom, has started to download apk's at random without any initiation on my part. I have the don't allow foreign apk's to be installed thing checked so they can't get on to the tablet. Has anyone else caught this? I don't see anything else on the internet about it and I have done a search with Avast to no avail at finding anything.

I suppose that the easiest way to remove it is factory reset. If I do that does google remember all my apps and download them instantly?

Anyway any I'm grateful for any information.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to Settings -\> Backup & reset. Then check 'Backup my data' and 'Automatic restore'. An alternative is to use an app like Ultimate Backup or Titanium.

# Answer
> -1 votes
the Google does not saves your apps. I have tryed that. I was downloaded 380 mobile security and it detected 40 viruses. I pressed clean all and a rescaned: The viruses wasn't removed. I performed a factory reset and the viruses was removed. This is the solution when you have many viruses on android. My tablet model is:Maxwell maxtab H10

---
Tags: factory-reset, apk, antivirus
---


# Question
Title: Can I connect my Android Mini PC to my VGA Monitor through Adapter?
I am buying a new Android Mini PC. It has HDMI Output but I want to connect it to my VGA Monitor.

So, Can I use this HDMI Male to VGA Female Video Converter Adapter to connect the VGA cable of my Monitor and use HDMI to HDMI Joiner Connector to join the main adapter cable and the Mini PC?

Will this work? Any Help would be appreciated.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yes it will work. however i can see that this will have lag and will not be sutiable if your going to be playing games and some heavy HD Movies. you'll just get the bare minimum quality. I Would recommend http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-DA-HDVG-Converter-Adapter-INCLUDED/dp/B006FYPT60

Ofcourse if you only need the bare minimum of surfing the web, email, photos, videos, music. i would go with http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Measy--H2V-1080P-HDMI--to-VGA--convertor-cable-for-Android-TV-Box---TV-Stick---MINI-PC-314924.html as it has audio output also. :) Hope this helps

---
Tags: hdmi, external-display, android-mini-pc
---


# Question
Title: Changing TF300 keyboard dock to Icelandic
I have a Asus TF300 keyboard dock that has an American-style qwerty layout. Is it possible to change it to Icelandic, so that I can type in Icelandic letters from the keyboard dock?

# Answer
Try External Keyboard Helper.

> A non visible soft keyboard (Input Method) intended to be used with hardware Bluetooth and USB keyboards. It automatically brings up the Input Method dialog when Bluetooth keyboard connects or disconnects (on some devices this can also be made to work with USB keyboards). It supports a lot of different keylayouts also provides a lot of configuration options.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, languages, docking-station
---


# Question
Title: People app disappeared from apps on Nexus 4
It's a system app, but somehow I disabled it. Now, it won't show me my contacts or anything. If I try to see a missed call from notification drawer, it leaves me at home screen. I cannot view any of my call records.

# Answer
Solved it by clicking reset app preference from the action bar in Settings
> 2 votes

# Answer
Enable the app you disabled by following the following steps:

1. Go into the main system settings.
2. Open your main Settings menu Tap
3. on Apps Swipe to “All” Find the app you disabled and click on it
4. In the top right you will see a enable button. Press that button to enable it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nexus-4, system-apps, people-app
---


# Question
Title: Android internet connection related problems?
We can USB tether and use android internet connection on PC but How to achieve following: 1. How to use pc internet connection on android device using USB cable on Windows machine?

I can use my android service provides internet connection to turn on WiFi hotspot but I stuck with following question: 2. Can my device access internet using WiFi and at same time can we convert it into WiFi hotspot? If yes How to do that? If not why it's not possible?

# Answer
> 4 votes
XDA developer capslock66 has developed a reverse tethering tool which is the simplest yet (and hopefully in future too). Only requirement is a rooted phone. You can download it from here- Android reverse tethering via usb

It comes as a zip file with all the adb files and dependencies. Once you open the application, it will do all the settings on your phone automatically for USB data tunneling. And most importantly, the good thing is it now works with any app including Google Play/Market too. Google play earlier needed a WiFi, but now, it works with a reverse tethered connection too.

# Answer
> 1 votes
An android enthusiast called Mathieu Carbou seems to have achieved the reverse-USB tethering issue you'd like to explore, but on his Nexus One, 2.2. Here is a link for the same: Reverse-USB-Tethering. I won't guarantee any success, though you could try it and let us know the results. :)

# Answer
> 1 votes
Well, I am currently using HTC Sensation. HTC Sense provides reverse - usb - tethering which is called USB pass through. But I know that this service requires HTC Sync application and its drivers on computer. Maybe you can take a look at flashing HTC Sense Roms to non - htc devices or getting htc sense applications to non - htc devices. There are bunch of documents in xda developers. http://www.xda-developers.com/

---
Tags: wi-fi, internet, usb-connection-mode, wifi-hotspot, reverse-tether
---


# Question
Title: Some /system/app disappear on app drawer! How to start an app not in drawer?
Android 4.1.2

Somehow the original Home launcher icon disappeared after OTA update, I'm not sure if it's the only app that disappears, but it's the most obvious when I'm testing other launchers.

It's registered as a launcher app, so if I unset the default launcher, I can choose it. But I'm not able to call it in App Drawer, or shortcut-\>application.

I wonder if wiping the dalvik cache helps?

Anyway, I'm looking for work around like running a shell script to start the app or switch to it!

Is there a file which contains the list of apps for App Drawer?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you replaced the stock launcher with a 3rd-party launcher, the only way to go back to stock launcher is to clear/unset the default launcher (which is what you did), and select a new launcher - in this case, the stock launcher. You will never find a shortcut to the stock launcher in your list of apps.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you use Apex Launcher, you can browse available apps and their activities:

1. Long-tap on a free space on your homescreen
2. Select *Shortcuts*, then *Activities*
3. Scroll the list to find your "lost launcher"
4. View its activities.

There should be one activity highlighted in a different color, that's the main activity opened when you launch an app. Selecting that creates a shortcut on your homescreen you can start it from.

Writing down the activities technical name, you can also use the "app manager" from the (terminal or ADB) to launch that activity:

```
am start -n com.app.launcher/com.app.launcher.Activity

```

Here you have to replace `com.app.launcher` with the package name of the launcher/app in question, and `com.app.launcher.Activity` with what you've found out above to be the Activity's name.

---
Tags: applications, system
---


# Question
Title: Can I install Google Edition Android on an HTC One X+?
Recently, the HTC One Google Edition has been released which has Google Android 4.2.2. I'm currently using an HTC One X+ and I want to install Google's Android on my mobile. I've found some links on how to install vanilla Android on the HTC One:

1. Redmond Pie
2. XDA

I'm willing to install that on my mobile. Can I do that, and if so, are there any cons to doing that?

Is it possible to install vanilla Android on my phone so that every time the Android is updated, I get the updates directly from Google?

# Answer
> 7 votes
A ROM for the HTC One won't work on the HTC One X+. Despite the name similarity, they're completely different phones, with different hardware inside. (The HTC One X+ has a Tegra 3 SoC, while the HTC One has a Snapdragon.)

If you want to install a "stock Android" ROM on this phone, you'll have to find one first, and as there isn't a Google Play Edition for the One X+, this is very unlikely to exist. You might be best with a custom ROM that doesn't have many customizations. Generally, custom ROMs don't update over the air: you need to reflash whenever you want to upgrade to the latest version.

---
Tags: custom-roms, vanilla-android, htc-one-x+
---


title: How do I delete this read only file?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I delete this read only file?
In order to enable USB mass storage mode, I placed a file in the `/system/etc/init.d/` directory. My situation has changed, and now I want to remove that file. I know it is safe to remove because I put it there.

However, I can not delete it. I have a rooted phone, and I have tried using ES File Explorer and also `su` mode in a command line emulator, but every time I try to delete it, I get an error that says `rm can't remove 'MassStorage': Read-only file system`.

How do I delete this file?

# Answer
> 7 votes
As `su`, do this :

```
# mount -o remount,rw /system

```

You will now be able to delete it.

---

As said in comments, don't forget to

```
# mount -o remount,ro /system

```

or just reboot when you have finished. :)

---
Tags: file-system, root-access
---


# Question
Title: Go into recovery mode in Sony Live With Walkman
Does anyone know how to get into recovery mode for Sony Live With Walkman phone?

***These key combination not working***

1. Volume Up / Down
2. Volume Up / Down + Power Button
3. Power Button + Home button

Is there something I'm missing? I am finding solution for this question, Sony Live With The Walkman : Phone is restarting continuously

# Answer
> 1 votes
Do you use any custom kernel or do you have stock factory default? IF you don't have stock then there is no recovery. If you have a custom kernel, you should press the VOL DOWN button when you see the KERNEL logo. That's because custom kernels have CWM recovery integrated, because Xperia 2011 phones don't have a the *recovery* partition.

For solution to your problem, you should use SEUS, that's the only way to fix a bootloop with stock kernel. You can download it from here: http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/tools/update-service/ The software is self-explanatory and will guide you how to enter into flash mode. Here's a tutorial on how to use SEUS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H\_OCgB6ASqQ

# Answer
> 0 votes
Is your boot-loader unlocked via Sony unlocking tool?

*Caveat Emptor* You will lose data **proceeding** below!

Quoted directly:

> What phones can be unlocked?
>
> To check if you phone can be unlocked, follow the steps below:
>
> * First, you should confirm that it is possible to unlock the boot loader of your phone by checking the service menu. In your phone, open the dialler and enter *#*#7378423#*#* to access the service menu.
> * In your phone, tap Service info \> Configuration \> Rooting Status. If Bootloader unlock allowed says Yes, then you can continue with the next step. If it says No, or if the status is missing, your device cannot be unlocked.

If the above says it cannot be unlocked, then you cannot unlock it and flash a custom ROM, you're out of luck! Follow the answer below by another poster who is 100% correct in usage of SUS (see below further down in my answer) to reset it.

If it says it can, then go ahead and follow the instructions to unlock the boot-loader. You will lose your settings.

Then go to XDA and install LegacyXperia which has the custom ClockWorkMod Recovery which can be activated by toggling the volume buttons upon start-up.

The quirk about the SEMC 2011 line of handsets is - there's no actual recovery partition, the custom boot image found within LegacyXperia handles the necessary loading of the recovery if the volume keys are pressed, and if not, continues loading Android as usual.

Oh and by the way, you might notice on some websites, where it governs using `fastboot`, it will say something like this: `fastboot flash boot boot.img` \- **that** is incorrect!

You *must* specify `fastboot -i 0xfce flash boot boot.img`, its the `-i 0xfce` part that is omitted. It will not work without it.

If you wish to use a more powerful tool unlike SUS tool (Sony companion tool that checks for firmware updates), you can use this tool called Flashtool which can do a lot more than the SUS software itself, such as re-locking the boot-loader (if reverting back to stock).

The above is for the more adventurous kind of person, if not the other answer by the poster is more suited.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, recovery-mode
---


# Question
Title: Operating System isn't working in Onda V812
I bought an Onda V812, a Chinese tablet. Since beginning, the operating system hasn't worked correctly.

Now it simply doesn't boot. I'd like to reset the tablet and maybe install a new version of Android to see if it works. The Onda V812 specifications are very good so I'd like to believe that there should be a solution to my problem.

My e-mail complaints to their support team have not been replied.

# Answer
Have you tried holding down the power button and the volume up button at the same time until you see the dead android and red triangle, if you then tap the volume up button once you should see a list of options including factory reset(complete data removal) which will reset the device to the basic state it was in when you bought it
> 0 votes

---
Tags: updates, 4.1-jelly-bean, hard-reset
---


title: email me when a charger is connected?

text:
# Question
Title: email me when a charger is connected?
I want to be able to leave a device with charger plugged in the socket, and have it email me (or call/text me on my another device) as soon as it gets power (ie when the charger is *technically* or *officially* plugged in)

Scenario: I plug the device and leave it. There's no power. Power comes, the device emails/calls me.

# Answer
With Tasker, you could try this:

* **Condition:** State → Power
* **Task:** Send SMS

(Note that Compose Email / Compose MMS / Compose SMS only open the dialog and let you edit, so you would need to use the *Send SMS* option to have it automatically sent).
> 4 votes

---
Tags: sms, email, calls, charging, alarm
---


# Question
Title: How do I get the log files on my Optima Smart 220?
I want to access the log files of my tablet (Optima Smart 220, running 4.1.1 Jelly Bean).

Also, how do I root this device so I can get the log files?

# Answer
> 0 votes
You don't need root to access log files.

One option is to use the adb tool from the Android SDK. But it's a huge download.

Another option is to use a tool like LogShark.

(disclaimer: I created it)

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, rooting, logging
---


title: Unfortunately, System UI has stopped

text:
# Question
Title: Unfortunately, System UI has stopped
I have PAC-ROM Paranoid-Android (downloaded and flashed from here), and suddenly, after changing some settings (unfortunately I can't reproduce an annoying message started popping up every 2 seconds, it says "Unfortunately, System UI has stopped.".

Has anyone faced this before?
Does anyone know how to reproduce the issue or what setting is causing that? I'm sure reflashing the ROM will solve the issue, but I prefer avoiding a reconfiguration of all my personal settings.

**UPDATE**
I'm noticing now, that since that message started to bug up, the status bar is gone.

# Answer
Enabling quick settings made that popup disappear (Source).

It's at Settings-\>System-\>Status bar-\>Quick settings.

HTH
> 1 votes

# Answer
This is a symptom of a programming or integration error in the custom ROM. **System UI** is the name of the process that draws things like the soft home/back/recent buttons and the notification tray. When this process crashes, the soft keys and notification tray, along with anything else it's responsible for, will stop working.

The error could be in their UI customizations, or in something fundamental like the GPU or framebuffer drivers or the kernel. You should report this error to the developers of the custom ROM so that they can fix it.

They'll certainly need more detail to find the problem, such as what device you're using, what settings you changed to make it happen (*reproduction steps* in technical parlance), and they'll probably ask you for more information too. This answer tells you about getting crash logs using `adb logcat` and the `bugreport` command.

Of course, if there's already a newer version of the ROM, the developers will probably not be interested in your bug report unless you can also make it happen on the latest version.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms, system-error, pac-rom
---


# Question
Title: Scanning a QR code into a browser text input?
I have a bit of an edge use-case of QR codes. I would like to be able to scan a QR code via a phones camera and have that value pasted into a browser text input.

Is this possible given any current apps or API's?

# Answer
Try Barcodescanner Keyboard.

> Soft-keyboard with integrated camera bar-code scanner lets you scan wherever you can type (free demo). This soft-keyboard scans and enters barcodes directly into input fields of arbitrary apps, batch scanning mode is supported. It reduces manual typing and eliminates copy and paste. A special key invokes the built-in or an external camera barcode scanner. The setup wizard makes it easy to install the app.
> 3 votes

# Answer
You could implement a Keyboard which has barcode scanning ability. Without a definitiv workflow requirement I would propose this: User visits website, goes to textfield X, actives barcode scanning in keyboard app, barcode is scanned and typed into targetfield.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: qr-code
---


title: Android 4.1.2 Full Device Encryption

text:
# Question
Title: Android 4.1.2 Full Device Encryption
I have a FDE enabled on my Android. However on JellyBean when device restarts I never get a boot password prompt,just regular unlock screen. I remember on 4.0 ICS, after reboot Android would ask me for decryption key so it can mount the /data filesystem. My device is Moto Droid 4. I verified from command line that /data mounted with encryption, however I cant figure out where it gets the key from,if I never have to enter it on boot.

# Answer
Are you sure that you have enabled FDE? I've read this link which states that FDE may not work directly as expected (must try in 4.2.2 multiple times), and that you need a PIN or Password defined in advance. I mean, if you can access your data without entering a security credential then your device is probably not encrypted right? Watch out FDE may not encrypt all the things you think it should: Does Android's Full Filesystem Encryption also Encrypt the SDcard?
> 1 votes

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Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, 4.1-jelly-bean, security, encryption
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title: /data partition corrupted?

text:
# Question
Title: /data partition corrupted?
I have a Galaxy Mini GT-S5570 running CM 10.1 which was installed about a month back. Yesterday my phone suddenly crashed and after rebooting it got stuck in a boot loop. I tried wiping the cache and data but when the CM recovery starts formatting /data partition it gets stuck. I also did a clean install of GingerBread stock ROM but the problem still persists. Formatting /data partition cannot be done after installing stock ROM also. Did I brick my phone? Can someone give me links where I can download new kernels and fix the problem?

# Answer
> -3 votes
its a kernel corruption. Just install a new kernel.

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Tags: cyanogenmod, unbricking, partitions, samsung-galaxy-mini
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title: FTDI chip used by Android 2.3.6

text:
# Question
Title: FTDI chip used by Android 2.3.6
Is it possible to use FTDI chip with Android 2.3.6? I've found an application which works with FTDI chip, but it uses Android 3.1 and later.

I'd like connect my phone to peripheral hardware over UART. This company provides the FTDI chip which can be used for it, and they provide an application (see above), but it's only for Android 3.1 and later. I'd like to use it with Android 2.3.6, but I think it's missing Android Open Accessory Protocol which is needed for it. Is there is another possibility to connect it to peripheral hardware?

# Answer
I think It's possible. But you need to port the sourcecode to support 2.3.6 API. You need install Google API Add On and follow the steps posted in android development page http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/usb/accessory.html

I think the sourcecode could be found in FTDI webpage.
> 0 votes

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Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, peripherals
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# Question
Title: How to change tap sound of an Android device?
The tap sound on my new Jelly Bean Android tablet sounds cheap and tinny. Is it possible to change it?

# Answer
**Yes**

You cannot *change* it unless you have root access. But you can disable it if you don't like it. Go to Settings =\> Sounds =\> Deselect the `Touch Sounds` option.

Just in case you have root access, go to `/System/media/audio/ui/` and replace the file named `touch.ogg` or `tick.ogg` or `effec_tick.ogg` or the one with a similar name.
> 2 votes

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Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, audio
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# Question
Title: How do I place a call from my original phone number if Google Voice is the default handler?
I have a AT&T Galaxy SII running CM9 and primarily use my Google Voice number and all of the Google Voice integration on the phone. I'd like to be able to place a call using my native (non-GV) number. Is there any way that I can place a call *without* using Google Voice?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Not sure if you mean you still want to use GV services, but with your phones' native number? Or do you mean you want to completely circumvent using GV sometimes?

**If you meant still use GV, but with your native number:**

Voice-\>Settings-\>This phone's number

Then just choose your phone's native number (you're still using GV services, but caller-id will show your phone's number, not your GV number).

**If you meant completely circumvent GV and use your phone as if GV wasn't installed:**

Voice-\>Settings-\>Making calls.

choose either `Do not use Google Voice to make any calls` or `Ask every time I make a call`

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Tags: cyanogenmod, phone-app, google-voice
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# Question
Title: What's the maximum size for a second partition for moving Apps to a SD card?
What's the maximum size for a 2nd. primary partition that can be used for App2SD?

Specs: 32GB microSD + 4.1.2 JB + LG Optimus L5

# Answer
> Nope, no limit.

Source at xda-developers forum
> 1 votes

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Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, external-sd, root-access, app2sd, partitions
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