# Question
Title: MMS vCard displaying as playable media file
I am having difficulty viewing a vcard received via text message. My phone recognizes it's an MMS but views it as a Multimedia file and tries to play it.

My phone is rooted running Cyanogen 7.0.1.2 and I'm using the builtin messaging app

I have taken a screenshot of what I'm experiencing http://dumpt.com/img/files/hz9oupxkp9g5myy9tu5z.jpg

# Answer
One solution is to long-press and save the .vcard to your SD card, then open it in a file manager, like File Expert. If you still cannot read the file after viewing it from one of these channels, then your system can probably not view files in this format and i would try downloading a .vcard viewer, if such a thing exists.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Try using Handcent SMS - it now has support for displaying business card format. If a similar problem occurs, perhaps it'd due to the vcard itself?
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, cyanogenmod, mms, vcard
---


# Question
Title: My HTC Desire Z read messages showing up unread
I am starting to have some prolems with my Desire Z and was wondering if anyone knew how to help me. It is starting to show that I have an unread text message, but when I click on that contact, there isn't. So I tried to delete the message thread and then it just keeps loading and loading (all night even!) so i was forced to restart my phone in order to send any other texts. Also when I exit out of the message thread, "Sorry! The application Messages (process.com.android.mms) has stopped unexpectedly. Please Try again." With a "Force Close" button, comes up.. It's only doing this with one contact, any other messages I recieve don't stay "unread". And whenever I recieve more messages from that contact, the number of unread messages goes up!

# Answer
It sounds like a problem with that contact, i would try deleting them from you contact list and putting them in as a fresh, new contact.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sms
---


# Question
Title: Security error when trying to add an Exchange account
I use Zarafa as my private Exchange server and that account works fine with my phone. When I add a second Exchange account for my company it does install at first and connects to the MS Exchange server, but when synchronizing the connection is refused due to a security error.

How can I fix this? Does it have to do with signature or certificate problems? (I have tried enabling "Accept all certificates")

My phone: Samsung Galaxy S2, Android 2.3.3

# Answer
You probably need to enable or disable TLS or SSL for the account.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: email, exchange
---


# Question
Title: What's the input and output specifications of the Samsung Infuse wall charger?
I want to know if it matches with the Samsung Strive charger so I don't damage the Infuse (I don't have the charger for the infuse at the moment).

# Answer
> 3 votes
If it's a wall charger with plugs that match your outlets, the input range should be covered.

Normal USB chargers are 5 V at up to 1.8 mA. The voltage is the main concern -- standard USB ports for PCs only go up to 900 mA, which is why they charge slower. You can see the USB power specs on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb#Power

(In sum, any USB charger that you can trust to do what it says on its specs should work fine. A crappy no-name charger might lie, but two Samsung chargers should be 100% interchangeable.)

---
Tags: samsung, charging, samsung-infuse-4g
---


title: Trace GSM packets on HTC Desire?

text:
# Question
Title: Trace GSM packets on HTC Desire?
Is there any way I can log/sniff the GSM packets on a (rooted) HTC Desire ?

(I'm talking about the actual low level GSM packets on the Um interface, not IP packets over a 3g connection.)

# Answer
Try OpenBTS. You'll need a Faraday cage and a couple thousand dollars in hardware, but you can control all interactions between the phone and your base station.

You will need a license to run a base station outside of a Faraday cage.

Harald Welte's blog is a good one to follow if you're interested in GSM as a low-level protocol.

The "SMS of death" presentation at Chaos Computer Club one year used this sort of setup to test SMS buffer overflows.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: htc-desire, resource-monitoring
---


# Question
Title: Why am I unable to turn of USB debugging on my Galaxy Tab 10.1?
I turned on USB Debugging in the settings and am unable to turn it off. Whenever I try to uncheck the option I get "USB is connected. Remove the cable." even though the cable is not connected.

I tried rebooting but nothing. I do not think my device has ever completely turned off. When I try to power down it has a green battery animation of it filling up. I do not know how to completely turn it off.

Anyone know how to fix this?

# Answer
Looks like your tab thinks it's charging from a USB socket all the time, I'd advise to get it checked under warranty, or you could try to let the battery run completely out and then recharge. Also, check the USB port for debris and clean if necessary.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: usb-debugging, samsung-galaxy-tab-10
---


# Question
Title: How to install an APK on an Android Tablet PC?
I had one normal Android apk. It is working fine on my Android mobile. Now I want to install the same .apk on an Android tablet PC; is it possible? If possible, how can I install it?

# Answer
There are a few ways to install an app:

1. Post it online (with something like Dropbox) and navigate to the URL in your tablet's browser
2. Use the marketplace if it's listed there
3. Use adb install to do it

Make sure on the device that you have checked the checkbox listed at `Settings > Applications > Unknown Sources` if it is not in the Market. This will allow you to install non-Market apps.
> 4 votes

# Answer
You can download apkinstaller from android market and install it. after that just put your application apk in your tablet sdcard, and click on apkinstaller you will get your apk here. just click on your apk it will b installed .
> 0 votes

---
Tags: installation, apk, tablet-apps
---


# Question
Title: Droid X: What are the pros/cons of upgrading to Gingerbread 2.3?
I have a Droid X running Android 2.2.1 (system version 2.3.340.MB810.Verizon.en.US). I want to upgrade to Gingerbread 2.3 but so far I've read one positive thread where people were happy with gingerbread and the rest is doom and gloom.

I'm not really interested in doing any kind of rooting or custom ROM stuff I just want to know about the plain vanilla OTA update from Verizon (which my phone is currently asking me about).

So should I upgrade? Or, to put it another way, what are the pros and cons of upgrading?

**EDIT** A good answer would be like a bullet list of 5 or so negatives about Gingerbread and 5 or so positives. A great answer would be an extensive list of the negatives and positives. An amazing answer would add to that extensive list some anecdotal experience about the upgrade and whether they wish didn't upgrade or are glad they did and why.

I originally title this question "Droid X: Should I upgrade to Gingerbread 2.3?" but in an effort to be less subjective I've reframed the question.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I can only speak from personal experience. I have updated my Droid X and since then I have had many issues with it.

* It seems to be unable to send texts or make calls that require a battery pull to fix. I have to pull the battery at least once a day.
* It will not find the GPS, it is constantly searches for GPS.
* Any videos I had played previously through the gallery will freeze if I try to skip. I got the Mobo player and must use Softdecoding in order to play movies where I can ski .

Some positives

* I like the darker look of the OS.
* The quick text when you are ignoring a call is very nice
* It seemed a little faster

Personally I wish I never upgraded. I am really close to going back to 2.2, but I do not want to go through all the work involved with downgrading.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Now, to be fair, I never took the official OTA, I was on the leaked gingerbread back in April (or maybe March, I forget). I never saw a reason to go to the official build. And now I'm running CM7, which has it's own set of customisations.

Anyway, the downsides from what I've seen (remember that this was an early build):

* It seemed like there was less memory to go around. I would often listen to a podcast while playing a game on Froyo. Occasionally, in gingerbread, the audio from the podcast would just stop, and I would notice that Android ran out of RAM, and killed google listen.
* I found certain bits of the UI to be a bit ugly, namely that menu items where black, but the background if there wasn't a menu was white. This was really jarring for apps that used listviews as their main interface, expecting black on black, or at least two matching colors.

And now some good things:

* It certainly seemed much faster than froyo. But to be fair, I jumped from the leaked froyo from back in August, to this version of gingerbread.
* The built in launcher seemed like it was almost usable (as opposed to the launcher in Froyo and Eclair). However, I still put ADW on top of it.
* More APIs obviously. While as a consumer you probably won't use it, developers will. And while there's not too many gingerbread specific stuff out yet, it's coming. I especially see Game Devs using it more and more, now that they can make games entirely in C/C++, and don't have to touch Java at all.

I never had any problems with the GPS, calling, or texting, like David Basarab seems to have, but I guess those could be side effects of either an app he had installed, or just that he was on a later build than me.

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, 2.3-gingerbread, updates, motorola-droid-x, stock-android
---


# Question
Title: Any fix for audio stuttering (incoming and outgoing) when making Skype calls?
I have an HTC hero with Android 2.1, and the latest Skype available in android marketplace (december 2010) stutters badly on wifi.

(I did not even try to make a skype call over 3g data, i think that would be silly, and in my market where data charges are exorbitant, a waste of money.)

I believe it's a performance problem with my phone. I have tried to uninstall some other apps, and not very much seems to be open and running on my phone (just skype, the phone main UI panel).

Audio coming to my headphones stutters terribly and is full of clicks. The audio going out is reported to be bad when I tested it with human callers, but when I used the echo123 skype service, my audio came back to me mostly perfectly.

It looks like Skype's website lists the following as compatible android handsets: "Android devices: DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS by HTC, Motorola DEVOUR™, HTC Droid Incredible, LG Ally, Samsung Fascinate™, Motorola Droid X, Motorola Droid 2, Samsung CONTINUUM, Motorola Ciena, Motorola Droid 2 Global."

\[Note that HTC hero is not in that list\]

# Answer
> 2 votes
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the HTC Hero doesn't have enough CPU to handle the audio codecs.

You may have some success rooting it and overclocking the CPU, but it'll shorten the life of your hardware and void your warranty.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This would be related to your data network speed rather than the application. Try to test it with a wifi connection and see if that gets you better audio.

# Answer
> 0 votes
My guess is that this is a carrier problem. When the Amazon Mp3 app recently updated it had a warning message to contact Sprint if there was any stuttering with the music since Sprint's network doesn't work well with streaming audio. I haven't had an issue yet so I removed the notice otherwise I'd post it here for you to see. It's only a guess though so since I'm basing this completely on what I read in that notice from Amazon.

---
Tags: 2.1-eclair, htc-hero, skype
---


title: Does Android have a task scheduler?

text:
# Question
Title: Does Android have a task scheduler?
Microsoft Windows has the Task Scheduler Manager to schedule tasks based on time or other events, as far Linux has cron to the same feature, does Android have something like? Could I install cron on Android??

# Answer
> 5 votes
Tasker. This is by far the best automated task scheduler available for android. It does come at a hefty price ($6.50 US), but it is well worth the price.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you have a rooted phone this should do the job:

cron4phone free

I just did a quick and dirty search for "cron" on the market, there could be possibly better apps for your needs

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


title: Droid X Turns Itself on Automatically

text:
# Question
Title: Droid X Turns Itself on Automatically
I turn off my Droid X (now running Gingerbread) to conserve the battery. However, every morning when I wake up, it is turned on. Has anyone else been having this problem?

I don't know how long it waits to turn on, or what time it is that it turns on, but it's quite a pain (especially because it drains the battery).

Any suggestions? This has only started happening when Verizon upgraded me to Gingerbread.

# Answer
I have the exact same problem. I have confirmed that my phone is powering off (I get the "powering off" message and then the screen goes blank). But some time in the night, my phone turns on by itself.

At first I thought that I was accidentally just setting it into the new (with Gingerbread) sleep mode. But I'm careful and I'm definitely pressing "power off".

Lots of people are reporting this same problem. Other forums have suggested changing the timing of the backup assistant. I've tried that, but to no avail.

It seems clear that this is a new issue with Gingerbread.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Make sure you are actually selecting "Power Off", not just pressing the power button. If the device is actually powered off, it will not turn back on. It would be like shutting off your computer fully, without pushing the power button again, it will not turn back on.

I want to add, that some devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S for example, even when in the "off state", are not actually off when they have some other power source plugged in. They show some type of status on screen about the battery charge state. If the device does this, then it is completely possible for it to turn back on at some point. But if you do not have any external power source plugged in, and you even took the battery out to "confirm" that it is off, then it should not turn back on and that is some crazy bug, if you ask me...
> 1 votes

# Answer
My Droid 3 turns back on when I put it in my new case. Come to find out is that the Droid series uses magnetic detection for when you put it in their dock. If you have a case with a magnetic closure that can tun your phone back on. It thinks that you are putting in a dock.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I know that Services have the ability to wake the phone up in order to run and it very well could be Motorola or a 3rd party app. I would recommend installing a log viewer app like logcat (I am not the dev) but I use it...

Then in the morning when your phone has started back up, look through the log files. You should be able to determine the Service that gets started and wakes up your phone. You are going to want to expand the log entries in order to see the timestamp.

Hope that helps!
> 0 votes

# Answer
Most devices turn on when they have reached a fully charged battery state. If you're charging it overnight and you turn it off right before you go to bed, it probably reaches a full charge in the middle of the night and turns on.
> -2 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, motorola-droid-x
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Infuse is getting really hot when using a Samsung wall charger that came with Samsung Strive. Is this bad?
The output specifications for the Samsung Strive charger match those of the Samsung Infuse charger, so I don't see why the phone is heating up so much.

Also, when charging the Samsung Infuse with this non-stock charger (although it is still made by samsung) while the phone is off, the charging never stops. The display never says (100%) even after a full night of charging. The animated dots keep on moving as if the phone is still charging.

Is all this bad or are we ok here? I wouldn't want to blow a fuse in the brand new Infuse!

# Answer
> 1 votes
The phone should be correctly detecting the charge of the battery even if the charger isn't right. So it sounds to me more like a phone problem. Either way I would discontinue this ... if the phone really is trying to charge the battery past its limit you could definitely fry the battery or your device.

Did you ever have an Infuse charger, and if so did it work?

You could try running the battery dry and then charging from that state; I've heard that can help when the battery stats get messed up. In conjunction you could wipe the battery stats (you'll have to Google how to do that for the Infuse) but that's generally a last resort since it takes quite a few charge cycles for the battery stats to get rebuilt (your phone relies on them to determine the charge of your battery with any accuracy).

---
Tags: samsung-infuse-4g, charging
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to switch keyboard language layout on HTC Wildfire?
I am thinking of buying an HTC Wildfire S. Since I will be buying it in Germany, it will have a German keyboard (e.g. Y and Z are interchanged).

**Will there be a way for me to switch the keyboard to English and French and back to German with the click of a button as I do on my Windows PC (ALT-shift)?**

# Answer
The built-in Gingerbread keyboard should support multiple languages, they can be selected from the `Settings -> Locale and Text -> Gingerbread keyboard -> Input Languages` menu. After this, you'll see the current language on the space bar and can roll through the languages by swiping left or right on the space bar.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, languages, htc-wildfire
---


title: Picture Frame widget resized

text:
# Question
Title: Picture Frame widget resized
The size for the picture frame widget originally was 3x3. Now, inexplicably, it is only 2x2. How can I change it back or pick what size a widget should be?

I've created cue cards perfectly readable at 3x3 but at 2x2 too small to view the diagrams/text.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Powering off and back on restored the 3x3 picture size... makes no sense, but it worked.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-tab, picture-frame-widget
---


# Question
Title: How do I restore my rooted Motorola Droid back to completely stock and unrooted?
I'm thinking about unrooting and going back to completely stock, vanilla Android on my Droid.

How can I do this?

# Answer
> 2 votes
This website has a very good answer: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-hacks/13466-how-back-stock-no-su-no-busybox-etc.html

Seems to cover all your bases.

Essentially involves:

* flashing the stock recovery and boot images to replace custom ones
* then either

+ manually removing all the "root" bits, or
    + (option B in the post) flashing the official update.zip putting your phone back to stock!

Good luck :)

# Answer
> 0 votes
This is a stab in the dark, that I read somewhere else:

> Power + X
>
> Volume up + Camera button
>
> And in the menu select reset to factory defaults?
>
> I'm assuming this is going to take you back to ver 2.0 without root, without any apps, contacts or anything else you've done to your phone.
>
> Granted, I don't know this for sure but its typically how all devices work *eyes his old ipod video* I've reset that thing so many times with a 'restore' and it always removes any hacks I've done to it.

I'd be interested to find out how this works after the phone has been rooted.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This code is used for factory format. It'll remove all files and settings including the internal memory storage. It'll also reinstall the phone firmware, which should remove your root!

Once you give this code, there is no way to cancel the operation unless you remove the battery from the phone. So think twice before giving this code.

Enter this: **\*2767\*3855#**

in the dialer.

---
Tags: motorola-droid, unrooting
---


# Question
Title: Download google doc to my phone and view it offline?
Is there a way for me to download google doc to my android so that I can view it off line (i.e. without data connection)?

Thank you.

# Answer
You can download the file as a pdf and then transfer that file to the phone using something like Awesome Drop.

Then view it on the phone with a pdf reader.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: offline, google-drive
---


# Question
Title: Bluetooth GPS compatibility list for Android 2.2 / Archos 43 tablet?
I've been looking at a very inexpensive bluetooth GPS (DeLorme Earthmate BT-20) to pair with my Archos 43 Internet Tablet running Android 2.2. Is anyone aware of a compatibility list that I should be referencing when considering pairing my device with a bluetooth GPS? I assume that the Android app will be used to reference maps, and the GPS will simply provide coordinates, but I may be mistaken.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I don't believe you need to worry about hardware compatibility beyond the BT specs. Your A43IT uses Bluetooth 2.1 EDR so as long as the BT GPS supports that it should be all set. You'll either need an internet connection to use Google maps, or like you were planning, an app that downloads the maps, like CoPilot.

I haven't gotten around to buying one yet, but I've been doing some digging in preperation. Here's some links that may help:

Let me know what you end up doing and what works in case you beat me to the setup.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Globalsat BT-359CS works fine with mine. Watch the screen saver though. If it kicks in the bluetooth connection gets messed up.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I finally purchased a BTGP35KM and everything is fine. Also, I have discovered Google Labs Zone which enables downloading a 10 sq miles map on your Android, thus enabling offline (only found the french version here).

---
Tags: gps, bluetooth, archos-gen8, external-gps
---


title: How does Android Market DRM work?

text:
# Question
Title: How does Android Market DRM work?
I have a bunch of rooted tablets purchased for use on a locked-down WiFi network (for security reasons internet access is not allowed). Using a different network, I purchased an RDP client app from the market. After a while on the secured network the app won't start with the error "This application is not licensed. Please purchase it from the Android Market".

Can someone explain how this works? Android Market apps connect on a periodic basis to check licensing? This seems ridiculously overbearing. Is there anyway I can verify authenticity only at install time so I can run on our secured network?

# Answer
There are two types of protection offered by the Android Market.

The original copy protection is now deprecated and is apparently fairly easily circumvented.

Google now recommends that developers implement its licensing service, which requires a bit of effort on the part of the developer. It requires Internet connectivity and checks whether the Google Account being used on the device has legitimately purchased the app. How often the app goes online to check the licence is up to the developer.
> 6 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, drm
---


# Question
Title: Can I create a specific ringtone for email from specific people?
Is there any way at all to set it up so that I can have a different notification sound for different email senders?

In other words, if I get an email from Fred, can I have a different notification than an email from Jane?

I know how to set up filters within Gmail, but I can't determine if there is any way to connect that to the notification sound on my phone.

I also know that different ringtones can be set when getting phone calls from different people, based on their entry in the contact list. However, there does not seem to be any kind of option in the contacts interface to do the same thing with emails.

Thank you for any advice.

# Answer
> 5 votes
It is funny you ask this since Gmail just came out today with functionality that allows for different ringtones to be set for different labels (using custom label notifications.) This might not be perfect since you would need to specify a label per contact to make it work, but it could serve your needs.

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, gmail, notifications, audio
---


# Question
Title: What is the Android Answer to Air Video Server?
I just switched to a Droid X and I love it. One of the things that keeps me from not needing my iPod touch is Air Video. Is there a similar system that can run on my network?

# Answer
> 7 votes
DLNA is basically the same thing. There are several apps that allow you to use DLNA like Twonky.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Lifehacker published on how to use VLC-Shares to recreate Airplay with Android. Link

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try Emit. It brings Air Video functionality to Android.

---
Tags: video, streaming, dlna
---


title: How To Install Custom ROM In LG GT540?

text:
# Question
Title: How To Install Custom ROM In LG GT540?
I rooted my LG GT540 now I want to install custom rom but don't know how to do, so I am looking for some easy steps to do this and also share which custom will be best for this device?

# Answer
> 2 votes
1. **Backup your phone**

* this is important if you wish to keep any data from your phone. You will have to restore backed up data (such as apps) after you update. The only way to update to the latest software is to erase your device, so backup whatever you do not want to lose.
2. **Extract the .zip file**, which you can download from this AndroidForum thread or this XDA thread. Open the folder and install MSXML 4.0 SP3 Parser (msxml.msi).
3. Once that has finished, **install LGAndroidDriver\_WHQL\_ML\_Ver1.0\_All\_Win7.exe** which are the drivers so your computer will recognize your phone. Windows XP Users download this driver, extract the contents anywhere (e.g. desktop), right-click on the 'android\_usb.inf' file and click 'Install'.

Now you have set up your phone to connect to your computer correctly. From here on, it depends on which ROM you wish to install. This is an excellent video tutorial that covers installing custom ROMS and rooting, and as said in the UPDATE, many ROMS with instructions can be found on XDA.

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

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

Let us know if you need any help!

UPDATE: this is a method to install updates to your phone. as far as specific ROMS to install, XDA and google can be very helpful. As soon as you find one you like, go for it :)

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


# Question
Title: Would a Class 10 MicroSDHC card ever be worth it on a Smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S 2)?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> Is a Class 10 MicroSD overkill or is a Class 6 adequate?

first of all I am aware that there are similar questions, I've read them but they don't totally apply here. I own a powerful Samsung Galaxy S 2 and I am getting a 32gb MicroSDHC card, however, I'd like to know if class 10 cars are totally useless compared to class 6, or do they ever get useful?

My phone is able to take 8megapixel photos and 1080p videos, is a class 6 way enough or a class 10 would be more appropriate?

I am asking this because that market evolves constantly and the other questions I saw were asking about class 2, 4, etc. As of now, Class 10 cars aren't really expensive so I wouldn't mind paying for it, however if I can't profit from its enhanced performance at all (compared to a sufficient **?** Class 6), I will save these extra bucks.

# Answer
> 1 votes
No need for such high class card. This card is used mainly for photography where speed and amount of data to be stored does count. Classic sample, sport photography where you are not taking just single shot, but whole burst of 10-20 shots and later on analyse which is best

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, external-sd
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to override automatic screen orientation?
Very often I use my phone lying in bed (with phone camera facing the ceiling) and the orientation changes drive me crazy. Literally if I turn the phone a few degrees it will go from portait to landscape and vice versa.

I can disable auto-rotation, but it's not desirable in some scenarios, like when i turn on my shoulder and I want the orientation to change.

Basically, is it possible to write your own logic for screen rotation and make it run on system wide scope?

**UPD: I do not want to toggle auto-rotation. I want to rewrite that logic that based on current sensor setting changes the screen orientation on system level.**

# Answer
> 4 votes
This widget works well... No customer rom or root required. :0)

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could write an app that locks to portrait orientation when whatever conditions you want are met.

So you could make it always be portrait unless the phone is held perfectly vertical in landscape position.

As far as I can tell, you can't force landscape orientation, so you'll have to just enable autorotation unless you want to make your own ROM.

Your app will probably need to be a Service and use SensorManager.

You can search the Android source on Google Code.

# Answer
> -1 votes
In CyanogenMod, and you can set up to have the power widget on the notification bar, the power widget in Cyanogen is enhanced so it can control more settings, one of it is the ability to lock the orientation sensor. Whenever you want to lock, simply pull out the notification bar and tap on the lock orientation button.

---
Tags: settings, screen, customization
---


title: Galaxy Tab 10.1" 3G locked?

text:
# Question
Title: Galaxy Tab 10.1" 3G locked?
I'm on vacation in the UK and the Galaxy Tab 10.1" is coming out here the first week of August. I was wondering if the tablet is locked to one of the networks here in the UK or if it's unlocked and I can essentially take it back to Canada or on the rest of my European travels and use on any 3G network with that counties providers?

# Answer
> 1 votes
You should be able to get unlocked version, but most likely only from online stores just like handtec (if admin feel this can be advertising please remove link)

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-tab-10
---


# Question
Title: How to copy files from tablet to PC - Not all files show up in PC
When I connect my Xoom to my PC via USB cable I get a Xoom "Portable Media Player" showing up in my Windows Explorer. When I browse the drive, I can only see half the folders compared to if I browse the SD card directly from within Astro file manager on the Xoom.

Why aren't all files and folders showing up? In Android (3.2), I've tried copying a file from a "hidden" folder to a folder that I can actually see on the PC but the file does not show up.

Someone suggested it was because it didn't get mounted as "USB Mass Storage".

How can I copy the files?

(same functionality works fine from my HTC Desire)

# Answer
Try WiFi File Explorer (also available in pro version with more features). It reads your SD card just like Astro does, allows you to view it from a computer browser, and does not require root. You may be able to view your files from here, and if so, you can download them via WiFi network.

Let us know if it works! :)
> 0 votes

# Answer
you may try install the android SDK and use adb-pull under command-line.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Simple painless can be with Dropbox application where you can share files between various platforms. No need for cable just wireless access ;)
> 1 votes

# Answer
Apparently Android versions 3.1+ support MTP for file transfers. This is a better protocol than USB Mass Storage for media files (music, photos, videos) but won't necessarily work with all files as well. Probably since this mode is meant for media transfer, the system and data folders are hidden from the user.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: file-transfer, usb-connection-mode, motorola-xoom
---


# Question
Title: Display timout resets to 15 seconds occasionally
Hi on my SGT the display timout resets to 15 seconds occasionally. I can't reproduce this behavior but it seems that this reset happens at every reboot at least and sometimes when connecting/disconnecting the powersupply.

Can someone tell me how to have this setting fixed again at 10 minutes?

If it helps, the phone is rooted, but I am not sure if this problem occurred already before root. At least unrooting did not help. Also I have my battery saving software let the settings back to default and then deinstalled, did not help either.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I suspect that the 'battery saving software' might have caused the issues. Did you experience these issues before installing the app ? There is a couple of ways which might help restore original settings :

* A factory reset might set it right.
* Alternatively if you have a backup of your original firmware you might want to try reflashing your phone after backing up all data.

ps : The name of the app you were using might help out.

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, settings, samsung-galaxy-tab, screen
---


# Question
Title: How would you change the default Android boot animation?
I am attempting to change my boot animation on a rooted Xoom with Android 3.2.

I've got the files in part0/ the desc.txt looks like

```
1408 880 24
p 0 0 part0

```

I made the images 512x256 since this is what the Honeycomb boot animation had.

After I copy the bootanimation.zip image to /system/media/ and reboot I get just a black screen. I've tried 777 and 644 permissions on this file.

Any ideas how to not get a black screen?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Looks like this was a corrupt zip problem.. from linux zip tool you must be using the -0 switch to 'store'.

---
Tags: 3.0-honeycomb, boot-animation
---


# Question
Title: How to display my calendar on the lock screen?
What is the best way to show (non-interactive) widgets on the lock screen?

I have bought WidgetLocker, but it forces me to unlock the screen twice (using both WidgetLocker and native slider).

(Using Android 2.3.2 on a Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc.)

# Answer
Lockscreen Calendar is a fairly lightweight app to display your next few upcoming events on your lockscreen.

Unfortunately, it does not currently support recurring events.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Maybe this application will help You; http://www.appbrain.com/app/executive-assistant/com.appventive.ExecAssist

It's pretty expensive but looks pretty powerful.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Probably Damian gave you the best answer. An alternative I could suggest is, if you have rooted your phone, consider trying MIUI ROM cause the new version (1.6) has the a theming lockscreen with already dozens of available themes and tweaks. Maybe you find what your looking for there.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, lock-screens, calendar, app-widgets, sony-xperia-arc
---


# Question
Title: Why can't I access the /data directory with ADB on my Samsung Vibrant?
I used Simply Honey before and everything was okay. However, when I flash to a Stock 2.2 ROM, I cannot access the `/data` directory from `adb`. I am sure the phone is totally rooted because I have the Superuser icon in my apps menu and I can open the `/data` directory in Root Explorer. Why can't I access `/data` from `adb` as well?

# Answer
> 3 votes
You need to escalate the shell, since /data requires root permissions to access. After running `adb shell`, run `su` before running `cd /data`. The prompt should change from `$` to `#` if it works.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, adb, root-access
---


# Question
Title: Is there a reasoning to how often and long the notification light blinks?
I have a Droid X. The green light on the front blinks when something has happened, but I've noticed that the number of blinks and their length is not consistent.

Is there some method to it? Some code to it? Does it reflect the event that has occurred in some way\>?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Some apps will use the LED to indicate that there is a notification. For instance, the LED blinks green for me when I've received an e-mail message and blinks blue when Twitter has a message for me.

There's no consistency as to how to manage these, however. For instance Google Voice has it under `Menu | More | Settings | Sync and notifications | Light`, but no way to choose the color. Gmail doesn't offer any way to control it.

---
Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: How to type SMS in a full sized keyboard?
The only way I have to send SMS is through my Android Phone, since I don't have a GSM/3G modem.

I would like to use my Desktop's keyboard to type those SMSes.

Is there any application that would allow me to type in the keyboard and the keystrokes echo in the Android device, through bluetooth or an USB cable?

# Answer
> 8 votes
Check out WiFi Keyboard -- allows you to use your desktop's keyboard to control the Android.

NB: I have not personally tried this, but it looks pretty cool. aimed particularly at apps that require keyboard input, but still don't pop-up a virtual keyboard......

Again, WiFi, not BlueTooth. aaargh. Unless, you know, you get your PC to broadcast on BlueTooth.

# Answer
> 4 votes
bear in mind; solution preseted next is very geek centric....

Root the phone; install vnc server on phone and vnc client on computer. Connect either by usb or wifi ; and use remote desktop to send sms. :D

p.s. yes, i know you probably wanted some sort of bluetooth usb

# Answer
> 3 votes
If you have a Google Voice account, you could also head to http://voice.google.com/ and type your SMS messages there. Of course, have the Google Voice app on your phone so that you can sync your messages with your desktop. It works really well.

# Answer
> 2 votes
SMS2PC will let you see, reply and compose SMS messages on your desktop. All the message are synced back to the phone too. I tried it yesterday and it works great. Wifi only, though.

# Answer
> 1 votes
"BlueKeyboard JP" in the Android Market is an adequate free Bluetooth keyboard driver. Here's my review and notes on special keys.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I've tried the WiFi Keyboard, and it's magic, all you have to do is,

1. Connect you handset to a wifi network.
2. Install WiFi Keyboard on your handset.
3. On any text field, long press the field and choose Input Method; Wifi keyboard.
4. Instructions will pop, one screen of instruction.
5. Write the IP from your instructions screen on your handset on your PC's browser. That's it, and it gets better, if you are a gamer, like me, you have a gaming mode option on the screen of your PC, choose it, and arrows will work for gaming, try it with Doom for example.

Performance is biblical by the way.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Android Manager will let you do this as well. It connects over WiFi to your phone to send and receive SMS messages and it also allows other stuff to sync over WiFi with your computer, for free. I've found this to be a great program.

# Answer
> -1 votes
MyPhoneExplorer

I've been using it for my SE phone, and now for my android phone. Getting it to work via bluetooth was a little tricky until I read the faq at the developer's site.

---
Tags: keyboard, bluetooth, sms, usb
---


title: Video calling options

text:
# Question
Title: Video calling options
I don't see full support for video calling in my Samsung galaxy S.

1. I am not able to set a direct shortcut for video calling.
2. Not able to disable self image when video calling so that able to see full screen image of the caller.
3. No option to video call directly from logs. Need to go to the contact screen every time.

Is there any app that has better support for video calling?

**Edit:**

I am looking for more features in the video calling facility provided by sim provider (Airtel). I am not interested in video calling via internet like google talk/skype as I don't have internet connectivity all the time.

# Answer
> 2 votes
There are a few different options for video calling. i do not know how many of them will support the options you want, but i will try to specify their uses as best i can.

- The new version of Google Talk
It supports video calling and handles it well. You have to call from within the app though, i don't believe there is built in platform support for calling from call logs. - Fring
This is a widely used, multi-platform video chat app that has many options, and i know it allows you to remove your self image, group chat, and it pulls from your contact list to give you a list of other Fring users. On occasion, it has worked with Skype (mobile-to-desktop), but in my experience, this has been spotty. - Qik
The advantage to Qik is it's incredible online support. It has been improved greatly since it's introduction to the mobile market. - Tango
This got the last spot because it is personally my least favorite. You can only call to other devices using Tango, which i find extremely limiting, but it is the same scenario for Qik, so it'll have to be dealt with. It has very positive reactions from users though, so it's worth a look.

i hope this helps you get a jump start on finding a solution to what you want. Take a test run with one or a few of these and let us know what works best for you!

# Answer
> 0 votes
For #3, tap the caller image in the log, and select the second shortcut for video call. If i remember correctly, this has been available since Froyo (2.2), but I'm not sure (running Darky's Rom 10.1, which is 2.3.3).

# Answer
> 0 votes
New skype version has excellent video call quality.

The official version doesn't support video on galaxy S yet, though. So you need to install the hacked version (check here).

I've been using it on my Samsung Galaxy S and it rocks.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, video-calling
---


# Question
Title: How to make a simple bookmark on HTC Wildfire S?
I am in the browser on my HTC Wildfire S.

I want to make a bookmark of the current page and save it to my desktop (main screen).

I press and hold down the URL and it gives me the choices:

* share page (twitter, facebook, etc.)
* copy page url

I would also expect it to give me the option "save bookmark".

**How can I make a bookmark of a web page?**

# Answer
> 2 votes
To add the current page as a bookmark, in the browser:

Menu-\>Bookmarks-\>Add Bookmark

Then you can long click the bookmark and select 'Add Shortcut to Home' which will add an icon for the bookmark on the desktop. Alternatively, long click on the desktop, then select

Add Item-\>Shortcut-\>Bookmark

---
Tags: browser, bookmarks, htc-wildfire-s
---


# Question
Title: App to sync PDFs between Linux laptop and Android phone?
I like reading research papers on both my laptop and on my phone. I'd love to be easily send a PDF to the phone while reading it on the laptop, so I can read it later on the subway or when I am someplace without a network connection.

I've tried Evernote with the web clipper plugin on my Linux laptop, but that will only remember notes that contain the PDF URLs rather than the PDF contents directly.

# Answer
I can recommend https://www.dropbox.com/ At the moment I have it on Ubuntu, Windows 7, Mac OS X and also on HTC Desire HD
> 5 votes

# Answer
I you don't want to use an external location, apps like Syncness that sync files over WIFI are pretty good.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sync, linux, pdf, evernote
---


# Question
Title: Android Browser Privacy Settings: "Clear cookies" and "clear cache"
I have a couple of questions about privacy and Android phones, though it probably relates to the windows phone as well and welcome the thoughts of any developers.

Do the 'clear cookies' and or 'clear cache' functions actually remove hidden tracking cookies that use either **Flash based cookies** or the **client side storage area** inside the web browser?

If not, how do you delete them without resetting the entire phone?

# Answer
> 2 votes
To reset the Flash based data storage (technically like cookies), you have to wipe the data for the Flash Plugin. Home =\> Settings =\> Applications =\> Manage Applications =\> Adobe Flash Player =\> Clear Data. I would do the same procedure for your browser application, too, if have nothing valuable saved in the browser settings/passwords.

I wish Adobe had provided some form of privacy configuration application as they started to include with latest Flash Plugin for desktops.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Note that the HTML5 client-side storage isn't in either of those locations.

To clear that, you need to go into your browser, press the `Menu` button, select, **More**, then **Settings** then scroll right to the bottom where you can see (under the Advanced heading) **Website settings**, now you should be able to see which websites have stored data on your phone (shows as a rectangle that fills up, the more they store), as well as what other permissions you've given websites, like which ones can use your location data.

---
Tags: browser, privacy, adobe-flash, stock-browser
---


# Question
Title: How do I get my Samsung Galaxy S 2 to connect by USB "normally"?
***Note:** This question has been edited significantly based on new information, however, I think it still meets the original intent.*

I have a Samsung Galaxy S 2. When I plug it into my computer by USB, this application called "Samsung Kies" comes up. It is, as far as I can tell, a proprietary Samsung system for connecting by USB to the computer which requires software on the computer side.

Even if my computer could run their software, I wouldn't want it to. I don't want their proprietary app, I just want to mount the Galaxy as an external USB HD, like Android does with its standard interface.

I can get at the standard interface by doing the following:

> Settings -\> Wireless and network -\> USB Utlities

In that interface, under the heading "USB mass storage", there is a button that says "Connect storage to PC". If I click this button, a notification comes up saying I can now plug in the USB. If I plug in the USB cable at this point, *then* the usual Android interface comes up (green android with USB arm picture) and then I can press the connect button.

So I can do it, but I have to press the screen ***5 times*** just to connect the USB!

With my previous phone, the HTC Magic, when I plugged in the USB, it automatically showed me the standard USB connect screen, and so with one touch I could connect.

I can't find any way of disabling or removing this unwanted Samsung Kies software, or making the standard Android USB connect the default.

Is this possible, and if so, how?

# Answer
Keep usb debugging on and it should work fine.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, usb-connection-mode
---


# Question
Title: What are applications locked against? ROM, phone ID, or google account?
If I bought an app, is it locked to the specific installed android ROM, to the hardware (phone) or to my Google account?

Basically I want to know what would happen to my paid apps when I would reinstall the ROM, or change my phone. Could I re-download my apps?

# Answer
> 2 votes
When you wipe your phone and re-install a ROM, or switch to a new phone, you will be prompted to sign in with your Google account. As long as you use the same Google account, you will be able to find your purchased apps in the `Market` by pressing the `Menu` key and selecting `My Apps`, or something similar (i believe they're named differently in different versions). From there you will be able to view and re-install previously purchased apps.

**NOTE:** This only works for apps you've spent money on. If it was free, it will not be stored on your account in this way.

---
Tags: paid-apps
---


# Question
Title: G1/Dream running CM6 - black screen, won't boot, can't reset
I have a T-Mobile G1/HTC Dream, rooted, running CM6. It froze up at the lock screen, and after trying everything I popped the battery out and rebooted. However, this didn't solve the problem; I still couldn't get past the lock screen. After rebooting again (via battery removal, because nothing else worked), I only get a black screen (LCD on but blank). The problem seems different than other questions here on the site because I don't ever see the T-Mobile splash screen. I've tried Home+Power, Call+Menu+Power, Camera+Power, and none of those combos have allowed me to boot into recovery or factory reset, I still just see a black screen. When I plug in USB, the computer does not see the SD card.

Update: Now the LCD doesn't turn on either. Perhaps this is a problem with the ribbon after all? But that doesn't explain the freezing/booting issues.

Update: Although I only get a black screen, the phone does vibrate when I turn it on (using any of the key combinations mentioned above).

# Answer
Since you have CM6 flashed already, try booting the phone into the bootloader (fastboot). If you can get in there, you can rescue your phone with `fastboot erase cache`; If that doesn't work, reflash CM6. This will cost you your data that's not on the SD card.

Opinion: Having had a bunch of G1s (all secondhand), they are not the most reliable phones I've owned. I have had one turn into a brick (permanently!) after leaving it in a hot car (next to my Magic, same chipset, which survived) for 30 minutes.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Do a Dalvik cache wipe. Check the last paragraph of the following blog post http://www.olafusimichael.com/2010/09/how-i-flashed-my-htc-dream-t-mobile-g1.html

Sorry for the short answer, but it should fix the issue.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, recovery-mode, system-freeze, htc-dream
---


title: Issues canceling downloads in Market

text:
# Question
Title: Issues canceling downloads in Market
All of a sudden a few days ago, I went into the Market for the first time in ages to download a new app. It said the app would be downloaded, but when I went back several hours later, it had not downloaded. I looked in the Downloads section of the market, and there were about 6 updates trying to download (which I hadn't approved - I don't have automatic downloads set, just notification of new updates with manual download). I want to cancel these downloads, but it will not happen. I long-press on the app name and choose Cancel, but nothing happens. I've even rebooted the phone, but the unwanted downloads are still there, saying Starting Download - this is after 3 days.

I've seen this, this, and this, but none of them are exactly the same as my issue. The last two did have answers that I'd like to try - clearing the application data and cache for the market. Unfortunately, I don't see the Market as an app in my Manage Applications section. (I'm running CyanogenMod 5 on a rooted T-Mobile MyTouch G3.)

Is there any way I can access that application to clear the cache? Or any other way I can get the unwanted downloads to stop trying and go away?

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can clear the Market data from the command line like so:

`rm -r /data/data/com.android.vending/*`

# Answer
> 0 votes
If the problem is limited to large apps, maybe the problem is the following: http://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/17824-google-maps-wont-install/page\__p\__175751#entry175751

The Market uses the same folder for cache as dalvik does, so you are limited to 5mb apps!

---
Tags: google-play-store, cyanogenmod, downloading
---


# Question
Title: How do I get dictionary suggestions while typing?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> How to enable real text prediction for android / stock keyboard on LG optimus one?

I'm using android version 2.2.2 and the default keyboard (at least it appears as 'Android keyboard' in the configuration menu). I have suggestions enabled, but I only get autocomplete suggestions for my contacts, I don't get suggestions for common words. It doesn't really matter which language I choose for the input (portuguese or english).

The device is a LG Optimus One (P500h), and it came with another keyboard installed (called 'LG keyboard'). If I choose this keyboard as the input method, I get the suggestions. The problem is that this keyboard is really bad, and I like the default one.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

# Answer
if you're willing to switch keyboards, you have several incredible options.

1. SwiftKey has (by far) the best word prediction so far, and tracks how much it improves your typing speed, which is around 30% for most people.
2. FlexT9 has some great features (including traceType, like Swype), and pretty good word prediction, but not quite up to par with SwiftKey.
3. TouchPal is supposed to be the next revolution in keyboards. It combines the first two strategies (word prediction and traceType) for incredibly fast input. **As of now, it does not support traceType, only word prediction.** But look for the update soon ;)

These are my favorites, the first two are paid and the last is free, but you might be able to find free or trial versions of the other two. Let us know if there's anything else we can clear up for you!
> 3 votes

---
Tags: keyboard
---


# Question
Title: I can not get rid of information about a file transfer
Hi I have HTC phone with Android system. Several days ago I tried to transfer a picture from another phone by bluetooth. Now I can't to delete a notice about transfer. I mean that when I click on transfer notice and I next click on accept or discard this notice is still visible.

Any suggestion?

# Answer
Try clearing all notifications. There is a button, my phone is in Spanish but I guess in English it should say "Clear" or "Remove all" something like that.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: bluetooth, file-transfer
---


# Question
Title: Is there an updated version of Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro that has been released?
I went to the Taipei Computer Applications Show 2011 today and bought a Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro from the Sony Ericsson booth there. However, the specs don't seem to match the one on GSM Arena for Xperia X10 at all. Mine shows Android version as 2.3 Gingerbread, a 1 GHz processor, and an HVGA display instead. Is this a legit version or have I just bought a very sophisticated brick?

# Answer
The Xperia Mini Pro and the Xperia X10 Mini Pro are actually different phones. Confusing, I know. The former appears to be a "refreshed" version of the latter with your specs.
> 5 votes

---
Tags: sony-xperia-x10-mini-pro, sony-xperia-mini-pro
---


title: APN Switch for sprint devices

text:
# Question
Title: APN Switch for sprint devices
I have used APNDroid on many of my phones in the past. I have recently started using some sprint devices and noticed that this APN toggle widget will not disable the network connection on these devices. I don't know if it is something because of the different network type, or some other reason. Can anyone point me to another application that you've had luck using to turn off the data connection on sprint phone?

# Answer
APNDroid doesn't work on CDMA phones. This appears to be the case with most such apps. Internet Scheduler and GreenPower claim to work on them if you have Gingerbread, though.

There are some other solutions you can try in this Google Groups thread.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: internet, apn, cdma
---


# Question
Title: Backing up Android without needing Internet?
All the Android Backup apps I have checked out (MyBackup, Lookout) require an internet connection.

I don't want my data to ever be stored in the cloud. These apps may have legitimate reasons to require Internet, but I don't trust that my data is not being sent to the cloud.

Is there any backup app that can store my data on the SD card without requiring Internet access?

**Update:** My phone is not rooted. Hence Titanium Backup is not useful.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Titanium Backup does not require internet access, you can firewall it off if you like or just turn off your connection while you use it. The internet permission is used for downloading Busybox if you don't have an appropriate version, but again there is no reason or need to trust it to do what it says, you don't have to let it access the internet. It does not back up to the cloud and saves the backups on the SD card.

Also, keep in mind that full backup apps require root. **A root application does not need to request permissions in order to use those functions;** the root user can do anything, that's the point. You should take the fact that they *do* request the permissions as a good sign. They're letting you know exactly what the app does.

**Edit:** Without root, you can use LifeSaver 2 for SMS. There are some options here for backing up contacts.

---
Tags: applications, backup
---


title: Can someone explain fragmentation?

text:
# Question
Title: Can someone explain fragmentation?
Would someone be able to explain android fragmentation?

If I created an app using 1.5 will that app work on all devices that have version 1.5 - 3.2 (highest current version)? Or are there issues between the versions? I understand 3.0 is the tablet version so an app made for 1.5 probably won't look good, but will it work without having to create specific version targeted versions of the app?

Also, why does it take so long for some phones to get updates? Is Android so tied to specific device hardware that upgrading it is not possible without other device specific modifications? I would have expected that if a phone is able to run a new version it would get it OTA, but reading around it seems a lot of android users complain that it's taking so long to get x update or that they don't even know if they will get it.

# Answer
> 4 votes
From logical point of view if you create an app with SDK 1.5 it should run on devices with OS version 1.5 and higher. But reality is a bit different.

The same application that works on Samsung device with 1.5 may not work on HTC with the same os version and vice versa. Also there is no 100% guarantee that it will work on other devices with newer OS versions.

Why?

There is no strict standard on hardware/software implementation among all Android manufacturers. Every manufacturer makes his own device and makes his own version of Android OS for the device which complies to the relevant SDK version, but has some additions/differences.

And these differences lead to the fragmentation.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Fragmentation is caused by a number of things, here are a few:

**Screen resolutions** \- You can have a varying degree of screen sizes between phones (and tablets). Solution? Developers have to make sure their UIs scale gracefully. It's not much different than creating websites for different screen resolutions. This isn't a new problem. Apple "solved" this by forcing their phones to have one resolution (plus a 2x resolution which make it easy to scale things up). See Android dev guide for some more information.

**Hardware** \- No phone is exactly like another phone. Beyond screen sizes, we have different processors (or multiple!), different video graphics, different sizes of memory (on board and external), different keyboards (or no keyboards!), (optional) notification lights, (optional) track balls, (optional) cellular antennas, etc, etc, etc. There are at least 500 different types of Android devices out there. One thing may run great on my phone, but not yours due to different hardware limitations.

**Operating System** \- Each flavor of Android brings out new APIs for developers to use. This means that developers have to conditionally check whether or not they can use these APIs based on the device in use. Additionally, carriers/manufacturers can be slow at updating (or may never update) their devices' software. So some devices may "lag behind" in updates. Even more: some manufactures like to skin/theme Android to their own liking (TouchWiz, MotoBlur, etc.). This can cause some fragmentation as a stock version of Android behaves a bit different than a device with a skin.

---
Tags: android-versions
---


# Question
Title: How do I get SMS messages to be sorted in chronological order?
I just got an HTC Desire HD, and it's sorting my SMS texts by what the sender has sent up at the top of the conversation page, and what I reply down below. It's almost like two conversations in chronological order, but it's not mixing them together. When it says I have a new text, it's actually the one I sent them and I have to scroll up to read the reply. How do I get the the SMS conversations to read in an answer-response chronological format?

# Answer
I don't know how your stock messaging app works, but HandcentSMS does this exact thing, and very well at that!
> 2 votes

---
Tags: sms, settings, htc-desire-hd
---


# Question
Title: Does anyone knows who is paying for the free (normally paid) Android programs on the Amazon store
I am really curious **who is paying** for the **free applications** you get when installing and using the **Amazon Android market program**?

Is it *Amazon* (to promote their software/online store)?

Is it the *application/game developer*?

Does anyone know?

# Answer
> 25 votes
No one pays or gets paid.

According to the original version of Amazon's developer agreement (see section 2(a)) a developer received at least 20% of the price the developer set for the app, regardless of the price Amazon actually sold it for. But they changed the agreement, adding the sentence **"No Royalty is payable for Apps with a List Price of $0.00."**

# Answer
> 9 votes
Apparently nobody. The developer gets $0. http://shiftyjelly.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/amazon-app-store-rotten-to-the-core/ via http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/j6neg/amazon\_app\_store\_rotten\_to\_the\_core/

# Answer
> 0 votes
I think it's Amazon who is paying for those apps. Amazon wants users to get used to using their store. The other answer provides better details.

---
Tags: amazon-appstore
---


# Question
Title: Optimal Linux Distro to Install to SD card to use as USB-Bootloader for PC?
Many people install Linux-based distros on USB drives to use for, largely, basic PC troubleshooting. Has anyone tried installing such a thing on their Android phone's SD card? That way instead of carrying about both a USB drive and a phone, one could simply plug their phone in, boot the PC from USB, and set about performing whatever actions are necessary. Does anyone have any recommendations for particular flavors of Linux which are best suited to this task?

# Answer
> 3 votes
As far as I know, there is no Android device that can be put into a USB-mass-storage-thumbdrive-compliant mode (to use the nontechnical term). The phone would need to have a special mode where it emulated a USB drive and handled reads/writes to the SD card and that sort of thing. I can't imagine any manufacturer modifying the hardware and writing the software necessary to support this when the expected return on investment would probably be 0.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Amon Ra's recovery (Here for Dream/G1, see that post for links to other supported phones) allows mounting the SD card as USB Mass Storage.

ClockworkMod Recovery may also allow this, but I'm more familiar with Amon Ra's patches.

You could boot the phone into recovery, turn on USB-MS, and boot from your phone.

NOTE OF CAUTION: My Dream(G1) and Magic (MyTouch 3G) do NOT charge when booted into recovery. I don't know if I'd recommend this for that reason alone.

---
Tags: usb, external-sd, linux
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to only silence certain notifications?
I'm running Android 2.2 FroYo on an HTC Droid Incredible. When I go to bed, I want to turn off all notifications except for incoming phone calls, which I still want to receive. Is this possible, either natively or through an application?

# Answer
I asked this question to a friend and he suggested the AudioManager Widget. It allows you to control volumes for Alarm, Media, Alerts, Ringer, System, and Voice Calls independently. It also allows you to toggle vibrate for alerts and ringer independently. So far, it seems to be a solid app.
> 3 votes

# Answer
The Setting Profiles should be able to do something like that. You can set up a profile that turns off all notifications for when you get ready for bed. Then, add a rule that overrides the profile - turning notifications back on only for incoming calls:

* Create a new rule
* Add Incoming Call condition - this can be set to a specific contact group of just to \<\> depending on your preferences
* Add Activate Profile action to activate a different profile where sound is On and/or some custom ring tone specified

They currently have two versions of the app - a Lite and Full. The Lite version is limited to one rule at a time. You might be able to try it out with the Lite version and then get the Full if it works out for you.

QR Code for Setting Profiles Lite:

QR Code for Setting Profiles Full:
> 1 votes

# Answer
You can try Tasker or Locale. They can be configured to do this automatically.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can create a profile and switch it by long pressing the power button. At least on Cyanogen, there is a menu item Change Profile. On stock Sense ROM it is likely there, too.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: notifications, htc-droid-incredible, calls, ringtone
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Kies: 'This version of the device can not be updated'. Never?
I have and Samsung GT-i5500 (aka Galaxy-europe, aka galaxy-5, ...), running Android 2.1

Some months ago I've returned it for repair because of GPS issues. Ever since, when I connect it to my computer and start Samsung Kies on my computer, the Firmware Information page says:

> **This version can not be updated**.
> Current firmware version: PDA:JK3 / PHONE:JK3 / CSC:JK3 (CPW)

Does this mean that when (if?) Samsung ever releases Android 2.2 for this model, I will still not be able to update it?
Before the 'repair' it never said that the version could not be updated. It was more along the lines of '*you have the most recent version*' or '*no update available*' instead of '*this version can not be updated*'.

# Answer
> 2 votes
According to this link this message is due to a bad translation from Korean to English (and from that to Dutch, because in Dutch the message has the same meaning).

Original Korean was something like "For this ROM there are not updates available (yet)".

---
Tags: updates, samsung-galaxy-5, samsung-kies
---


title: Gingerbread on Samsung Galaxy Mini

text:
# Question
Title: Gingerbread on Samsung Galaxy Mini
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> When will my phone get the Android 2.3 update (Gingerbread)?

I recently bought Samsung Galaxy Mini with Froyo installed on it. Can any one tell me when can I get Gingerbread on it using Kies? I did not buy it from any operator. Also, I live in Pakistan (in case region matters for updates).

I do not have any experience of using Android before (though I have written a couple of apps for it :P ).

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could send a mail to Samsung Pakistan, and ask them.

The ROM for the Galaxy Mini (and every Samsung) has specific Samsung components (TouchWiz, Samsung Apps, etc). And comes with a language pack specific for each region. Eventually every provider can add his stuff.

So it is up to the combination Samsung and provider when (or if) a new version of Android is released.

I know of some friends that have been able to upgrade their provider branded phone to Gingerbread, while my non-branded phone does not have the update (yet).

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to use a Google TV device without a TV connection?
With the price of the Logitech Revue having dropped, I am interested in using the Google TV device purely for the (internet) functionality of the Android platform.

Since a "Cable or Satellite set top box with HDMI out" is listed as a requirement I am wondering if the device can be used without the HDMI input being connected.

I am aware that this might remove the TV functions that are at the core of the device.

# Answer
Yes, you will be able to use the Logitech Revue Google TV unit without the Set-Top Box. I am doing this with the Sony BlueRay Player w/GTV. During the set-up process simply skip the section for setting up the TV provider and you should be all set.

Here is a youtube video of a Revue functioning without a cable or satellite STB.
> 5 votes

---
Tags: google-tv
---


# Question
Title: Exchange 2010 calendar synchronization problem
I've had my HTC Incredible S for a couple of weeks now, and have only just succeeded in synchronizing my Exchange 2010 calendar with it. E-mail and contacts have been working like a charm from the beginning.

I kept getting this useless error message:

> Synchronization is experiencing problems

I tried many things, including exporting my entire calendar to file, deleting all items in my calendar, and re-importing items, but to no avail. My collegues' calendars synced just fine to my phone. For some reason my calendar just wouldn't sync.

After a lot of messing around I found that if I made a change to **every single item** in my calendar, e.g. changing the subject of the item, and restoring it afterwards, I was able to sync the entire calendar. Finally!

A VBA macro helped me perform this absurd task in Outlook 2010:

```
Sub ChangeAllItems()
  Dim myolApp As Outlook.Application
  Dim calendar As MAPIFolder
  Dim aItem As Object
  Set myolApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
  Set calendar = myolApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder
  Dim strTemp As String
  For Each aItem In calendar.Items
    strTemp = aItem.Subject
    'Make a change to the item (subject)
    aItem.Subject = strTemp & " "
    aItem.Save
    'Restore subject line
    aItem.Subject = strTemp
    aItem.Save
  Next aItem
End Sub

```

This question serves two purposes; first, to help others who are experiencing the same issue; second, to help me and others understand the reasons for this strange behaviour.

* Has anyone had the same problem, but solved it differently?
* Does anyone know of a reasonable explanation to this behaviour?

I would make this community wiki, but can't find the setting.

# Answer
Since I have currently the same problem, I found out that it is related to the import of a pst file.

The error occurs if a pst file is exported from an MS Exchange 2003 Server and afterwards imported on an Exchange 2010 Server. (e.g. in order to migrate from one version to another) Everything works fine when using OWA or Outlook to access the data. The error you described shows up only on mobile devices so far. (In my case it is a Symbian phone with Dataviz roadsync on it)

Except editing all items, which makes them available again, I found no other solution so far. But I am curious to know if there is anything else.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, sync, calendar, htc-sense, exchange
---


# Question
Title: What's the difference between Camera.apk and com.sec.android.app.camera.apk?
I'm trying to install a modified version of the Camera app on my rooted Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate) through copying to `/system/app` and through installing a zip file via ClockWorkRecovery. It doesn't seem to be working (based on the fact that the modified camera should have no geotagging).

Looking in my /system/app/ folder I have `Camera.apk` and `com.sec.android.app.camera.apk`. Are these complementary files or are they different camera app files? `Camera.apk` has a timestamp of August 1, 2008 (which doesn't seem right) and the other has a timestamp of August 1, 2011 (which is around the time I was playing around with this stuff).

# Answer
> 2 votes
The Serendipity ROM only contains Camera.apk and CameraFirmware.apk. I would think that the version you're trying to copy over is being renamed by the system on reboot and the original Camera.apk is being restored.

What I would try:

1. Get the non-CWM version of the Camera.apk and put it on your SD card
2. On your phone, use Root Explorer or similar to mount `/system/app/` as RW
3. Rename `/system/app/Camera.apk` to Camera.bak or something
4. Copy in the new apk from the SD card
5. Remount `/system/app/` as RO, you may want to make sure `/system/` is RO as well
6. Try to use the camera. If it works, reboot and see if it still works.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, camera, system
---


# Question
Title: When I lose access to my Exchange server, is there a way to keep my contacts?
Changing jobs and will soon no longer have access to my company's Exchange server. Contacts are in Exchange and synched on my Droid (HTC EVO) using the default Exchange app. I want to be sure I don't lose my contacts when I no longer have access to the Exchange server. But if I transfer them to GMail contacts now, I'm concerned it will duplicate my contact records. Any suggestions or tips? Thanks in advance!

# Answer
> 3 votes
You may want just transfer your Exchange contacts to GMail. There are quite good duplicate/merging tools in GMail Contacts. Use `More actions` and `Find and merge duplicates`. There are automatic as well as manual merging modes.

You can import CSV formatted contacts into GMail from its `More actions` and `Import` menu.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Assuming that you're using Outlook when you're at a PC in the office, you could just Export your contacts from Outlook on your last day, and then Import them into GMail.

GMail is good at handling CSV imports from Outlook, and will also suggest Duplicates that can be merged and help you to merge them.

A few helpful links:

Export Outlook Contacts to Google Gmail (Outlook 2002/2003)

Transfer contacts between Outlook and Google Gmail (Outlook 2007)

Export contacts (Outlook 2010) then follow the final steps from either of the above guides for the GMail import stage

Merging duplicate contacts in GMail

# Answer
> 0 votes
If it's stock, and you don't see an "export" option, you're probably toast.

I know CyanogenMod allows contact export to SD Card in VCF format, at least in version 6 (don't know about 7, don't run it). CM4 did not allow contact export.

I can't imagine a system administrator allowing rooted phones on their network.

---
Tags: email, exchange, file-transfer
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to avoid disk space errors when batch updating apps (using 'Update All')?
This is related to the question 'Is there any way to force market to update and install apps one at a time?'. That question asks specifically if apps can be queued to update, rather than all run simultaneously, which I suspect is a possible (but perhaps not only) solution to my problem. The answer seems to be no for that particular potential solution.

When I go to the market and am notified of many of my apps having been updated, I have the option to 'Update All'. If I do this when I have a relatively low amount of internal storage available, I often end up with a lot of apps failing to update due to disk space problems. I have noticed in the past that updating each app one by one has allowed me to perform all of the updates without a problem.

My intuition is that updates are probably being downloaded to internal storage, so in the case that many updates are being performed at once, the internal storage fills up with a mixture of applied updates, and in-progress downloads.

Performing the app updates one by one allows each app to in turn be downloaded, applied, and then the download removed, before moving on to the next update. If the app is stored on the SD card, doing it this way should mean there is as much room left on the internal storage as before the previous update was applied, so the next can proceed and hopefully succeed.

Given that there doesn't seem to be a way to queue apps for updates (according to the answer to the above linked question), are there any other ways to avoid this problem?

Checking for updates more frequently in order to have smaller simultaneous batches is all I can really come up with for now.

# Answer
Based on my experience, and a quick look at the UI, I don't think this is possible, even in the relatively new Market that appeared on my Froyo system this week. (Could not find a version number, but it is styled as big tiles on black background vs. the older white, game-console-ish look of before.
> 1 votes

# Answer
This is something I run into quite a bit. (Original DROID.) I don't think you're ever going to get around it short of a rooted solution.

Two things come to mind that, while not ideal, might help ameliorate the problem:

1. Set up auto-update for more apps. That way they'll get updated when released and will stagger the updates so you don't have as many at once. There's a few developers I trust to not hose me with updates. Google, for instance; I have all of their apps set to auto-update.
2. Check the Market more often for updates. In other words, don't wait until you get the notification that there are updates before you check. Then it's less likely that there are a lot of app updates to do.

There's also the obvious advice of removing apps so you have fewer to update.

Something else I often do when there are a lot of updates: First, I make sure I'm on wifi. Then I just go ahead and "Update All", knowing that one or two updates will fail due to lack of space. Most won't, so once those complete, I just tap the notifications for the failures and re-attempt.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, updates, internal-storage
---


# Question
Title: New messages do not show up immediately - HTC Desire Z
Has anybody else encountered this problem? I go into my message inbox and at that point I see I have unread text messages that were received many hours before without notification.

I have got the notifications configured appropriately to alert me to new text messages in the status bar. This is an intermittent problem.

Any help much appreciated.

# Answer
> 1 votes
In case anybody else is having the issue still, my phone recently picked up the Gingerbread release. This appears to have resolved the problem.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Other folks here have suggested that the issue may be with your SIM card:

I was having a similar problem which was resolved when I reset my phone to factory settings (for other reasons). It might be worth asking your carrier for a new SIM, though.

PS. This user asked about sms receipt delays -- a different but related question.

---
Tags: notifications, sms
---


# Question
Title: SD card unmounted when HTC Desire is being charged (even with a "wall charger")
Whenever I plug in the charger into my HTC Desire (2.2) it unmounts the SD card. I can get around it when it's connected to a PC or other device via USB by selecting Charge Only again in the charge menu - it then re-mounts the SD card. However, you do not get the charge/connect as options when it's a wall charger so I cannot get around the problem (therefore losing all my apps installed on the card, music etc while it's charging).

Has anyone seen a bug (feature?) like this? I've been trying to find anything about this problem online but to no avail...

Thanks in advance!

# Answer
> 1 votes
Strange. I have an HT Desire running 2.2 and don't have that problem. It might be the cable of the charger that is incorrectly registering as being a USB connection (faulty, cheap knockoff that is incorrectly wired?) Try another charger. Blackberrys also use micro USB so ask a buddy to use their charger

# Answer
> 0 votes
Interesting, never had that happen to me. If you can, try what pufferfish suggested - recharge with a different charger/cable (maybe ask around at work?)

Or if that isn't convenient possibly try taking out the SD-card and putting it back in? I've had my SD-card randomly unmount itself once and re-inserting it seemed to have fixed it.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Your HTC Desire is definitely has a malfunction. Try to reboot. As a workaround, you can try to configure to do nothing if USB cable is connected. Search for option in Menu =\> Settings or from notification when connected to PC.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try another SD card? Maybe the problem is voltage stability...

---
Tags: htc-desire, sd-card, charging
---


# Question
Title: My phone has automatically called  *44* twice now, does anybody know what this means?
I heard my phone calling `*44*` while it was in my pocket.

Does anybody know what this code means, or do you know what process is *calling* this number?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S running Froyo 2.2.1 and I use a prepaid card.

# Answer
> 3 votes
It could be VAD. It stands for Voice Activated Dialing and is triggered by the service code `*44*`.

I'm not sure why it would do that all by its own without your interaction. An explanation could be that you are using a VAD supporting Bluetooth headset.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, dialer-codes
---


# Question
Title: How do you change the screen background on Nexus S?
Just bought a Samsung Nexus S. No manual came with it. Apparently the moving default screensaver eats up heaps of battery life and I am not getting much battery life out of this new phone and I am constantly recharging.

How do you change it to a non-moving image?

# Answer
> 3 votes
From the home screen, press the phone's `Menu` button. Here, there is usually a button for `Wallpaper` (it will be the top right button on the menu), where you should be able to pick your wallpaper (this applies to your background and lockscreen).

---
Tags: battery-life, samsung-nexus-s, wallpaper, live-wallpaper
---


# Question
Title: How can I connect to my home VNC server via its hostname?
as asked in the Android chat room.

At home I have a remote-access VNC server set up (running UltraVNC server). My current Android VNC app, called, funnily enough `androidVNC` will only accept IP addresses to connect to. This is fine when using it inside the home, but as I want to access it from outside, my external IP address is dynamic, so when I save the settings one day it may be different the next day.

I have a domain, `home.example.co.uk` that is set up for the web server also running on that machine. If I open the ports in my home router, how can I connect via the server hostname (`home.example.co.uk:5900`, or similar)? If it requires a new VNC client, so be it.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Android VNC viewer is free and works with host names, but I have not played around with it much, so I cannot vouch for quality. Alternatively you could use a hostname to ip resolver (either as an app or as a website) to find out the ip address and use that to connect. I just tried out DNS Lookup from the Android market, and it looks like a pretty decent solution (fast, long-press to copy ip).

If you have the time, send an email to the creator of the app you use for a feature request, I'm sure he would appreciate the feedback :).

# Answer
> 1 votes
Instead of exposing your VNC server to the internet, consider using a VPN. This would secure and encrypt your remote connection. And as a side-benefit, you could save the internal IP address in your Android VNC client.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I'm not 100% sure but I think it should work with VNC Viewer (paid app but worth its price).

I'll give it a try when I'm at home and edit the answer.

---
Tags: remote-access, vnc
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to change the background of a keyboard or change the color of a key?
I want to change the look and feel of the keyboard , by changing its background and also the color of individual keys. Please help if there is a way to do it.

# Answer
> 2 votes
If you're not too attached to your current keyboard, there are loads of other ones you could try.

* SlideIt keyboard is good, and it has a new support for skins! so you can make it look however you want :)
* Swype has about the same functionality as the former, with a single skin that is more of a darker grey.
* FlexT9 has the same support as the first two, with a white skin.
* SwiftKey is good if you don't like the swipe to type thing, and has a couple good-looking included skins.

The only way to change the default keyboard on your device though, will be rooting and finding a ROM that has a keyboard that you like (or making your own if you're developer inclined ;) )

---
Tags: keyboard
---


# Question
Title: Where are the 'stock wallpapers' stored on the htc Desire S?
I just bought an htc Desire S, which runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). I can connect to FTP via BLuetooth's OBEX file transfer, or download one of the many file manager apps on the app store. But one thing is driving me crazy.

When you 'Personalize', you get 'Scene', 'Wallpaper', and 'Skin' as the 2 top options. I changed my wallpaper, so I clicked on Wallpaper, and selected 'HTC wallpapers'.

For the life of me I can't figure out where on the file system they are stored. I wish to download them to my PC. Where are they?

# Answer
OK, what I ended up doing was using the ASTRO file manager app to access `/system/customize/resource` on my phone, which seems to have the wallpaper graphics (amongs a load of other stuff). I copied the wallpaper I wanted to customize to an easy-to-reach place on the SD card (Edit | Copy, then Paste, in ASTRO), and copied it to my PC. Customized the wallpaper, and then copied it to the sdcard's DCIM directory via a USB cable (you can also use Bluetooth for this). I set it as my phone's background and it worked! Yay!

Kudos to the people at xda-developers.

For those interested, I just wanted to have my phone's make/model display as part of the background. Here's my new background wallpaper:
> 2 votes

---
Tags: htc-desire, 2.3-gingerbread, wallpaper
---


# Question
Title: Unable to have reverse-tethering on Samsung Galaxy Fit
I was implementing reverse-tethering using Samsung galaxy fit and ubuntu 10.10
I have followed the following post for the procedure: How to browse Internet in Samsung Galaxy Fit using Broadband in Windows 7?

I am using a DSL connection(BroadBand) and upon running

```
sudo ifconfig eth01 0.0.0.0

```

I got

```
SIOCSIFADDR: No such device

```

so i renamed the DSL connection to `eth0` ,then it worked fine.

The main Problem occured in implementing the third step: on running

```
./adb shell netcfg usb0 dhcp

```

I got error:

```
device not found

```

Usb tethering on the Mobile is on. The Mobile is new and I have not much with it.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I am trying to do the same thing on my Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S) with no success. I have followed this tutorial: http://blog.mycila.com/2010/06/reverse-usb-tethering-with-android-22.html

And I think that the problem is, and may also be for you, that "tethering and Usb debugging don't work simultaneously on this device". Bummer.

# Answer
> 0 votes
After running the following command:

```
sudo ./adb shell netcfg usb0 dhcp or
./adb shell netcfg usb0 dhcp

```

I get:

```
action 'dhcp' failed (Permission denied)

```

I think this is because the phone needs to be rooted, aka it is not possible to have reverse-tethering without rooting, at least not on Samsung Galaxy. If I'm wrong (and I hope so), please correct me.
Luca

# Answer
> 0 votes
The instructions for USB Networking Replicant are here. Replicant is a Free Software-Only fork of CyanogenMod, so it's more or less a rooted Android.

(It's entirely possible that USB networking requires root, as Replicant ships with root out of the box.)

I've done similar steps on other phones running Linux (OpenMoko FreeRunner). The scripts on the host PC is for Linux users, so it's not as applicable to your question as I'd like, but it's something.

Short version, on phone:

```
echo 1 > /sys/class/usb_composite/rndis/enable
ifconfig usb0 up

```

As of note, this may require busybox pushed to your phone, which is common in rooted environments.

---
Tags: usb, reverse-tether, samsung-galaxy-fit
---


# Question
Title: bash - How can I check if a computer exists on my network WITHOUT IP (i.e. by device name only)?
I would like my phone to execute certain shell scripts via Tasker if my phone is on the same wifi network as my laptop. My initial idea is to edit the `/etc/hosts` file, but this wouldn't work since neither device is constrained to be on only one wifi network.

A much more costly idea would be to just ping every possible address on the network from my phone, then attempt to send a command via ssh (say, `echo $ANDROID`) and listen for the response.

The best way to do this is to just be able to see if a device named "myLaptop" exists on the network.. (or, actually, I could use MAC address too.) but I have no idea if this is possible in bash. Is it?

(I'm also open to implementations in Perl, since I can use SL4A to implement Perl scripts.)

# Answer
> 3 votes
Dynamic DNS service would work. Get your laptop to update your dynamic domain with it's local ip, and then whenever your phone connects to a new wifi network, resolve that domain, if you get a hit, you're either good or happened to find someone with the same local ip!

Similar to that, you could get your laptop to post it's ip to a server somewhere (web, email, w/e) that you can retrieve from a script on your phone.

Short of setting up a DNS server, I'm not sure there is any means for resolving host names that aren't named in your local configs.

# Answer
> 2 votes
If you don't want a server-based solution, your laptop could listen to the network for a specific broadcast packet. A broadcast packet will be rerouted to every device in the same network, but devices that aren't listening to it should ignore it.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can use avahi (wiki) (or a similar piece of Zeroconf software) to discover computers on the network and publish the list for your phone to retreive.

See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1233204/are-there-any-other-java-libraries-for-bonjour-zeroconf-apart-from-jmdns for Java Zeroconf implementations.

# Answer
> 1 votes
There's an application called Network Discovery (available on F-Droid, may also be on the Android Market) that attempts to identify devices on the network your phone is connected to.

As it's Free Software, you could try to see if you can modify it or use portions of it for your purposes.

Not a "here's an APK" answer, but if you have to write something, it's a good start.

Edit: App is here: http://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=network%20discovery&fdid=info.lamatricexiste.network&fdpage=1

---
Tags: bash
---


# Question
Title: Does the Eee Pad Transformer TF101 support the APT-X audio codec?
I am considering buying a Bluetooth speaker for use with my Asus Transformer (amongst other devices) but I am unable to find out whether the Transformer supports the APT-X codec, or find any information as to whether this question is actually appropriate as I may be mixing my terms/getting confused.

I am considering a device such as this:

Creative ZiiSound D5

What I am wondering is whether the Transformer will be outputting the sound using the APT-X codec or not? Is there any way to determine this?

From the specifications of the Transformer here the Bluetooth is **Bluetooth V2.1+EDR**.

# Answer
I doubt it, since it's proprietary; Android by default only supports these codecs. It's not required for the speakers to work though, as far as I can tell.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: bluetooth, audio, asus-eee-pad-transformer
---


# Question
Title: Is there an Android known issues database?
Does anyone know if there is a Known Issues Database for Android, or some tool that one could search for known issues based on the version of some parts of the code such as the kernel.

# Answer
> 5 votes
The official issue database for bugs/features/etc. of the Android OS can be found here.

Copied from Bryan Denny's answer to another question.

---
Tags: security, bugs
---


# Question
Title: Flashing 2.3.3 'Leaky' onto a Samsung Epic 4G
What can go wrong when flashing an unstable Android OS onto a phone? Is there an easy way to reset the phone if something goes wrong? Has anyone out there had experience flashing Android OS?

Why would I want to flash Gingerbread 2.3.3 aka Leaky onto my Samsung Epic 4G?

One benefit that I can see is that users of the Epic will be able to test their applications on \> Froyo 2.2.1, which is currently the stable release for the phone.

*EDIT:* Also, what happens when the device wants to update again, say 2.3.4 is flashed onto the phone, and then Sprint finally releases a stable 2.3.4 in 2013. Assuming I still have this phone then, will it upgrade gracefully from the flashed ROM?

# Answer
Anything can go wrong, including issues that permanently brick the device.

That said, Galaxy S devices are compatible with a tool called Odin that can fix all but the worst problems. Example process.

I personally flash pretty much anything I feel like onto my Vibrant, and Odin has saved me many times. I wouldn't hesitate to flash something I wanted to try out, but you may wish to be more cautious.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, samsung-epic-4g
---


title: Hide or autohide top bar

text:
# Question
Title: Hide or autohide top bar
Is it possible to hide or autohide the top bar which is still present on the top of Android screen? My version of Android is 2.2.

The top bar is distracting for me while reading. I'm using `Aldiko`, `ezPDF Reader`, `Infinity` for reading. Most **distracting** is the **wifi icon** which is changing when something happens with the connection.

And the top bar is **using space** on a **small display** which can be better utilized (e.g. in `Teamviewer`)

Some **video players** can hide the top bar (default `Video player`) and some can't (`Act1 Video player` \- which I like more but don't use because of the top bar).

Thank you.

# Answer
You can hide the top bar if you use a different launcher like @CustomiZer stated, but it will **Only** hide it when you are on the home screen. When you open apps, if they are not Full Screen apps, the top bar will still be present.

This is part of "core" android, and it is not something that can be changed, currently, via a setting or 3rd party application.
> 2 votes

# Answer
It is usually not possible with the default home screen. This is possible with alternative home replacement like GO Launcher EX, LauncherPro, ADW Launcher, etc. Some of these allow hiding of the top notification bar in their respective settings with specific swipe actions.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 2.2-froyo, notification-bar, user-interface
---


# Question
Title: Can application upgrades happen automatically, even if you have it turned off in marketplace?
I thought I had turned off all the automatic upgrades for the apps on my phone (T-Mobile G2 w/ Froyo).

However, yesterday, I got a notice that said that I had new GMail and described the new features.

I checked GMail, and I did have the new 2.3.5 version.

Then I checked Android Market, and it shows "Allow automatic updating" as unchecked.

# Answer
I believe that Google can and will update their system apps like Gmail, Market, Search and Youtube (I think that is still system app).

There have been plenty times that the Market updates itself, without any interaction from the user. I have not seen them actually update anything automatically, except the Market, but if you have a "with Google" phone, I am sure there is some blurb somewhere that says they may update the applications without you knowing, or something.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, updates, gmail
---


# Question
Title: Download free-software apps from official Android Market without logging in
The Android Market has some apps which are free software, which entails that anyone can redistribute them; and that are also zero cost. (An example is Theremin, but I'm not interested only in that one specific app.)

So for those apps, there's no good reason for me to register with the Market in order to get those apps and install them. I have no interest in registering with the Market.

It would be good if such free-software and zero-cost apps were available at more places, like the FDroid Repository, which doesn't require anyone's credentials in order to get the apps.

(Please note: this question is **not a request for other app stores**, that's not the issue.)

But the Android Market doesn't have an obvious way to download apps without logging in. How can I do so?

# Answer
> 4 votes
You cannot download apps from the Market without an account associated with your device.

The only way to get apps without the Market (or an alternative market) is to get it directly from the developer and "side-load" it.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Google has no way of distinguishing between software that is free but licensed and freeware that has no restrictions (though they could enforce some sort of selection for licence type on upload if they wanted, of course). There is no way (without hacking, presumably) to download apps from the Market without logging in. There's nothing to stop an app maker from providing an alternate download, though.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Short answer: you cannot. Any app that you download through Google's Android Market requires a Google account.

There are some alternative markets for Android out there. Check out Amazon's Appstore and SlideMe.org for example. You may find some of the apps you're interested in there.

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


# Question
Title: Gingerbread upgrade for Samsung Galaxy Gio?
> **Possible Duplicate:**
> When will my phone get the Android 2.3 update (Gingerbread)?

A few days ago I bought the Samsung Galaxy Gio, an Android phone that ships with Froyo. My regional Samsung site implies that a Gingerbread upgrade is available to me.

I then installed Samsung Kies to see if I could upgrade the firmware, but it said that currently no update was available for my device. (Related discussion about the cryptic update message.)

How do I find out whether Samsung plans to release an official Gingerbread upgrade for my device?

Are there any unofficial firmware upgrades available that work with my device? Would you recommend them? What about security?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Everything I can find suggests that a Gingerbread update is assumed because firmware has been leaked. So you can't (yet) get it through something official like Kies. This guide shows how to install the leaked version if you're so inclined.

---
Tags: updates, samsung-kies, samsung-galaxy-gio
---


# Question
Title: Why are files sent through Gmail renamed?
Why is it if I download an image sent to me through Gmail the filename of the image was changed into downloadfile? Is there a way that the filename won't be changed after downloading it from Gmail?

Samsung Galaxy 5, if it matters.

# Answer
The newest version of the Gmail app supports file downloads, rather than previews. If you're using the website I would think that Foley is correct.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: gmail
---