Any help on a HTC Desire GPS problem after Android 2.2 Froyo update?

I had problems with GPS with my new HTC Desire (Froyo out of the box). I downloaded the "GPS Status" and "GPS Test" apps which showed only two satellites but were not locking them. Even Google Maps didn't get a GPS lock. I went outside of my room and tried but no luck. I switched off the cell, removed the battery, SD card and SIM and then put them back and restarted but still no luck.

Then I installed GPS Essentials from the Android Market. I launched the application and changed the following settings:

Gps update interval -> 10 seconds
Tracking update interval -> 10 seconds

After this I tapped on "satellites" on the main screen while standing outside. It detected 8 satellites in a few seconds and it was able to lock to 7 of them. After that everything started working including "GPS Status", "GPS Test" and Google Maps (even inside my room).


Thanks to @Robert who pointed me in the right direction.
Unfortunately Google Play services didn't update itself automatically even though it had been on for a couple of days. So... I resorted to downloading a recent version from apkmirror, found the right version for the 2013 Asus Nexus 7 (armeabi-v7a, Android 6.0+, nodpi).
It took a minute or so to install but it was successful, after which I attempted to login again. This time, after entering my password, I was prompted to choose how I wanted to use my security key to login. Chose NFC, and I'm in.


Can I recall a command to reset a lost phone?

Right. This is possible, which is great. Log into the Android device manage for a second time, before connecting the lost device: set a password, click on the "wipe device" option, but then press cancel instead of choosing to wipe it. the earlier request is then cancelled and your recovered tablet can safely connect to the net. The new password will appear, apparently magically.


You can't execute fastboot commanda without a physical connection to the phone.

Fastboot is another name for "bootloader mode", where the bootloader stops itself before further loading the OS, and waits for fastboot commands.

Since bootloader is very simple, your only bet would be connecting your phone to a computer.


Where does Android store the snapshots used on the recent apps?

If what are you asking for is the location of the thumbnails displayed by Android when switching apps, then (on my LineageOS 13) they are stored inside /data/system/recent_images as PNG files called x_task_thumbnail.png (x being a possibly random number).

Since the thumbnails are owned by user system and group system, and their octal permissions are 600, you do need root to access them in whatsoever way.


How can I get an offline version of wikitravel on my Froyo phone?

You can use the iTravelFree app to save wikitravel pages and view them offline.


Any way to place a link to `/sdcard2` within `/sdcard`?

Do you know how the internal storage is formatted?  If it's FAT then there's not much you can do.

Otherwise you could do something like this from adb shell or from a terminal on the phone:

cd /sdcard
ln -s /sdcard2 <name>

For example, if <name> was sd2 then you can now access it via /sdcard/sd2/.


Shortcut to switch profile on CyanogenMod

Holding the power button brings up the "power options" menu. In there you can choose the profile.


I have broken screen. Can I root my phone only with downloading mode and recovering mode?

I think you should be able to use adb on your phone while in recovery. adb devices should show something along the lines of YOUR_DEVICE   recovery.

Once you have access to your device in recovery, you can mount the data partition using adb shell busybox mount /data and then you can use adb pull to pull data from the data partition, for example: adb pull /data/ phone_data/ will save the entire contents of your /data partition (which includes apps, wifi settings and app preferences) to phone_data in your current directory. If you want to pull data from your sd card for some reason, simply do adb pull /sdcard/ phone_sdcard/.

Note: I prefer using TWRP (which you can find for your device here), so if any of the above steps don't work you should try using it.


HTC Rapid Charge 2.0 overheating battery

Excessive Heating of battery is a typical, inescapable effect of using " fast or rapid " chargers. Reason behind this is the charging rate. Normal charging uses 0.5 to 0.8 C (C is the charge rate) whereas fast charging uses anything between 1 to 3C. In simple words, this is pushing more current to charge faster. Heat produced is related to Power and governed by the equation

Power = I² * R where I is current.

So increase in current has a significant effect on increase in power (being proportional to square of current) , therefore heating, and the same is being reported by your app

Yes, it does have adverse effects:

In Short term: meaning when you charge and use, the Battery delivers less performance (another way of putting it is what charges faster Will also drain faster)
Long Term the battery life is reduced

Refer to my answer here for detailed technical explanation and a graph showing adverse effects How does fast charger work?

Edit: A helpful note on heat increase while charging from All about Battery Chargers

  Li-ion should not rise more than 10ºC (18ºF) above ambient when reaching full charge.


Google Play Services has access to my car speed

Access to your car's speed seems like a new permission added for Android Auto.
The fact Google Play Services has that permission allows it to act as a common provider for this information to other apps (apart from using it for analytics).


How to sync non-picasa folder displayed in Gallery app?

The gallery is showing the Instagram folder cause it scans the whole device and external storages and grab all folders with images. You can't sync that folder but can share once in a while with Picasa so that process will upload images on that folder to Picasa. And then Picasa will sync that folder to your rest of the devices.


Can I fastboot flash a factory image without flashing the recovery?

According to the CyanogenMod Wiki, you should be able to flash each partition separately – if you've got an image for it. Quoting:

  Common fastboot commands
  fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
  fastboot flash boot boot.img
  fastboot flash cache cache.img
  fastboot flash userdata userdata.img
  fastboot flash system system.img

Following this list come instructions on Installing recovery using fastboot, which should apply (with the partition/file names replaced accordingly) be valid for the other partitions. Basically, with usb-debugging activated and your device connected to your computer (which has the appropriate tools installed):

# Boot the device into bootloader mode:
adb reboot bootloader

# Make sure fastboot can "see" it:
fastboot devices

# Flash the image:
fastboot flash recovery your_recovery_image.img


Looking for an ePub reader that works without an SD card

Assuming, you have a Nexus, the internal memory should show up as a normal SD card would in other phones. When you connect your phone to a PC and then MOUNT it, it ought to show up as a removable drive.

You can use Aldiko - it's an eBook reader (currently freeware) that works well with epubs.

Copy the .epub file and drop it in your phone (after mounting)
Place the .epub file in * phone_directory/ebooks/import
Unmount, and start Aldiko
Press the menu key, and hit import, give it some time to copy the file, and you're done!

The newly imported book should now show up on your bookshelf.

The official FAQ might also help.

EDIT: An alternative (easier) method using the same app, available on Google Play.

I found that I could import the .epub without connecting the device to a PC. This was verified with a Nexus 7, which does not have an SD card.

Navigate to Aldiko's main page. After selecting Files, you can browse the files on your device.
Select the .epub file you want to read and select Import.
The .epub will show up in the Aldiko library.


It sounds like your phone is defective. You should return it to the shop for repair or replacement.


Pin deleted but pin lock screen still comes up

There ONLY way to get into your phone is to wipe all downloaded applications but keep all data on your internal sd card. This can be done by switching off the phone. Then hold the volume up button and press the switch on button. Select to delete all user data. Do not worry as this will not delete data on your internal SD Card. Select reboot. The proccess of selecting is done by volume buttons. You confirm using the MENU button.  If backed your apps with ES File Explorer you can have them back without any internet connection. Select the back app file in MY FILES and install all your apps back again without any internet connection.


You might have needed to wipe the user cache, which I think happens automatically over time (hence the umpteen reboots solving the problem).


Find the IMEI number of lost Android phone

Not a way to find it , but to document that it's not possible from Google Dashboard anymore

  Is it possible to find the IMEI number of a lost Android phone using Google Dashboard?

Unfortunately NO

Google removed this feature for reasons best known to them. From Google Support, see what
NoGoodDeed says

  As catzrule states, Google has was removed IMEI information from the new dashboard view.

  Google is considering where and if it might be appropriate to re-surface that info.
  You can leave  Feedback
  about this with Gmail.

This is the latest official source (October last year) I could find, so there is no way out unless you have the box or bill mentioning IMEI.

Other possibilities

If you synced to itunes as claimed here ( I can't confirm)
Another very long shot is if you had installed a paid app that is single device use and is linked to your IMEI number (I have a call recorder app that does this and everytime I change my device , need to mail them with new IMEI number, so end up having a record)
As Bochur mentioned in comments (thanks), asking Telco is another possibility

I wish Google would reintroduce this

Edit Things that didn't help

Chatting with Google help from Play Store options - they were totally clueless and couldn't direct me to somebody who can help
Downloading data from Google Dashboard. Combed but to no avail. Only interesting thing is that you can see your Google ID here


What is rooting? How to root an android phone?

Did you tried Google Android rooting?

Is there something in the articles that your don't understand?

Rooting means allowing an application to gain root privilege. This is usually done by hacking the existing kernel or flashing a new kernel.

Some devices locked the bootloader, you have to "unlock the bootloader" first in order to flash a new kernel.

As for updates, enthusiasts port the latest AOSP to various devices. Xda forum is a great source for these custom ROMs (and rooting/flashing info).

WARNING: Rooting, unlocking bootloader and flashing custom ROMs may void your warranty.


Is it possible to use multiple accounts from one email address in K9 application?

AFAIK, it's not possible (Related How to setup K9 Mail properly for free email services offering multiple aliases for same email box?)

K9 mail isn't really active in development and I would rather suggest you switch to a modern Email Client which does this and much more. I am talking of FairEmail. Don't be discouraged by "unreleased"  status. It's very much functional and actively developed. See this XDA thread.

Specific to your query see FAQ 9

I am not associated with the app but would happily recommend this being a better alternative to K9 mail - it's leagues ahead of K9


Just did system update and forgot I had TWRP and root and now the updates changes havent taken affect!

The best way to 4.3 may be unrooting and flashing the stock recovery image.

I used the Nexus Root Toolkit 1.6.4 to install 4.3 on a Galaxy Nexus having some minor problems. I would suggest waiting for NRT 1.6.6 which will have full support for 4.3


Why are the speakers on my HTC One so quiet?

I recommend you to check with another identical phone(from a friend, or from the store) Your phone might a defect


POP3 E-mail Downloading Old E-mails I had Deleted

You have to tell the mail application to delete the messages from the server explicitly.  This options is provided during the initial setup, but is also accessible from the Account Setup options.  Change "Delete message from server" from "Never" to "When I delete from Inbox".

This was not part of my original answer, but was added by the editor:
This is fine if you do all your email on your handheld, but if you need to leave messages on the server for any reason (you deal with some later on computers at home or work) your android will keep grabbing other old messages to take their place until your set maximum is filled.  This seems to be a bug or at least a weakness in the platform.


How can i update my experia x10 from 1.6 to 2.1?

Call support. They are really helpful. To the Swedish support it's +46-1-324-4500.


No whatsapp calls are end to end encrypted and it doesn't record calls.
You can use Whatsapp call recorder to record calls. Remember to disable internet access of the app for more privacy :)


Recovery Mode does not find internal nor external storage

You should use Odin or Hiemdall (preferred) to flash a new ROM, and or flash a new partition table.

It sounds like the partition's have been erased, and as such should be remade by flashing a new ROM.


You can manage all devices on the Device Activity web page:

Expand the entry of your lost device and you will get a button for "Remove account access."


Disable a specific WiFi network from automatically connecting to in Android

Android automatically connects to all WiFi networks it has configured. So basically, if you do not want that to happen, you could either turn WiFi off (which would also disable to connect to the other WiFi networks, which is not what you want) -- or delete the configuration for the network you don't want to connect to automatically (which would make you lose its settings, on the first glance).

The first option is not in your interest -- but the second can be helpful, even if you don't see this immediately. You could use an app like WiFi QR Share first to convert that networks settings into a QR code, then print out this generated QR code. Store it in a safe place (e.g. laminate it, cut it down to credit-card size, and put it in your briefcase). Now delete this WiFi networks configuration -- it will no longer auto-connect.

If you want to connect it manually, that does not mean to enter all the configuration again: Simply open your QR Code reader (Barcode Scanner should do fine), scan the QR, and connect. Don't forget to delete the configuration again afterwards.

Unfortunately, there's no way to mark a network "manual only", so this seems the easiest way to me.


First, make sure adbd is running as root:

adb root

If you get an error that says something like "unable to run as root on production builds" it means that you must always issue su command in the adb shell to gain superuser privileges.  You will need to enter the shell before any mount commands will work.  You will need to push the file to the SD Card, then mount /system partition as read-write, and then copy the file to the /xbin directory like so:

adb push [path-to-iwconfig] /sdcard/
adb shell
su
mount -o remount,rw /system
cp /sdcard/iwconfig /system/xbin/
mount -o remount,ro /system
exit
exit


By browsing the source code (for example here) you can see the usage help:

static void usage(char *cmd) {
    fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s [ -m max_procs ] [ -n iterations ] [ -d delay ] [ -s sort_column ] [ -t ] [ -h ]\n"
                    "    -m num  Maximum number of processes to display.\n"
                    "    -n num  Updates to show before exiting.\n"
                    "    -d num  Seconds to wait between updates.\n"
                    "    -s col  Column to sort by (cpu,vss,rss,thr).\n"
                    "    -t      Show threads instead of processes.\n"
                    "    -h      Display this help screen.\n",
        cmd);
}

As you can see, the -m option specifies the maximum number of processes to display.


How do I tell which Nexus 5X 6P stock firmware variant to download?

First, you must flash the appropriate image for your device. Flashing a 6P image onto a 5X will not work.

Second, pick which version you want (i.e. 6.0.0 or 6.0.1). Within each version there are multiple download options. These are the different monthly security updates. For instance, 6.0.1 has two options for the 5X - MMB29K and MMB29P. These always increase within the same version number (i.e in this case, in the last digit P comes after K in the alphabet; However, sometimes it increases more fundamentally, such as the change from MDA89E in the first 5X 6.0.0 to MDB08K in the next security update for 6.0.0 on the 5X. In this case it is the third digit which increases from A to B that is the fundamental change; But in all cases, they increase).

Generally, just grabbing the last option within the version is fine. If you grab a previous one, since it is a stock image, you will get a prompt for an Over-The-Air (OTA) update to the latest security patch anyways.


I have had my gs3 with T-mobile for about 11 months. Two days ago I began receiving "camera failed" warning. I was beginning to think, after researching this issue, that my phone would need to be replaced if I wanted a functioning camera again. But moments ago, with the "camera failed" warning showing on my screen, I started squeezing the top of my phone between my fingers in different places, and suddenly my camera started working again. I'm a bit afraid that it is going to stop working again, but at least I know this is a mechanical error. I'm thankful I didn't reset my phone for no reason. I have never posted to any site before this, but if this can help anyone else having this problem, I thought I should mention it. I do hope it helps.


My Samsung Galaxy S4 does not have sound when I play videos, however, sound works on calls

Did you use the built-in video player? If you haven't done this, try playing videos using a third party app from Play Store, and if it is still getting the same result, sadly you're gonna have to start over and normally by doing factory reset will do the trick on android stock roms -- if you said you've done everything you could to fix it, but the result is still the same, well this is the last thing to do. but if you're using a custom rom this is another story and perhaps may even lead to be some sort of a bug.


How to take small-sized-(~50KB) good quality screenshots using overlay button?

Touchshot is an app I use which has both you are looking for

Hover button (overlay)
JPEG / PNG - JPEG quality 80 /90 /100 and resolution can be varied from 640 x 360 , 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080

Minimum size by manipulating these is still around 100 kB and not as low as you want. There may be other apps that offer size you want but not with overlay function. As an additional feature , you get date and time stamped screenshots


Okay Google Everywhere options missing from Google Now

Just flash Nexus GApps again. That should fix permissions or add possibly missing files which are causing trouble.


You can try the following commands:

To enter the fastboot mode:
adb reboot bootloader

Check whether the mobile phone is also in fastboot mode:
fastboot devices

To delete the data:
fastboot erase userdata

To delete cache:
fastboot erase cache

Source and more detailed instructions click here.


I believe I have one of these device (mine is branded as something else but the US brand is the ViewSonic gTablet). I cannot recall if I have tried to do a screenshot with DDMS or not. I don't know why the forums you read would say adb would work becuase ADB uses the same method as DDMS.

I will try my device when I get home from work today, in the mean time, I have read that these apps should work with the device.

All of these are paid apps, they may have a free/lite version but I dont know if they will work for your issue.
Screenshot ER - Requires Root
Screen Shot It - Requires Root
No Root Screen Shot It - NO ROOT REQUIRED (but I am not sure if this works)


Why my phone is always out of space recently, but I didn't install any new software

It should be the applications occupying /data/ space as they are in use, mainly due to runtime files, cache, database, etc.

In order to verify this, you can execute the following:

adb shell
su -c "du /data" | sort -n

It should have a result like:

...

3792    /data/data/com.UCMobile
28399   /data/app
35647   /data/data
49374   /data/dalvik-cache
114865  /data/

And then you can check the directories from large to small, to see what's taking so much space.


Forgot my password to my samsung galaxy tab E

This is from the T-Mobile Support website at This link

Samsung Galaxy Tab E

Master reset with hardware keys

A master reset restores the original factory settings and may delete your personal data on the internal storage, such as downloads, ringtones, images, apps, contacts, and Visual Voicemail. It does not delete data stored on the SIM card or SD card.

If the device menus are frozen or unresponsive, you can master reset using hardware keys.

Turn off the device.

Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key, then press and hold the Power key.
When the Samsung Galaxy Tab E logo screen displays, release only the Power key
When the Android logo displays, release all keys ('Installing system update' will show for about 30 - 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
Press the Volume Down key several times key to highlight 'wipe data / factory reset.'
Press Power button to select.
Press the Volume down key until 'Yes -- delete all user data' is highlighted.
Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
When the master reset is complete, 'Reboot system now' is highlighted.
Press the Power key to restart the device.

If you no longer have access to granddaddy’s google account, you may have to start one of your own :)


Can I use the Nexus-S GPS as an external GPS for another device (via Bluetooth)?

Have you tried these apps:

GPS 2 Bluetooth v.2
Bluetooth GPS Output
Tether GPS Lite
GPS Tether


How to connect Sony Xperia L with Ubuntu?

That might depend on which Android version your device it running. Some devices additional support USB mass storage. Also: there are some packages you might install/update on your Ubuntu side, to support mtpfs (see e.g. answers here and here).

Alternatively, you might wish to go the "ADB way" (this is how I do it on my Ubuntu box). Here you would need a basic ADB installation (see: Is there a minimal installation of ADB?) and adbfs (see my answer here). In both cases, you can use graphical file managers as well as the command line to deal with your files.


Will Android read any other non-FAT file-system on SD card?

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

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

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

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

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


How do I set a default calendar-app in Android (Jelly Bean)?

Yes!  you should be able to clear the stock app from being the default calendar app by following these steps:

Go to the phone settings
select apps
scroll to the right two screen, to the 'All' section
scroll down until you can find calendar, click on it
scroll down the page and click the 'Clear defaults' button

Next time anything wants to use the calendar, you will be able to select which program you wish to use.


Modern Combat Sandstorm Texture problem on Acer Liquid Metal

You should contact GameLoft.  They officially support the Acer Liquid for that game, and thus should be able to help you (or at least take a bug report).  They don't specify which versions of the Liquid they support, so it could just be that they haven't tested on the Metal.


This happened 2 times already. I just had to calm down and think: the reboot was forced, in a non safe way. So something went wrong.
To solve it, i just did another, but normal reboot, and it fixed itself.


Galaxy Note and stock Google Calendar app

I've found a slightly modified, adapted version on Google Play that works well:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.concentriclivers.calendar


It can be kind of error done. I dont think it is creating any problem for you. Still you can do root and try deleting it from root explorer


App  isn't working correctly. How can I fix it?

The steps to take with an app that just isn't working properly are:

Rotate the device

if that doesn't help

From Settings | Applications | Manage applications | <application> or Settings | Apps | <application> (depends on your version of Android)

Force stop

if that doesn't help

Clear cache

if that doesn't help

Restart the device (turn off/turn on the device, or use the "restart" option if you have it)

if that doesn't help

Clear data

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

uninstall and re-install


Recover Android system with TWRP Recovery

Looking at the installation instructions of the ROM you flashed, I am guessing in the TWRP/ CWM options, under Advanced Wipe , one of the options " Wipe Dalvik Cache, Cache, System and Data " (likely data) was missed out leading to the current situation.

[[ Edit

Thanks to OP for confirming that wiping data was missed out by him while installing CM. A couple of other observations made by OP are listed. These are NOT normally observed behaviour of CWM but may be occurring due to incompatibilities of ROM being " unofficial"

CM didn't start normally when data partition alone was backed up
He had to resort to wiping data to get back to normal functioning. This is also mentioned in the installation instructions of the ROM

  Flash CyanogenMod:....Note that the recovery might fail to restore the backup when you want to go back to the stock ROM (emphasis by ROM developer)

]]

That aside, as you brought out, there are two options

Option 1 Re-flash CM ROM and subsequently revert to stock if needed

Option 2 Attempt to flash stock directly

Option 1 would be preferred option since your unable to flash stock ROM and get an error message

Suggested steps for Option 1

Boot to recovery mode of TWRP/CWM
Wipe Dalvik Cache, Cache, and Data (inside Wipe -> Advanced Wipe for TWRP)
Install CM ROM
Install the GApps zip-package
Test that ROM is correctly installed by testing minimum functionality of Google play store connecting, camera and call/ SMS working

Now,assuming it is successful,use the ROM for a couple of days before deciding if you want to continue with it or revert to stock

Reverting to Stock from CM 12

Since you are using OS X and Debian, install Heimdall (am not conversant with it so will skip the details)
Flash recovery. This guide seems to explain the process well but you can suggest a better alternative with your experience http://davideddu.org/blog/posts/how-to-flash-a-recovery-image-using-heimdall/

  Additional Information that may come in handy for related issues and also to cover points raised in the comments section of question

Windows users:

Flashing Stock using Odin

Odin has different versions and some of the versions have options changed. Hence, the description in guides may differ with options available on the tool. This guide has a good pictorial description corresponding to newer version of Odin

http://androidmtk.com/flash-samsung-stock-rom-using-odin

Extracting Stock recovery from stock image

http://howto.highonandroid.com/samsung-tutorials/how-to-extract-stock-recovery-from-samsung-firmware/2/
Linux users

Instructions for flashing stock ROM ate covered here How to convert .img to .tar to flash using Samsung odin tool?

Command line instructions for backing up stock recovery from image
Can we backup the stock recovery.img in any way?


Try replacing your stock SMS app with Textra (free). It has a simple & effective blacklist feature. Just long press on the offending text message, tap Blacklist, done.


Mobile network sign disappears, replaced by "stop sign" icon

The icon will appear when your mobile provider network is down. No signal at all, so SIM appears as out of service.

(Image courtesy of Android Central's Forum)


I managed to install ConnectBot on my device.

I can get DNS information by using getprop | grep dns


Is Android 3.0 Honeycomb only for tablets?

I think the conventional wisdom is that Honeycomb is a fork for Tablets only but this post suggests otherwise.  It says that in an interview with Engadget, Matias Duarte claimed that Honeycomb would be for all form factors.


Samsung apps cannot be run. Please try again later

Do you have a Samsung Apps icon on your phone? Have you tried using that one?

It's been a little while since I've used Kies, but it is used for all of Samsung's phones, not just the Android ones. The Samsung Apps icon in Kies only used to list Bada compatible apps, not Android ones, you needed to use the Samsung Apps icon on your phone to get the Android ones.

Edit: Just realised that this question has come up before, for the Galaxy S: Why do Samsung Apps not support the Galaxy S? though that question is from a year ago, so things may have changed since then


Notification on Connecting to Network Carrier

AFAIK there's nothing built-in to be used. And for apps, I only know the opposite: buzzing you when the alert is lost (see: Bad Signal Alert).

However, you could use tasker to create your own customized solution. Tasker can monitor signal strength, and you can setup a profile to utilize that. I cannot give you the matching profile currently, but you might wish to take a look at What is Cell standby and how can I keep it from eating my battery? In my answer there I've introduced a longer configuration involving the necessary tasks, so you might be able to adapt them to your needs. In fact, the SigReturn task already does what you asked for: Whenever the signal is restored, it issues a vibrating notification.

Being older than 2 years already, it might need some polish, though :)


The "Graffiti" writing technology from the old PalmOS devices is available for Android now, and supports letter at a time text input with a stylus (or presumably a finger). Graffiti for Android.

However, something like DioPen or PenReader seems to be more what you're after. They both have very mixed reviews, and do seem to be better on some devices than others, and take some getting used to.


Is it possible to image android phone and run on emulator?

Hope you're doing well.

You said you're interested in an application, well let me try and clear it up, but if you just want to use an application, you're better off with running it fresh on an emulator, and that way you will not have to worry about your broken phone, but if it is the app data you're interested in then I'd suggest you'd take a backup of your phone, that will basically be an image of your broken phone, using adb tools and then restore it onto an emulator. But you will have to look it up as to how you want to flash adb tools onto your phone without a display(assuming your display is completely dead).

Otherwise, your topic seems a little too broad


How do I use a U2F key to log into google account in firefox on android

Well, it's not a complete answer, but Google has apparently added some behavior at this point: There's now a URL (https://g.co/sc) given when you get to needing the second factor that you can use in another device to get a one-time use code.

I was able to switch to chrome on the same phone and use that URL. Chrome then prompted me for my FIDO key, which worked fine and I was able to login to firefox.

In no way is this ideal, but at least it's a workaround.


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

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

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

Force stop

if that doesn't help

Clear cache

if that doesn't help

Clear data

if that doesn't help

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

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

uninstall and re-install


How to recover files from a phone with a broken/unresponsive screen running Android Marshmallow?

Turn off phone using power button.
Boot into recovery mode.
Connect it to the PC and most probably it would be connected as MTP. If not, then recover your files via adb.

Edit: As pointed by @Firelord this will work on custom recoveries only.
The other method is as follows.
If you're connected to a Wi-Fi network, then find the IP address of your phone, most likely from the router setup page. You can then use ssh to copy files from the device. If ssh is not an option, then boot into fastboot mode. Flash a custom recovery for your phone and then follow the original answer.


Edit the folder from within the app drawer as if you were editing an app.  (Long press the folder and drag it to the "Edit" option at the top).

From there you can check/uncheck which tab(s) you wish for it to appear in.


How can I factory/hard reset/wipe a Nokia 2.2 (TA-1188) without a (windows) PC?

Having now been in contact with Nokia support; Apparently there is no way, at least with that specific phone in question (or the specific firmware ver.?), to get it unlocked/factory reset, for the common user.

Fortunately, the dude at Nokia support chat checked the IMEI's of it, and it turned out it was still within warranty, by a hair's length. So having contacted the chain that sold it, a second time, it seems the local store will be replacing the phone tomorrow.

As such, and though depending on varying consumer rights in countries; My hindsight tip would be to first press the seller with the fact, rather than immediately "making an appointment" trough Nokia's online warranty form, to send the phone away to Nokia as was suggested by Nokia support; Simply for Nokia to do the "magic" of unlocking your bought and paid for property(!!), and sending it back to you ..Something which no doubt would have added considerably more time than the store simply replacing the device and having to deal with manufacturer warranty themselves.

BTW: If you are indeed able to get to the 'downed droid' splash logo on your Nokia 2.2 (TA-1188) trough any physical button-combo, you just might want to confirm with Nokia support whether your phone might be a counterfeit one or not, or to verity that it's not been flashed with unoriginal and thus possibly tampered-with firmware.. (just push your way trough their silly chat-bot for a few questions, and then an actual human will respond to your inquiry on the other end)

PS: Google did eventually come trough with assistance in recovering my brother's hacked/locked Google account. (takes ~3.5 days).. But seemingly, that process also unlinks it from the/any associated device(s). Which is good, from a security perspective.. ..Though the problem becomes then, that that effectively makes it impossible to reset from online Android Device Manager as shown trough some online how-to's .. Meaning, the phone would've basically be considered as good as destroyed, if it had not been for it still being within warranty timerange... (personally, I'll be looking at Librem phone for myself in the near future, rather than risk experience a similar ordeal and frustration)


According to this thread from Xda-developers, AutomationTest_JBUP.apk is listed among the apps that can safely be removed from a Samsung Galaxy S2. That will mean it comes installed by the manufacturer as default app.

Its package name is com.sec.android.app.DataCreate and analysis of a subsequent version shows that it is from Samsung. I have no idea of its purpose.


bluetooth password for existing paired device

Your android device will not have the saved PIN anywhere because PIN is used only temporarily during pairing procedure So I think there isn't a way to reveal your PIN since it is not stored in you device. However you can remove and pair your note with pajero 2015 again.


Disabling the 5 GhZ wifi band on the HTC One X

Based on this review of the Wi-fi capabilities of the HTC One X from anandtech it would appear that the option is there. Look two-thirds of the way down on the site and see this image:

(Click image to enlarge; image taken from AnandTech)


I got the same error until I realized I was using the wrong password. After entering the correct password, the restore proceeded normally.


What is the path where GoSMS stores the SMS messages

SMS messages are stored in data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db. If you can't see it in your root explorer (or it is to small), try rebooting your device or simply - connect your phone to the computer and copy that file (using e.g. ADB) on it and I'm sure you will be able to read it properly .


Two pieces of ground I want to cover here:

/cache is typically a separate partition on your device, which wouldn't be mountable by a PC via USB, which is why that isn't working. The USB connection generally accesses a directory named "sdcard" (or similar) which is used as an external storage device, although this storage area doesn't have to be physically external to the device (it may just be a partition named /sdcard rather than a physical card).
If the OTA is in /cache then you should be able to find it with a file explorer or shell on your device. Once you've found it, you could simply move the file from /cache to your external storage and then copy it over USB. You'll need root in order to access /cache, though. There are a number of file explorers that support root access, but I personally use ES File Explorer.


4.4 Update (Sprint Galaxy S3) disabled pattern lock, can i reenable?

Go to Settings
Select Security
Under Credential Storage select 'Clear Credentials'


It seems that Play Music has come pre-installed on the phone. The only way to disable apps is going to Settings > App manager > All apps > Google Play Music   > Uninstall updates > Disable. Every android phone follow the same thing even though terminology used may be different. If you don't see Disable button then you need to root the phone to gain access as administrator.


How do I find the incremental upgrades direct download links?

Apparently it goes something like this:

somebody gets the OTA update on their phone
they use a logcat tool to find the URL in the logs.
they post the URL on some forum.

Source: http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon-droid-incredible/31295-how-get-ota-download-location-share.html#post309933


How to change the browser of a web-shortcut?

Try Website Shortcut. Open the app, paste the link of the website/webpage, then click on create shortcut. It will fetch the icon from the website for you.

On the home screen, click on the shortcut, you will be prompted to choose a browser. After selecting your browser, I advise to select "Just once" to allow the selection of other browsers if needed.

The disadvantage of the app is that if you remove it, the shortcuts will also be removed.

Disclaimer: I am not related to the app's developer.

EDIT: Below his the response I received from the app's developer as to why the source code is unavailable. He has given his authorisation to show the screenshot of his response.


Below is the method worked for me to change my phone model to Samsung Galaxy S10+

You need to have Magisk for root access
Install BusyBox and "MagiskHide Props Config" Magisk module and reboot the phone
Install the below terminal or any of your choice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jackpal.androidterm
Open the terminal and type props to open MagiskHide Props Config and select option 5 to add/edit custom props values
ro.product.model and ro.product.brand values need to be changed to the desired phone model
Go back to the main menu and select option 3 to enable Device simulation for the values added in step 5 and then reboot the phone

After reboot, the phone model will change to the values added. You might also need to check build.prop file if any additional values to be added in the Props.
Note: Take a full backup of your phone before performing these steps in case of any issue occurs.


Change MTP/PTP for a Galaxy S4 w/ a Broken Screen

If your phone is like mine, this option does not exist in any of the Settings menus.  First, connect your phone to your PC via the USB cable.  (If it is already attached, remove and reattach).  Watch your Notifications bar at the top of your screen and you will see a USB symbol appear.  Pull down the Notifications and viola, there is the option to change it back to MTP.


boot loop after flashing partitions from stock firmware

I have found the answer.

FlashTool worked after using Flashmode, it wasn't working because of my mistake, I was plugging the device in fastboot mode instead of flashmode.

After I flashed it it works great.


Status/Notification bar can't be accessed while inside full screen apps (GS4 - i9505 CM 12.1 Lollipop 5.1.1)

Once nobody was able to help me, I decided to share the answer I got by myself. I was bored and had nothing to do so I started going here and there trhough the conf. menu and I found out an option to solve it. It's under Developer options. There's an option enabled called Block touch gesture events  or something like this. You should just disable it then you're able to pull down the status bar over the full screen apps. Hope it helps someone. Thanks anyway.


"Internet not availabe" Error on Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)

If the same thing doesn't occur on public networks (i.e. School or coffee shop networks) then I would imagine it's a problem with your router.


No.
Wifi direct : direct share data between two devices (pictures, video, music, files), without internet.
Acces point by wifi : acces to internet


Two errors that refuse to be resolved, Google Play, Android 2.2.1

Information pulled from
http://wikitechsolutions.com/1222/error-while-retrieving-information-from-server-rpc-s-3-aec-and-rpc-7-aec-0

  Method 1: Level: Easy

First we have to remove our Google account settings on this device. Go to: Settings > Accounts > Google > Delete Account.
Then, we will: Settings> Applications > All> Downloads > delete data.
Settings> Applications > All> Play Store> delete data.
Settings> Apps > All> Google Services Framework > delete data.
We turn off the device. Turn it on again.
Settings> Accounts> Add Account

If not then try

  Method 2

Please read carefully. If the download does not work from the device, you'll have to download it to your PC. Then copy it to the device, using the USB cable to a folder on the external memory (microSD).

The Facebook app is the one most commonly generating this error, so we will focus on that. If needed, changing app files can be applied to almost any application that is giving you this problem.

Facebook version 3.8 is what we want :

 Download Facebook 3.8 APK

How to get downloaded APK files to update through Google Play Store

Enable installation from Unknown Sources

Settings> Security> and check the box for Unknown Sources option

Locate the APK file you downloaded using a file manager.
Open and install the APK file.

If installed version is newer than the downloaded APK, uninstall it & reboot, then continue.

Open the application and login into Facebook with your username and password.
Close the application and reboot.
Open the Play Store & check for updates.
Remove the check from step # 1, for added security.


How to prepare touchscreen-based Android device for [emergency] calling using only hardware buttons?

I started implementing my own solution for my device.

Here (source) is a program that (started as root) will allow you to start shell scripts using series of button presses. Currently having started this monitor ( andrhard 66 /h/andrhard < /dev/input/event2&) I can easily toggle the flashlight without unlocking the phone (using /sys/class/leds/lv5219lg:fled/brightness)

Now the problems is how to call/answer from shell scripts...


How to push website links from phone to chrome/other browser?

You could click the overflow button (menu) and choose to share the page. Then using an app like Evernote or Catch, sync the data to your desktop PC.

Alternatively, if you use Chrome as your desktop browser - use Phone 2 Google Chrome which uses the above concept. Also, take a look at Android2Cloud which has similar functionality.


Make sure you've disconnected from the computer and the phone has remounted the card, then navigate to /sdcard/ or /mnt/sdcard/.   (On other Samsung phones like the Galaxy S, you would go to /sdcard/external_sd/.)


How can I make my Samsung Galaxy S9+ install unsigned applications?

Check whether apps can support your android OS version.
You can turn on Allow installation of app from unknown sources. Go to setting / security / turn on Unknown sources option.


gif image is not working in Gallery in Nexus 5

Not displaying a *.gif image is more-likely related to the application you are trying to view the image with, rather than being device specific.

Take a look on the Google PlayStore for an alternative picture/gallery application. I know of one called "GIF Player" which could be of use in the worst-case scenario.


How do I install an app with system-rights on a non-rooted smartphone?

No. A system app has to be either installed by root or signed with the same key that signed the ROM image.


Retrieve files protected by NQVault due to forgotten password

Apparently, NQVault does not really encrypt the files, but simply does a byte-by-byte xor operation with a key that is generated from the password. Oh, and it does that only for the first 128 bytes. Since a byte can only take 256 different values, you can simply brute-force the key you need to "decrypt" your file.
The author of the linked post has even published the code for a brute force attack. All you need to do is to compile the c code, edit the bash script to recognize whatever mime type your videos are and then run the script.


How to copy files from tablet to PC - Not all files show up in PC

you may try install the android SDK and use adb-pull under command-line.


Can I prevent tethering from using cell/mobile data?

If your mobile connection is properly deactivated, there is no chance to switch from Wifi to Mobile Data.

You can use the tiles in the status bar to do so (if you don't have it go to Settings > Status Bar > Tiles), or you can just go to the Settings menu and switch off Mobile Data from the main Settings panel.

If you want to switch automatically from Mobile to Wifi AND deactivate Mobile when you use Tethering, you can use apps such as Tasker to automate this.

If you have the "Developper" menu activated on the Settings, there is a option there that forces Mobile when Wifi is weak.
If the option is activated, just switch it off.


Will charging a phone with a different USB *cable* affect the battery life?

Moto X Play supports fast charging, though this review says a fast charger is not supplied with it, maybe they supplied it subsequently
Fast charging needs to be supported by the USB cable as well. The D+ and D- pins of the cable negotiate the charging voltage and current with the device, in tune with the charging circuitry in the charger (see Overview of USB Charging for more details
If a cable/ charger that does not support fast charging is used, there is no harm caused -  charging will be normal charging instead of fast charging. In the case of cable, it is because it may not be designed to carry adequate fast charging current, which is usually higher than normal charging

Additional Information  you may like to refer:

How does fast charge work
How to choose micro USB cable for my device


What is the meaning of the set of Play Store icons at the top of the screen?

Although you don't have a screenshot, they are most likely apps that have recently been installed, updated, or have updates ready. I can give you more specific help if you post a screenshot.


I think this is just the Facebook app being buggy, I've had the same problem.  Try doing a sync.  I believe only the notifications are pushed, and not the actual new data, so you need to sync to grab the new messages.


Where to find "adb" version 1.0.32 to install on Ubuntu?

Download and untar

https://skia.googlesource.com/skia/+archive/cd048d18e0b81338c1a04b9749a00444597df394/platform_tools/android/bin/linux.tar.gz

After this, just copy the extracted executable "adb" over old one in /usr/bin.


I fixed it. Power + vol up + home ( pressing all three simultaneously)  should work. Hope this can help someone else who gets stuck!


Can you use somebody else's `/efs` folder?

No, this won't work, because there is cant be two phones with same IMEI codes and every single phone probably has special modem codes so efs from one phone won't work in other phone


Kindle Fire HD 8.9 not getting unbricked after going into fastboot mode

From my understanding, if you can't boot into recovery by first pressing the volume down button and holding it, while pressing and holding the power button, your tablet is lost. You will need recovery to flash the firmware that came with your tablet, if I am not mistaken. If there is another way, you might want to wait for another answer. If your tablet is still under warranty, send it back to Amazon for a one time courtesy replacement.


How to not lose credentials, form data, and active tabs while still use DU Speed Booster app?

As @Lucky says in the comment above:

Add the browser you are using to the ignore list within DU Speed Booster, the app cache will be retained when clearing the cache.


ADB Sideload Password Reset on Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 on Sprint?

I ended up just factory resetting it. Thanks for the information, @AndyYan.


fixed it this way: Settings, location, improve accuracy and turn off wi-fi. So far problem seems to be fixed.


The line down the middle points to this being a problem with the screen's backlight. The backlight illuminates the screen from behind: the screen itself is essentially a coloured filter, which you wouldn't be able to see without a light source. From the excessive brightness I'd say it's possible the backlight has been receiving too much voltage from the rest of the system.

This could have been caused by a problem in the drivers for the screen. In normal use, they control the voltage to the backlight in order to make the screen brighter or dimmer, but it could be that in this case a bug made them supply too much voltage. The backlight is actually in two halves, which can be independently controlled (but usually aren't): the line down the middle appears if they're not quite receiving the same voltage.

If the problem went away on its own, there is probably nothing to worry about, but there is a small risk that the extra voltage may have permanently damaged the backlight. Normally I'd expect a voltage regulator to turn it off completely before getting to dangerous levels, but only the manufacturer would know for sure. As it's still in warranty, you should check with them. (They may also be interested to investigate this to avoid the problem happening again to anyone else.)

You say there's still a little whiteness around the edge of the screen when it's on but entirely black: this is normal for backlit LCD screens. It happens because the blackest black the screen can display doesn't quite manage to filter out all the light. The filtering is worst around the edge of the screen because that's where the light comes through at an angle (and on some displays because the light leaks around the outside of the screen). You probably just didn't notice it before because you weren't looking for it.


Is there a way to "Turn Off" My Magazine on Samsung Note 3?

The "My Magazine" feature is integrated into the Touchwiz launcher, so there's really no way to completely turn it off under Jelly Bean.  If you freeze/disable the app you'll see frequent crashes.

If you're still under Jelly Bean, you unfortunately cannot do what Robert suggests because it only applies to Lollipop.  However, the simple way to get rid of this piece of crap is to simply install say the NOVA launcher, or any other available in Google Play.


Unable to sync chrome passwords on Huawei P20: "Android system sync disabled"

Power saving mode is the problem. Go to Settings > Battery > turn Power saving mode off.

Then go back to Settings > Users & Accounts > check Auto-sync data.

A few minutes later, everything will be synced.

(From https://techandcoolstuff.com/how-to-fix-auto-sync-data-greyed-out-huawei-mate-20-pro-user-accounts-not-synchronizing/)


Is it possible to detect two Gear VR controllers at once with Unity?

Check this post on Oculus developers forums: Would I connect two GearVR Controllers?

User imperativity, listed as "Oculus Staff" in the forums answered the following on 2017 May 1st:

  Yes, there is support for using two controllers at once.
  This functionality will be released in the future and is currently not
  available at this time.

Last blog post about the controller mentions that single controller is supported by several version of Unity starting from 5.3.

According to the documentation, the API provides a way to differentiate between controller held in left hand and in right hand:

OVRInput.Controller.LTrackedRemote
OVRInput.Controller.RTrackedRemote

The feature is not currently exposed by Oculus SDK, but officially it will happen soon.
When it is exposed, it is probable that Unity will support it soon after, maybe through the APIs mentioned above.


How would one use the Android accelerometer to measure one's mass?

Newton's second law states that Force = Mass * Acceleration.  We can use this formula to solve for Mass:: Mass = Force / Acceleration.  As such, we need a known force in order to take a measurement of acceleration to determine mass.  Hopping into the air is going to be a variable, instantaneous force.  Also, your legs are going to act like variable force springs to absorb your impact with the ground.  All of these variables would really frustrate your attempt to get anything close to a valid mass reading.

NASA has created device that uses the measurement of acceleration to determine mass for astronauts in space.  The Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device (SLAMMD) uses two springs to generate a known force on the subject and then reads the acceleration to determine mass.  There is a nice video on YouTube explaining how it works and providing a demonstration of the device in action.


Can I see my Play Store wishlist on the web?

EDIT: Yes - As Al points out in the comments, the url is https://play.google.com/wishlist

Old Answer:

Basically no.

The same question was asked on Reddit.  It's not a stretch of the imagination to assume that they will roll out a web version, but as yet there's been no official word from Google.


Rooted Android Phone - Add Latest Google Play Store to System App for future factory reset

Download Google Play store here [ http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1996995 ].
Install it from file manager by clicking APK file. Convert to System app via TitaniumBackup if you've already bought it as this feature is only available in PRO version. Or use this app [ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.j4velin.systemappmover ] which is free. You can also move to /system/app folder manually and then set the right permission [and generate odex file] but using app to convert app to system app is safer option.


Go to settings>apps>all and find Google Play Services. Tap it, then tap 'delete from use' or whatever it is. Then tap on the 'delete updates'
After you've installed your version of the services, remember to tap the button 'Take to use'.

Should work :)


How to export a list as Text of all Play Store Apps that I have ever installed

Use Google Takeout to export out of Google services a list of all activity involving the Google Play Store for a Google account.

No root or even device is required as you are exporting out of Google's collected cloud data, you just need account credentials.

For reference I just did it for my account and was able to obtain a zip file containing the following JSON files:

Devices.json
Installs.json
Library.json
Order History.json
Play Settings.json
Purchase History.json
Redemption History.json
Reviews.json

If you check Installs.json you should be able to extract out the name of the app from "title" as well as when it was first installed/last updated.

A few caveats that I see:

Apps on pre-Google Play devices appear to show up with package app name (i.e. com.publisher.awesomeapp). The earliest in my history is 2011. So there appears to be Android Market installs are held in this dataset.
Devices.json only seems to hold recently accessed devices. I'm pretty sure I had older devices with Google Play but they aren't listed. Its possible those old devices (Gingerbread/KitKat) have 'aged' out due to lack of access so that might explain why the older app installs like from 2011 show "deviceDisplayName": "Unknown Device"
title could either be plain app name or package name.

As the files are in text in JSON format, it shouldn't be too difficult extract out what you need.

From @JimCramer's comments, one can use https://json-csv.com/ to get a csv file from a json file.

Download Google Takeout zip file.
Unpack zip file
Upload Library.json file to that service
Review "Choose Output Options", if required
Click "Convert JSON to CSV"
For the Library.json file there will be three columns:

  'DocumentType', 'Title', 'Acquisition Time'

Download CSV result file
Import into spreadsheet, sort by 'DocumentType' to get Android Apps and enjoy

From what I recall, Excel itself can import json files.

If you don't want a third-party site to have access to your data. A search in your favorite search engine naming your spreadsheet tool with the topic of 'JSON conversion' will show either how to do it or what plugins/scripts are required for the effect.


Why is Google Keyboard incompatible with my HTC One X?

Is there something wrong with the default keyboard on the device?

Very odd though that would be marked incompatible for you since it is such a basic app and by Google. There are lots of ways developers can put filters on their apps however can even omit specific devices, countries, and carriers if they choose. There are few options you can try from here http://www.howtogeek.com/138500/


How can I root my Verizon Galaxy Note 5?

Unfortunately there is no root currently available for Verizon variants of the note 5. This is due to a completely locked down boot-loader and anti root protection from Samsung Knox.

It is conceivable that there will never be a root for this particular phone.

Source: http://www.xda-developers.com/root-twrp-available-for-samsung-galaxy-note-5/


There doesn't seem to be a way at this time.
So far, all I know is a hidden feature in Android S Preview Revision 3, namely Game Optimization in the Game menu which can lower frame rates, such as Xperia STAMINA mode.

Portal: Android 12 DP3 Analysis: Here are all the hidden features! | xda-developers.com
Screenshot: 17-Game-Mode-2.jpg (563×1155) | xda-developers.com
Learn more: Android Developers | developer.android.com


How do I stop apps from getting killed while sleeping?

Suggestion: Use Tasker to disable screen timeout for your app. This may prevent it from going to the background.


How to bind-mount "data" and "obb" folders from external SD card in "/sdcard/Android"?

Sub-directories in /sdcard/Android/data or /sdcard/Android/obb (called apps' private directories on primary external storage) have synthesized permissions based on directory structure. While public directories on the rest of the /sdcard have fixed permissions. See details in Android's Storage Journey and What is /storage/emulated/0/?.

My answer to your linked question: How to bind mount a folder inside /sdcard with correct permissions? addresses the latter case i.e. bind mounting public directories which are shared with all apps. But private directories cannot be bind-mounted from external storage with fixed permissions. However using the same approach you can bind-mount every app's private directory separately.

Let's take example of Termux app. Its private directories (Android/data/com.termux and Android/obb/com.termux) are owned by the UID of Termux app assigned at the time of installation. Common ways to get UID value is to read from /data/system/packages.list or do ls -ld /sdcard/Android/data/com.termux or using stat command. A simple approach is to bind-mount the directory as world-writable so that every app can write to it. But it's not a good idea to set such open permissions. So we go the Android's way; bind-mount a directory from external SD card using FUSE:

~# bindfs -u $(stat -c %u /sdcard/Android/data/com.termux) -g 9997 -p a-rwx,ug+rw,ug+X /mnt/media_rw/[UUID]/Android/data/com.termux /mnt/runtime/write/emulated/0/Android/data/com.termux

For further mount options and details see the above linked answer.
Replace /mnt/media_rw/[UUID] with /mnt/expand/[UUID]/media/0 if SD card is formatted as Adoptable Storage but data is not migrated.
In the same way obb directories can be bind-mounted.
If your device supports sdcardfs, the same mount should propagate to default and read emulated VIEWS as well. Otherwise if your device is older you can bind-mount the same way to other VIEWS.
Some apps by default prefer writing private data to secondary external storage (i.e. external SD card), so you don't need to bind-mount their data or obb directories.


How can I automatically delete the oldest Photos which are uploaded to the Cloud (Google+, Dropbox, …)?

Dropbox's new Carousel app has an option to "Free up phone space".  This will delete photos from your phone that have been uploaded to Dropbox.

It's not automatic, and perhaps not exactly what you want, but if the real problem is running out of space on your phone it will probably help.


My Aristo Android 7.0 does not have a clock widget

With a brief search I saw that there are lots and lots of clock widgets in google playstore. Install one from there and then go to the widgets list and at least one will be available.

examples:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.egert.clock&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.andreas1724.bigdigitalclock&hl=en

Just search the term 'clock' in google play and you will find many.


How to Extract boot.img from Sharp Z3 Fs8009?

Better yet, check this link there root for Sharp Z3, only it is in Chinese language. The good thing is that I was able to download the files they use there because there is a link to do.

Root Sharp Z3 Video

Files

Pass: uxcb


You can only log in to the market with either your gmail account, or an account hosted with Google Apps for your domain.

This is not just to authenticate you, information is synced between your device and google servers. If you don't have an account with them, they don't know who you are. You said that you can login with your personal email address (someone at mydomain.org). I am going to guess that mydomain.org is hosting the email on google apps for your domain.


Security error when trying to add an Exchange account

You probably need to enable or disable TLS or SSL for the account.


How to install extensions on Android's stock browser?

The default Browser does not have extensions, but what you are looking for might be found as Android apps, for instance: "Bookmark Sort and Backup" (BookmarkSB).   The bookmarks themselves are considered part of Android not of the default browser, but the addon would only have use through the default browser and there are changes made to the options in Browser that you will not see in other browsers from installing this app.

For serious stuff like effective ad blocking and changes to the hosts file you would need root access, before you can use full features of such addons, and in particular modify your hosts file.   The hosts file would apply to your entire system not to a specific browser or application.


Pushing wpa_supplicant.conf through adb breaks wifi even with no changes to the file

Make sure you've checked ownership as well (see Restoring wpa_supplicant.conf)? Check the original ownership of the system created file before; the answer linked uses chown wifi:wifi, other places mention system:wifi.


Using camera slows the phone to a crawl, except the camera app

This is a known issue. There are no official builds, just garak's nightly, but it was not updated since November 2.


With Maps 6.12 Latitude seems to have vanished?

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


Is there a shop like Cydia on iOS for Android?

While there are Android markets offering pirated versions, (not try before you buy which is signified usually by Demo or Lite) as the other users have mentioned, installing them is very risky. I would recommend being involved in the development community. As a developer I share keys and am invited to test apps often by frequenting XDA forums and Reddit.com/r/Android.
Developers will discount or give away versions of their apps and being involved in the community will help you learn more and score you some software deals.

Update:This answer does not really address the question.


Go to Settings -> Display -> Sleep, and you can change the time out requirement from there.


You don't need to compile the source code to get an idea of what AOSP looks like; if you download the Android emulator, it includes a default device image that is just AOSP plus a few developer tools, without any of the Google services. This sums up to:

The linux kernel, dalvik VM, Java libraries, and Android framework
Stock Launcher (including the various lock screens)
Stock Keyboard
Stock Browser (NOT Chrome)
Calculator
Calendar (syncs to Exchange)
Camera
Clock
Download manager
Email (syncs to IMAP and POP)
Gallery (which also include a Media Player)
Messaging
Music (NOT Play Music)
People
Phone
Search (local apps, people, and the web via Google, NOT Google Now)
Settings
Various app widgets

Almost all of the essential Android framework are part of AOSP (e.g. Intent system, Permission system, Activity/Service system, Content Provider system, App Widget system, Daydream system, standard UI Elements, Notification Bar, Dalvik VM, JIT Compiler, Java standard libraries (Apache Harmony), OpenGL and Renderscript, Multimedia framework, Connectivity framework, GPS, Sensors, etc). The only significant part of the framework that aren't AOSP is Google Cloud Messaging, which handles Push service, and Play Store services, which provides application updates, in-app billing, and game services. Since these services are highly dependant on Google servers, they cannot really be a part of AOSP. All of the Android Development tools are also part of AOSP.

Some important Google Apps that aren't part of AOSP includes Gmail, Google Maps, Youtube, Google Now, Google+, Chrome, Hangout, and Play Store.

Here are some screenshots taken from Android 4.3 emulator:

The launcher, with some stock widgets, enough said:

All the apps in AOSP pretty much fits into one page, this has been the case since early Android:

All the widgets:


How do I change my name on the Gmail Android app?

As of 2019-02-24 there is a known bug in the Outlook app for Android with changing the "from" display name for gmail accounts. This bug only affects the Outlook app on Android with Gmail accounts.

The issue is that changes to your display name in Google, which appear in your "from" display name in gmail, are not reflected in the Outlook app on Android. It will be reflected everywhere else -- gmail.com, the gmail app, any other email app on the same phone -- but the Outlook Android app does not pick up the new "From" google display name.

I confirmed this by doing a factory reset on my phone, re-installing Outlook, and it still didn't pick up the new display name from Google. Other Android email apps let you specify your FROM display name but unfortunately the Outlook Android app doesn't have this as an option and instead picks it up from Google.

Here's confirmation of the issue from the Outlook Android team:


Google has screwed up the KitKat API, apparently Google thinks there is a big security problem with external SD cards.  Apps will have to be changed to use a different API call, so expect that nothing will use external SD cards for a long long long time (small percentage of KitKat users and even smaller percentage of KitKat users with external SD cards).

There are a lot of people asking similar questions and some partial workarounds but nothing good.  Even Googles own Gallery app doesn't read the external SD card.


how to fix extreme slowness of android 8.1.0 on "twist mini s431" hardware?

(I must say that this below is not a perfect solution yet, as one or more of the disabled apps below made "goggle play store" stop working but I still have no idea which ones, therefore I ended unable to update apps... and had to reset them all... I will re-do disable slower to know what needs to remain enabled)
The answer is: you have to disable as many bundled applications as possible, including system applications.
This can be done by any user but WITH CAUTION!
As I understand it, you cant disable system applications related to the hardware like managing the sdcard, or related to the carrier, or things like bluetooth or wifi etc. I don't know tho if there are other special system applications that should be kept enabled (even if it is allowed to disable them). If you can give some more advisement about this, I appreciate it.
If anyone is interested on what I disabled, I will try to connect on it with adb shell to list all disabled applications, or at least specify what you shall never disable.
So my "twist mini s431" is not fast, but is finally usable now!
PS.: I would like to write all this also in portuguese and paste here as alternative reading, but I think it is not allowed, so use google translator if needed!

The list of packages I disabled (adb shell command), but I haven't booted it yet (I can't boot it w/o being sure it won't fail), so I am not sure this list is boot safe:
$ pm list packages -d
package:com.android.providers.calendar
package:com.google.android.onetimeinitializer
package:com.google.android.apps.mapslite
package:com.android.protips
package:com.android.htmlviewer
package:br.com.positivo.appstore
package:com.netflix.partner.activation
package:com.mediatek.omacp
package:com.android.vending
package:com.google.android.marvin.talkback
package:com.android.statementservice
package:com.vantera.cbwidget
package:com.google.android.apps.tachyon
package:com.google.android.apps.searchlite
package:com.google.android.apps.nbu.files
package:com.android.musicfx
package:com.android.chrome
package:com.google.android.gsf
package:com.google.android.ims
package:com.google.android.tts
package:com.android.calllogbackup
package:com.google.android.partnersetup
package:com.netflix.mediaclient
package:com.google.android.feedback
package:com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
package:com.google.android.apps.photos
package:com.google.android.calendar
package:com.mediatek.calendarimporter
package:com.mediatek.webview
package:com.google.android.apps.speechservices
package:com.google.android.apps.photosgo
package:com.google.android.apps.assistant
package:com.android.providers.userdictionary
package:com.google.android.apps.youtube.mango
package:com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

to see memory usage: adb shell dumpsys meminfo


What options exist when the vendor does not supply an ADB driver for an Android device?

I would try editing extras\google\usb_driver\android_winusb.inf in the Android SDK so that it recognizes your device.

The file should have a section like this that you can extend:

[Google.NTamd64]
; HTC Dream
%SingleAdbInterface%        = USB_Install, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0C01
%CompositeAdbInterface%     = USB_Install, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0C02&MI_01
%SingleBootLoaderInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0FFF

If you go into the Windows Device Manager and view the properties for your device, you should see the ID you need.  For example, my Vibrant says USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C under Device IDs and has 3 entries with that and &MI_00, &MI_02, and &MI_03 appended under Bus Relations.  I would therefore add this to the .inf file:

; Samsung Vibrant
%SingleAdbInterface%        = USB_Install, USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C
%CompositeAdbInterface%     = USB_Install, USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C&MI_00
%CompositeAdbInterface%     = USB_Install, USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C&MI_02
%CompositeAdbInterface%     = USB_Install, USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C&MI_03

You should also reboot into the bootloader, recovery mode, etc. and see if that provides more IDs.  I know my Vibrant installs new drivers the first time it's connected in each mode, so likely there are more entries needed.

Then just update the driver and select this .inf file.  It will probably give you an error about Driver Signature Verification. Depending on your version of Windows there are different ways to temporarily disable that; here is a good guide for Windows 8 and 10. Once it's disabled, install the .inf file and you should be good to go.

I think once you've done that then the USB Mass Storage drivers and so on will be auto-installed when you mount the device to the PC, but if not you could probably extend this process for that.


I've probably found the solution:
run the following command as root

setprop persist.sys.usb.config adb

and reboot the phone.

Now my phone doesn't show an "usb connection" notification and "Android File Transfer" (an MTP implementation for MacOS) doesn't see the phone. In the same time adb works fine.


Why are these short USB cables not connecting my Android device?

It's possible that the USB cable is designed for charging only (i.e. not a data cable), or is of poor quality.

Off-topic: Although not a USB cable, I have encountered OTG cables that could not detect a USB drive. In this case, it was a poor (or defective) OTG cable; other cables were able to detect the USB drive.

Related posts (external):

All micro usb cables are not created equal?


music play back via USB connected to karaoke player

Which version of android do you have? If its jellybean or later then it doesnt support this because if you plug it into your jukebox, it doesnt recognises it due to it being in 'Media Device' mode not the old USB memory mode so if you cant find Settings>Storage>(The little three dots in the top right corner)USB computer connection>MTP device if you can find this option, tick it, if not then you could try another method eg. Transferring to USB stick/Plugging in speakers into the 'Headphone' slot on your androidPlease tick this answer if it solves your problem


This function is also referred to as the "keyguard." Most of the phones that I have had do not allow you to toggle this on and off in the settings.  Clearly something, possibly another app, toggled this off.  I use Tasker to manipulate this setting.  You may need to be rooted to do this but you can enable or disable they keyguard manually or programatically.  There are also third party apps for toggling the keyguard.  They are usually advertised as ways to disable the keyguard but they slice both ways.  Depending on what disabled your keyguard in the first place, you may only need to use this solution once.


Android Studio says: "No device connected" yet I already tried many possible solutions

Windows 7 doesn't always detect the android device connected as an interface for adb. If your Samsung drivers is not detecting the phone you have a few choices:

Try reinstalling the Samsung android drivers. Might be a good idea to
remove the universal android drivers but I don't have that problem
with my Windows 7 machine.
You can mod the inf of the universal driver with your device's VID and PID by adding it if it's missing (which it possibly is missing
since it's not a nexus/google device). Then use Device Manager and
point your device to that driver to use and install.
Remove the Samsung android driver and the universal driver. Then install Samsung's Smart Switch app, which will install the latest
Samsung android driver.

If you are committed to using the universal android driver, then you need to make sure you have the latest updates with the Android SDK Manager. If your tools are out of date or not the latest your tools may be out of sync with the platform it's trying to connect to.


Default music player restarting song on Bluetooth reconnect

Yes, poweramp works well when Bluetooth is reconnected. It has got a trial version from the playstore which you can install for testing, if it works then you can purchase it as per your requirements.

Here is the link for Poweramp Music Player Trial version in the Playstore.

The settings which you need to change is indicated in yellow color.

Screenshot (click to enlarge)


Merging whatsapp database of two different accounts

Merging two different account in whatsapp is not possible, when you change the number, all your groups will remain same but it can not merge two accounts. Whatsapp backup or restore the chat on the bases of phone number only,when you start new number, it can not recognize it as same account.


How can I see what the search results in GooglePlay are in different countries for the same search term?

No, you cannot see that. There is no such thing, all you can do is just track the activity of your app and see where it is most used. that is all.


Does Samsung Gear S2 watch pair with non-Samsung phones?

Yes, the Samsung Gear S2 is compatible with a lot of android devices.

The general compability requirements are:

  Gear S2 pairs with smartphones running on Android 4.4 and higher with over 1.5GB RAM.

Have a look at Samsungs official device-compatibility website.

Also quoting the Review of the Gear S2 by Techradar here:

  In the past Tizen has only been compatible with Samsung smartphones, greatly limiting their potential user base. Thankfully, the Gear S2 is compatible with any Android phone running 4.4 and higher with over 1.5GB RAM. I tested it using a Moto X Style and HTC One M8, neither of which caused any problems.

  Although almost all features are compatible with any Android phone, Samsung Pay is only available with Samsung devices. So if you want to pay for your groceries with your watch, you better get a Galaxy or Note (or an Apple Watch and iPhone).

  Samsung has also hinted the watch could work with iPhone eventually, but don't hold your breath.


How to optimize energy consumption during GPS tracking?

See my answer here on some ways to save battery power on your  phone.


Switch cameras in rooted device (between front and back)

There is a way but its Extremely dangerous.

I highly recommend not doing this as its neither for your device and the risks are too high.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1699299

As for WhatsApp Web, it allows you to use your computer for WhatsApp conversations.

The draw back is that both your Android and your browser needs to be connected to Internet.

And the only advantage is that you get a keyboard which makes it really easier to type as well as a Big screen

Again there's an easy workaround.

Apps like WiFi Keyboard allows you to type in your Android device through a computer browser.

And Apps like droid VNC server Allows you to remote control your android within your computer! Including watching your screen.

As for the other apps, you cant do much. Later so sooner you must change your broken phone..

Kudos

I hope my answer helps...
It requires a lot of hardwork to write a good answer. A thumbsup is always appreciated.


You might have an app that's adding spurious records to your calling list. Do you have any "alternative phone" application (I had problems with an app called Amivox). I created a small app to fix the problem for me, the code is linked below.

EDIT:
The app source code: https://github.com/gardarh/android-callogfixer (removed link to binary)


What is this part responsible for? The one behind the sticker in Galaxy S3

While it's not clearly identified what this specific sticker is and covers, based on this teardown, it does look as though the chip is on the direct other side of the board from the connector that touches the component on that sticker, suggesting the connector is directly attached through the board to that chip. So my instinct is that you're correct that it's related to the GPS. I cannot confirm this without a doubt, but everything lines up.


Restricted Access for SIM when use internet (3G, 2G and wi-fi)

This sounds like it's a problem with the SIM card. My suggestion would be to check the SIM card seating and verify that there's no dust or debris between the SIM card and the connectors. If this doesn't help, try to use another SIM to test if it's a problem with the SIM card itself. If the device works with the other SIM, take your SIM to the carrier and ask for a replacement. If not, then I'd suggest taking the phone back to the shop for warranty repair.


Since you told DND doesn't block these kind of messages, you can use Textra SMS from the Play Store and select the message that you received and select the Blacklist message option to stop receiving the SMS.

If you still want those messages to be received but not to get a notification you can select the Crossed Bell icon at the top to not notify on receiving the message so that it is stored into your inbox for future use but will not be notified to you.

Update:

Using textra I found another feature to find out the number of those LM-* ,TM-* , VK-* series kinda SMS messages. Open Textra and swipe the message to left to reveal the call feature. Double tap the call button and it calls the number. So now you've got the number and this way you can block those numbers from receving those text messages. I tried that and showed the numbers to me for every message in my inbox with XX-* sms messages. ;)


Missing "Emoji for English words" in Google Keyboard add-on dictionaries

Updates to the Google Keyboard app have made the emojis you are looking for available through long press of the Enter key.


How to create start up scripts using the init.d folder?

In my version of Android (cm11 / LolliKat) there is a 90userinit script in init.d that tries to run a script named /data/local/userinit.sh if it finds it.

I've not tried this, but naming your script /data/local/userinit.sh might do the trick.

[I know it's an old question, but for posterity...]


Android recover data (adb device unauthorized)

I resolved the problem entering the recovery mode by pressing "home", "volume up" and "power" buttons at the same time.

Once in recovery mode adb recognized my device and I was able to use the command adb pull /sdcard/ which copied the sdcard to content to my PC


Does installation of CustomRom chage the partition

No, flashing ROM will not change your partition table.
No, flashing ROM won't unlock your bootloader (I think that you'll, in fact, need to be using unlocked bootloader to flash a ROM)
CyanogenMod is made for each device separately. If it's available for your device, you can install it. Go to their website to see if there's an official or unofficial port of CyanogenMod for your device.


Is there any battery-less Android-based device

Don't you worry. LiIo batteries are not that concerned about that. What really lowers their life span are "complete discharges", not frequent "trickle-charging". It's even recommended to charge them as soon/often as possible (and practicable, of course).

See e.g. Wikipedia: Lithium Ion batteries for details, and also take a look at our question Does constant charging harm my Android cellphone? and its answers.


Vibrate function on my Samsung Galaxy S3 doesn't work though it is turned on. What is the cause?

Power saving mode (by default) turns off some vibration, but it should only turn off the "haptic feedback" vibration (vibration when you touch certain UI controls). You can change that by going to Settings, Power saving mode, and unchecking "Turn off haptic feedback". That's the mode I run my SGS3 in all the time.

To get vibration working for text messages, you also need to enable vibration in the settings of the Messaging app itself (I'm not sure which settings you were referring to when you said that you "went into settings and enabled everything that has the word "Vibrate" in it"). To do that, go to the conversation list in the Messaging app (not an individual conversation), hit the menu button, then select Settings. Look for the "Notification Settings" section and check "Vibrate".

To get vibration working for incoming calls, there is a similar setting in the Phone app. Launch the Phone app, make sure you're on the Keypad, Logs, or Favorites tab, tap the menu button, select Call settings. Then select Ringtones and keypad tones and select Incoming call vibration. The Device vibration will let you modify the vibration pattern used (so you can tell an incoming call from a text message / email).

To get to the Phone and Messaging apps: Press the "home" button at the bottom of the phone (the physical button in the middle). That brings you to your home screen. The touch the "Apps" button (it looks like 9 square white dots, and is usually on the lower right of the home screen). That will bring up a list of all applications installed on the phone. Scroll through looking for an app named Messaging (or Phone). The icon for the Messaging app looks like a white envelope with a yellow piece of paper coming out of it. The icon for the Phone app looks like a green square with a white phone receiver on it. Tap the app icon, then follow the instructions for each app above to activate vibration for text messaging and incoming calls.


I modified vold.fstab and lost access to my SD card

I don't know about Android Commander, but a simpler way (in my opinion) would be to use ADB. You may have already installed the Android SDK (if not, go here). I assume that you don't have modified your System Path.

Move your vold.fstab to C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools or C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools
Go to the android-sdk folder, shift+right click on platform-tools and choose "Open command prompt here"
Next steps depends if you have a custom rom (a) or not (b) (see comments).
We take root privilege:

a) If your device is 4.0 or above, type adb root
b) Type adb shell then su

We make /system writeable:

a) adb remount
b) mount -o remount,rw /system then exit

adb push vold.fstab /system
adb reboot

This should do the trick.


All contacts that have a group will sync. Those contacts that don't have a group (ie "Other Contacts") will not.

Go to Gmail on a PC and choose contacts (I haven't tested from a phone).
There is a default group called "My Contacts" and there is a default group called "Other contacts" I would guess you don't have any or very few in "My Contacts".

Open a contact and make sure they are assigned a group. Either "My Contacts" or a custom group underneath that.

This way you can still have contacts in Gmail without having them in your phone.
BTW anytime you get an email and the contact is new, it is put in "Other Contacts".


Can I use two phones as one phone with two screens?

Clipboard sharing + cloud drive.
With those two you can do a lot with minimum setup.

For PC like experience you may share your peripherals. Not trivial, though.

The biggest challenge is to sync the clipboard in a safe way. Most solutions are through WiFi router or internet and making a easy Bluetooth connection is a challenge.


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

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

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

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


Android 6.0 -- Bluetooth broken causes audio to not work correctly after connecting to car. How to rollback to previous firmware or fix BT glitches

Gave up with debugging this. Fixed by rolling back pre-android 6.x


How does one get top and bottom bar on Adobe Reader app with recent documents button etc.?

Just tap the document you're reading. (Note, not a long-tap; that opens a different menu.)
From page 5 of "Getting Started with Adobe Reader.pdf" (which downloads with the app):

My PDF documents are in Adobe Reader. Now what do I do?
Tap the middle of the screen once to reveal the toolbars. After a few moments, they disappear until you tap again.


There may be better ways, but here's mine:

In iCloud contacts select all (or all you want to transfer), then "Export vCard"
On Google Contacts (logged in with the same user you use on your Android device) you import the vCard file (More -> Import)
The Android device should automatically synchronize the freshly imported contacts (this might take a few minutes)
If synchronization doesn't work, look at the Settings app -> Accounts -> your Google account -> tap on the part with your E-Mail address -> make sure Contacts is active -> select "Synchronize now" from the menu)

Please note that this way, you should now organize your contacts with Google and forget about iCloud Contacts. To synchronize your Apple devices with Google Contacts, have a look at this page.


Samsung S21 where is enable auto space after period setting

Samsung keyboard does not have that option to add a space after a full stop. It has an opposite option instead which adds a full stop before two spaces, converting one of the spaces after a word to a full stop.

Bring up the keyboard,
tap the keyboard input method chooser in the bottom right,
select the "cog" and it will bring up the keyboard settings.
A short way down there is the "More typing options". Tap that.
in there you will find an option "double tap space bar to add full stop"


Android x86 Oreo (8.1) stuck at _ (underscore) after GRUB

Set VM Settings > Display > Graphics Controller to VBoxVGA. Unless done so, Android x86 won't launch.

More here.


My Gmail account has many emails. If I add another Gmail account to my phone, can I make the new Gmail primary and still use my apps

If you add an additional Google account, Android will ask you which account to use when there is ambiguity. From the main screen of most Google apps (including Play Store), you can tap the upper left corner of the app, and from the slideout menu touch your email address (which will be at the top of the slideout menu), and then choose another address associated with the fun to use the app as that account.


How can I connect to an android device using its hostname instead of its IP?

That's not an Android specific question, but rather general networking stuff. You need something to resolve the name. As the IP you've named points to a "local network", and if you want to connect from a single computer only, the easiest way to achieve this is making use of the Hosts file of your computer's OS. On Linux this is /etc/hosts, where you can simply add a line like this:

192.168.10.15 android_device

That's it. Syntax is the same on other OS's, just the location of the file might differ: see this section of the linked Wikipedia page for details.


The recovery is now built into the boot image instead of having a separate partition. So, a separate recovery image does not exist.
The files you have are supposed to be flashed to their respective partitions:

Boot to boot,
System to system,
Vendor to vendor,
Vbmeta to vbmeta,
Dtbo to dtbo

You can avoid the system_other as it is to build a dummy into your inactive boot slot. It isn't actually used. But if you want, you can flash it to the inactive slot. You check current active slot by using this command: fastboot getvar current-slot. Then flash to that slot by adding the slot suffix (example: If current slot is a, flash it to b - fastboot flash system_b system_other.img

Remember that you need to perform a wipe of internal storage from either fastboot (fastboot -w) or by going into the Android Recovery mode.


Check your network speed, 4g is better option, many times it is observed that on low data connection playstore makes trouble to download apps...
I can help further if you have mentioned your device name and model


Android phone can't access anything through VPN on my Windows PC

It was a configuration issue on the program listening on port 80 on the laptop end.


As long as the infected app wasn't able to gain root and/or infect the /system partition, a factory reset will fix it.

However, if it was ... it would require re-flashing the ROM.


[Sony Xperia XZ1]Remapping camera button

Try this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.irishin.buttonsremapper
It works on my Xperia x compact. It's just a workaround. On my phone the problem is with camera button that was deasappeared after the rom unlocking aldo with drm fixed in...


What Android versions have captive wifi detection?

As best as I can tell on GrepCode, functionality relating to walled gardens (captive portals) was added to WifiWatchdogStateMachine.java in 4.0.1. I can't find it listed in the Android API reference to confirm exactly when it was added, but that would seem to match with your Nexus 10 having the feature but not your HTC Desire.


How can I root or make my partitions mounted rw?

Usually a bug is exploited to temporarily get a chosen process running as root, that is used to remount the file system read write, either startup scripts are changed and/or suid binaries added, then the file systems are synced and remounted read only again and likely the device is rebooted.

You don't normally want to have the system partition writable on an android device, even when rooted - you only make it writable on the rare occasions when you are changing it.

EDIT-Summary of comments: It appears that /system on this device is cramfs, an inherently read-only compressed file system.  Likely a modified image would need to be generated on a PC and then flashed.

Search result for dealing with this problem on rockchip based devices:

http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/rockchip-based/439-how-unpack-repack-custom-firmwares-rockchip-rk28xx.html


How to install adb tools on Linux with no GUI?

From the command-line, you can run:

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

Source: Installing ADB and Fastboot.

Note: If you're already logged as root, you can skip sudo.


Lenovo Tab 4 10 stuck on boot after factory reset with TWRP

I had did this once on my Lenovo tab 4 10 So I installed the firmware of my tablet from here “https://firmwarefile.com/lenovo-tab-4-10-tb-x304l”
After downloading the firmware extract the files from the zip file and search for “recovery.img” in that folder and flash that recovery(your bootloader should be unlocked ) and then after that there will be system recovery installed on your device now go to fastboot and then to recovery mode and then reboot your device and you will see the Lenovo logo for atleast 2 mins and then your device is unlocked and then you can lock or keep the bootloader unlocked (I didn't use my PC I used this app called “Bugjaeger”


How can I forward a port when using PdaNet?

I had an almost identical setup with my phone-laptop-xbox. Windows ICS (called Mobile hotspot in Win10) was useless. I got ICS to work for a day or two with my Xbox but gaming on the Xbox was very poor and connections would drop every 5 minutes. Finally after a reboot of my laptop one day Windows wouldn't let me enable Hotspot when using PDAnet as the source of internet. I tried restoring Windows but nothing worked, Windows refused to recognize PDAnet's virtual adapter as a valid internet connection. I tried changing every setting and loading old drivers but Windows kept refusing to acknowledge an internet connection.

After a few hours of experimentation I came across Connectify 2018. Connectify takes the incoming PDAnet internet connection (or any other source of internet) and shares it via the WiFi adapter. It sounds awfully familiar to ICS but one major difference is it allows the WiFi client's connection to be bridged rather than the standard 'routed' mode that ICS only allows. I switched to bridge mode and the UPnP features for the Xbox all worked great and it has never dropped a connection while gaming. Connectify also displays connection details of each client. There are newer and older versions of Connectify but 2018 works flawlessly with Win10, my LG Note and Windows 10. It is available on TBP.