Why is Android refusing to resolve DNS records pointing to internal IP addresses?

We recently encountered this issue, and we narrowed it to occurring ONLY on devices running Android v5 and newer.  Android v4 and all other OS's have no issue.

With that tidbit, we determined that Android v5 and newer insists on using IPv6 for DNS name resolution.  (Since we've completely disabled IPv6 on our network, this jibes with the issue.)  If Android v5(+) can't get an IPv6 response from local DNS, then it reaches out to Google's public name host (8.8.8.8).  Hence, no internal DNS, just external.

We worked around the issue by creating DNS records on our public-facing DNS servers for select internal names and IPs.  With that done, Google's public DNS could resolve these internal names with internal IPs, and the devices could then reach our internal hosts.

We're proceeding with fully enabling IPv6 on our internal DNS servers (domain controllers) as a permanent fix.

=========================================

UPDATE--
Well, it turns out this may be a total red herring...or not.  My home network is Win2008R2, single-domain with DHCP and DNS and no IPv6 binding.  Tested an Android v5 device from there and had NO ISSUE.  Office network with issue is Win2012 (non-R2), single-domain.

Bypassed current office WAPs with stand-alone Linksys WAP and separate SSID for testing, issue persists.

Differences between office and home networks (that I can think of):
 - Windows version - 2012 vs. 2008 R2
 - router model (Cisco vs. Linksys)
 - WAP model (Dell-branded Aruba Networks vs. Linksys)

Proceeding with whatever further testing I can think of for narrowing the issue.  Any suggestions or input is extremely appreciated!

=========================================

PROBLEM GONE (?!)

Our issue seemed to disappear on its own following a network topology change that I wouldn't think was related, but here's the info in case.

(HUGE APOLOGIES for this long, drawn out story, but this is when our Android issues disappeared, so ride this out if you can.  I'm probably providing WAY too much detail here, but because I can't see a direct connection, I'm laying it all out exactly as it happened.)

Our ISP is Comcast Business Class—a cable modem with a static IP block of five addresses (weird number but that's how Comcast sells them).  Comcast's cable modem is essentially a combination modem/firewall/router/switch, with our static IP block remotely programmed into it.

For 10+ years and almost as many employers, I've always built office networks the same way:
Configure a LAN IP for the ISP modem/router, which NAT's traffic from the internet.  Couldn't be simpler, and that's how my current office network has been configured for four years.

Recently our office internet service went down.  Usually a modem restart corrects it, but when it didn't we called Comcast who sent a tech, who replaced the cable modem to restore service.

A few days later, the same thing happened again.  We called again, and the onsite tech (different tech than before) attempted to replace the modem again, this time with a newer model.  Surprisingly, the newer cable modem did not support changing the LAN subnet address.  The default subnet is 10.1.10.0/24, and it cannot be changed.  (Only the 4th octet was configurable.)  As our office subnet is 192.168.100.0/24, I let the tech know we couldn't use it without being able to change the LAN subnet.  He understood, but had no info as to why the cable modem would prevent the change.  So he installed a replacement modem of the same model as before, which we configured identically, and internet access was restored.

Another day or two passes, and the service goes down again.  This time when I called Comcast, the initial tech I spoke with asked detailed and knowledgeable questions about our network configuration.  When I explained that the cable modem was configured with a LAN IP on our subnet, he seemed puzzled by this.  He said that most Comcast customers connect a NAT'ing router between the cable modem and LAN rather than use the cable modem's NAT'ing.  In fact, he said he wasn't aware that the cable modem supported NAT'ing.

Comcast sent out another tech with a brand new cable modem (latest model that doesn't support changing the LAN subnet).  He did extensive testing on the existing modem, and finally determined that it was only passing IPv6 traffic—no IPv4.  He also confirmed what the phone tech had said--that it's recommended to use a separate router for NAT'ing, and to not change the LAN subnet on the cable modem (which we can't do on the newer modems now anyway).

And now we finally come to the network change we made.  I installed a simple LinkSys router between the cable modem and our core router, configured with our static IP on the modem side, and a LAN IP on the inside.  Internet service was then restored, and has remained stable for some time now.

After internet service was restored, I thought about the oddness of the IPv6 issue with the cable modem, which in turn reminded me of the Android v5 issue.  I then tested our Android devices in the office, and was stunned to see that the DNS issue was no longer occurring.

Adding the LinkSys router for NAT'ing is the ONLY NETWORK CHANGE WE MADE.  Coincidence??  Possibly, but it just seemed a little peculiar that both were related to IPv6.

Anyway, sorry again for the long story, but our Android issue is gone.  Make what you can out of it.

Dimarc67


Can I get Google Now reminders to be sent via email or popup on desktop gmail as well?

I'm not familiar with Google Now, because I don't use it.

But if it's getting the data from the Calendar, then it's possible to create an email notification.

You can also set this via Google Calendar web app.


I can guarantee that this is not a problem related to your phone. Some 15 years back, I had a network provider that did the same, and ultimately I had to switch over to some other network.

Since the problem started soon after you changed your service provider, you should contact your new service provider. There's nothing wrong can do from our side to help you.


You should try this using es file explorer.
In the dash board of es file explorer, go to tools then turn on  the switch for root explorer. After that consider turning recycle bin on for later restores. Next tap on root explorer and a subwindow should open . Select Mount R/W. That's rewrite permission. Still there, you can select uninstall system apps. It should work well. Proceed with caution and at your own risk


Is it possible to pull data using Android Debug Bridge on an N7 while soft bricked

It's alright I found a more simple method. I just wiped/factory reset the tablet that made the nexus boot up to the welcome screen again. Then I used an image recovery software program to retrieve the photos so now I have a fixed nexus and memories back, good times. The recovery program is called Recuva. –


Unable to modify file permissions.xml, get error Read-only file system

I was only able to remount rw after
- removing addonsu (by sideloading in TWRP "su removal" from https://download.lineageos.org/extras)
- installing Magisk (easy, sideloading current release from https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk/releases)

I was under the impression that addonsu does not fully grants permissions -- after all I found myself heading down this road when attempting to configure Titanium Backup.

By the way, TWRP has a commandline guide at https://twrp.me/faq/openrecoveryscript.html , all the above is as easy as adb reboot recovery, then adb shell twrp sideload which makes TWRP waiting for a file, so just serve it by e.g. adb shell twrp sideload ~/Downloads/Magisk-v19.3.zip


How to get notified of new automatically archived emails in Gmail?

The steps you have to take are the following ones:

Expand the list of recent labels, but this time tap the option Show all labels.

This will take you to the list of all your labels, in whose bottom you'll see the option Manage labels: tap there.

In the list of labels, tap the one you want to be notified about.

By default that label has Label sync and notify disabled. Tap the option Sync messages

It will open a popup dialog with sync options. Choose and tap one different to Sync: None.

The above will enable the notifications, now you can choose its options according the way you want to be notified.

Exit the label options for changes to be applied. From now on, you'll receive notifications about unread messages for that label too (in Jelly Bean, you'll see the extended notification, as with inbox emails). You'll be able to open the email message tapping on that notification.


Can i install android wear on any smartwatch?

No. An OEM needs to customize android wear to suit its devices. No one is likely to make such a great effort for a cloned smartwatch so basically, you have to live with what you have...


Does build number matter when rooting phone?

No, build number rarely matters.

The main reason to note the build number is because of the baseband - but I normally take no notice of the build number.


Block all calls from area code unless in Contacts

beeshyams' solution did not work for me, but i was able to modify it and get it working. The issue that i encountered was that the "call incoming" trigger only happens once when you first receive the call. this means if you check for a boolean triggered by the incoming call, it won't be set yet.

first thing i did was find out what format i needed for the phone number by creating a very simple macro:

trigger: call incoming -> contacts -> any number
action: logging -> log event -> call number

i checked the logs and saw that the number was +12345678900. (im in the us)

next i deleted that macro and made the following:

T: call incoming (+1234*)
A: set variable (areacode: True)

T: call incoming (non contact)
A: set variable (noncon: True)

we are going to use the variables being set as our trigger to reject the call. these variables seemed to be set in a random/inconsistent order, so i just made two triggers, that way it didn't matter which was set first. this is a very janky solution, but it works.

T: macrodroid variable change (areacode = True)
A: call reject, set variable (areacode: False), set variable (noncon: False)
C: macrodroid variable (noncon = True)

T: macrodroid variable change (noncon = True)
A: call reject, set variable (areacode: False), set variable (noncon: False)
C: macrodroid variable (areacode = True)

finally, we need a way to reset the variables if our call blocking macros haven't been triggered. the best solution i found was to clear them after a call was completed or missed.

T: call missed (any number), call ended (any number),
A: call set variable (areacode: False), set variable (noncon: False)

i'm sure there is probably a more elegant solution, but this is at least working for me. (hooray, no more scam calls at 6am!) luckily there are exactly 5 free macros in the app, and 5 in my solution. if you have multiple area codes you need to block, you can put them all into the one macro with a separate trigger for each i think. (didn't test this)

all of this pain could be solved if you could have a trigger be caused by two conditions being met. that would mean we would only need a single macro, but from what i can tell, this isn't possible. unfortunately the constraints don't let you access the incoming call information so that doesn't work either. maybe there is a better app.


How to enable USB OTG in Walton Primo F4?

Head into settings, about device, then tap the build number 7 times. From there, head back and you will see a menu called developer options. Tap it,  and tap enable USB debugging. Accept the warning,  and you are done.


Can I access the Intenet via WiFi if my phone has no SIM card?

Yes you can if you still have contacts in your mobile and already registered on Whatsapp with a number.


Redmi Note 4. ADB pm uninstall some packages, Stuck in Reboot

Flash a fastboot stock rom, fastboot rom even has a option to flash without wipe.

If you have a linux i could guide you further on how to do that.


A damaged USB cable may trigger such reaction. I had this problem with my Android phone before until I change a new USB cable.


In my Samsung Galaxy S under Settings - Status - Phone number is says 'unknown': Why?

This is just showing whether your phone number is saved to the phone number description property on your SIM card. Some networks always program this in for you, many don't. Some phones let you write to this property, some don't, some read it, some don't.

It has nothing to do with what actual phone number is attached to that SIM card by the phone company.

It is possible to put your phone number in there, and is easier than you might think:

Go into Contacts -> [Menu] -> More -> Settings -> Own numbers -> [Menu] -> Create and type your phone number into the Number field, now Save.

Then switch your phone off and on again, and it should show the correct number (or whatever number you entered) in the status now.


removing an Icon from home screen but not uninstalling them,

If you tap and hold the icon, you should see a option at the top of the screen to remove or uninstall it. Choose remove.


Is there an application which let me crop a picture on my device into the correct size to use as wallpaper

You can save the image to  SD Card and use the Gallery app to set the wallpaper. Gallery app has the feature to crop selected portion of an image and then save it as a wallpaper.


Connecting Android smartphone/tablet to PC and another device through USB hub

According to this page, if you need to connect to the device with adb then you will have to connect to adb via tcp.

to enter adb tcp mode enter adb connect <device-ip-address>:5555

to go back to adb over usb enter adb usb


How android ROMS based on TouchWiz work if TouchWiz source code is not available as opensource?

Samsung allegedly releases the kernel sources, allowing a developer to customize and compile a kernel. Since they can also download the binary ROM (or copy it from their device), they can use their kernel as a drop-in replacement in the TouchWiz ROM--providing their changes didn't break the communication with the drivers. They normally don't touch the drivers or the userland apps, just the kernel.

Alternatively a user can tweak the default ROM by adding apps and/or themes ('kitchen work'). This has little real value to consumers and is not considered original development.


I cannot find my current location while offline in google maps

To get a location fix while offline, GPS (not just location) needs to be enabled. You must have either "High accuracy" or "Device only" enabled under Settings->Location->Mode. "Battery saving" does not allow use of GPS.

When you are offline, the time to get a location fix is much higher than when you are online.

There are two reasons for this:

WiFi based location is very fast. Without being online, you cannot use WiFi location.
GPS works much faster when you are online, due to the benefits of Assisted GPS. Without Assisted GPS, your GPS receiver needs to do a search for satellites itself which can take a few minutes. GPS also requires sufficient visibility to satellites, so don't try to use GPS while underground or in so-called urban canyons with lots of skyscrapers blocking the sky.

Summary: make sure GPS is on and wait a few minutes in an outdoor space where you can see the sky. Your location should appear.


There are several different VLC remote apps available which will let you control audio/video playback on your PC when you are connected to the same network. It's probably not for the un-technical, but it does feel very cool controlling your "stereo" from the other end of your apartment. You will generally need to:

Install VLC on your PC
turn on the web interface by going to (Tools>Preferences...>Show all (bottom left)>Interface>Main Interfaces>Web)
determine the IP address of your computer (Run command, Run
ipconfig)
Install a VLC remote app on your N7 (there are a multitude, try a
free one first)
Your VLC app will have somewhere to enter the IP address of the PC
    to be controlled

Note, if you can configure your router to assign a static IP to your PC you will save much re-entering of settings.

I suspect a camera streaming to a static IP you could browse to from any device on your network should be possible, but I'm afraid I'm even less sure about the other stuff. That said; I suspect you might want to look into Arduino.


Why did auto-upgrade Lollipop not hit in my Moto G 2nd Gen?

Rollouts are done in stages, so you may not have been selected (automatically) yet.

This could be for a number of reasons:
-The rollout is still in progress
-They have postponed the rollout due to bugs

There are methods that allow you trick the rollout system (they will only work in the first case, not the second), but they aren't guaranteed to work, on my old nexus 4 you could wipe google play services data and reboot, there is probably a motorola equivalent.

Other than that, sit tight, motorola are probably acting in your bests interests (neither of my friends with moto g (2) have receive the update either)


If you're looking for drivers that will allow you to connect your phone to the PC, you can install the Universal Naked Drivers found on XDA. This is compatible with Windows XP.

NOTE: This driver is by 1wayjonny, and works with Nexus 4, Nexus 10, Nexus Q, and Nexus S.


I have already found out the problem, it's because of the Upgrading of the firmware. I brought my phone to Samsung and they found out that the firmware installed in the device is somehow not genuine (don't know about this, I got my device from Globe Telecom as brand-new.)

Disclaimer: this solution is for Samsung device under warranty period. Samsung said the problem occurs when you update through OTA when you have an inconsistent internet connection making the 'applypatch' running as if it cannot find all necessary files for upgrade and continuously searching and patching it. Solution to this is to backup first your device, bring it to Samsung Service Center then have them format it and install a genuine OS. After that, my device is back to normal with updated genuine Android 4.2.2 Jellybean and just have to restore my data.

If your warranty is over and if you're already rooted you can just reformat your Android device with a legit ROM and everything will be back to normal.


When Repligo talks about "bookmarks", it does not mean the "paper clip to remember your last reading position". It rather speaks in terms of PDF specifics, where "bookmarks" are what is commonly referred to as "table of contents" (or in short: TOC), see RepliGo Reader for Android Features. And that's something the creator sets, not the reader.

But the same linked page gives you an idea for a work-around: You can use "annotations". This way you get a kind of "named bookmarks", which should be selectable like those "PDF bookmarks". I cannot say how exactly Repligo handles this, as I don't use it myself. It could very well be that it simply allows to add annotations, but doesn't keep an index for them. So in case you don't really need to change/edit things into the PDF, you might want to take a look at Moon+ Reader Pro for an alternative: This pro version also offers PDF support. And (at least with epub, what I mostly use) it handles bookmarks, annotations, highlights, and other whats-nots quite fine, including an index to look them up, and more.


I want to transfer my android internet app info (saved passwords/log on info on browser)

A solution without root is described in Full Backup of non-rooted devices: using adb backup you can grab all (or selected) apps including their data from your old device, and then restore them to your new device. I'd recommend taking separate backups from all your apps, as adb restore is an all-or-nothing without the possibility to select what to restore – and you probably want a "clean transfer", leaving "garbage" out.

Instructions

So the recommended steps would be:

installing the required ADB stuff to your computer, see Is there a minimal installation of ADB?
performing an ADB backup for all your apps. If you're using Linux on your computer, my tool Adebar can assist you with that, creating shell scripts to backup/restore each single app and more (on Windows, Ultimate Backup Tool might offer something comparable). If not, you can list all apps via adb shell pm list packages <X> (with <X> being -3 for user apps you want to backup including their .apk files, and -s for system apps where you want only the data from – as you couldn't restore the .apk anyway due to read-only /system file system). Then run adb backup -f <appname>.ab -apk <user_app_package_name> for each user app, and adb backup -f <appname>.ab -noapk for each system app. Hint: com.android.sharedstoragebackup will take a while and create a huge file, and you probably can skip that; it's the contents of your SD card(s).
for each backup file you want to transfer to the new device, run adb restore <file.ab> with the new device connected

A few caveats and tricks

apps may opt-out of this backup (ALLOW_BACKUP = FALSE), in which case the backup file will be only 41 bytes large (or 0 bytes). In this case, you cannot transfer the app this way without root tricks.
you could simply do a "full backup" of the entire system, and later pick what to restore with the help of some 3rd party tools – see How do you extract an App's data from a full backup made through “adb backup”? and Partial adb restore

Further readings

Restoring an ADB backup onto a different phone of the same model?
our backup tag-wiki
our adb tag-wiki
if the above sounds "too much", and you want a few selected apps only: my list of backup apps has a.o. Helium mentioned, which might be worth a look then. It does the same as described above, just directly on the Android device.


Can I store a CWM backup on the PC and copy it to the phone when
  needed?

Yes, you can.

  CWM backups are stored in /data/media/clockworkmod/backups

And for TWRP :

  you can choose the files/backup-files for saved and stored in Sdcard or Extsdcard
  during backup process.

Stored in -> sdcard -> TWRP -> Backups

or:       Extsdcard -> TWRP -> Backups

and then, you can copy this backup when needed into the phone and then,
Restore it from related recovery.


Block an vaulty account and can pc can acces my vaulty account?

No, as far as i know, if there are decrypted files on a device that were encrypted by that device, you can't access them from a computer -unless you have some very advanced computer knowledge, which i doubt your "friend" will be that desperate. Here is a link that talks about accessing encrypted data on another device. I know this discussion is about an sd card, but it's still the same idea. You have data in a vault that is encrypted.


Cannot find apps on SDcard after flashing Custom ROM

While there is some merit in the reply from Audiophile; apps on an SDCard should not be lost.  I had a similar problem after rooting a Samsung Exhibit 4g (T-sgh759); and while I found this thread I continued digging.  The solution required removing the battery, then restarting; and voila! everything was visible from the phone on the card again. (I used the suggestion from Scotty85 in this thread --> http://androidforums.com/rezound-all-things-root/517575-cant-see-sd-card-after-root-noob.html )

If that doesn't work, before you do anything that might write to the card... As it is an SD card, you can pop it out and see if it mounts on the computer.  Do a search for *.APK (those should be the application files).  Are any files visible?  It is doubtful that installing a rom would format the SD card... however, if you can't see any files, many companies like Sandisk have free recovery software with the their higher end cards.  Googling you could find a download link, and try recovering the files from the SD.

In my case, the files were visible when the card was mounted on the computer and not visible on the phone after rooting.

Titanium backup, ES Filemanager, and Root Toolbox Lite all work for copying files.  Some care should be had before rooting, and installing roms that you have a complete backup; as some have found a false sense of security, revealed only when they try to restore and can't (see Jason Lewis' Cautionary Tale --> http://myblog-online.co.uk/2011/12/a-cautionary-tale-the-dangers-of-root-and-titanium-backup/ )

It is possible to make a complete backup without rooting; using ADB from the Android SDK (see --> http://www.howtogeek.com/125375/how-to-create-a-full-android-phone-or-tablet-backup-without-rooting-or-unlocking-your-device/ )

Good luck to anyone else who experiences this.

D


Difference between bootloader and Download mode in Samsung Galaxy tablets

Yes and no. The Download Mode is an interface between the Loke component, which resides in the bootloader, and Odin/Heimdall. In fact, if you issue the reboot bootloader from your device's command line, it will boot the Download Mode. (thanks to @death-mask-salesman)


"Vendor image does not match the system" message at boot

Yes. Do as the hint says: grab the corresponding factory image (in your case MTC20F) here, extract vendor.img from it (you might need 7-Zip), then flash it in fastboot mode via fastboot flash vendor PATH_TO_VENDOR_IMG. Reboot and you should be fine.

Be sure to also update the bootloader (fastboot flash bootloader PATH_TO_BOOTLOADER_IMG) and baseband (fastboot flash radio PATH_TO_RADIO_IMG) too. This should be made a routine as you update your ROM afterwards.


How do I REALLY sync ALL contacts to a new phone

As you've already figured, a built-in solution is:

Open the contacts app on the "old device"
In Menu → Import/Export, chose to export
Copy the resulting 0001.vcf file to your "new device"
On the new device, open the contacts app and chose to "import" from Menu → Import/Export

Hint: take care there's enough free space available on the "exporting" device (file might get large, as contact pictures are stored inside it as well). You might not always get a warning when storage runs full, but instead end up with some "incomplete export", which then cannot be imported on the other end.

Now for the second part: why didn't they sync automatically? First, there are a few different "storages" to be considered:

On SIM
Google Contacts

These two are available on all devices. Depending on device and ROM, there might be additional "storages", e.g.

Exchange
PC Suite

Assuming you're speaking of Google's sync: That only takes care for Google contacts. As the PC Suite would only cater contacts in PC Suite to sync them with its desktop counterpart, and Exchange would not care for anything but Exchange contacts (you wouldn't want your personal contacts appearing in your company's address books, would you?). SIM contacts are a very special case: Nothing cares to sync them anywhere. I'm not even sure whether Import/Export is touching them.

So as parts of your contacts have been stored as "LG PC Suite contacts", these have not been sync'd with Google (and your "Google contacts" not with LG Suite), which explains the miss.


Settings >> Accounts and Sync >> Add account >> Facebook
Enter your facebook info
Check the Sync Contacts checkbox


Can I flash a Motorola Charm with a T-mobile update?

Yes, you can, but in my experience it does not work well and you can't downgrade afterward. I'd recommend that you do NOT flash that T-Mobile updated ROM.


Selectively restrict sync for some applications to wifi only

Go into Settings | Data usage. Then in the Mobile tab, you'll find a list of the applications that have recently used data.

Click on any of these applications and there will be a checkbox to restrict background data while the phone is using a mobile connection (as opposed to wifi).

I'm not aware of a way to control the sync frequency.


Merging a Crypt7 and a Crypt8 whatsapp backup

This is how I solved the issue.

backup your existing whatsapp installation

 adb backup -f whatsapp-new.ab -noapk com.whatsapp

clear whatsapp data by going to settings>apps
upload your old database to /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases and delete other files in this directory
run whatsapp, restore messages and initialise app (you will have to reenter your phone number; if this doesn't work try installing older version of whatsapp - 2.11.432 worked fine for me)
backup installation with old messages

 adb backup -f whatsapp-old.ab -noapk com.whatsapp

download android backup extractor (https://github.com/nelenkov/android-backup-extractor), and its dependencies (bcprov-jdk15on-151.jar) and compile it (use Eclipse if you are not familiar with this)
extract files from backups

java -cp path-to-libs/bcprov-jdk15on-151.jar:path-to-comiled-abe/bin/ org.nick.abe.Main unpack whatsapp-new.ab wa-new.tar

java -cp path-to-libs/bcprov-jdk15on-151.jar:path-to-comiled-abe/bin/ org.nick.abe.Main unpack whatsapp-old.ab wa-old.tar

tar xvf wa-new.tar
mv apps apps-new
tar xvf wa-old.tar
mv apps apps-old

copy unencrypted databases to a new directory

mkdir plain
mv apps-old/com.whatsapp/db/msgstore.db plain/msgstore-old.db
mv apps-new/com.whatsapp/db/msgstore.db plain/msgstore-new.db

download sch3m4's wforensic from Github, install it and  follow this https://github.com/sch3m4/wforensic#merging-all-msgstore-files-into-a-single-one (alternatively you could just merge both .db files - they are plain sql3 archives)
clear whatsapp data on phone again; upload the merged database to sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases and name it msgstore.db and delte other database files
repeat step 4

Now you should be able to see all conversations (hint scroll down to see all conversations - they are not sorted chronologically - but that sorts out with time).


Install application in sd card by default using Linux

It is as simple as running adb install -s someapp.apk. However, the app should be ready to run from external storage.

adb resides in the path to ADT/sdk/platform-tools directory.

Related question: Move to SD Card doesn't move everything


If you already have a Google account set up, and the device connected to the Internet, you can simply visit the Google Play Store using a browser on your PC, log in, find a keyboard app, and click the button to install it on your device (it will then be pushed).

As I somehow doubt that the requirements for that are met (or you wouldn't ask about setup), a second variant would be to download the .apk file of a keyboard app and use e.g. adb install to get it installed. Problem: for this you need to have usb-debugging enabled on the device. Not sure if you can achieve that.

Last resort would be to "flash" a keyboard app via a special update.zip in recovery. But that would require a custom recovery, and the update.zip must be created (there are posts on that here on this site as well). Some custom recoveries also offer ADB access (e.g. twrp has that built-in), so you could try the adb install approach with them. However, I cannot tell if there is any (or which) custom recovery available for your device.

Very last resort: flash the entire firmware again – the keyboard app should be part of it.


Why did my phone start ringing when there is no SIM card installed

That happened to my Samsung Wi-Fi "not smartphone, just touch".

I live in jordan, and I received a call twice from an unknown number. It rang with no sound on the microphone and no SIM card. It is really weird, but I think the most common factor is the Samsung phone. It might be kind of an emergency call, or the company puts kind of tracking system to see if these devices are still in service.


Emoticon on keyboard support and Android version

The answer depends on a variety of things, most importantly whether the vendor or manufacturer uses the Google keyboard or one of their own. Some apps, including Facebook and most manufacturer/vendor Messaging apps, have their own built-in emoticon support.

The default keyboard for Lollipop (5.0) on the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5 has built-in emoticon support. If memory serves, Kitkat (4.4.2) did not.


text editor that starts out in view mode?

You can install Google docs in your Android device.
Also you can use an editor called INKPAD, that works your way, the keyboard only is showed if you want to edit the note.


Transfer all Contacts in Phone and Sim to Google Contacts

In the Contacts Menu there should be an option called Merge with Google.


Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 firmware update issue

You should be able to repair your phone with Odin 3.07.

THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!

Go to www.sammobile.com
Then go to firmwares.
Search the right firmware for your device.
Download Odin (do a google search).
Extract Odin.zip
Put the md5/tar in the PA/PDA slot.
Click on start/begin/OK.
Wait a few minutes and your will reboot.


How can I backup and restore Google Now Launcher home-screen layouts?

Try backing up the entire Google app, not just the Google Now Launcher as it does not store any data itself.

Backing up the Google app (and you can try the Google Now Launcher) in addition to it, should work.


There was a problem communicating with Google servers, try again later - Galaxy s3

I have finally found the solution for this problem and want to share it here for those of you suffering from the same issue that was not answered by any of the steps mentioned in the original post.

In short, I needed to reinstall Google Play Services

In your device ...

Go to Settings > Security > Check Unknown sources
Head over to APKMirror
and get the version of Google Play Services that is applicable to the your Android version.
Install
Probably best to reverse step 1 once finished

This worked for me.


How can I uninstall updates to Google Play Services? The buttons are greyed out

If you have the Android Device manager app installed then this can also make the force stop/uninstall updates buttons be disabled.

If you uninstall the Android Device manager app and disable "Android Device Manager" as a device administrator then those options should be enabled.


I'm using Anki flashcards. There is also version for Android.

  Anki is a program which makes remembering things easy. Because it is a lot more efficient than traditional study methods, you can either greatly decrease your time spent studying, or greatly increase the amount you learn.

You can download German dictionary and start learning :-)


Sorry to say, but there is no or alternate way for this.

I had lost my phone and i was having some contacts on whatsapp which i dont have anywhere else.

This thing is a bit wrong, because Whatsapp would use your own phonebook to check which of your contacts have whatsapp. It won't let you add any user to your stock pile by just adding them as friends.

Is there any way to reach to that contacts .

If there is a backup of the data on Google servers, then there might be an option. But I don't think that would work! So there is no way to get them back.

I know this is not a technical question concerned with android

True, but actually this is a site for the Android questions. So you're in the correct place. To ask how to get data, but now about how to get data from a lost phone. Thats impossible.
Possible things that would help
Well these are not the helping materials, but just in case to remind you that, in the settings, did you check backup my data. If so, try signing in Google from other phone, it might give you some data.
Not sure of this but you said the contacts were no where else but on whatsapp, so try signing in to whatsapp again, maybe they still have those contacts for you!


Why i cant use some button with some game with usb controller?

Not all games have full gamepad support.  Manufacturers of these gamepads will claim that every game is supported which is only half true.  They will only have limited functionality.  I have the exact same issue on certain games using a G910 I purchased from geekbuying.

Here is a site that I use to check for full gamepad support.

Android Gamepad support


Download notification not showing after factory reset

A factory reset does not touch the system partition, so built in apps such as the built in Download manager will not get touched. Perhaps you used a different web browser before the factory reset you performed, and that had better download management than the one you are currently using.

If you download ES File Explorer from the play store, you can use the module in that app called ES Downloader. This is a good way to check downloads in progress in a nice dialogue box


Here is the link: http://android-lovers.com/Downloads/baidu.easyroot_v2.8.6.apk

It might not be the lastest version. If not, go to android-lovers.com/Downloads/baidu


Accept Android SDK Build-Tools on Windows 10

You can view and accept all licenses of the Android SDK and related components using the following command:

android-sdk\cmdline-tools\latest\bin\sdkmanager.bat --licenses


Is there a way to improve S6 audio quality?

If you agree to void your warranty, your best bet would be to root your device and install a custom kernel, which can be further tweaked in order to improve the sound quality (amongst other things).


What adapter do I need: Philips Headset + Samsung S4 mini duos

The in-line-mic only works for compatible Apple products. Apple always has something different than the standard and most Android devices use the opposite. I would like to see an adapter, but it would probably use an Apple patent. I think you're out of luck, but I'll update this if I find anything in the future. Next headphone pair you buy, I recommend you looking up if it's fully Android compatible.

P.S. If you in-line-buttons (volume and track control) to work, their are apps that convert one Android compatible button to work like the other few buttons using double clicking them. I recommend Headset Button Controller I am warning you that they get annoying because you have to have the play-pause button working as well as be able to spam the play button a number of times to get it to do volume-up for example.


Is there a way to sort apps by popularity (number of 'downloads') in the Google Play Store, or otherwise?

There's not, and there are several reasons why this list would be bad for Android users:-

Every new app starts at zero downloads. Focusing on the number of downloads alone would keep old apps at the top of the list, even if they've stopped being updated, while making it much harder for new apps to take off. Even among apps that are all as popular as each other, the older one would always be higher in the list.
If a million people downloaded an app but uninstalled it right away, that means it's less likely to be good, not more likely. Using only number of downloads would give you the wrong information.
Free apps get more downloads than paid apps, because there's less risk: if it doesn't do what you want, or it doesn't work, or you just don't like it, you can uninstall it again. There's already a widespread feeling in the industry that only free apps can survive in the market, for this reason. This is what's led to the growth of apps with ads (and no option to pay to remove them), and microtransaction-based games. Making a list based on only downloads would further depress the sales of paid apps, driving the industry towards making more microtransaction-based games and apps.
Google Play already has a big problem with fake downloads, ratings, and reviews. Unscrupulous developers pay (say) $1 a time for a download with a five-star rating. The download might be performed by a user in an affiliate scheme (so he gets paid, or some other reward, for downloading the app) or using devices with malware. It's an arms race between Google finding these scams, and the unscrupulous agencies performing them. The fact that Google keeps the exact method it uses to decide which apps to show secret is its main tool in making the system hard-to-game. Having a list based on downloads alone would make fake-downloads more effective, which in turn makes the list even less useful, and would increase the value to hackers of compromised Android devices and Google accounts.

It seems you've already realised a little about these differences: in one part of your question, you ask about "number of downloads", then about "which apps people are downloading the most" (i.e. recently, not total number of downloads ever), and then later you want to know "which apps are actually used the most". These are all different quantities.

To come up with the right answer to all your questions, you need a number that's based on the number of downloads over time, weighted to take more recent popularity into account more, along with the "bounce rate" (how many users uninstall the app right away or after a single use), and users' ratings, also considering the statistical difference between free and paid apps. On top of this, it needs to discourage people gaming the system by not giving too much weight to any one parameter.

This is exactly what Google Play already does.


Is there any benefit to wiping Dalvik Cache after rooting my phone?

As you mentioned you're using Magisk for root, I'm assuming you're running on Android 5 or up.

The answer would be no. You can safely ignore the "Wipe Dalvik Cache" after OTA updating and re-rooting.

Dalvik cache is compiled binary code (optimized DEX) for your installed applications, so it usually makes sense to wipe them if you removed/replaced your apps in recovery, or modified the ART runtime (like installing Xposed Framework). The odex files for system apps usually come with the system image and does not reside in the user dalvik-cache directory. Therefore there's no need to wipe cache if you root your phone or flash a new recovery, but recommended if anything related to application runtime has changed (e.g. Xposed).


With android 7 the do not disturb mode has changed. I do not know of anyway (at this time) to change the behaviour of the dnd mode.
You can, however, instead of turning on dnd simply switch to the priority mode. If you have not configured any priority contacts or anything like that it does behave exactly like the pre-android-7 dnd mode including normal media playback.


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


Very high mobile data usage reported by carrier, no evidence in phone

Turns out it was the carrier that messed up something as it seems I wasn't the only one to get this issue, so I didn't really use all that data.


why does my tablet say insufficient space?

Go to settings>storage and take a look at what you have for space.  Some devices come with very little to start with (4gb) while others have buckets (64gb).  Downloading a few movies or games (or loading a big music library) can push a 4gb device to its limit fairly quickly.

If you've checked settings and see that you have very little available space, doing some app housecleaning will obviously help.  Some devices will accept an external microsd card, so you have a relatively inexpensive way put a bunch more room on your tablet.

If you've checked setting and there is a lot of available space left, then we need to explore other options.


Will WhatsApp deliver a message that was accidentally sent while data was off?

Assuming that you didn't have any access to internet at that time (No WiFi and mobile data was turned off) and deleted the message (by tapping and holding the message, then choosing "Delete"), it's very likely that the message was not sent.

This is a result by self-testing:

Send message while not connected to internet, then try to connect to internet: Message sent
Send message while not connected to internet, delete the message, then connect to internet: Message is not sent

Lastly, the best way to ensure it is to ask the recipient.


Unidentified app using excessive battery

Try going to Settings > Storage & USB > Explore to see if you can find/delete anything left by Sygic Navigation.

You can also try rebooting the tablet into safe mode by pressing and holding the power button until the dialog box with Power off appears. Then, press and hold the on-screen "Power off" button until it prompts you about rebooting into Safe mode. See if your battery is okay in safe mode (test it for about a day). Note that in safe mode, you can only use the core apps that the tablet came with and no third party apps. To exit safe mode, just turn off and turn back on the tablet.

Hope this helps.


How to choose external SD Card in Storage Access Framework (Open Camera App)

I had the same issue.  I followed all your instructions and ended up with just "Recent" showing.  But if you tap the three dots at top right of your screen on that page you get an option to show the SD card.  That actually is the secret.  It seems to work!


the tweet doesn't explain the reason but it is unrelated to security. it is not 'safe' to patch a foreign boot.img regarding the functionality of Magisk because of the following reason:
Magisk Manager assumes

cpu architecture
encryption type
encryption state
dm-verity

read from host device is equal target device, it does the patches according to host specifications (where Magisk Manager is currently running, regardless of the origin of boot.img
while this is bad practise, i want to contradict because it will cause issues only in rare corner cases and is (most likely) 'safe' to patch a foreign boot.img


How to clean the voice mail in the notification screen?

Don't you have a Clear button in the top right corner?

This is what it looks like on my HTC Desire running Android 2.3.3.

What happens if you press and hold the voice mail? Do you get a menu to clear it out?

Update:

Tapping the notification dials the voice mail inbox, right? Unless you can tap and hold it to get a context menu from where you can remove it, then I'm afraid there's not much you can do about it.

I just talked to a Samsung rep and he was not aware of a way to remove it. He said you have to pull down the notifications menu, tap it, and then close it (essentially dialing and then ending the call).

I also had a look at the manual for the Galaxy Ace (GT-S5830). There is not much said in it about this (full manual, 127 pages, not a quick guide). They pretty much just tell you what voice mail is, how to set up voice mail server and listen to voice mails.

  In Idle mode, open the application list and select (phone icon),
  Keypad and then tap and hold 1. Follow the instructions from the voice
  mail server. You must save the voice mail server number before
  accessing the server.

They don't even tell you how to clear the notification bar. They seem to be expecting that the user will know this by logic. Most manufacturers of Android handsets seem to be under the impression that Android is intuitive enough that they don't need to say many words about it in the manuals. Some manufacturers have more proper manuals, thoroughly explaining every detail, while some will just have quick guides.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of any more help to you.

May I ask why these notifications about voice mail bother you so much? Are you using voice mail? If you are not using it, then there is always the option to disable it, and you won't be getting any more of those.

So here are the options you have.

Tap to listen

You can tap the "new voice mail" icon from the notification bar to dial your voice mail inbox and listen to your voice mails.
Ignore it

You can always just ignore the icon.
Disable voice mail

If you are not using voice mail, or if you are not using it frequently you always have the option to disable it.
Upgrade to Android 4.2

If possible, you could try upgrading to Android 4.2. That requires rooting your phone and installing a custom ROM.
Get a new phone

This is the least wanted option for several reasons, the expense being usually number one. But sometimes it is the best and quickest solution that allows you to get on with your life and worry less about problems with technology. I would personally not change my phone just to get around this type of issue.

Make sure you thoroughly test your new phone so you know it does what you want. It's usually not possible to test every feature in the store, you need to take it home and test it properly. Some carriers will allow you to bring the phone home and test both the phone and the service for 14 days, without commitment or signing any contract. My carrier (Tele2) has this option.

How to disable voice mail on Galaxy Ace

In Idle mode, open the application list and select
Settings.
Select Call settings.
Select Voice mail number
Remove the number and save changes. If it doesn't allow you to leave it empty then type in some bogus (fake) number like +1 123456789 and save.

There is also the option "Voicemail service". See if you can just disable the service that way, instead of messing with numbers. It doesn't say in the manual what options you have, so you need to see for yourself.

Note!

You can always continue using your voice mail. It's just that you won't be getting these annoying messages every time you get a voice mail. All you have to do in the future is just call the number for your voice mail inbox. You can just save that as a new contact and call it to check for new voice mails.


Auto forward sms to Telegram messenger Group

IFTTT to the rescue!

You can set IFTTT to forward an SMS from specific number to specific chat.

Steps:

Create you IFTTT account if not already exists.
Start the @IFTTT Telegram bot and authorize your IFTTT account.
Add the @IFTTT bot to you Telegram group as admin.
Choose /connect_group from the bot commands, and follow instructions.

If your group isn't public, you can give it a public (meaningful) name just for the connection to IFTTT and then change it back to private. You'll see the group public name and group title in IFTTT, so before connecting check that the name is understandable.

Go to My Applets and choose New Applet
For the +this - choose Android SMS and then New SMS received from phone number
Enter the phone number from which you recieve the relevant texts.
For the +that - choose Telegram and then Send message.
Configure the Telegram message to be sent, you'll have some options there (Target chat, message text, web preview).

The message text supports basic HTML and have some parameters from the SMS connection (such as sender, text, time etc.).

I'm using it to automatically forward my post office message to my Telegram.

Important note: You said you're a firefighter, so I believe the messages are urgent. You should do some tests and check in IFTTT F.A.Q or docs about whether it's immediate or has some delay, or what they guarantee. I just tried and it around half a minute, and so it was in previous times.


How can you sort apps alphabetically in android jellybean 4.2.2?

From a Home screen, touch Apps.
2. Touch Menu ➔ View type.
3. Touch Alphabetical grid


Google Photos can't free space when pictures are on SD card

The SD card on Android is by default mounted in read-only mode: Google Photos can copy photos from the SD card to the server but it cannot edit, create or delete files on the SD card.

To allow Google Photos access read-write to the SD card, follow these steps:

Open Google Photos > Side navigation drawer > Device folders > Open a folder that is located on the SD card
Try deleting an image in that folder by long pressing on it and then pressing the bin icon in the toolbar.
A prompt titled "Give Google Photos access to your SD card?" - allow it.
A prompt with a message saying "Grant Photos access to your data, including photos and videos, on ?" - allow it.
The photo will be deleted.

This method was tested on my Samsung Galaxy Tab A.


Do the front buttons on the Droid X turn on the screen?

Yes, the Home button (and possibly the Volume buttons) turn on the screen.

Found a fix on: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/drod2169-x/132091-ocd-stop-home-button-waking-screen-save-battery.html

Have not tested yet, but it's mentioned in several places. Not sure if it works on an unrooted phone.

GINGERBREAD

Open /system/usr/keylayout/sholes-keypad.kl
remove "Wake_Dropped" And/or "Wake" after any entries for:
HOME
MENU
SEARCH
BACK
VOLUME UP
VOLUME DOWN

FROYO

Open /system/usr/keylayout/cdma_shadow-keypad.kl
remove "Wake_Dropped" And/or "Wake" after any entries for:
HOME
MENU
SEARCH
BACK
VOLUME UP
VOLUME DOWN


How to block websites from chrome using Google family link or similar

I had the same problem with android. Clearing app cache and app data didn't seem to help. It started working after I went to Settings -> Accounts -> click on the account. Untick Sync Chrome. Go to chrome have a look in the settings to see if anything has changed. Go back to the account and retick Sync Chrome,  I also have an option in the menu for Sync Now which I did.

Not sure which action solved this problem, but the chrome browser is now blocking and asking for permissions as expected.
As an alternative to family link maybe you could use some monitoring software or parental control? Usually, those tools can block certain websites and apps.


Yes, that sort of protection is available for Samsung devices: LoJack Device Compatibility

Explanation of what LoJack does:

  LoJack will be embedded in the Galaxy S4's firmware layer, where it
  remains dormant until you awaken it with a monthly subscription that
  becomes your theft insurance. This firmware situation is key -- even
  if robbers wipe your phone to the factory settings, LoJack is still
  active, and unremovable. -- CNET Article

It's difficult to find technical explanations for this software, but from how I understand it, LoJack is installed as an invisible system app, but a copy of it is also kept in the BIOS (pre-bootloader), and is re-installed to any ROM that is flashed. The app is what sends location, signed-in accounts, pictures via standard cell/WiFi protocols. LoJack guarantees to find the thief within 30 days or they send you a new device.

As of late 2015, there is also another type of security introduced with Android Lollipop/Marshmallow called FRP, which forces you to sign in with the previous Google account when you flash a new ROM. But this is hardly a security feature since it has been bypassed, but it is still a good step forward for Android.


GO Launcher EX: widget lost after reboot

Is your widget application installed to the SD card? If yes, then that is the problem. When the phone reboots, it takes a few minutes for the SD card to get loaded. This causes an issue for any widgets that are not installed to the internal memory as they aren't available when the phone first boots up, causing them to not load.

So, please verify the widget app is installed to internal memory instead of the SD card.

This is what you're looking for:


Amazon App Store - Location of the downloaded APK

This is based on my EVO, but they appear to download into the Appstore's "private" external storage directory, which is /sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.venezia/cache/. From what I've seen they appear to then get deleted after being installed, but anything which has been downloaded and not installed looks to be there.


How to totally block internet access (data) on an Android?

I think the best solution you can take is to disable the 3g connection (data traffic) option in Android because its state remains the same as when was turned off.

There's a thing in Android called shared preferences for each application installed. Settings is also an app and the saves there its actual state, parameters and configurations. So, when the phone turns on again, Android (settings app) reads that preferences and restores. So the 3g will keep disabled


Is there a RAW (canon) image viewer or gallery hack for android?

Searching the Market, I found RawDroid Demo. It says it'll open raw files from DSLRs including Canon. I haven't tried it and it doesn't seem to have many downloads, so I'm not sure if it will work.


How to get a clean device tree to build the drivers of the msm8939/snapdragon 615

One minor thing I can answer: Archos is not deceiving you by using an SD410. It's just the "platform board" is for SD410, and due to SD410 and SD61x being of the same generation and using the same core architecture, using the same board is alright.

As can be freely verified, many SD S4 Pro (APQ8064) / SD600 (APQ8064T) devices use the board msm8960, because ultimately they're using the same Krait 200/300 cores. That doesn't mean they're dual core instead of quad.

As for the main question, I think it's a bad decision to ever purchase devices from such minor manufacturers if you're looking for development, even if these devices have popular SoCs.


Battery charging indicator and USB has, sort of, stopped working on my Samsung Google Nexus I9250

Did you try a different battery? Is this one the factory one? It may be faulty and possibly not charging reliably.
If worst comes to worst, you can try reflashing your GNexus with the default google 4.3 yakju images (after backing up all your data of course) to see if the problem goes away. If it does not then the battery needs to be replaced.

Here is a link: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#yakju
and information on how to do it: tutorial
You will need to have fastboot and adb installed.
There is a way to flash the images without erasing the userdata/sdcard partition if you don't want to backup. (it involves editing the flashall.sh to remove the -w option before running it)


Why did my Nexus 4 download the Jelly Bean 4.3 update again?

The before and after screenshots of the about screen confirm that I had the exact same Android, Baseband, and Kernel versions, as well as the same Build Number

Actually, they do not. The first screenshot shows a build number of JWR66V, and the second is JWR66Y. An official changelog has not been released, but T-Mobile's documentation indicates that the update contains "security" updates. You can also find some (unofficial) discussion of the actual code commits in this article. So although the version number was not incremented, it is a different build than you previously had.


Make sure that:

Your device is in USB Debugging mode
You have the device drivers installed
With the device connected, delete any 'Android' devices in the device manager. Do this by highlighting it and pressing the delete key.
Disconnect then connect the device.


Can I force a message to be sent as an MMS?

As per Broam's suggestion above, I'm posting my comment as an answer. Hopefully some people finds it useful.

If you add a Subject to the message you're making, it gets converted to MMS format. Even if the Subject is empty, at least, that's what I know


Give use to Android phone with broken screen

This will work only if the touch still works

Plug your phone to your pc
Unlock your phone
Perform the key combination which takes a screenshot
Explore the files of your phone where your screenshots are located
See where you are at
Tap on the screen blindli trying to click on the icon you want to click
Rinse and repeat from step 3


"MTP USB Device" driver error (screenshot) when connecting my Galaxy S to my PC in Kies mode -- How can I resolve this problem?

Go to Samsung Kies software, on top left of the window, click the menu > Driver recovery.
Let it reinstall drivers
After driver installation finished, go to your phone, Settings> Application > Development, tick USB debugging mode.
Under USB debugging mode connect your phone to the PC with USB.
It installs correctly!
Disconnect from PC
Untick USB debugging mode
Connect again

and it works!


The source for eclair's Environment.getExternalStorageState() is here.  It looks like getExternalStorageState() comes to this:

return SystemProperties.get("EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE", MEDIA_REMOVED)

I think you want to take a look at the /system/build.prop file and check for a line like:

EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE=removed

If it's there, try changing it to:

EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE=mounted

To do this, adb pull /system/build.prop, modify the file on your computer, then adb remount to make /system writable (or adb shell, su, mount -o rw,remount /system)... then exit back to your computer and adb push build.prop /system/build.prop to push the modified file to /system).  Then reboot.

You can try temporarily (from root shell):

setprop EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE mounted

...if that works, you might then programmatically try:

SystemProperties.set("EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE", Environment.MEDIA_MOUNTED);

Hope this works out for ya.


Find out size of all data ever downloaded

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

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


"Can't play this video" error AFTER the video finishes playing

Possible that the last few seconds are corrupt. Or maybe it's trying to play the next video and that one is corrupt


Ideas on how to recover data from a screenless/headless Android device?

do you have developer options enabled?

If yes try to backup using adb. you will not have to access Adb shell. just 'adb backup' command will do it. use appropriate options to backup your shared storage. (just type adb and hit enteryou will see the Adb backup options)

go to following link try the options in answer to access Adb backup. do not encrypt the backup.

If u do not have developer access, just replace the device screen, and u should get your device as is.


Maximum SD card class for Samsung Galaxy S4

Use Class 10 SD cards. There will be fewer problems.


How to set automatic time in our private WIFI network on MarshMallow

Requirements

1.Root access

2.Busybox : for 'rdate' service

3.init.d folder in /system/etc/ to start daemon service at boot

mount system partition in read write :

su -
mount -o remount,rw /system

Create a file 99my_daemon at /system/etc/init.d with executable permission and enter the following lines

#!/system/bin/sh
while ! ping -c1 "0.pool.ntp.org" &>/dev/null
do wait 10
done
/system/xbin/busybox rdate -s 0.pool.ntp.org
exit 0

Close writing the /system partition

mount -o remount,rw /system

And reboot, your system should be connected to the 0.pool.ntp.org and synchronized when he booted. You could use the crontab to check synchronization during the using of the device


I have a Galaxy S7 and can launch an app from the widget, but cannot find the application icon to delete the app

If you go to your Settings app, and find the Apps or Application Manager. This will show you a list of all the apps installed on your phone.

Another way to do this is to download an app that triggers the app uninstaller for you (e.g. Uninstaller or Easy Uninstaller App Uninstall). When you download one of these apps it should list all of the apps on your phone, for you to remove one or more of them at once.

Hope this helps


Is it possible to pull data in ADB sideload mode

I know this is a very old question but as there is no answer I post this one.

Just had a similar problem. Look at this:
https://www.howtogeek.com/240655/how-to-copy-twrp-android-backups-to-your-pc-for-safe-keeping/

remember to take out the "Enable MTP" option in the "Mount" Section of TWRP.

Edit: Just re-read your question, I guess you didn't have TWRP installed. Not sure how to solve your original issue. In case you have TWRP installed or manage to somehow do so then my answer still stands


Is there a way to list the local dns cache?

In Android, the DNS Cache is not on the OS level (Linux), but on the Java level (managed by java.net.InetAddress). Therefore, it is not possible to list the cache contents from the shell, however you can access it from the Java code.

Please see Java DNS cache viewer question on StackOverflow, one of the answers has a sample Java code that prints the positive and negative DNS cache. You can incorporate that code into whatever solution you're building.


How to get back pattern lock with Exchange/ActiveSync account?

My work account limits me from using pattern lock. The way I get around it is by using Swype and a password that is a real word, that way you Swype the pattern of the word to unlock your phone.

Get Swype from beta.Swype.com.


How practical the number of cores in Android

It's true that in desktop computers many programs are not optimized for using multiple cores, and getting a powerful dual core processor would be a lot better than a less powerful quad core processor in many cases. In many cases, the performance per core will be worse if you add more cores.

However, the Android API was pretty much designed to take advantage of multiple cores. There are rules that make apps crash if you do some operations that could lag the UI, like downloading something in the same thread as the UI. This means if your app needs to download anything, you will have at least two threads running.

You can run two threads on a single core device, but the more threads you run the less time your UI has to update and the laggier your experience is. With multiple processors you can run multiple threads at the same time, making your user experience more pleasant: intensive operations can be done in the background while the UI is still responding smoothly.

Scheduling is indeed handled by the kernel, but the Java API was designed to be heavily asynchronous. This way threads can be managed easier by the kernel. The design of the API which almost all apps follow makes scheduling easier for the kernel.

Another multi core feature that is overlooked by many people is that cores can be disabled individually. This means that if you listen to music on your headphones with your phone in your pocket, only 1/4th of a quad core processor needs to be turned on and consume power.


Assuming that ES File Explorer is on default view, which is Large Icon

You can long-press the folder/file, then select More - Properties to see its full name.

For a general way (in case there are many folders/files with long name), you can try changing the view to list by selecting View - (any) List/Detail. In most cases, it will display long enough name. The downside is you only see fewer folders/files.


When I plug my S3 into my Windows 7/8 computers (after installing Kies to get the drivers), it just shows up as a "portable media player" under My Computer and is easily accessible.

If yours isn't, and you've tried more than one computer, then I suspect more than just the screen on the S3 is broken.


How can I remove the SIM Lock on my Samsung S2 LTE (SC-03D) Japan Docomo?

I found a way and posted a solution to xda-dev:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60964832&postcount=2

In order to sim unlock the SC-03D it is necessary to first flash a "special" radio. Flashing the radio is possible with a CWM based recovery. Get the latest version of CWM-recovery from this forum and flash it using ODIN/Heimdall:
http://android.slateblue.tk/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=73

Then get the radio to flash from this XDA thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=37564563)

This radio is from the Galaxy Note (SC-05D) so it made my phone very very slow. However, you need this radio because it has options to make the phone sim free. Options which the original SC-03D radio does not. As soon as you flash this new radio boot the phone, run the dialer application and dial:

*#9090#

it might be very slow but eventually you should get to the service menu.
To access more options press [menu] then [Input key]. Then into the text box type:

Q0 (Q Zero, not QOh)

It should bring you to another menu after a second or so. Select these options:

[1] DEBUG SCREEN
[8] PHONE CONTROL
[5] SIMULATION
[6] NETWORK LOCK
[3] PERSO SHA256 OFF
Wait for 30 seconds , press MENU then BACK.
Select:
[4] NW LOCK NV DATA INITIALLIZ

Wait 60 seconds. Reboot.
Congrats you're sim free. You should remain sim free no matter what radio/firmware/rom you flash.

partial credit to FAB:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fab4_boys/26754215.html
And HomuHomu for the recovery.


How do I make older images in my /sdcard/DCIM folder show up in Gallery?

This behaviour is not uncommon, sadly.

I use SDrescan to fix it usually.

Here are some other questions targeting the same underlying problem:

The music player keeps displaying deleted songs. How do I remove them or refresh the library?
Picture Gallery Slow & Won't Refresh on HTC G2 w Android 2.3 Gingerbread


Siri-like answers in Google Voice Search on 4.2

Unfortunately, Google Now only supports certain languages at this moment in time.

You should change to a language that it supports (such as British English), using a locale changer application.


ZTE Blade/San Francisco memory cards that work

I found this discussion at MoDaCo about the issue.  It includes cards that people have tried and found to work.

The generally consensus seems to be that Sandisk 16 GB Class 2 cards work.  Kingston 16 GB Class 4 worked for a couple people, but not for another until they tried deleting everything on it via Windows XP.  I personally wouldn't go lower than a Class 4 card, and I'm partial to Kingston.


Corrupted SD card meant I could not install anything.


How to protect my Google account credentials on my Android phone?

Using a free service like Android Lost, you can remotely control your phone from a web browser. You can wipe it, locate it on a map, read sms'es, take a picture remotely etc... to ease your concerns regarding security.

While not directly an answer to your question, it might be a viable solution.  Not storing your Google credentials on your Android smartphone and accessing Google services through the mobile web brower is not only very impractical, but also sort of defeats the purpose of a modern smartphone doesn't it ?


At 2016-oct-16, calendar goes back to 1970 (or, "cannot disable Tardis")

I'm having the same issue and I saw another post saying that it's happening due to the beginning of summer time in Brasil, in October 16, so if you change your timezone it should stop...
Obviously won't work for me because I live here and changing the timezone is not an option, but it's worth giving a try :) (even because the person that figured it out didn't say a thing about fixing it).
Cheers!


Galaxy S3 Can't boot to teamwin recovery

Problem solved. Full Process to the solution can be found at AndroidForums. Basically, it seems it was a broken download (image file corrupted): I downloaded a fresh image from twrp.me and repeated the installation process, now everything works.


Make sure you have internet connection. Such screen appears when there is no internet connectivity. As I can see from the screenshot, that you are connected to a WiFi, make sure internet is available from that source.

I have recreated the similar situation. Connected my device to a WiFi which has no internet connectivity; Opened Play Store and this is what I got.

Screenshot (click for larger variant)

So, just connect to a stable source of internet and you will be good to go :)


APN not saving with EE Orange UK SIM on Kitkat

There is a service provided by WDS (Wireless Data Services Ltd, a Xerox company) where you can enter your model details and phone number, and it will send an SMS to setup the EE/Orange APN.


I solved the issue by buying Package Installer and disabling the Software Update app.


How can I share my free internet vpn connection with my laptop?

The easy Way...
 1. Start your VPN on your phone
 2. Install/Use Clockworkmod's USB Tether.
2b. Use PDANet/Foxfi for wireless sharing.

The Clockworkmod/PDAnet tether app will connect to the internet like any other app;
through the VPN.


Does battery drain faster if I don't use 'Lock Screen' feature?

If the lock screen uses widgets, like weather, news aggregators, notifications, etc, then it's likely to use more battery.

Personally, I just use the plain swipe lock screen without additional widgets.


How Can I Mirror & Control Android Device on Large Mulit-touch Screen

Yes, this is now possible and recently I saw a demo unit that meets your requirement.
The demo was from HANNspree and they connected their 23" touch monitor (HT231HPB) together with their 10" Tablet.
You can also use the touch-screen monitor to control the action on the Android device.
In few words a two-way sync between the tablet and the touch monitor.


Is it safe to manually delete the contents of the .Trash-1000 folder on my SDCard?

.Trash-1000 is a metafolder like Windows's Recycle Bin, normally created by Ubuntu (and perhaps other Linux variants).  Have you deleted anything on your SD card from your PC?  That would explain it.  You can safely delete it.  See also: https://superuser.com/questions/169980/what-is-trash-and-trash-1000


change the settings to HIGH ACCURACY and turn on 'google location history' and restart(reboot) the phone.


How to re-enable the "Clear Defaults" option for applications?

This button is normally greyed out when there aren't any defaults set (and possibly when there are no other applications to change the defaults to).  If you install another voice recording app, you should be asked which you want to use the next time a voice recording event is triggered.  This normally doesn't get triggered when you start up the voice recorder manually, it has to be triggered.


You might be interested in Assisted GPS

  Assistance falls into two categories:

  Information used to more quickly acquire satellites

  It can supply orbital data or almanac for the GPS satellites to the
  GPS receiver, enabling the GPS receiver to lock to the satellites
  more rapidly in some cases.
  The network can provide precise time.
  The device captures a snapshot of the GPS signal, with approximate time,
  for the server to later process into a position.
  Accurate, surveyed coordinates for the cell site towers allow better
  knowledge of local ionospheric conditions and other conditions
  affecting the GPS signal than the GPS receiver alone, enabling more precise
  calculation of position. (See also Wide Area Augmentation System and
  CellHunter.)

  Calculation of position by the server using information from the GPS
  receiver

  The assistance server has a good satellite signal, and plentiful
  computation power, so it can compare
  fragmentary signals relayed to it by
  GPS receivers, with the satellite
  signal it receives directly, and then
  inform the GPS receiver or emergency
  services of the GPS receiver's
  position.

  Many mobile phones combine A-GPS and
  other location services including
  Wi-Fi Positioning System and cell-site
  triangulation and sometimes a hybrid
  positioning system.[4]


Log-in to your gmail account. Change your password first. Then, on the page where you see mails, down in the bottom, Click on the link "Details" in the right bottom corner. Click on "Sign-out all other sessions". You will sign-out of all the sessions. It will be effective on logged-in mobile once user tries to do any action on your gmail.

Hope it helps...


"One" is a line of phones and also a phone itself, much like Samsung and their Galaxy line.

There is a phone called just the "HTC One" (Which I believe is the newest HTC phone), but there also 14 other devices under the "One" name and are differentiated with 1 or 2 letters after the name.


Can't use Google Play app from Restricted Guest Account

From this Google Product Forums Post:

  "it is not possible to be able to grant access to the Play Store. You are however
  able to grant access to the different Play apps like Books, Movies and Music.
  They will have access to the content you have."

So I'm sorry, but this is a product limitation. After all, why would you want a restricted user to be able to install apps? That sounds a bit purpose-defeating.


What is *Cell standby* and how can I keep it from eating my battery?

Cell Signal
Some backgrounds as explained by ce4 on the question Does 'poor' reception deplete the battery quicker?:

The transceiver circuit is engineered with power saving in mind and will reduce sending power as much as possible if the reception is good. This also reduces the SAR value which is a measurement for exposure of the human body to radiation.
If the reception is bad sending signal strength has to be adjusted accordingly.

So that's what's really behind it: On poor reception, the device spends a lot of power to find a better/stronger signal (or any signal at all if lost). The following screenshot1 clearly shows those times, when you take a look at the bar titled Phone signal.

"The greener the cleaner": A bright green means "good reception" (the screenshot shows this at the begin and end, that is here: morning and evening -- so at home I have good reception). Getting yellowish: "Moderate reception". This uses more energy: compare it with the graph on top of it (not in the screenshot -- but the same as in the first screenshot), and you see the bar is almost flat where the cell signal  is good -- but falls faster where it's not. See the little red spots: "no reception". And phone will power-up like crazy to find a new cell tower...
How to find out where the dead spots are?
I already showed in my answer on Does 'poor' reception deplete the battery quicker? how one can find out about those "Dead Zones" and where they are:
Apps like No Signal Alert2 and OpenSignalMaps3 monitor the cell signal in background, and record those areas, so they can show you a map of where the dead zones were. OpenSignalMaps has the plus of showing you all cell towers in reach, pointing out which you are connected to. It also offers you a "compass" giving the direction to the strongest signal.

However, my answer on how to automatically deal with those dead zones was not that detailed. So I played around a bit with different solutions -- and here's what I've found out:
How to automatically deal with those dead zones to save energy?
Apps to automatize Airplane Mode
I've reached fairly good results with two apps: Autopilot4 and NoBars Battery Saver5. Both monitor the cell signal and, when it drops to far, switch to Airplane Mode for a predefined time. The user can define how long that would be. After that timeout, Airplane Mode gets disabled, and cell monitoring takes over.

In the second graph of my question, this shows up as "gaps" in the Phone Signal bar: As the cell radio was disabled during Airplane Mode, no colors are shown; the system didn't know anything about signal strength in this time frame. And with the cell radio turned off, it also didn't use additional power (more precisely, it didn't use any power for this radio then) -- which was exactly what was intended.
With Autopilot, the only annoying side-effect was: For each signal check, it flashed on the display for about a second. Aside from that, it gives more options to be configured by the user. However, as the results of both apps where absolutely comparable, those extra options seem not really necessary, while being nice to have. Another plus of Autopilot is the log provided to the user: This way you can see the exact times of mode switches.
Apps to handle data network
I've also tested ShutUpBatterySaver6, which aims to handle the data traffic. Dropping below a certain signal strength the user can define, it disables AutoSync, and below a second definable level switches off mobile internet altogether.

It does, however, never activate (or deactivate) Airplane Mode, so the power used to get a (better) signal will still be the same. Though, with a bad signal data transfer uses more power than with a good signal, as e.g. package loss might be bigger. In the status bar I saw several times that it had AutoSync disabled7, so it seems to work. Not being a heavy data user (as the LBE stats in the same screenshot show), I could however not really tell how much help that brought: Compared to the two Airplane-Mode handling apps above, results in terms of gained battery duration were minimal (if any).
Combined solution
It would probably gain best results to join the two approaches. As I was not in the mood to check all possible combinations, I rather decided for the allmighty 6-letter-solution: T-A-S-K-E-R.
As most of you probably know, Tasker is the automation solution on Android. Guess it could even prepare coffee, if our devices had sensors to detect coffee and water. So I created some profiles for this great app -- and results were magnific!

So basically it's 3 Profiles, communicating via a common variable:

%SIGSTATE < 1: check if the signal falls below ~25%. If so, disable mobile data, set %SIGSTATE to 1.
%SIGSTATE < 2: check if the signal falls below ~15%. If so, switch to airplane mode, set %SIGSTATE to 2.
%SIGSTATE > 0: wait for 5 min, then disable airplane mode, activate mobile data, wait another 15 sec (for the signal to be restored), set %SIGSTATE to 0.

In my global Init profile (which gets executed when Tasker starts monitoring), %SIGSTATE is set to 0 (if it is unset). All 3 above profiles additionally set notifications, as the screenshot above shows9. Each state maintains one notification (which gets replaced when the same state re-occurs), the most up-to-date state is always on the bottom.
Results seemed even better than with the two airplane-mode handling apps above, but that might also be due to slightly different signal conditions. So it should at least be comparable. Using one of these 3 solutions, I came home after about 11 hours with about 20% more charge left then without applying any of them.
Having said this, I will end this answer showing the Tasker profiles I created, so you might use them with your Tasker installation:
Task "InitVars":

Variable -> Variable Set: %SIGSTATE = 0

Task "SigLow":

Net -> Mobile Data: Off
Variable -> Variable Set: %SIGSTATE = 1
Alert -> Notify Vibrate: Title "IzzySignal"; Text: "Signal Low; Mobile data disabled (Signal: %CELLSIG)"

Task "SigLost":

Variable -> Variable Set: %WLANSTATE = 0
Variable -> Variable Set: %WLANSTATE = 1 IF %Wifi ~ on
Net -> Airplane Mode: On
Net -> Wifi: On IF %WLANSTATE ~ 1
Variable -> Variable Set: %SIGSTATE = 2
Alert -> Notify Vibrate: Title "IzzySignal", Text: "Signal Lost; Entering Airplane Mode"

Task "SigReturn":

Task -> Wait: 5 Minutes
Net -> Airplane Mode: Off
Task -> Wait: 15 Seconds
(give the device some time to find a new signal!)
Net -> Mobile Data: On IF %ROAM ~ Off
(prevent bad surprise when returning from vacation abroad!)
Variable -> Variable Set: %SIGSTATE = 0
Alert -> Notify Vibrate: Title "IzzySignal", Text "Signal On; Airplane Mode disabled (Signal: %CELLSIG)"

Now for the profiles:
Profil SigLowCheck:

State -> Variable -> Variable Value: Name "%SIGSTATE", Op "Math: Less Than", Value "1"
State -> Phone -> Signal Strength: From 0 To 2
State -> Tasker -> Profile Active: "SigLost", [x] Invert
(make sure to avoid a conflict: %SIGSTATE~0 && SignalStrength~1 would match both profiles condition)
Task: SigLow

Profil SigLostCheck:

State -> Variable -> Variable Value: Name "%SIGSTATE", Op "Math: Less Than", Value "2"
State -> Phone -> Signal Strength: From 0 To 1
Task: SigLost

Profile SigReturnCheck:

State -> Variable -> Variable Value: Name "%SIGSTATE", Op "Math: Greater Than", Value "0"
Task: SigReturn

Profile Init:

Event -> Tasker -> Monitor Start
Task: InitVars

Now that's just the basic concept, and can be extended with e.g. playing sounds, vibrating, flashing the display, and more. But the energy saving stuff is already in -- and does its job as described. Hope this can help you as well!
Another remark: At least with GSM (I cannot tell for CDMA), returning from Airplane Mode by default forces you to enter the SIM PIN. This can of course be switched off -- but in that case this additional protection is also gone when switching on the phone. No idea why this is not possible selectively, as it was with my pre-Android phones.
However, for some phones there's an alternative to some items in above tasks, which remove this limitation:

In SigLost, instead of Net -> Airplane Mode: On use Phone -> Radio: Off if your phone supports this (my Droid2/Milestone2 does not, unfortunately). If you can do this, the WiFi check becomes obsolete (and your Task cleaner).
The counter-reaction in SigReturn then also needs to be changed: Instead of Net -> Airplane Mode: Off, use Phone -> Radio: On.

Please let me know in the comments if this removes the limitation of the SIM PIN, as I cannot test it (my device does not support it, as described above).
Edit by t0mm13b
The interesting thing I noticed was that there was multiple tasker icons appearing on the Status bar, which made things confusing as to regards the state that the tasker profiles was running as; I discovered that by setting the Title for the 'Notify Vibrate' in each of the above tasks to be the same, the net result is, one singular notification titled 'IzzyTasker' shows up, with the appropriate message used instead.


How to use USB Keyboard and USB Mouse In Android Tablet Simultaneously

I would suggest a cable hub.

You should be able to find one that takes only one USB port of device, and provides 2 (or 3) USB ports.

for example:
cable hub ,USB 2.0 3-port HUB with Micro 5P


How can I configure Android to login to an ISA proxy server?

There are multiple solutions. As you have Android 4.x, long-pressing on a WiFi APN in Settings→Networks & Wireless→WiFi lets you edit an APN. Check the "Advanced" box, and you can configure the proxy. Though this form does not offer separate fields for username/password, here's a trick how to do it:

For the server name, enter user:pass@proxyserver (e.g. if the proxy is 10.11.12.1, user joe, password foo: joe:foo@10.11.12.1) -- this is how it works in some browsers for password-protected urls. In case this makes trouble (should not, but who knows), further details can be found at Android-Proxy.Blogspot.DE (don't be irritated by .DE, it's in English).

Another possibility would require your device to be rooted: ProxyDroid offers some comfort in connection with proxies. Next to supporting multiple profiles, it is also capable of handling different authentication methods.


How to remove app-malware-virus that's not visilbe in the app list

You can use DEBLOATER to hide those app because removing require root access.
Download from here.

Learn how to use the software at XDA Forum

Note: It's a Windows executable, so you need a Windows machine to be able to use it.

Edit: Drivers can be downloaded here or here


How to re-enable all screen lock types after uninstalling OpenVPN connect?

Pattern, PIN or Password screen lock is required, because there were still user certificates stored in the device.

Go to Settings -> Security and pick Clear credentials.


hmmm, if you can i would highly recommend just using TWRP it has alot more features and allow you to skip all the md5 stuff. plus it has a built in file manager for swapping out systemUI.apk ext.

AND it has a command mode to allow for more advanced scripting and modding.


Try 'call me' option instead. Else check your phone signal or change the SIM to next slot. Let's hope it will work.


In the Galaxy S your phone storage is the same as any other phone's storage, but there is separate "internal SD" mounted at /sdcard/ that is treated by apps as if it were the external SD card.  The actual external card is mounted at /sdcard/external_sd/.

(Actually, I'm not sure if /sdcard/ is an alias, since you can also see it at /mnt/sdcard/.  There is no entry for the external SD in /mnt/, but you can of course access it via /mnt/sdcard/external_sd/ as well.)


Set an app to be default without clearing old first

Updated answer: Try Better Open With app, I see they added support for dialer (I can chose from Contacts or Phone).

Old answer: Go to Settings
Go to Apps
Select the app that is currently the default launcher for contacts.
Scroll down to “Launch By Default”.
Tap “Clear Defaults”


I do not believe Android 2.1 allows this. I've read that the latest release Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) will have this feature.

Sorry I couldn't find the post that mentioned it but here is the API link.


I am not aware of system level approach but this app gives you a view OS Monitor. There may be other apps too

It offers the following information.

Processes - monitor all processes.
Connections - display every network connection.
Misc - monitor battery, processors, network interfaces and file system.
Messages - search dmesg or logcat in real-time.

Snapshot from the app on my device below


Attempted to encrypt my phone and now it's rejecting my password

You can format your phone with the built in recovery menu:

First you have to turn off your phone.
So, press and hold the power button for a few moments or press the power key once and select Power Off.
Then, just wait while the shut down process is completed.
Next, start pressing and holding the Volume Down button for about 2 or 3 seconds.
While still pressing the Volume Down button, press the Power key and release.
From the menu that will be displayed, choose the Recovery option (navigate through Volume Up and Down buttons).
Press the Power key once to select your option.
When the Android logo is displayed, press the Volume Up key for a few moments.
While still holding this key, press the Power button and release.
Recovery mode should be now displayed on your Motorola Moto G4.
If you can’t manage it from your first attempt, don’t panic; you might have to try this method several times until you succeed in accessing the recovery mode menu.


Where is Chrome's "Merge tabs and apps" option on Android Tablet running Lollipop?

The "Merge tabs and apps" option should be inside the "Basics" header. However, as of current writing, it seems Google didn't add this feature for Android tablet. The same case was reported on Android Central's forum, and the reply was

  It looks like that feature is only on Chrome on phones. It may be due to the fact that Chrome on tablets already has visible tabs, while Chrome on phones doesn't.

Chrome 39.0 setting on Android phone

Chrome 39.0 setting on Android tablet


I found out that all the apps missing have an .asec file in the .android_secure folder on the sd card, however the .android_secure folder itself is there.

On Linux I wrote:

cp sdbackup/* /media/disk -r

It copies all folders, and their content, recursively. Except for the hidden folders in sdbackup, e.g.:

sdbackup/.android_secure
sdbackup/.doubleTwist

Hidden folders in the hierarchy are copied however.

So now I managed by subsequently copying each hidden folder:

cp sdbackup/* /media/disk -r
cp sdbackup/.android_secure* /media/disk -r
cp sdbackup/.astro* /media/disk -r
etc

And now everything is fine.


How would I reduce the number of clicks required to answer this LG phone handsfree in the car?

Time for the "standard-reply": tasker. I will not go so far as to give you a complete "profile" (as I don't use that exact combination), but at least a raw idea (as for general info on what Tasker is, please see its tag-wiki).

Tasker understands the required triggers, so you can use a combination of e.g.

power connected
proximity sensor
bluetooth connected
voice-control
call state (e.g. "incoming call" or even SMS)

Tasker can deal with the necessary actions, and for many more things there are additional plug-ins available. It supports e.g. (without plugins)

call divert (even restricted to certain numbers)
enable car mode
load or kill an app
volume control
popup task (e.g. with 3 buttons: accept, reject, message)
send SMS

Much more is possible. So you could setup your very special and personalized solution – not only for car-mode, but for many other situations. And while root would give you additional possibilities, it's not required for the described purpose (as far as I can tell).


You shouldn't worry about it too much unless it was lasting too long. When you switch your phone on or off, the SIM is not detected yet (when switching on) or no longer detected (when switching off), that's why you get the error message. When it is detected and connected to your service provider, the error disappears.

If the error becomes permanent, then you will know that your SIM card probably is faulty and should be swapped to a new one.


Is it possible to change the details of my mobile that my carrier sees?

Your TL;DR; answer is: NO.

Your carrier will always see the IMEI code of the phone. It is like a MAC address on a LAN.

Spoofing or changing the IMEI of a device is Illegal.

Since in S.E. we won't go beyond the law, nobody is changing the IMEI.

You can check the model and status of any device by its IMEI, in this link here.

The P1000 sits on the boundary between a phone and a tablet (Humpty Dum-P1000 sitting on a wall...).

There are some like @onik♦ or your carrier that will see it as a tablet, but screen size (and there are several 7 inch phones out there) is hardly enough to make a device a tablet...

P1000 runs only up to 2.3 gingerbread (stock) - Several apps behave as phone only because of that. It makes calls and messaging, so I call a mistrial on this whole tablet or phone thing.

We are specifically talking of the P1000 here. The other generations of the Galaxy Tab series can fall into the tablet side of the wall, but the P1000? no.

Good luck convincing your carrier of either. My money is on them telling you to suck it (as bad as it sounds).


Does my cell phone alarm run off the battery or does it need cell service

Yes, it will.

The default alarm is built into Android and uses the alarmManager to schedule when to sound the alarm.

It will always go off, unless the device is powered off or in silent mode (however some ROM's have separate volume controls for alarms and other volumes).


Can't turn on developer mode on Galaxy Tab S5e

insert sim card
disable the automatic time in android settings
set a date 7 days in future


Why contacts are not display in address book but available when typing number?

You have 124 contacts saved to your phone. When you press +79, you get 449 in the dropdown. This 449 represents the number you have dialled (starting with +79) till date, from your device. Those may be the saved numbers or unsaved too. This is not a bug. Hope this satisfies you query.

Update - adding the screenshots of my Lg 5.0.1.  When I search for contacts starting with 7 in Contacts tab, 250 contacts are shown.

While, when I type 7 in dialer, 396 contacts are found.

That's what happens with every phone. It's not a bug.


Have had to reflash CM 11 on my Nook HD+ several times

CM is a very interesting mod. I have had the same issues. One of the options you can try is when it gets laggy is to change the theme from the Hex to the Holo (android default) and it can help with the lag and lack of response.

That is what I did and I have not had issues.

Source: My OnePlus One and my past


Tasker profile that enables/disables wi-fi

So I combined what you asked for into a single task. You'll first create a profile which triggers when a state changes. You'll select Display State and chose off. Tasker can't actually able to tell if your screen is locked, only on or off but we can get around that as long as we know the time it take for the screen to lock.The task is as follows:

Wait Until
    Seconds: 60
    Until: %SCREEN Matches ON
IF
    %SCREEN Matches ON
Wifi
    Set: ON
STOP
END IF
IF
    %SCREEN Matches OFF
Wifi
    Set: OFF
GOTO
    TYPE: ACTION NUMBER
    NUMBER: 1
END IF

Explanation of Task:
1. This causes the task to wait before continuing unless the condition is met. The total wait time should be the screen time until lock plus the time you want to wait until the wifi turns off
2. If the screen Turns on goto 3
3. Turn on wifi
4. Stops task
5. Ends if Statement
6. If the screen is off on goto 7
7. Turn off wifi
8. Cause a loop to keep checking the screen status.

Note 1: This task assumes that wifi is already on to start with.

Note 2: As the task stands now it will check every minute. If after the first min you want to change the time it waits to reduce battery usage you'll add this take to beginning.

1.SET VARIABLE
    NAME:%DUR
    VALUE: 60
2.WAIT UNTIL
    SECONDS: %DUR
    Until: %SCREEN Matches ON

And add in between 7 & 8:

SET VARIABLE
    NAME:%DUR
    VALUE: WHATEVER TIME

LAST NOTE: If you don't want to wait seconds every time you can use a variable for mins or hours like with seconds. You'll set the variables for min or hour as zero  at the beginning and then change them before you start the loop. To use variables instead of static numbers you touch the symbol of 2 arrows crossing opposite of Min/Hr/Sec.

If you have any question please feel free to ask. Also since I'm new please don't forget to mark mine as the answer if it solves your problem and to upvote the answer


Using Local (private) DNS server on Lollipop

You can modify the network config to set a specific DNS value.  Find the WiFi network you are connected to, press and hold on the name of the netowrk->Modify Network Config->Show Advanced Options.  From here you can set a specific DNS, after changing the IP Settings to static.

I believe that most devices look at the DHCP for a DNS server, with a google IP as a backup.

There are some handy apps (must be purchased though) that allow you to only change your DNS but keep your IP address dynamic, based on DHCP.  Overrride DNS


HTC Desire 816 -How to use a particular sim for data usage and restrict the other?

In the dual network manager, you can specify which sim to use for data network connection.
In Settings > dual network manager > Preferred data network > select either slot 1 or slot 2.


Gmail 4.6 Does not allow "From"/Sender address to be changed to a different email address

SOLUTION: Clear the app cache.  After I cleared the app cache, the "send as" was functioning as it did before the update.

Does this fall under as a duplicate of: App X Isn't working correctly.  How can I fix it?


WhatsApp does not download images during call

Apparently this is a bug that still exists. However, I found a workaround. Tap on X to stop downloading the media, and tap again to download it.


How to store data on internal memory on LG Optimus 4X HD

Easy to do:

open the camera app
in the upper left you see a "gear" icon. Tapping it opens a drop-down. Do so.
scroll a little down. The third-to-last item reads "Storage" (has a SDCard icon). Tap it.
in the new overlay, select your wanted storage from "SDcard" or "Internal storage"

Done :)


How can I view online all of my phone contacts that Android synced to my google account?

You should be able to see them within GMail or your Google account here


Till where I know that Gallary doest shows the Music Files.
You can try to plah by using external file manager, like ES File, ZArchiver. etc