text:
Cheaper in-app purchases
I play Game of War Fire Age and wondering if I can get cheaper packs on it, I'm from the UK and it costs me £79.99 to buy a pack but my Brazilian friend only pays $60 for the same pack, is there anyway for me to be able to change my region to Brazil and get the same deal, but then the only problem is my billing address, let me know if there is a way.

is there anyway for me to be able to change my region to Brazil

Yes. But it may not be that easy.
I've done it twice, and each time was hit-and-miss. The first time, it only changed once I made a purchase with my new billing details. The second time it didn't work and I ended up deleting all my payment details, wiping my phone, and setting up the phone and payments, with a SIM card from my target country.
Also note that if you change your country to Brazil, the play store will show up in Portuguese and you will only be able to see/buy services (such as Newsstand, Video, Music, etc) that are available in Brazil (which may be less than what the UK has).
Google changes the country your billing is associated with according to your Google Play billing method. These are the instructions I followed from Google -

We use the billing address of your default payment instrument in Google Wallet >to help determine your home country for accessing the Play Store. Our collection of content can vary by country, so your view of the Play Store may differ from what others are seeing when you travel outside of the country listed on your default payment method's billing address.
Please note that you must have a valid payment method with a billing address located inside a country in order to access that country's Play Store.
If you're having issues viewing your intended country's Play Store and would like to change your default payment method or update an existing billing address in Google Wallet, please use the following steps:
1) Sign into your Google Wallet account to manage your payment methods https://wallet.google.com/manage/paymentMethods
2) Add a new card or change your default payment instrument to one with a billing address located inside your desired country
3) Open the Play Store and navigate to any item available for download
4) Click to begin a download until you reach the "Accept and buy" screen (no need to complete the purchase)
5) Close the Play Store and clear data for the Google Play Store application (Settings > Apps > Google Play Store > Clear Data) or clear your browser cache
6) Re-open the Play Store. You should now see the Play Store that matches your default payment instrument's billing country.
If you haven't yet added a payment method to your account for the first time, please add a card directly from the Play Store with a billing address that matches your intended country location. Then, follow steps 3 through 6 to show your intended country's Play Store.
If you believe that you're experiencing a different location-related issue, please first verify if the country of your primary payment method matches your intended country. If the countries match, please provide any screenshots and additional details that might help me resolve your issue.

I have tried this twice and have not gotten it to work for me.

@user166930 Whitebear did state it was "hit-and-miss".

You can get Google Play Store credits from Google by answering polls through the Google Opinion Rewards app. Depending on where in the world you are, you can get a couple of dollars every month by spending 5–15 minutes answering a few questions.
The credits you earn can be used towards in-app purchases and other purchases through the Google Play Store. This way, you would indeed get cheaper in-app purchases but you’d have to work a little to get it.

authors: Александр Ляхов


text:
Skype Camera on Android
I am using Android TV Box 4.4 which has features like a Tablet.Whenever I am using Skype, voice is O.K but the camera other party see is very dark,I have tried different versions of Skype … but problem remains same. When I am not using webcam on Skype, the camera separately is very fine and works normally. I really appreciate if somebody help me to solve this problem.

I believe this has something to do with the network speed and your router.
so try changing to better network.

I find Skype to be very poorly optimized, especially for video.
Maybe you should try other alternatives to Skype for video like Hangout or Tango? Just to be able to see if you will be getting the same issues as you do with Skype. If you do, then it means you have issues with your network.

As I told you that my webcam separately working fine, but only when you are using Skype, the camera is dark.

source: Stack Exchange

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

sort: votes


text:
Default account in Twitter app
I have two Twitter accounts in my Twitter app, one personal and one for work. I added the personal one first, and it appears first in the Android Accounts settings. I want the Twitter app to use the personal account when it first opens, but it always defaults to the other one - can I change this?

I would suggest logging out of both and signing into your personal account first. Then the work account. This should then default to the first account you signed up with...
-edit (sorry for being so stupid)-
Try another twitter client such as twiddle (free) or talon (Paid). These may have the feature your looking for...
I can't comment as I don't have enough rep yet.

He stated clearly in the original post:  "I added the personal one first"

Unfortunately I've tried that on both my current and previous phones, adding the accounts both ways round. It might be alphabetical or something.

Updated answer to make it a bit better

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/


text:
What is meant by "nightly" in the context of mods?
I'm using CyanogenMod and all of the updates are always "nightly". What does this mean? I'd prefer a more stable update then the newest with latest features. Is there anyway to get this (I have noticed some stability issues)?
See here for what I'm talking about: https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly
By the way, I always update from my phones update feature for CM.

In a nutshell, Nightly has the latest technology  available while Stable is bit  old but heavily tested technology. Depending upon your requirements, you may choose either of them. Just be aware that Nightly is supposed to cause issues at some point by its very nature.

From FAQ on Cyanogenmod Forums :

Nightly
These builds are highly experimental. They are the bleeding edge and it is possible for things to break. These are automated builds that are used to test whether the code added to the code base compiles properly. If it does compile, that’s a result. If it doesn’t compile, that is also a result.
The CyanogenMod team releases these builds to the public to allow them to see the progress made. Usually these builds work great and many people use them as “daily drivers”. However, due to the raw nature and the fast-paced development environment of CyanogenMod, things can go wrong. The dev team does not accept official bug reports for these because of the ongoing development.

More Info:

Nightlies are not released as an end product.
What does this mean? It means they are built, automatically and periodically, with no human intervention and no audience in mind whatsoever. They are not verified before being published, and their principal purpose is to compile code and see if it builds on a per device basis. Build failed? That’s a positive result. Build completed? That’s a positive result.

What's a stable build?

Once a build has gone through all the development and testing phases, the CM team will release the stable builds. After a stable is released, the team goes back to developing nightlies. It is an ongoing process and will always allow you to see the progress that is being made.

Where do I find Stable and Nightly builds for my device?
If your device is officially supported then visit here and choose the build based on your needs from the left pane:

Otherwise,  see this link for unofficial ports.

So for the Xperia Z2 there's no stable? https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=sirius&type=stable

I checked all, seems to be only nightlies available. You may ask on Cyanogenmod forums to know the reason for such unavailability.

@Firelord "Stable" doesnt exist anymore. For a "stable" ROM you should choose "snapshot".

@SuperThomasLab I disagree. Stable (CM12) was available for OnePlus One two  months ago. Surprisingly, only nightlies, test are available now. If I go by your suggestion, then I'll end up with CM11 and not CM12 (at least in case of OnePlus One) :)

Umm, about anymore, since when do you think they are unavailable? Did this decision was consider by CM few weeks ago?

@Firelord as you can see here: http://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=stable the stopped at cm10.2.1.3. Now "stable" has become a "snapshot".


text:
Delete original pictures/videos from phone and not have Google Photos automatically delete the online copy
I have Google Photos app enabled to automatically backup all my photos and videos to my Google Photos. My question is, once they are on the drive how can I delete the original from the phone without having it deleted on the Photos?

Probably just turning off the synchronization should do the Job...

After the photos have been backed up, in the Google Photos app you can delete the photos by selecting the photos you want to delete and then pressing the three dots in the top right corner and selecting "Delete device copy".
This will delete the copy on the phone, but leave the copy stored online safe.

Which app? Which app do you do this in?

In the Google Photos app, which is called "Photos". This is the link to the Play store description - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.photos

Oh thanks, I was using "Gallery".

Adding to Whitebear's excellent answer for deleting photo by photo, there are two other ways.

You can delete photos from the "Gallery" app and that will delete photos from your device only (though I am unsure of the effect if you set up Photos to display cloud photos in Gallery)
You can use the "Free up device storage" option under the Settings in Photos - this will go through and delete all synced photos that it can. I believe this is a new option, as I had to update the Photos app to make this available.


text:
[Fixed]Nexus 5 displaying static screen
I am using Nexus 5 for at least a year. Suddenly the screen went crazy and it started turning off and on again. I tried to turn it on, but it didn't work, the screen was black. After a while, I could turn it on, but the screen was displaying static noise like this (not my phone):

I had my phone with USB debug mode enabled and used this Java application to mirror my phone screen. There was no problem using my phone from my PC, but the screen still was static. The touchscreen is working, but I asked a tech guy and he suggested to change the display. I bought the part and replaced it myself, but it didn't work (same results).
Now I've been researching a little more and I found out that the problem could be the charging port mic flex connection to the display. Can someone answer me if they have faced this same issue before and how they fixed it?
Fix:
It seems the flex connector (see image) was damaged by water, I replaced it and everything was fixed.

I faced the same problem after updating Android OS to 5.0
The scenario was:
I updated the Android OS to 5.0 and within some days my phone automatically shut down and also the screen gone OFF some times automatically.
As my phone was under warranty period , so i went to service center and they change charging port and reset Android OS to 4.4 .
Now again I updated Android OS to 5.0
But after few hours same problem occur, again went to service center and this time they change motherboard. But after few days problem again occur again and this time they change motherboard again, charger and USB Cable and they also suggested to not use other companies USB cables instead of original.
Now 3 months are passed and there is no sign of problem and I am using it on system on debug mode too, but avoid to use other USB cables.
(Note: 2 times my screen gone OFF in between - I long pressed again and again on Power button then it gone shutdown and I restarted phone again to work perfect)
So I guess information may help you and you can go for the same.
Thanks and best of luck for your device.

You could simply say "Visit Service Center"  in your Answer! Anyways, that is probably not Questioner want to hear on this site, I guess


text:
Reducing power consumption and background processes on Cyanogenmod 12?
Since I upgraded OnePlus One to Cyanogenmod 12 from 11s, it only brought troubles.
I had to increase maximum current to be able to boot the phone and there are constant background processes that I can't seem to be able to turn off.
Does anyone know what could be running on Cyanogenmod 12 even if I turned off pretty much every new feature? I want to check if I can fix this before reverting back to Cyanogenmod 11s.
Two screenshots below were taken few seconds apart. Whatever is casing current to rise in screenshot 2 repeats every minute or two for several seconds. Phone is left at idle mode with Screen_Bright_Wake_Lock enabled.

How did you upgrade? Is the device rooted and custom recovery installed?

I did an upgrade from scratch so had to calibrate the battery, because I wasn't getting even 2hrs Screen on Time. Many services are hibernated mostly using Greenify and I'm using AK kernel since Stock didn't do well in my case. To be honest, you should try searching on OnePlus Forums. They've lots of guides to deal with this.

I upgraded normally once upgrade became available. I did root it and install custom recovery later. Thanks, yes. I probably will check there too.

I keep seeing this in logCat:
I/wpa_supplicant( 1545): wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-SCAN-STARTED


text:
Can 'Triangle Away' reset knox counter to 0×0?
I have a galaxy s5 duos (SM-G900FD) and my knox counter olis triggered to 0×1 (4) (due to some rooting and blah blah..) is it possible to reset knox to 0×0 with triangle away of any other method?

No, it is IMPOSSIBLE to reset the KNOX flag to 0x0 or 0.  Triangle away will only reset the flashcounter and will not reset the Knox flag.
Hope my answer helps


text:
When exactly does the data gets wiped out once bootloader is unlocked?
I've heard as well as experienced that unlocking the bootloader of an Android device wipes the device's data completely, and makes it like the stock one. However, I'm interested in knowing when exactly does this data wipe take place?
Does it happen when we issue the command:
fastboot oem unlock

or, when booting into the Android after completing the last step?
I've asked my question because this question is concerned with recovering data (seems to be from an unlocked device) and an answer it received is:

You could flash TWRP recovery (not sure if available for your device) which has an in-built file manager and and terminal and move files to any usb storage.

My point is, hypothetically, in such case I would first unlock the bootloader, and then flash the custom recovery without rebooting fastboot. Then I will boot into the custom recovery directly from fastboot.
Now, would I be able to see my data or not, and when exactly would this wipe happen?

This may vary with the device, but on Nexus devices, as soon as you accept the bootloader unlock on your device after issusing fastboot oem unlock, the device is wiped so you would not be able to see the data in TWRP. This is evident because after issuing the fastboot oem unlock command to a Nexus device and confirming the operation on the device, the following text is printed to the terminal: Unlocking bootloader... erasing userdata... erasing userdata done erasing cache... erasing cache done Unlocking bootloader done!

OK. I've added the reasoning into my answer.


text:
apps on my tab are not connected on the internet but the browser does
I am using an android tablet and apple iPad2. I just noticed this morning That my apps on my tablet aren't working but my browser does. Now I'm using my iPad and everything is working fine, they are connected on the same WiFi so I assume my connection is not the problem. My tab is working properly last night and didn't do anything on it before the problem.
Date/time are also properly set and I already did a factory reset twice.


text:
Not receiving OTA update after restore stock rom from cyanogenmod
I heard Moto G2 was getting a Lollipop 5.1 update so I decided to go back to stock from cyanogenmod. I used a tutorial similar to this one to go back to stock, and I'm now currently on Lollipop 5.0.2 with system version 22.21.28. The issue is I'm not getting the system update (already tried with motorola device maganer in my PC)
Browsing the web I found this info (the one with bold letters) on this website

this flashes the newest system and boot image:
  22.21.28-titan_retuglb.zip flash via custom recovery
for completeness the corresponding modem and recovery for this system version.
  (This doesnt add any functionality, but allows you to install future ota's)
xt1063-22.21.28-modem.zip flash via custom recovery
xt1063-22.21.28-recovery.img flash via fastboot

Which made me think this might be the solution but after checking what I did to go back stock, I already had flashed a recovery and a modem.
Why can't I get OTAs, did I miss to flash something? is this recovery and modem file different from the ones I already flashed (see tutorial) and using these ones is the solution?

Isn't this OTA update available to download from other sources? E.g. I can update my OPO by downloading OTA update from OnePlus Forums and then flash it via Stock/Custom Recovery. In this way I don't have to invest my time thinking why my phone isn't getting update. Just an alternative. :)

I suppose, but I'd rather not having to flash stuff on cli anymore, I'm slowly turning into a end-user hahaha.

@Firelord at any case, is there a place to download the image so I can flash it? (an official place, if  possible)

Unfortunately, I don't know any official place for Moto G2. All I can think of is their support website. You may ask them for such. It shouldn't be a big deal for them to provide it. Good luck. :)


text:
Tethering internet over WiFi
Consider I am using a WiFi hotspot (authenticated with password) for internet on my mobile. Is it possible to tether the connection to another device via any WiFi, USB, or Bluetooth?
Let me be clear for example I have a WiFi modem through which I can access the internet on my phone, now my question is now whether I can tether my mobile WiFi/USB/Bluetooth so that I can provide connection to another people. (here internet source is WiFi modem)

Is there an option? Also, whenever I enable WiFi portability, the current connection gets disconnected.

How to use Android in Wi-Fi repeater mode by bridging Wi-Fi with Access Point?

Yes, you can share your phone's WiFi connection which is connected via any WiFi source to more phones, tablets, and computers using Bluetooth so other devices can access the internet. Here's how to share your Android phone's WiFi connection over Bluetooth.
http://www.androidpit.com/share-wifi-over-bluetooth

well, but if you have a connection which shares wifi then you can connect other device too using same wifi :-). why a longer path

:) yes it is longer but my friends mobile is not authenticated to main wifi modem..

The tethering option or hotspot is available only if you are connected to a mobile data/carrier network. If you are already connected to WiFi, enabling hotspot on your phone will disconnect you from the WiFi. This is a limitation in all Android phones.

thank you @bbh ,usb ,bluetooth tethering too get disconnected ?

Tethering will not disconnect Bluetooth. But I am not sure about USB, but my guess is USB should not be disconnected.

so other mobile can access internet ?

@bbh I think he is trying to use the 1st connected device as wifi extender

From the picture I understand that you want to make a repeater with your phone? Is that correct?

The phone must be have ROOT access.
Install the application (fqrouter2-2-12-7-multi-android.apk) or (fqrouter-2.11.5.apk)
Make the settings and enjoy ...

Good luck

There are few devices that can work as a WiFi bridge, i.e can use WiFi and share the internet of that WiFi through a hotspot simultaneously. Redmi Note 5 Pro is an example of it. You can share the WiFi through USB tethering.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Change functionality of menu key to recent apps
phone: Samsung Ace 3 (gt-s7272) android: 4.2.2 (rooted)
Is there anyway than I can remap the functionality of the capacitive keys of my phone? Currently one touch on menu key obviously will load the menu in the foreground app but I want to change it to launch recent apps(be default it is done with holding the physical home button) and if possible, for not losing the functionality of loading the context menu, holding the menu key itself launches the menu.
How can I do that?

The Xposed module Xposed Additions works with pretty much any ROM from Gingerbread up, and you can remap any physical button on the phone.

Just in case that the OP doesn't know what Xposed is: It's a framework that can change the behavoir of your phone. You can add some big features (like the above one), and do many useful stuff. You need to install Xposed framework before you can apply a Xposed module.


text:
Has anyone successfully downgraded there moto G v2 from lollipop?
I made the mistake of upgrading OTA to Lollipop (5.0.2) since then have been considering flushing the device down the toilet:

Unable to answer incoming calls half the time.
Unintuitive UI update.
Regular drop outs when using as data hotspot.

Has anyone managed to get there phone back to KitKat and if so how did you do it?
My phone is the Australian Dual Sim unlocked retail version.
Apologies to anyone that thinks it is lazy for me not to wade through every generic answer and roll the dice on bricking the phone without at least asking if someone has succeeded (or failed) with identical circumstances.

specifically asking for success cases, instead of generic advice that's may or may not brick the device

Note this is for Asia retail..download the one which is for the australian retail  and follow the steps as mentioned in here

@Lucky what link provides the Australian retail ROM?

Try this obtained from xda-devleper forum

Thanks, could you narrow it down some more please?RETAILDSDSALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-27_cid7_CFC_SVC.xml.zip,
RETLA_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-24_cid12_CFC_SVC.xml.zip,
RETGBALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-23_cid7_CFC.xml.zip,
RETDEALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-23_cid7_CFC.xml.zip,
NIIBR_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-24_cid12_CFC.xml.zip,
RETAILDSDSALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-23_cid7_CFC.xml.zip,
RETBR_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-24_cid12_CFC.xml.zip,
RETDEALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-14_cid7_CFC.xml.zip
RETBR_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-18_cid12_CFC.xml.zip
RETAILDSDSALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-14_cid7_CFC_SVC.xml.zip

it seems there is no specific version for australia..u can use the generic RETAILDSDSALL_XT1068_4.4.4_KXB21.85-27_cid7_CFC_SVC.xml.zip and 21.85.27 is the updated kitkat version..

What does ...DSDS... indicate?

Found out - Dual Sim - Dual Standby... Am downloading now to see if my phone survives.

norlesh, I appreciate you caution here but Stack Exchange is for specific Q&A rather than polling the experiences of others.  Your question might be more suited to XDA or another forum where you can have a back-and-forth discussion.

You could try restoring it to the factory settings in the boot mode.Or try this link techdroider.com  downgrade from lollipop to kitkat.

The link you metioned - One of them commented that "As soon as press the "Download" button it states "Sorry, this file is infected with a virus. Only the owner is allowed to download infected files.".. so It may be potentially be a virus or false positive or you may never know..its risky anyway..and more over Factory reset erases all data from the phone but it wont change/downgrade the OS..

No it actually works fine. I did the same to my pone as well

You mean factory resetting or the link that you have provided.? if its the link that you have provided you should explain the steps you have done to successfully restore to kitkat..Provding link only answer will be valid only till the link is available..So it is better to explain the steps in the answer itself..;)

I did the factory resetting thing. But i wouldn't recommend it though , you lose your data

I get the indication from the comments on that page that the ROM is for the Asian market - would this apply to an Australian phone (assuming it's not a virus)?

Yes it applies to all.

Link-only answers are discouraged on this site since they become obsolete as soon as the link expires. Would you want your answer to be worthless in the near future? I guess no! So, please edit and add the relevant parts here (you may quote (with proper credit) as well).


text:
I softbricked my china tab
I bootlooped my tab and forgot to turn on debugging option. I used framaroot for rooting. Only way to make my tab go back to normal is by factory resetting through recovery mode, but my Power button isn't working.
I have an HKC Q79 tablet (in the box it says the model is an H8 but its actually a Q79) any idea how to bring it back to normal?

Heres a simple solution to that:

Download and install Shuame from http://www.shuame.com/
Its an app is full of android tools.Its in Chinese, though.
Install your tablet's device drivers. Youll have to find these according to the chipset your tablet uses as many chineses tabs and phones pretty much dont exist on the internet and so, youll have to search by chipset. Its probably by Mediatek.
Connect your tab to the PC and launch shuame.If your tablet isn't detected automatically, click on the blue button next to the phone icon in the main page.
4.Once your tablet is detected, click on the icon with foure squares on it in the navigation tab.
Click on the button on the left column with the phone icon and the text "recovery.

That should get your tablet to recovery mode.

authors: Антон Акимченко


text:
SIM is unsupported on Galaxy Y running CM11
There's a problem with my Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 after upgrading from GingerBread to Android KitKat.
I followed all the steps starting from downloading CWM, CyanogenMod 11, and the KitKat ROM. And thankfully I was successful. At first, it was so long before the update was fully installed on my Galaxy Y.
Problem: When I turn it on, it accepts the SD Card, but SIM card is not detected.
I tried rebooting over and over again. But only the SD card works, specifically that only the SD card is inserted, not SIM card and it works properly. But it doesn't start when SIM card is inserted.
Now I rebooted it with only the SIM card inserted, hoping that "somehow" my Galaxy Y will take its time rebooting while my SIM card is inserted. But still, I'm not sure what will happen. Please help me.

Here's what you have to do:

Reflash your ROM
After reflashing, let it boot
Turn off your profile and shutdown
Wait until the phone vibrates and open it again

If it doesn't work, format cache, system, data, and also cache on CWM recovery, then try reflashing again.

Is there any technical reason as why it is supposed to work or any reason as to why the issue occurs?


text:
remove the script in init.d
I want to flash TweakDrypT to my rooted android 4.4.2 device. But before, I must delete all the scripts in init.d. I've tried using universal init.d to remove them, but they won't. Anyone can help?

One urgent hint: Make sure to do a backup first, a complete one (see: nandroid). That's always the first to do before modifying things in /system. 2nd: I don't know why you "must delete all the scripts in init.d" (some background would be helpful; this might well be an XY problem ;) But before removing them, make sure you have a copy (see: backup). If things go nuts, you might need them again.

Just use any root file manager like root browser and browse to system/etc/init.d and delete all scripts manually
Alternatively, download and install terminal emulator. Open it and enter these commands One by One->
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
mkdir /sdcard/init/
cp /system/etc/init.d /sdcard/init/
rm -r /system/etc/init.d/*

In first command, we gain the superuser rights. It should request you for root permission, grant it if it does. The second command is to mount the /system (partition where init.d scripts reside). And third command creates a new folder "init" in root of internal sdcard (this is where we will backup your scripts in case you will ever need them). The fourth command copies all scripts to folder we created in third step (backup). Fifth command finally removes all files inside init.d folder.
Hope this helps.

and again alternatively, use ADB: adb shell su -c "mount -o remount,rw /system && cp -a /system/etc/init.d /sdcard && rm -rf /system/etc/init.d/* && mount -o remount,ro / system". // Note: do NOT use *.*, as that would only remove files with a . in their name. This is not Windows ;) And don't forget to backup first. Might need that later when things go weird ;)

Thanks for suggestions, I added the details to answer :)

And I upvoted it meanwhile. Warning for the missing first step (backup) is in my comments :) // Oops: typo in my first comment to your answer: at the end of the command, there must be NO space between / and system …


text:
How can I get more Telegram stickers?
I've recently noticed loads of cool Telegram stickers making their way around. How are people getting these cool things? How can I add more stickers? How can I be cooler than them?

It's quite straightforward actually:
Sending a Sticker
Pick an emoji, then in the message field, tap on it again

Screenshot - Click to enlarge
Alternatively, you can access the stickers menu in the emoji keyboard

Screenshot - Click to enlarge
Getting More Stickers

Sending a link isn‘t the only way to share a sticker set. When you receive a sticker from a set you do not currently have installed, simply tap on it and choose ’Add to Stickers‘ to preview and add the whole set.

If someone sends you a cool sticker you like, simply tap and hold on the sticker and select Add To Stickers in the dialog box that appears.

Screenshot - Click to enlarge
You can then manage your stickers in the Stickers menu in Settings.

To add any stickers to your collection, tap on a sticker and click on 'Add to Stickers'.
You can look at different places to see new stickers. Try chatting with @ratestickerbot that will ask you for ratings of new stickers.


text:
Internet slow connection after connecting to a custom VPN
I have a custom VPN made at home, and after connecting to it on a computer and access a samba to copy a file, it works and copies the file with ~5MB/s.(WIRED)
But when i do the same operation on an android phone it copies with ~50KB/s.(WIRELESS)
my settings are pretty usual: i have a vpn with:
type: PPTP
server address: MY HOME IP
activated PPP encryption (MPPE)
and that's it, no other settings.
am i missing something? any ideas? thanks a lot!

The transfer speed via a wired connection will always be more than the wireless connection. Additionally few other factors that can affect your throughput are:

Interferences from other devices in the wireless routers vicinity. You could tweak the channel settings in your router to select a less crowded channel.
The ability of your phone's wireless chip to support high throughput. Here is some info on wireless transfer from Intel.

authors: وليد مبارك عيد


text:
Activate face recognition in the new Google Photos
I'm living in Europe and the new Google Photos app does not group the people in my photos in the search menu. I did some research and found out that this function is only available in USA.
Any idea how to activate it in other countries?
As mentioned in the comments, the reason for the absence of this feature is legal issues, so you are responsible for using this work around ;-)

Some background: there are legal issues for that feature not being (officially) available in Europe ;)

I just found the solution to this. All you need to do is:

Connect to a USA server via a VPN
Clear the data and cache of the Google Photos app.
Open the app again and activate the "Group similar faces" in the settings
Check back the search menu after a couple of minutes and the faces would be there. Google already did the recognition for you, but kept it for itself.
Disconnect from the VPN.

"Connect to a USA server..." - hmm, which server do you mean?

Just a vpn server which is located in united states!  There are many free Vpn service providers with servers in usa,  like cyberghost for example

thanks for the info it works like charm ,, and just for someone else there is another great free VPN provider for your android or IOS phone,, just search for TUNNELBEAR :)


text:
Swiftkey (or other app/system?) slowness. How to find the cause?
Since the last 2 months, my SwiftKey keyboard has been at times almost unusable: keystrokes are lost and taps are understood as swipes. This doesn't always happen, and together with the fact that its predictions work so much better than the stock keyboard (also because the stock keyboard's dictionary is much emptier, having been barely used) is the reason why I stuck with SwiftKey until now. Also, I've never been truly sure about the problem being limited to Swiftkey, since using the normal keyboard was frustrating as well.
Now I finally decided to look at the output of logcat, and after trying to type sentences for a while, and seeing plenty of Skipped frames messages (and some other errors[1]). I found this really nasty slowdown:
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3784.6ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (822.2, 1491.6)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3765.9ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (823.2, 1471.6)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3757.1ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (824.2, 1449.7)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3744.3ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (824.2, 1426.8)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3730.9ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (824.2, 1401.9)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3717.8ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (824.2, 1377.0)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3704.7ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (823.2, 1350.1)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3691.1ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (822.2, 1321.2)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3677.5ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (820.2, 1291.3)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3663.9ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (817.2, 1260.4)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3650.2ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (814.2, 1229.5)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3636.3ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (812.2, 1199.6)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3623.2ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (811.2, 1171.7)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3609.5ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (811.2, 1147.8)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3596.0ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=2, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (811.2, 1128.9)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/InputDispatcher(  777): Window 'Window{42b9e6f8 u0 com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings}' spent 3583.8ms processing the last input event: MotionEvent(deviceId=5, source=0x00001002, action=1, flags=0x00000000, metaState=0x00000000, buttonState=0x00000000, edgeFlags=0x00000000, xPrecision=1.0, yPrecision=1.0, displayId=0, pointers=[0: (811.2, 1128.9)]), policyFlags=0x47000000
I/Choreographer( 1199): Skipped 238 frames!  The application may be doing too much work on its main thread.
I/Choreographer( 1199): Skipped 36 frames!  The application may be doing too much work on its main thread.

Aside from this, most of the system is still butter smooth (not always, but basically never find perceive missing touches as with SwiftKey), and I wouldn't put the blame on the hardware: I always have 1.5 GB of ram free, and the phone I'm using has pretty good hardware, definitely better than the average device (it's an OnePlus 1: Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM)
Is there a way to easily debug this issue as an user, and maybe submit an actionable bug report to SwiftKey (as well as confirming that it's their fault)?
[1]: this is probably unrelated, since it's quite common to see it in unrelated logcats by googling, but here it is:
E/ActivityThread( 1199): Service com.touchtype.telemetry.TelemetryService has leaked ServiceConnection com.touchtype_fluency.service.FluencyServiceProxy$1@45949788 that was originally bound here
E/ActivityThread( 1199): android.app.ServiceConnectionLeaked: Service com.touchtype.telemetry.TelemetryService has leaked ServiceConnection com.touchtype_fluency.service.FluencyServiceProxy$1@45949788 that was originally bound here
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.app.LoadedApk$ServiceDispatcher.<init>(LoadedApk.java:977)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.app.LoadedApk.getServiceDispatcher(LoadedApk.java:871)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.app.ContextImpl.bindServiceCommon(ContextImpl.java:1625)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.app.ContextImpl.bindService(ContextImpl.java:1608)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.content.ContextWrapper.bindService(ContextWrapper.java:517)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at com.touchtype_fluency.service.FluencyServiceProxy.onCreate(FluencyServiceProxy.java:88)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at com.touchtype.telemetry.handlers.w.<init>(UpgradeActionsHandler.java:40)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at com.touchtype.telemetry.handlers.t.a(TelemetryHandlerFactory.java:92)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at com.touchtype.telemetry.TelemetryService.a(TelemetryService.java:277)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at com.touchtype.telemetry.TelemetryService.a(TelemetryService.java:71)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at com.touchtype.telemetry.TelemetryService$b.handleMessage(TelemetryService.java:118)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:136)
E/ActivityThread( 1199):    at android.os.HandlerThread.run(HandlerThread.java:61)

Just an idea (no proof on it): Does this slowness only happen when you have a slow internet connection? I'd check in the app's settings if you can turn off that telemetry thingy (expecting a setting like "send anonymized reports" or "send statistics"). Might also well be it tries to check something online (prediction etc.), so watch out for those options as well and "play with them".

Thanks, but unfortunately I don't see any settings to disable that, and the problem doesn't seem to happen only with slow internet connection.

OK, could have been – I might be wrong. So let's wait for other Swiftkey users. Meanwhile: contacting SwiftKey Support might not be a bad idea either.

Yeah, today I also had a look at their help pages, and they don't seem to be terribly promising: "We understand that some of you are experiencing significant lag that these steps do not resolve. This is a known issue and is currently a top priority. " :/ https://support.swiftkey.com/hc/en-us/articles/201590661-Why-am-I-experiencing-a-lot-of-lag-with-SwiftKey-Keyboard-for-Android-

Well, it doesn't carry a date (so you don't know how long that statement is already active), but it has two things: 1) steps you could try which might solve your issue, and 2) the fact that it's a "known issue" (and you're not alone with it). Plus the hope they might mean it ("top priority"). Good luck!

Yup, the only thing I haven't done yet is clearing the app cache (but if I have the opportunity to actually discover what is causing the problem, I'd rather do that, rather than resorting to clean up the cache periodically)

Though that's one of the things I've told my device to do on each boot, next to VACUUM & REINDEX all databases (all via scripts in /system/etc/init.d). Might be a one of the other changes I've changed (a.o. minor build.prop tweaks), or a combination – but the entire thing got a real boost. Not a rocket, but definitely noticeable. In short: Cannot hurt to do it that way ;)

disable fluency service. but all predictions and corrections are lost.


text:
IM-A870L Radio Interface Layer broke down
I am having this weird problem with my Vega Iron since a couple of days. Past 2 days the battery was down and phone shut off. I put it to charging and when I came back after couple of hours, the led indicated green and I pulled it out of charging and powered on. Since then, the phone is not working normal.

It does not show/connect to cell network, thus cannot call or sms
If I try to go to mobile network settings option, the phone hangs (white blank page then black blank page) and I can only manage to get away by using task manager (after pressing back and home keys few times, it shows me the recent tasks where I can close the settings page)
The phone hangs every now and then. For e.g. if I hit power once to close the display, then hit again to open, it takes couple of minutes before it can come back to life
I tried the phone secret info menu *#*#4636#*#* then "Phone information", but the same happens and it hangs.
I tried the secret UMTS menu (##7593#), and it opens with a message "ril socket is not available", if I click the network option (that sets automatic/wcdma/gsm/etc) then same message that ril socket is not available

I tried all this:

Phone restart
Batter removed and then put in again
Sim card and SD card removed
Airplane mode turned on (even on airplane mode, the phone hangs)
Factory reset

The phone battery drains very quick and gets hot as well. I guess phone trying to access RILD again and again.
Is there some way this can be fixed, or at least the RIL call events be shut down? Could the phone be set to work without radio?

I took my phone to some firmware flash experts, and I found out there that the baseband is not showing up. Means when I go to the About phone menu, it shows "unknow" for Baseband. I could not reach the "Status" option but I am sure that IMEI is also gone, as I can see on many forums that people say that baseband and IMEI is related and lost together.

Forums suggest to use MTK Droid tool to restore IMEI but the IMEI/NVRAM button is not enabled when I connect my phone to the tool. Also one weird thing is that I cannot find any nvram folder in my phone.

Finally I found the answer to my problem!
I took my phone to another expert and he told me that the Baseband IC is gone and it is a hardware problem. He could fix it if I can get him the IC as it is not available in our markets because of being a rarely used korean phone.
This thing is confirmed by another forum post here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26827676&postcount=4512%22
where they say:

type *#06# , and IF you get message "imei null" or imei starts by 0049XXXX or 00000 it should be resolved by software .
  but IF nothing is shown when you type *#06#, that is a hardware problem or look at attached picture below. .

When I dial this code on my phone, nothing happens, so it confirms that it is a hardware problem.
I will try to get the hardware component somehow and see if it works.
My actual problem is not solved but I got answers and atleast I am comfortable that I given it a try!


text:
I tested the "lock" feature on Android Device Manger, and now I can't unlock it
I was just testing out Android Device Manager and I tested the lock feature. I entered a password, as requested, and the phone was locked. I was told that since I already had a lock screen on my phone, the password wouldn't be needed. I went back to Android Device Manager and there is only a "lock" option, not an "unlock" option.
Now I can't access my phone since it won't allow me to enter the password on the phone, or unlock it from Android Device Manager.

Welcome to the Android Enthusiasts! Have you checked with our other device manager questions already – e.g. How can I unlock my phone? I locked it using Android Device Manager, but it claims I entered a wrong password or How to unlock Google Device Manager remote lock?

you have not mentioned which phone you are using, but i found this step in XDA forum, and this seems to have solved it. Could you check if one of the solution helps you: xda-adm-unlock, check out the post #3 by maysider.
Here is the complete snip of the sollution from XDA:

so the BUG is "made by Samsung". Samsung just do not accept any
  correct PIN or password (maybe because of "wrong" keyboard).
  could anyone tell me how to remove the lock without wipe? thx
edit:
solution 1) just if you have debugging mode on then follow this
  solution http://maxoberberger.net/blog/2013/08/unlock-android-device-using-adb/
solution 2) just if you can change your keyboard for another (if you
  are allowed when entering password)
solution 3) just if you have Samsung account, log into Samsung Dive >>
  "unlock" (my case)
solution 4) no debuging mode + no keyboard solution + no samsung
  account? >> just and only wipe through recovery or Google Device
  Manager
Happy now, but I was lucky
SAMSUNG BUG in 100 %

HTH.
Edit by Izzy: The link with "solution 1" proposes changes made with ADB, which require root access:
adb shell
cd /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases
sqlite3 settings.db
update system set value=0 where name='lock_pattern_autolock';
update secure set value=0 where name='lock_pattern_autolock';
update system set value=0 where name='lockscreen.lockedoutpermanently';
update secure set value=0 where name='lockscreen.lockedoutpermanently';
.quit
exit
adb reboot

This will unset your device lock completely, as if you did not have defined any.

Reset your phone with its buttons
You can erase your locked phone using its power and volume buttons.
You first have to power off your android device. You will have to press and hold the volume down button along with the power button. Keep holding until you see Android images/buttons. Then release the buttons and then follow the volume down button to go for factory reset, afterward select the power button.
But this is a risky plan as you will lose all your data. After resetting when u will turn it on it will ask to set up your phone. After setting up you are completely ready to use your phone and from now on be alert do not put lock patterns if u easily forget them.

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Limit Phone Data Usage
This might be a replica, I have searched and not found a similar question.
I currently have the HTC One M8 and am planing on getting a 1GiB Data pack, knowing me who uses internet over the top I would like my internet to get cut at lets per say at the peak of 1GiB. So as soon as I reach it, it gets cut off fully.

I have tried the Android Data limiter and it always fails me.
I have not found any reliable applications (I will pay if worthy)
Location is Ontario and my provider is Fido

Welcome to the Android Enthusiasts! I've just clicked on the mobile-data tag you've used, and found a couple of questions helping you out. Have you e.g. seen How does “Restrict background data” work? / How can I disable unwanted data usage? / How to prevent specific apps from using mobile data?

Check this, its very reliable and you can trust this too http://android.stackexchange.com/a/111252/108847

I use AVG antivirus security which has an option to limit the used mobile data(not wifi data).
I fill information about data pack i.e amount and validity then give the option when to turn the mobile data off (as used in my case it is 90%)
then it ask if I want to further use the data..
Hope it helps you..

Post-ICS Android devices have in-built Data Limiter. Do this from Settings ~> Data Usage (can vary based on Android version).

If you read the question I state that this option NEVER WORKS.

Your phone has an option to limit data built in. Go to Settings -> Data Usage and you can set Data Limits as well as a warning for when you have reached a certain amount. If you don't like this there are also third party apps like Onavo Count that let you measure and limit your data usage

If you read the question I state that this option NEVER WORKS.

Well Onavo Data Count is an application I mentioned that you could try

Also by if it doesnt work you mean that it is allowing the data limit to be exceeded by a small margin resulting in overages, you can set the limit lower than your actual data limit incase your carrier accounts for data differently.


text:
Transferring continuous Android camera feed to PC through USB (in a background app/service)
I want to find a way in which I can continuously send the Android camera feed to my PC via USB. The reason for specifying USB, is because of performance requirements, I want it to be as fast as possible, hence preferring USB over Wifi. I need the app to be running in the background (will be a service I believe).
I tried some existing apps, but they do not meet my requirements.
Is there any way I can do this?

Ok, will do so.

IP Webcam does work on USB but on tethering. App won't shows the address but you can access it at 192.168.42.1:8080 I just confirmed it.

I see, I will check it thanks. Please post it as answer, else I can't upvote.

Sorry! The URL is 192.168.42.129:8080. I've corrected my answer.

IP Webcam(see revisions) does allow the access on USB but it will not show you the option to access in its help section. All you've to do is activate USB-tethering on your device, start server on the said app,and access the server by entering 192.168.42.129:8080 in a browser on PC.
I tested this app on my device running Android 4.2.1.

Doesn't the IP address change everytime dynamically? Some of the apps that I used generated the ip-address on-the-fly after opening the app. But I was using the Wi-Fi network instead. So I'm not sure if this is same on the usb-tethering access too.

@Lucky As you would be knowing that these apps runs a server for their cause, and in case of USB/Wifi tethering the default gateway i.e. 192.168.42.129/192.168.43.1 will remain same every time. Since the app isn't bind to a specific network interface, you can always rely upon the IP address I mentioned provided that the device is tethered.

Ah! I din't know that before. Its the same way a webserver's default address is started at 127.0.0.1/192.168.0.1 sometimes known as localhost. Thanks for the info.

IP Webcam has severe lag even when USB tethered.
Because internet protocol is still used in this setup.
Dial down the video settings and disable audio capture from phone
This made the lag 'tolerable' for me.
Thanks.

authors: ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΝΟΣ

authors: يوسف عباس يوسف


text:
Android Gallery and Music empty?
I recently discovered that all my photos on my phone has disappeared from the Gallery application. I connected my phone to my computer, and the images are still present in DCIM/100MEDIA/ directory.
I did a backup of my photos, tried stopping the phone, the app (gallery), removing the cache from that app but no luck.
While searching for a solution online, I found that some people also had the same problem with the music app. I have albums that used to work, so I was sure to find them. But now they also have disappeared.
So Gallery and Music is empty despite having files in the correct folder.
Regarding Gallery, if I take a new photo, it will correctly be added to the DCIM/100MEDIA/ folder, with the name IMAG001332.jpg (for example), but with 1332 being a correct incremental number (not starting from 0), which is even weirder.
I don't know what to do to fix it! Does anyone can help me?
(Note: I have an HTC One S)
Update: I did a reset of my phone (http://www.htc.com/us/support/htc-one-s-t-mobile/howto/315367.html) without any luck.

When you did the reset of your phone, did you clear data as well? If not I suggest doing that. Is there another app that might be conflicting with the gallery or music apps?


text:
How can I keep an app (not made by me) running in the background continuously
Is it possible to keep an app (not developed by me) running in the background. I know that it is possible to keep an app persistent in background by making it a service, but since I am not the developer of the app I want to keep active, is there a way to do this through some settings changes?

Android kills apps automatically for memory. However there is an internal "priority" which it follows in doing so. For ex the system apps have usually much higher priority and hence lesser chance to be killed.
There is a way to explicitly assign higher priority to any app using third party apps. One such app is Memory Locker.
Just install and open the app, tap on app you want to be locked in memory, and set the priority. The lower the priority the lesser is the chance for that app to be killed or suspended.
NOTE: It needs root.
Additional Info:
How it works:
It actually edits a file called oom_adj inside /proc/[process ID]/. This file is nothing complex. Infact, it can simply be opened in any text editor and it contains just a number (for example -12). This number is process priority. You can change/edit this manually and set the priority for processes yourself if you dont want to use external app.


text:
Old fashioned menu button
I'm fairly new to android development, but am I long time android user. Phones used to have a "hardware" menu button, which I have since seen is emulated in software, but only when I'm running an 'old' app on my phone ("three dots stacked on top of each other that appears to the right of all the other buttons)
Why is writing apps that make use of the button discouraged?
Is it not supported by most phones?
Is it a bad user experience? ('swipe down from top to access soft buttons', etc..)

Because it's less congnitive effort to press an icon that is somewhere in your vision (on the screen), than remembering that the option is hidden under the menu button.From the design perspective, you want as less options hidden in some menu somewhere, and more options that are more intuitively-placed.
Android 4.0 introduced multitasking button to its navigation, so, if the menu button was kept there, there would be four navigation buttons, and that would be confusing. Menu button was replaced by options in the Action Bar, and Action Overflow button (shown below).

Basically every manufacturer switched to multitask button instead of menu button (even Samsung, who lingered with the menu button for a while), so you could say that, now, in 2015, phones with this legacy button are becoming more scarce, so the development of the software that takes advantage of the legacy button is discouraged.

The HTC Aria had 4 nav buttons (hardware capcitive) which were Home, menu back and search, holding home was about equal to the recents button of 4.0 and not all 4.0+ phones had a recent buttons (ZTE Radiant) I not once found the buttons confusing under any circumstance on either phone

Back in 2012 google basically told developers that the Menu button was going away. Although it's not an official Android "rule" (not that I could find, at least), it's a strong Android guideline that phones no longer have menu buttons. It's a very recent development, and we should be seeing the majority of menu-button phones leaving the wild this year (my personal Galaxy Note 3 has a physical menu button but I'm due to upgrade in November).
As for why, I honestly don't know. It's the subject of some debate, but nobody seems to be able to site an official Google source as to why they did it. Maybe it's so the bottom OS navigation bar on touch-screen only phones (like the Nexus 5 and 6, and the Moto X) could disappear without hiding app-relevant actions. Maybe Google wanted fewer buttons on phones with physical/soft button. Maybe Google just felt like it. I couldn't find any source that gave a specific reason as to why it was done.


text:
How to remove duplicate photos in Google Photo
I used to sync my photos to Drive as well as to Google+.
Now that the two have been merged, I see lots and lots of duplicates in the new Google Photo app.
Unfortunately some of the photos were Drive only while others were in Google+ only and yet others in both...
Short of going through all 16k++ photos in the new app what are my options?
I know that I could use Picasa, but again I'll have to download all pictures first.

No method is posted till now in the google product forum post


text:
How to do USB tethering using Android device which does not have SIM card?
I have an Android device which does not have place to insert a SIM card, can I tether this device to PC through USB (I want it to be fast, hence preferring USB over Wifi) in some way?

I think this question is extension of that Cam software question. So, do you not see the tethering option in your device? Which device and Android version is it?

Yes. I do not see tethering option. This a Epson Moverio BT-200, its AR glasses. Android 4.0.4

We used FoxFi and got it to work.

If your device does not have tethering built in (Many devices do), you can get an app from the Play Store that allows you to tether your phone. There are several great applications that allow you to tether via USB or WiFi.
A good app that solves this purpose is one called USB Tether
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mkdev.usbtethering2
Its simple and functional.

We used FoxFi and got it to work. Thanks for answer though.

There is an app whose minimum requirement is Android 4.0.3 . This app doesn't even require root access.
Install this application which will help you achieve USB tethering.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.hotspotcontrol&hl=en

I will try this.

For some reason, Hot Spot didn't work in the Android device. We used FoxFi.


text:
How to root Huawei Honor Bee?
I need help with rooting my new honor bee, I have tried all methods, but none of them work inshort doesn't support my phone, I need help inorder to be able to connect to internet using cable.

Could you list all those methods, so that an answerer could possibly avoid them?

You can try kingoroot or genius root. I own an non famous brand android phone and I managed to root it with kingoroot. So, I guess this solution may apply to you!

I tried kingoroot it isn't able to root my phone, and I tried genius root too, it can't root my device too.

Did you enable usb debugging??? Did you also try root kit???

I did tried usb debugging, but I don't know about root kit, so any clues?

No... but probably it worths a tru

ok, I will do it asap.

authors: Сергей Мартынов


text:
What is the shortcut to change input language when using hardware keyboard?
I have connected a USB windows keyboard to my tablet. However, regular windows input language switching shortcut do not work on android. What is angular keys to change input language?

Try Ctrl+Space.  (Not an answer because I'm having trouble with this myself on some keyboards/devices)


text:
Detect when an app crashes with tasker and force close it and finally launch it again
On my phone the app Bluetooth Share crashes randomly. With Tasker I want to be able to detect that crash, and then force close Bluetooth Share and finally launch Bluetooth Share again. (Or turn on Bluetooth again)

PS: I already have tasker and I am rooted on CM12.1.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

I could've tried posting an answer but I don't have any such app which crashes randomly. I would suggest watching logcat to see if the crashes has some intent or broadcast related info. If the crash doesn't relaunch the app then you may take a bit of help from this answer (hint: mFocusedActivity)

Could Tasker Process Running (KC) allow you to detect when the app closes? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kc.tasker.processes

@LJD200 that app only checks if an app is running or not, it can't detect an app crash.

@SuperThomasLab Does this Bluetooth Share relaunches itself after crash or you have to manually do it again including enabling the on/off? Also, does this crash happen when it's running in background (when you're  doing something else) or when it's in foreground? // Do you have any other app that behaves alike or do you want strictly a solution for Bluetooth Share only. (I can't test or create a solution unless I have such app)?

@SuperThomasLab Do Android apps not close when they crash though?

To be able to turn on Bluetooth again, I first need to force stop it and then manually launch it again and I want to automate it with tasker. @Firelord

@Firelord Bluetooth Share does not fully close.

@SuperThomasLab Oh OK, sorrry. My mistake.

You can try keeping Bluetooth share resident in memory so that it never crashes.

Unfortunately, it's quite not possible. Tasker cannot detect an app crash.
However, we can still do something about it.
Let's first make a profile that does the killing job. It will be executed when the bluetooth goes off.

Profile (name): BTrern

State (Context): BlueTooth Status [ Status:Off ]    (Profile triggers when BT  goes off)
Task:                                               (You can give task a name)

A1: Kill App [ App:Bluetooth Share Use Root:On ]       (Click the + to add these actions)
A2: Wait [ MS:0 Seconds:5 Minutes:0 Hours:0 Days:0 ]       (Wait for 5 seconds)
A3 (optional): [X] Launch App [ App:Bluetooth Share]       (If you need to launch it)
A4: Bluetooth [ Set:On ]     (Turns ON blutooth)`

Note: If killing even with root is not working (there could be some problem with your Tasker or root), you can try the following shell command:
am force-stop packagename

E.g.:
am force-stop com.google.android.apps.maps

Or if that doesn't work:

pm disable
Wait  3 seconds
pm enable

Now, the next question is how to turn off Bluetooth without executing the instructions noted above?
It's quite simple. Make another task.

Profile Status: BTrern → Off
Wait 5 seconds
Bluetooth → Off

Name this task (like BTOFF) and make a shortcut to your home screen.
Now whenever you want to turn off your BT use this shortcut.
Let's make another task that turns on BT as well as the BTrern

Bluetooth → ON
Wait 5 sec
Profile Status → BTrern : ON

Again, use the above two task shortcuts to turn BT ON or OFF.
You can also use a scene or a widget to make it even easier once you have acquired enough knowledge with Tasker..

OLD

I do not quite understand what you mean by Bluetooth share, but I would presume you mean the activity opened by Share → Bluetooth. May be a pic or two would help.
Instead of finding a way around, first try fixing it by:

Using a Log tool like catlog. (Open catlog → set it on Error, let the crash occur and then open catlog again and save the log.)
Searching for it. You haven't provided any info about your Android model so you might have to do it yourself.

In case those doesn't work, we can use Tasker. I believe the crash will occur within few seconds of opening the activity. We can use this to our advantage.

TRIGGER ON: (When Bluetooth Share activity opens)

If (Bluetooth Share activity close) AND (qtime < 5 sec)

start (Bluetooth Share activity)

else (goto 1)`

Here, qtime is a local variable which stores for how many seconds the task is running. You can find that in Help section of Tasker.
Also you can use Tasker Process Running (KC) for the required process.
Second Method:
Instead of that, it's much more easier to make a  Scene instead of that.

Just make a small box with one button in it which will execute the activity.  Keep it non - intrusive.
Scene1:

Kill Bluetooth Share process
Start Bluetooth Share process

TRIGGER ON: (When Bluetooth Share activity opens)

Create Scene1

If (Bluetooth Share activity close)

wait 5 seconds
destroy scene1

With this, there will be a small overlay when you open Bluetooth Share. If it crashes you can easily execute your kill and start command. And if it doesn't crash, the scene will get automatically destroyed after 5 seconds.
May be Bluetooth File transfer can help.

Great answer, however ''Bluetooth Share'' crashes randomly. So not when I open an activity, share a file etc. I am going to try the logcat

To simply put, use a Scene to force-stop and relaunch Bluetooth Share.
Btw, can you please be more clear what you mean by "Bluetooth share"? A Pic can say 1000 words!

Heres how to use logcat

yes, and this is the "Bluetooth (share)" app: http://imgur.com/peB7kV7

Bluetooth share is not only the sharing part, but the whole bluetooth app. It doesn't crash when I try to share a file, but it occurs randomly. And it is very annoying because I have an Android Wear device. I've got a Samsung Galaxy S4 with Cyanogenmod 12.1 and also look at my question on the Cyanogenmod forum here: http://forum.cyanogenmod.org/topic/110131-cm121-bluetooth-share-randomly-crashesstops-working/

Here's the logcat: http://pastebin.com/jHPLxPGt

Not the data, I only have to force close it.

Ok, now i can understand it clearly
As it says, its a nightly problem so you cannot fix it. so logcat wont work.
As you have stated in your post, the only way except rebooting is to clear data and turn on bluetooth.
Thus, in tasker instead of killing, use data clear and tuning bluetooth on.
This should work now.

Let us continue this discussion in chat.

Hello! Thanks for the detailed answer, but I don't understand this step Enter: Anon (43). Could you explain me what to do here?

I have edited to make it bit more human friendly. The Enter means that the task is an entry task. After Enter: is the name of the task. If i have named the task BTTSK it would show Entry: BTTSK. If you donot name it anything the default name Anon is used, which represents Anonymous.

Tasker "detects" the crash successfully, however it fails when turning on Bluetooth, so there is still a problem with force closing Bluetooth.

When Bluetooth crashes, it keeps repeating the task indefinitely until I disable tasker. Please help

It does successfully "detects" the crash and turn Bluetooth on again, but it repeats the task and it will start again, and again, again...

Awesome, at-least we solved the main big problem! Now you can easily solve the tiny mini problems: Try

am force-stop packagename

eg. am force-stop com.google.android.apps.maps

Or if that doesnt work
pm disable
Wait 3 seconds
pm enable

I dont recommend the "or" one as i havent tried it yet, i just noted it down in case i need. Anyways test with Wait 3 sec, first try without this command if that doesnt work add the wait command.

Oh btw you can also use the Secure Settings Plugin, it will give a whole lot more freedom. Off topic: Just look at this TODOOOOOOOO LIST!

It works now, thanks for helping me. The bounty is yours now!

I don't want to sound rude but your sense of formatting is horrible. You abused backticks to evade formatting your answer according to the structure the site understands. I have corrected the formatting but please, do not abuse the backticks (`). Also, is there still a genuine need for the older answer here?

Profile context App: Bluetooth Share
Enter Task

A1:  Stop

Exit Task

A1: Bluetooth Share

Is this what you want?

Doesn't that only detect when Bluetooth is turned off. Maybe I should explain my reason why I want to detect a crash. On my phone Bluetooth crashes randomly. I want tasker to be able to force stop Bluetooth and then launch it again. I want to detect a crash because if I manually turn off Bluetooth that it stays of and doesn't turn on again. Is this detailed enough?

Understood, you could make rule only trigger when bluetooth is on

But still, if you add a rule if Bluetooth is on. When I turn Bluetooth off then it will also get past the rule, won't it?

I don't think so, try it out and tell me if it worked

OK, but can you make a detailed answer with the steps. I am new to tasker. Only got it for a week or so. For example I halve know what "A1" is. Thanks


text:
Any way to have Location services turn itself off after a time limit?
Can I have Location services turn itself off automatically after a certain time is reached (let's say 10 minutes)? I normally leave it off save for some applications (Maps, etc) but sometimes I forget to turn it off, and it's a big battery drain.

That might be solved using one of the many automation apps. I myself prefer tasker here, but YMMV (and Tasker doesn't come for free) – llama might be capable of the same.
What I do here is creating a profile like this:

Condition: App (select the apps you want to use GPS with)
Task: GPS On
optional exit task: GPS Off

That way GPS by default is off, but automatically gets turned on whenever you launch one of the selected apps and have them running in foreground. It would automatically be turned off once you exit that app, or have any other app running in foreground. The "exit task" is optional as Tasker restores the conditions from before the profile became active.
For other alternative automation apps, you're also welcome to take a look at my list here.

Well, I have a Google play store gift card lying around somewhere, with nothing else in mind to buy, so I can certainly try it out! Thanks!

In that case: Go on, you certainly won't regret it! For more ideas on what you can do with it (besides making coffee, starting your car, and whatsnots), be welcome to take a look at my collection of Tasker resources. You'll certainly find the linked tutorials helpful – and the listed ideas interesting (and no, I wasn't kidding with "starting your car" – I'm just not entirely sure for the coffee ;)

As Izzy said in the answer, Tasker is a great choice but it's not free for anyone. I tried AutomateIt(Free) and it gets the job done.
Edit: This answer is successfully tested on Android 4.2.1, without giving root access to AutomateIt. However, on Android 4.4.2, COS12 (Android 5.0.2) and CM12.1 (Android 5.1.1, build: YOG7DAO1K6), the relevant options were not visible until I restarted the app with root access. This fact came to my notice through this comment by jonatr.

Install and launch AutomateIt.
Go to My Rules → All, and see if you need any predefined rules. If you don't then either disable or delete by tapping each entry once and selecting the desired option.
Tap + corresponding to My Rules tab → Application Status Trigger → tap lens icon and choose your app (Maps here) → check Application Activated→ Next → Enable/Disable GPS Action → Enable GPS → Next → choose Default or No (to show or not, a toast whenever automation will be triggered) → tap floppy icon at the top to save everything.
Repeat steps 2-4 except that uncheck Application activated in step 3 this time.

Now you can open the Maps and Location will be enabled. You close the Maps and Location will be disabled. You can do more with it if you certainly want to disable Location (say 10 minutes) after minimizing the Maps.
Honestly, I'll prefer Tasker because I need fewer steps and I know it doesn't hog my battery. Check it out if AutomateIt eats the battery quite a lot.

I'll look in to this, but I don't need a battery hog, I'm running 4.4.2 which hogs enough battery as it is! Thank you though!

You must have the last word here, yeah? :) +1 for a free alternative. As for the "battery hog": Maybe we'll get a third answer showing how it works with Llama … :D

@Izzy I tried this Automate app but it seems to need superuser access to enable Location providers, which is bit silly IMO, to perform such a simple job for a normal user with SU access.

@Firelord Downgrade below Android 4.2 if you need that done without root. That's what they call "security", you know :( I watch that game since Android 2.1: each new version takes away a little control from the user. One of the reasons I root any new device almost prior to unboxing it.

As said, most automation apps can perform this task, Automate is another free alternative. Here's some user-made automations for toggling the GPS when viewing Google Maps:
http://llamalab.com/automate/community/?q=gps+maps
A rooted device is required, but it may be possible to workaround using UI automation.

I was trying this app and can manually execute the action. But I can't figure how it will automate itself. Could you please mention the steps involved in detail? Thank! and you'll have my +1 then as a goodwill gesture. :)

And yeah, unlike other apps, it needs root access. Please mention it since the app wouldn't be useful to a normal regarding the current goal.

@Firelord Yes, using the Android API for toggling GPS will require root, unless you automate UI interactions. The question didn't mention a non-root requirement. Look at community made flows, see link, there's plenty of examples that toggle the GPS.

MacroDroid's free version can do it.
Edit: This answer is successfully tested on Android 4.2.1, without giving root access to MacroDroid. However, on Android 4.4.2, COS12 (Android 5.0.2) and CM12.1 (Android 5.1.1, build: YOG7DAO1K6), MacroDroid failed to complete the job  without root access. This fact came to my notice through this comment by jonatr.

When creating a macro choose the trigger Application Launched/Closed → Application Launch → select your app.
Under Add Actions, tap GPS Enable/Disable → GPS On. It may say so but it doesn't need root access. See edit above.
Create another macro but make it for Application Closed and set GPS Off as the action.

That's it. Launch that selected app and GPS would activate automatically, close the app and GPS would deactivate.

I tried the Macrodroid solution on my Oneplus one but it didn't work...         but neither did the other solutions here    :(

I tested my solution on the same device but on COS12. Which OS are you using? Is it rooted?

I'm using Cyanogen OS 12.1.1 . I built the macro but it didn't work...

Interesting. I wonder what changed. And you're saying none of the solutions on this page worked for you? There must be some API change I need to find out. One more thing: is the device rooted?

-Tasker costs money, so I didn't try it.  Llama doesn't have the right things for the task. Automate is complex but the simple scenario I built didn't work(beep 30 seconds after turning gps on). Enable/Disable GPS doesn't Exist on the AutomateIT I downloaded. I built the macro on MacroDroid as you wrote(Thanks!) but it didn't work...  My OnePlus One isn't rooted.

It actually quite a disappointment as I was searching for a way to stop forgetting to turn the gps off as it takes off a lots of battery

@jonatr: Root access is the only way here. I've edited both of my answers and verified the other answers as well. On my Android 4.4.2, 5.0.2 and 5.1.1, Tasker, Automate, AutomateIt and MacroDroid, all of them worked but only with root access, including on OnePlus One. // My apologies for wasting your time. I should've been clear in the answer from the beginning by mentioning the Android version I used for testing. // FYI: Tasker has a 7-day full trial version: http://tasker.dinglisch.net/download.html


text:
Moto G 2nd Gen Touch Screen Stopped working
I have a Moto G 2nd Gen (2014) and the screen is working but will not respond to being touched. I dropped it today, only so that it fell about an inch, and it does have a silicon case, and nothing broke, but the touch screen has stopped responding. After this, the touch screen has worked for two brief instances, and then stopped working.
EDIT: This seems to be when I squeeze the area around the connector to the screen, (the position according to this guide).
I have already tried rebooting it by holding down the power button for 10 seconds, and factory resetted it by using the volume keys in the Android Boot Loader. Can I fix this myself or do I need to send it back to Motorola?

I think your best bet would be to send it back to Motorola or a service center, because while you might try and fix your phone and get some results , there is also a significant chance of damaging your phone further.
Since the problem seems to be the screen the tech professionals might need to replace it or fix the problem in a similar manner.
You can also try to purchase the screen yourself and try to replace it , but thats really not advisable unless you're sure of what you're doing and you have diagnosed the problem correctly.
I strongly suggest you send it to a Motorola service center.
The screen can be purchased at:
(DO NOT PURCHASE THIS UNLESS YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT YOURSELF)
http://www.dhgate.com/product/1-pcs-free-hk-post-shipping-lcd-display-for/209710530.html#s1-1-1


text:
Restore to earlier time
I recently got an Android update and don't like it AT ALL. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4. Is there a way I can uninstall the update?

Can you clarify what update it is that you received? Was it the update to Lollipop/5.0/5.1? What carrier do you have? There is no way to uninstall a full system update, but it is possible to reflash the entire phone (which will wipe all data) to an earlier version, but we'd need to know what you're working with to be able to recommend anything. But keep in mind that doing this will reduce your long-term compatibility with new features and apps, and many of the bug and security fixes included in the update will never reach you.

Restore [Android] to earlier time?

As far as I know, you can restore to an earlier time (in case of Android update) only when you have a Nandroid backup, and it seems you don't have it so the answer would be no for you sadly.

Is there a way I can uninstall the update?

I don't think you can ever uninstall a system update (not that I ever heard yet) because it seems Android unlike Windows OS doesn't create a restore point, so you can't track where the updated files went into system, which overwrote the others and so on.
You can try a manual way by extracting the update and analyzing which files this update will overwrite or did so, then download previous Android version you had, match the files and copy them back into your phone, reset and see what happens. As it is obvious, you need root access or a  custom Recovery and there can be data loss or a soft-brick.
I also saw some threads on a forum (in case of OPO only) where folks used a previous OTA update to revert back to earlier system. E.g. If the system update pushed you from 4.3 to 4.4, or 4.4.2 to 4.4.4, or any minor update, then previous OTA (flashed via Recovery) kinda worked for them. Note that this is dangerous and I don't recommend it. A major update like 4.4 to 5.0 and reverting back to 4.4 via forced OTA could result in hard-brick.
What can you do?
You can ask your OEM (technical support) to flash the older Android release on your phone, or, you may get your hands dirty and do it yourself. (The latter may void warranty, check your OEM's policies towards flashing.) If you choose the latter than take a look at how do I search on this website, or head over to XDA, type your device name and see results.
It could be possible you can flash your system without voiding the warranty, if you download a ROM of previous Android release signed by OEM and flash it via Stock Recovery. Try it (take backup always).


text:
Is adb backup usable in case of soft-brick?
Let's assume I create a backup of my phone with this command:
adb backup -apk -shared -all

When I want to install Xposed framework it warns me that the phone maybe trap in re-booting or suffer from soft-brick so they advise the user to create a nondroid backup. my question is that is adb backup method helpful in such scenarios?

A softbrick usually renders the user unable to boot into Android OS successfully and satisfactorily, and most of the  time you can boot into a custom Recovery (you would be having it if you mentioned Xposed) and then use the ADB commands to restore the backup from there.
ADB backup method isn't useful in case of Xposed Framework since ADB doesn't make any image of /system or /data (Xposed makes changes into /system). ADB backup is concerned with user data (Apps, app data, settings, and similar things, internal/external SD card data) only. That's why Nandroid is recommended and always preferred.
Note that the command you mentioned will backup only shared storage (SD card), all apps (user+system) data and their apks as well. That's just it, but not enough to run a system.

In my case, (Android 4.2.1, 5.0) ADB backup isn't very stable. It intermittently stops backing up or resuming data without showing any warning. So I usually prefer Nandroid for imaging and TiBa for apps backup.

Ok. thanks a lot for your answer.
I have an sd card with limited free room. Is there anyway that I save the nondroid backup directly to pc and recover it from pc?

A user once posted this same query. I don't know how would you mount a PC folder or send Nandroid image on the fly. But I advised this: Take Nandroid backup in steps (1. boot, 2. data, 3. system ) and copy the backup (remember backup for only one step) using ADB or MTP into PC (you can do vice versa too). Your custom recovery may be showing the overall size of backup so you may make enough room for it in SD card step by step. // Honestly, you should ask it as a question so that other users can see it and may be suggest a good technique. :)

If you have OTG support and a spare USB drive/HDD then you're good to go.


text:
Why copy within or upload to ES File Explorer rename php file as txt?
I am using ES File Explorer FTP service to upload php scripts, to be used with a web server on my android device.
I noticed all php files get renamed with .txt suffix, which make them unsuable.
Files with another extension do not seem to be affected.
This problem only occurs when copying or upload to extSdCard, on a non-rooted device, but allowed by a permission workaround.
Is it a bug? How could I fix this?

i guess that is a bug but you may use bulk rename utility
Section 1:
match: (.*).txt
replace: \1
section 11
remove
Section 12:
filter: *.php.txt
hope it helps

It doesn't help. Even if you do this, according to the OP it will just get renamed again.

sorry about that... here we go
regEx (1)
match (.*).txt
replace \1
include ext
extension (11)
remove
selections
filter *.php.txt
match case unchecked


text:
Stop Android from "reminding" me about updates?
With the new Android update now avalible, Android has been notifying me each day about updating to the latest version. Each time I press "remind" me later and the notification goes away temporarily. Is there a way to completely remove this reminder?
I am running Android 4.4.4

Can 4.3 update notification be removed? also contains suggestions that should still be applicable.

Yes! Can someone delete this. I can't from my phone.


text:
Installing Google apps; "Google Services Framework has stopped" after installation
The following are the steps I took to get Google apps (Playstore mainly) on my Galaxy Mega 5.8

Root
Downloaded APKs for: Google Services Framework, Google Login Service, Google Play.
Using Root Explorer, I moved all three APKs to the system/app folder.
I changed the file permissions to match other items in the folder.
Reboot. (Saw "Optimizing apps 3/3")
Opened the Play Store and was prompted to log in.

During the process of logging in, a message, "Unfortunately, Google Services Framework has stopped". This message appears periodically, until eventually "Unfortunately, Google Play Store has stopped". When I try to open it again, I get a server error.
This phone did not come with any Google apps including the Play Store.
Can anyone tell me what I might have done wrong?
Thanks in advance!
Update: I'm not using any custom ROMs. I'd appreciate instructions on how to flash G-apps as well! My current software version is 4.2.2
I can't seem to boot into Recovery mode. Pressing the Power Button + Volume Up + Home Button simply boots up the device normally.

Are you using a custom ROM? Why didn't you flash GAPPS then?

No, I'm not using a custom ROM. I'm using the original Samsung firmware. Can you provide instructions on how to flash G-apps? Thank you!


text:
How do I upgrade the Android LG G2 D802 to Kitkat OS?
I bought LG G2 phone just a few days and I wanted to upgrade it to possibly Android 4.4 Kitkat from Android 4.2 Jellybean (I think which is the software update is trying to do as well as shown in screenshot). What I do is go the 'Update Center > Software Update > Check now for update which shows up the following screenshot:

After a few megabytes of downloading, the download manager reports "Cannot connect to server" and there's no way to resume it. I am sure there's nothing wrong with my Wi-fi either.
Is there an alternative way to manually grab this so called update via PC?
Update 1:
I downloaded the LG PC Suite and connected the phone via USB to check to see if it can upgrade but apparently it looks like it is trying to apply the Lollipop upgrade and I have no option to choose:

Update 2
I have tried to install ADB from Android SDK by following several tutorials on the Internet and got it working via. USB Debugging. Then I followed the steps here and used the command adb logcat >log.txt on Windows OS from CMD.
As I initialize the update from Apps > Update Center > Software Update, it fills the text file with log it collects but I cannot find any http:// or https:// link in the file after I click 'Download Update' in the Update Center on LG G2 D802 device.
I still got no such luck.
Update 3
From the @eldarerathi comment:

The article's instructions are for Nexus devices. Most probably, LG's
  update code doesn't do the same logging. In particular, Nexus devices
  don't have an 'Update Center' app - OTA update checks are done in the
  Settings app. As to how to do it on your device: that may be difficult
  to know, since LG likely doesn't release the source for their 'Update
  Center' app. Some kind of network monitoring may be worth exploring.

on my other related question it appears that adb won't be helpful in this case.

I am currently trying to use the method in Update 1. I clicked the upgrade button and immeditately disconnected the phone from USB. Now, it is trying to download a file called "D80220D_00.kdz" which will apparently going to be about the size of 1.6 GB judging from the progress and google research. I am not sure what I'd do with it and if it is only a Kitkat or lollipop upgrade or both.

As soon as the downloaded completed for 1.6 GB file the PC Suite immediately deleted off the file due to the reason that phone wasn't connected. This seems to be so absurd.


text:
Can I put a 128Gb micro sd card in a Samsung Galaxy s2?
I have an untouched Samsung Galaxy S2 just out of its box, though this model of phone is rather old and came out in 2012.
I was wondering could I stick this brand new technology sd card into it?
http://www.sandisk.com/products/memory-cards/microsd/ultra-class10-for-android/
(It says the 128Gb card is microSDXC)
I saw in another post here that v1 and v2 should work in this phone but v3 wont. The site for the sd card doesnt mention any version though.
I want to do this so I can use the phone as a ipod replacement.
Also bonus question.. Anyone know how long one can play mp3s on the samsung galaxy 2 before it runs out of batteries?
EDIT: I found this which seems promising
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYUg14u_co8

Get the larger replacement battery from Samsung.

Officially, 128GB Card is supported for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and onwards devices in Samsung releases. But technically, SanDisk’s 128GB card should work in any device that supports the MicroSDXC standard (buy/use at own risk). Check out list of supported devices. You can also verify your device at official SanDisk website here.
What if it shows an error ?
This video should help you change your mind to really go for higher storage space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA9fp863d-o
How much of Battery life
Galaxy S2 has only 1650 mAh Battery, but i think if you just use it as music player then it should claim for more than 1 day battery life. you can also keep it in flight mode to give you less battery drain on networks.


text:
I have mmssms.db but the telephony.db is lost, can I get back my SMS messages in any way?
For reasons unknown, my SMS messages disappeared today. I have a rooted SGS2. I've discovered that SMS messages are stored in mmssms.db and I was lucky enough to find a backup file. However, no such luck with telephony.db, and now when I replace the empty mmssms.db with my old one, the messaging app removes it and creates an empty one.
Is there a way to plug my old mmssms.db in there? Or maybe reconstruct the old telephony.db if that could help in some way?

SMS messages in smartphones have generally been stored in SQLite3 databases for a long time now. If the database is not damaged in any way, you should be able to view the contents and maybe export them to some CSV or HTML format with some type of SQLite database browser software.
Here's one you can give a try: http://sqlitestudio.pl/
Otherwise, I know that a data recovery company that specializes in cellphone data recovery would probably be able to recover the messages for you. Some have means of carving out text messages even if the database is damaged.
I don't know that there is a good way to "plug it back in" to your phone though. It's interesting it sees it and then creates an empty database. There may be some identifying marker that it sees doesn't match, perhaps with something related to the last OS update.


text:
memory card is not show in recovery mode
can you please suggest me. memory card is not showing in recovery mode how to solve this problem because i want to install android lollipop in my Samsung ace duos 6802.

In recovery, go to mounts and make sure ext_sdcard or similar is check-marked.
Also try disabling/enabling MTP Mode (if you are on twrp) in mounts if it still doesn't mount along with above step. Cant say how is that related, but this did the trick once for me.


text:
What is the best way to root a 2012 Nexus 7 running 5.1.1 Lollipop?
I have had my N7 for about 5 or 6 months now, and I am considering rooting it. I would like to know the best one click rooting methods to use. I've heard of kingoroot, but I don't know if it roots 5.1.1 yet. Thank you

Use the Nexus Root Toolkit. It is the easiest method, and will walk you through all the steps (setting up drivers, etc.)
Here's a link: http://www.wugfresh.com/


text:
E:failed to verify whole-file signature
I have the original Samsung firmware on my Galaxy Mega 5.8
It doesn't have any of the Google Apps on it, so I decided to flash the G-apps. I got into recovery mode, and selected the appropriate G-apps ZIP, gapps-jb-20130813-signed.zip
However, I keep getting the "E:failed to verify whole-file signature" error. I've tried downloading zips from different sources, including the CyanogenMod Wiki Downloads page, the problem seems to persist.
More
Here's a list of the steps I took: (My phone is rooted)

Download the G-apps zip file.
Put it on the root folder of the SD card.
Reboot into recovery mode.
"Install update from external memory", selected the g-apps zip file.
Got the error.

I would really appreciate any help that I can get.
I've also tried downloading the google services framework, play store and google login service APKs separately. However, the play store simply opens and closes. (Installing Google apps; "Google Services Framework has stopped" after installation )

Are you using Stock Recovery? If not, then which custom one is it? Philz Touch and TWRP has option to disable signature verification, do it if you have them.

This may help some folks: In my case the error was caused by a corrupt copy of the data file to the USB drive. On the offchance that I had yanked the USB out too early, I recopied, and after that the "whole-file signature" was OK and allowed the firmware update to complete.