text:
What's using my GPS?
On my Android phone (a Desire HD), the GPS indicator is currently on & flashing away.
How can I find out which app is responsible for using the GPS?  I have my suspicions but would like to know for sure.
It's rooted & I'm more than comfortable interrogating /dev or somesuch.  Running 2.2.

This is a good Q. Would love to know if there's some sort of log of GPS access too. I often find, when at my lock screen, something is pinging the GPS, which then stops as soon as I complete my login.

One way to find out might be to turn off GPS and see which apps complain.

Or to close apps one by one and see when the GPS stops being used.

For example I am testing an application called GPS Tracker that once opened uses the GPS (just as expected). But if you don't close it explicity (by selecting the option exit after pressing the menu button) and instead you press the home button or go directly to other app, then GPS Tracker continues to use the GPS, because it is tracking your route... I think the same happens with other apps you are using. The conclusion: find the way to close them directly from the app itself.

@Nicolás I have this exact same question, and I'm very sure there isn't any GPS route tracking software currectly active (I do have a few installed, though). The GPS just suddenly gets on, flashes for a while, then disappears (presumable because it found my location). This happens when I have no applications running that I imagine could have any use for GPS.

Ilari Kajaste - Having the GPS come on for a few seconds and then turning off is normal behavior for Android. Especially if you are using Location Services from Google in any way. Store and Coupon apps will sometimes do the same thing to periodically find out if you are near a store with coupons available to you, though many of those are moving to Google's Location Services API, which provides a more unified way of managing Location events. But regardless, the real issue is when a process turns the GPS on for several minutes, not just a few seconds.

Install Spare Parts.  Open it and click on "Battery History". Select the drop down list at the top and from it choose "GPS Usage". It will show you what apps have been using the GPS.
Note that you'll need to have your device unplugged at the time as it's actually looking for battery usage as used by apps accessing GPS.

Unfortunately my phone model isn't supported by Spare Parts.

this didn't work for me. clicking battery history just took me to that page in settings. there was no gps dropdown. I'm running 4.1.2 on a sprint galaxy note 2.

As Heath Borders said, the Battery History button only takes you to the Battery page in Settings (on Samsung devices at least), which is of no benefit.
In my case, I found "GSam Battery Monitor" which does provide a way of listing apps by GPS usage. The culprit that was responsible for using my GPS after a reboot was Kohl's.

on Android 4.3 and newer: (can't say about carrier/manufacturer specific, such as samsung.. they change everything! this is tested on stock android)
open settings > Location (under personal)
there you will see a list of recent app titled "recent"
easy as that. the top app is the last one to use GPS. if you are still seeing the GPS icon, you can click that app to go to the app info screen. where you can stop/uninstall the app. if doing any of those things removes the GPS in use icon, you found the culprit. (here it was gasbuddy, which i haven't opened in 24h)
edit: ok, found a pic of samsung version. it works there too.

There a a lot of apps that will just use GPS if it is on. even the camera will use it to put location data in the image. google uses it for buzz, maps, latitude, etc. And if you have latitude, it will fire up every once in a while to report your location (which if you have latitude, you told it to do :)). there are some applications that will even use the GPS, if it's available, to show you "local" advertisements.
If you "opt'd in" for the "providing google with location information" when you set up your device, the device itself will use it to notify google about wifi locations and cell towers around your location. This data helps start GPS from a cold start, so it can lock on to a location quicker.
This data is good, and helps people that actually use the GPS. They are not "tracking your every move" like some people seem to think. Google, and Apple for that matter, couldn't care less where you are, what they want to know is where the cell towers are so they can tell you where you are with their location applications more quickly.
If you are worried about what may be sending data, then the only "safe" option is to turn off GPS unless you are using it, and check the permissions of applications when you install them. If your "Cooking Recipes" application wants to use GPS, that you may want to worry a little, unless it is going to tell you how to get to the store to by the ingredients.

Is there a way to check whether I opted in to the location tracking information? I don't think I did, though.

And for the record, I don't care if Google or Apple - or the app in question for that matter - cares about where I am. It's my phone, my location information, and I don't want my phone sending that information to anyone I've not agreed to send it to. I'm not worried about location leaks - it is the principle that matters, and it does matter quite a bit. (Also, periodically peeking at GPS probably drains some battery, but I don't believe it's all that significant.)

This answer does not address the question. Instead, it tries to convince the OP not to think about the question. This might do well in a comment, but certainly not as an answer.

@DanielS., That's fine that you down-voted, but I am not trying to convince anyone of anything, I provided information. Based on the information supplied, I gave the best answer I could; any application installed could be using the GPS, if it requests the permission. Also note, my answer is about 4.5 years old.

Generally speaking, GPS is not always running, when an activity that uses GPS, gets paused, the GPS shuts down to conserve battery. When the activity is resumed, GPS gets kickstarted. This is how a well-behaved and written application should behave.
I would suggest to install Droidwall, and dis-allow ALL apps to access both 3G and Wifi. And watch the log, there should be some process attempting to connect.
It should also show up in the 'logcat', in a form of something similar: 'Cannot access xx.xx.xx.xx' ip address format.

I don't think there's an app that shows which app is using the GPS. Also, I can't get Spare Parts's Battery Information screen to show in my Android 4.1.
Here's my suggestion:
Whenever you see that the GPS is active (such as, the GPS icon in the notification bar, or Settings > Battery shows that the GPS is active), click on Settings > Apps > Running to see which apps are running. One of them is the culprit.
In my case today, the rogue app is No Zombies.

Unfortunately, the link is dead. Maybe you can update it.

@Firelord I don't think the link needs updating, it's just an example for an app using GPS.

@Izzy That's why I added "Maybe" :). I believe you came here following the VLQ trail, like I did.

@Firelord that's correct – and I voted "OK" :) I vaguely remember there are ways to show which app is currently accessing location services (or has been doing so) – but I don't remember a) which those were and b) with what Android version they might have been introduced …


text:
is there any official froyo upgrade from samsung for galaxy 5 in India?

Possible Duplicate:
When will my phone get the Android 2.2 update (FroYo)?

Hi,
I am a galaxy 5 user from India, there were news about froyo update for galaxy 5 but my kies [downloaded from samsung site] doesn't show any upgrades. I don't want to root my device if there is any upgrade available for galaxy 5, or will be available in near future.
Can you tell me if this upgrade available here?

This question on Froyo availability for phones has everything we know about Froyo releases http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/2696/ Froyo does seem to have been released for your model in some regions, but unfortunately no one's provided any info about your region. There are two likely reasons for the delay, either the Froyo release hasn't yet been customized for your region and language, or it is available but your phone company hasn't certified the release yet and are currently blocking it. I would suggest checking with your phone company, if you can find more please let us know.

There is an Asia Froyo firmware released by Samsung. It's available on the http://www.samfirmware.com repository. You'll need to register and login.
You can then flash this official un-modified firmware by using the ODIN software.
I5508ZCKP2 is the Jan 2011 released Froyo firmware update for the Galaxy I5500 or Galaxy 5 as it's known otherwise.

source: Stack Exchange

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

sort: votes


text:
Samsung S Galaxy II (i9100): possible with stock Google Android OS?
I'm in the market for a new Smartphone. Except for iPhone's, I'm new in the field and probably have some misconceptions.
My first choice was the Google Nexus S, but I was offered a great deal on the Samsung S Galaxy II (i9100). The only issue is that I read that it came with an "enhanced" version of Android. Being familiar with PC's, I know that these enhancements are almost always bloatware: I always do a clean install of Windows to get rid of it.
My question is fairly simple: is this possible to use the stock Google Android OS on the Samsung S Galaxy II (i9100)? That was the killer feature of the Nexus S for me: coming directly from Google, easily upgradable. Would that be possible and if yes, how?
Thank you for enlightening me.

...?
Can you please be more specific about your question?
You talk about Samsung graphic customizations?

Basically all I want is to use the unmodified Android firmware, just as they do on the Nexus S. Moreover, the Nexus S has guaranteed software updates (2.3.4 is out for it right now, who knows when it will be available for the Galaxy II).

@Pitto The Galaxy S II comes with Samsung's TouchWiz 4 interface and app customizations, this has its own launcher and modifications to various apps including the Contacts, Music and Video apps. This is similar to how HTC's phones come with their Sense UI and heavily customized apps.

Oh thank you for giving info!
So a cooked rom sounds like what you need, right?

Yeah it does. But is this 'official' or is this like jailbreaking an iPhone? I know how to jailbreak or root a phone, but I don't like the idea that for it to be 100% usable, one has to 'hack' it.

@Jean that does depend what you mean by 100% usable - my phone is a Galaxy S running the stock Samsung 2.2.1 Android OS with their TouchWiz 3 customizations, and I've never felt the need for a custom ROM, I haven't needed that for anything I've wanted to do. That said, my previous phone an HTC Magic ran stock Android with no modifications, and I think my next one would too, so will probably be a Nexus, I just prefer simplified over pretty most of the time.

It is very unlikely that Samsung will ever release an unmodified Android firmware for the Galaxy S II. They've never released one for their Galaxy S family of phones without their TouchWiz "enhancements".
Historically the only Android devices that have run the stock OS have been the very early phones released by each manufacturer (before they'd written their own customizations) and the Google Nexus series of phones. If you stray away from that you are going to get modified firmwares, interfaces and apps.
One of the big downsides to using a phone that has extensive manufacturer customizations is that this means that they will generally be a lot slower in pushing out updated versions of the Android OS to you. Phones with manufacturer customized OS's are normally updated months after the Nexus devices, if ever. This is because the manufacturers have to do lots of work and testing to re-integrate all of their changes and customizations back into the OS every time the base OS changes. Factor in the fact that phone companies often drag their feet in certifying the updated OS's on their networks and you have a huge set of delays before the updates reach your phone.
The big upsides to a customized OS is that the manufacturer will often add a lot of features that aren't available to stock OS phones, eg Samsung's TouchWiz offered built-in wireless tethering well before it was added to the stock OS in Froyo, both HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz add remote phone tracking and wiping features to the phones (in most geographic regions), their media players can generally play more formats, and the interfaces often look "nicer".
Your main option for "clean" firmwares running the stock OS for non-Nexus phones is to use unofficial custom ROMs. Many of these use the stock Android interface and apps, with only minimal changes to either. See these questions for more on custom ROMs: What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc, and What is the meaning of “flashing a custom ROM”?
Also see this previous question: Android phones without custom UIs
UPDATE: Since this answer was written one things has changed. In mid-2013 Google started offering "Google Play Edition" phones for sale on the Play Store in certain regions in addition to their own Nexus line of devices. These "Google Play Edition" phones tend to be some of the more popular, higher-end GSM phones and are offered with the plain Android OS with Google Apps, and without any manufacturer or carrier modifications, just like Nexus phones. So far these phones have been getting OS updates much faster than their manufacturer modified brethren.
So far the phones available on there in "Pure Google" versions include the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, LG G Pad 8.3, Sony Z Ultra, and Motorola Moto G.
As these are generally the exact same hardware as their manufacturer branded siblings there are often fairly simple ways to apply these "clean" OSs to branded phones (but do check that you really do have the same hardware, some of these phones have variations with the same name, but different hardware in them, eg they may be available in GSM, CDMA, LTE versions with totally different radio hardware and SoC CPUs).

Great answer.  I'd just like to add that as an original Galaxy S owner, I prefer TouchWiz to the default Android interface.  They're mostly the same anyways, and TouchWiz is much less bloated that MotoBLUR or Sense.

@Matthew good point, there's no way I could use a Sense phone, it's a much heavier customization and (to my mind) they've messed up a lot of things with their messaging apps, when stock Android works perfectly anyway.

OK, thanks for clarifying the issue. I'll order two Nexus S i9023. I like being up to date and hate vendor customizations. Let's hope for an unification in the future (or at least official options to use the stock firmware).

If what you are looking for is an “official” way of having a clean Android installation in a Samsung Galaxy S II, then I have to tell you that this is not possible. Samsung provides some added functions in his firmware (proprietary launcher, mail app, synchronization app with the PC, etc…)
There is the possibility to install custom ROMs on the Samsung Galaxy S so probably this will be possible for the Galaxy S II too, but this void the warranty.
If what you want is a powerful phone which will be the first to update to every new version of android with no added software or modifications, you are looking for a Nexus S.

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


text:
How do I set up a VPN from Android 2.3 to my home Ubuntu desktop?
I want to configure a VPN from my Nexus S (2.3.4) to my home Ubuntu desktop.
Has anyone tried this yet?
I would deeply appreciate tips on which VPN server to use (e.g., is openVPN support native on Android Gingerbread?) and pitfalls to avoid.

What would you use the vpn for?
I don't know the answer because I'd just use an sh shell to connect to my ubuntu pc at home and I can't imagine what kind of use a vpn could have but I'm interested...

@pitto I would like to use VPN for the usual purposes. Secure communication from my phone to the internet, not trusting the free wifi at the cafe, for example.

Mmmmhh...
So when you get to the internet cafè you would log to their network, then log to your vpn and then surf the net?

Yes. That is what I want to do.

Browsing internet through vpn wouldn't be easy. When you connect to internet through wi-fi, the cafe router will advertize itself as default gateway. This gateway will be used to bring up the vpn connection. After the vpn connection is established the gateway will be the same one which was set when the phone connected to wi-fi. And by default there can be only one default gateway. So browsing wouldn't happen over the secure vpn channel. The only solution for this is using a proxy which exists on your vpn connected network. And official Android ROM has no option to be set up as a proxy client.

@nixnotwin: What's the point of being able to set up a VPN if things aren't tunneled through it?  Is it possible to set up the proxy with Cyanogenmod?

http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/7566/how-do-i-set-up-openvpn-on-cyanogenmod

http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/2689/if-i-set-up-a-vpn-does-everything-go-over-it

The way I did it was to install dd-wrt on my home router and enable PPTP VPN.  Then I just put in the user name and password in the VPN settings in Gingerbread.

OpenVPN would seem to be another good solution if you cannot install dd-wrt on your router.  There is a client app for it (http://www.appbrain.com/app/openvpn-settings/de.schaeuffelhut.android.openvpn) but you need to have rooted your phone to use it.


text:
Could not dial on my galaxy tab
How to get Dialer application on my T-Mobile Galaxy tab?

Apparently the only way to get dialer is to reinstall the european firmware: http://www.thegalaxytabforum.com/index.php?/topic/151-gt-phone-dialer/
BTW, you are on the wrong site. SO is for specific programmers questions.

Thanks ... BTW, I hope that this question would not mess up stackoverflow ...

Awesome, going to check out that link now. thanks for sharing.

On your galaxy Tab goto
Application>Contacts

Now select Dialer tab

My Galaxy tab doesn't have Dailer tab ... When I wrote down the number on Memo and press on this number the message came "Dialer is not supported on this device."

I am not sure about T-mobile might be they have locked the device if that so you cant use dialer app unless you root your tablet


text:
Any voice recorder app for Nexus S?

Possible Duplicate:
Is there a way to easily record a phone conversation in-progress?

I've seen Android call recording apps, but they don't support call recording on Nexus S.
Anyone know of an app that will work on the Nexus S?
Thanks

Don't any of the solutions offered in this question work for you?

Please remove the marked duplication, an app work on android doesn't means work on Nexus S due the hardware specification.

"Working call Recorder" works on any android device, outgoing calls only.
It works by calling an intermediately calling service, which calls your other party with your caller-id. The recording is then emailed to your email box.
The recording is in high-quality, as it is done on the telephony level, and not through the mic.
The application only works for US and Canada.
Disclosure: I am the developer of this application.


text:
Do I need Android SDK to connect my phone in USB debug mode?
I'm following the steps provided here to root my Samsung Captivate (Galaxy-S).  I install the USB drivers in the link provided.  Whenever I connect my phone, I get the error There was a problem installing this hardware... SAMSUNG Android Composite ADB Interface.  I do have USB Debug mode checked on my phone.
The googling I have done on this issue mention downloading the Android SDK, but I have heard no mention of needing this on the XDA developers forum or in any other conversation about rooting.  So, I wanted to ensure that downloading the Android SDK was necessary, or would even fix my problem before I bother installing it and its dependencies (Java JDK).  I'm running Windows XP.
Note:  Although I'm running a 64-bit machine, I Installed the x86 Samsung Drivers since Windows XP is a 32-bit OS.  I hope that's right.

Slightly confused by your talk of 64-bit and XP. What OS are you running on your PC and is it a 32-bit or 64-bit OS. Normally you install the same "bit-ness" drivers as your OS is, so if you're running a 64-bit OS on your PC, install the 64-bit drivers. But your screenshot looks like it's XP, and it's a long time since I heard of anyone using the half-baked 64-bit version of XP.

@GAThrawn, I'm running Windows XP 32-bit (not sure if there is a 64-bit version).

ah right, so you were saying that the pc hardware itself is 64-bit. Yes in that case the 32-bit drivers are the right ones to install. There is a 64-bit version of XP, but you really don't want to use it, it is very bad.

You will need the drivers on Windows all right. But for "simple ADB communication", you won't need the full SDK installation. See Is there a minimal installation of ADB?

No, you don't need to install the Android SDK.  The SDK's drivers don't work for the Galaxy S, actually, at least not the last time I tried.
You best bet is to download Samsung Kies and update the drivers through it, as per this answer to another question.  You can get Kies most easily from Samsung UK here.

This may be a dumb question, but is downloading the UK version of Kies a problem if I'm in the U.S.? Is there any difference between the U.S. and UK versions?

@Chance Actually, the only difference I know of is that you can tether your computer to your phone over USB if you use the full version of UK Kies, whereas the US version doesn't allow it.  If you have one of the US variants though (Fascinate, Vibrant, Captivate, or Epic 4G) you should get Kies from the US site for that phone specifically -- just in case the drivers are different from the GT-i9000 drivers.

You can also install pdanet on your machine, it has a lot of Android phone drivers bundled together in the installer.  You can uninstall the application after it installs the drivers. http://www.junefabrics.com/android/

Okay, here was the problem.  I had multiple drivers, and Windows was automatically installing one that did not work.  So, I went to Device Manager, right-clicked, selected Properties..., selected the Driver tab, selected Update Driver....  Then I chose to Install from a list or specific location then selected Don't search. I will choose the driver to install.  I selected Android ADB Interface but I don't know where it came from (Kies, PDANet, or USBDeview).  In list mode it's not clear where it came from.

Usually, all that's needed are the bits to make ADB (Android Debug Bridge) operate, which on Windows are the two libraries (AdbWinApi.dll and AdbWinUsbApi.dll).  But, that really shouldn't be necessary for a commercial product.


text:
Sync Exchange 2010 notes, tasks and reminders
My HTC Incredible S phone runs Android 2.2, and has the ability to sync e-mail, calendar and contacts with our Exchange 2010 Server at work.
Tasks, notes and e-mail reminders, however, aren't synced out-of-the-box.
I've been looking, but can't seem to find any lightweight apps on the Google Play Store that can fill this gap.
Does anyone know of such a product?
If a lightweight one does not exist, what would you recommend I do to sync these items? I'd prefer using the built-in e-mail, calendar and contact apps, and would rather avoid bloatware such as TouchDown.
I found this question which somewhat addresses this, but doesn't mention e-mail reminders and notes.

Update: task synchronization is now included after a system update. However, e-mail reminders and notes remain unsupported.

I have looked a number of products and I have got to say Touchdown by Nitrodesk always comes out on top. I have just returned to Android after a short spell with WP7 and fogot how much I relied on Touchdown. My favourite is the fact it will read out emails, which is useful!

Does TouchDown sync notes? (from the "Notes" tab in Outlook)


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

Synchronization is experiencing problems

I tried many things, including exporting my entire calendar to file, deleting all items in my calendar, and re-importing items, but to no avail. My collegues' calendars synced just fine to my phone. For some reason my calendar just wouldn't sync.
After a lot of messing around I found that if I made a change to every single item in my calendar, e.g. changing the subject of the item, and restoring it afterwards, I was able to sync the entire calendar. Finally!
A VBA macro helped me perform this absurd task in Outlook 2010:
Sub ChangeAllItems()
  Dim myolApp As Outlook.Application
  Dim calendar As MAPIFolder
  Dim aItem As Object
  Set myolApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
  Set calendar = myolApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder
  Dim strTemp As String
  For Each aItem In calendar.Items
    strTemp = aItem.Subject
    'Make a change to the item (subject)
    aItem.Subject = strTemp & " "
    aItem.Save
    'Restore subject line
    aItem.Subject = strTemp
    aItem.Save
  Next aItem
End Sub

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

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

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

The ability to make questions Community Wiki was removed some time ago. Mods can do it, but I don't think it's necessary in this case.

Thanks a lot, this saved my day. The only working solution to that recurring Exchange-Android Calendar sync problem that I found.

Since I have currently the same problem, I found out that it is related to the import of a pst file.
The error occurs if a pst file is exported from an MS Exchange 2003 Server and afterwards imported on an Exchange 2010 Server. (e.g. in order to migrate from one version to another)
Everything works fine when using OWA or Outlook to access the data. The error you described shows up only on mobile devices so far. (In my case it is a Symbian phone with Dataviz roadsync on it)
Except editing all items, which makes them available again, I found no other solution so far. But I am curious to know if there is anything else.

Thanks for the info, I suspected it had something to do with that!


text:
How do I set up VPN for connecting from Nexus One to my home network?
I'd like to set up my handset to be able to VPN into my home network.
At home I have the Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH wireless router running dd-wrt firmware. My handset is Nexus One running the latest (as of this writing) CyanogenMod7 ROM nightly build (Android version 2.3.4)
Preferably, I'd like a step-by-step guide on configuring OpenVPN on the router and on the handset.

I've been interested in trying this for a little while, but for now I have just been using SSH.  The guide I've been eyeing on the subject is here, which is using OpenVPN to DD-WRT on Android.
It seems pretty straightforward.

Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for!  Thanks!


text:
What are loop devices?
How to Install Ubuntu on Android! states "your Android OS must support loop devices".  What is a loop device?

The Wikipedia page on loop devices explains this pretty well. It's basically a "pseudo-device" (i.e. a device which doesn't exist physically) that allows a file to be treated as a block device (for example, a hard drive).
You need support for it because the Ubuntu system is stored as a .img file, which is essentially created to be a file representation of a filesystem or disk partition. By mounting it on a loop device you can access the file as though it really was a whole filesystem, thus creating a sort of "virtual" partition (or disk) for Ubuntu to live on.

In Unix-like operating systems, a loop device, vnd (vnode disk), or lofi (loopback file interface) is a pseudo-device that makes a file accessible as a block device.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_device
Basically, it allows you to make your phone think that an image file is a separate storage area/device.


text:
Is there a Google-less "personal cloud" for contacts, calendar, tasks and images sync?

Possible Duplicate:
Suggestions for syncing data to someone besides Google? Funambol?

The idea is to cut Google's (or other 3rd-party) proprietary bits out of an Android installation, while retaining the benefits of "cloud" computing.  For most things there are open-source alternatives: SK for keyboard, K-9 Mail for e-mail, etc.  However, for the core "cloud" services like Contacts and Calendar, all replacements that I've seen simply redirect you to their own closed and proprietary cloud servers.
From a quick search around the web, the closest open-source alternative is Funambol's client/server solution.  I was wondering if anyone's had any luck setting up their own instance of a "personal cloud" of sorts using this or a similar package, and successfully using it to sync contacts data to an Android device.
Bonus points if there is a package for use with a Synology NAS drive :)

There's a similar question about this already, but it didn't really get resolved (currently has one answer): Suggestions for syncing data to someone besides Google? Funambol?

How did I miss that?!


text:
How can you tell whether you are running a official Android program or one modified by your phone maker?
So many times , in this forum , I see answers with descriptions of their phone, contacts or messaging application, with options, settings or feature I don't see on my Samsung Galaxy S.
I presume that either I am running a modified version ( made by Samsung ) or the questioner is.
But how can you tell ?
How do you know your application is not the stock application of Android ( btw: is that the correct term ? stock application ? )
If I look at Settings - Applications - Manage applications - Running, I see f.i. Email. Clicking this tells me it's version 2.2.1. Same with Dialer. Contacts on the other hand , shows version 1.0.
But since no manufacturer info is present , I cannot tell whether this is the official Google software, or some other program.
And following that, can you download the stock application from somewhere ? Maybe it's better than the version on your phone ?

You can compare what your phone had with the emulator for your Android version. The emulator is a pristine Android, with no manufacturers modifications.
It is arguable whether Google-branded applications (which are not included in the emulator), are stock apps or not; but AFAIK Google-branded apps are usually not modified by manufacturers since they weren't open source and also Google-branded apps are updated regularly by the Market.


text:
Phone won't connect to mobile network
As of yesterday my phone was okay as I know I had a missed call and checked it on voicemail, but today I noticed that it is showing no signal when there should be one.
The last thing I know I did was to try *#61# to check the voicemail numbers as I was thinking of setting a longer timeout, but I didn't actually change it.
If I go into Additional call settings I get 'Network or SIM card error', but I expect that is linked to the lack of network. However, I wonder if something on the SIM is messed up.
I've turned it off/on a couple of times. Also tried a different SIM from a different service and that worked. It there anything I can try resetting?
It's an htc Tattoo on Android 1.6.

How long have you turned your phone off for? From my days on Blackberry support I do remember that while turning off for 30 seconds resets the connections on the phone itself. But if you leave it switched off for about 30 minutes then all the connections on the phone companies end are reset, and this can sort out some odd connection problems.

My phone has been off the original (Virgin UK) network for several days whilst I used a different SIM. Putting the old one back did not resolve the issue. I've mailed Virgin, but have yet to have a response.

I would bring the phone to your carrier's local store.  If a different SIM card from the same carrier works, then it's possible that your SIM card is damaged or corrupted.  The carrier may need to replace it for you.  Keep in mind that some carriers (or authorized reseller outlets) will charge you for this.

Don't know of a local store or of someone else using that carrier. The phone has been working fine with a different SIM, apart from another issue I raised. I'm considering changing carrier anyway.

Check your APNs.  This might help: http://www.htc.com/mea-en/SupportViewNews.aspx?dl_id=949&news_id=654
Note: APNs are provider specific, the linked walkthrough covers KSA Mobily Postpaid Subscribers, but if you Google search: (Your Provider) APN Settings, it will turn up what you need and then just substitute THOSE values for the ones in the walkthrough.
Good luck!


text:
Synchronize the contact's default phone number
I've upgraded my HTC Desire to a Galaxy S. In the HTC, I had a default phone number for each contact (typically, the mobile number).
After linking the new device with my Google accounts, the default settings are gone, and I have to redefine them manually in my Galaxy contacts.
Is there a way to sync the default number attribute with my Google Account, so that they will be copied from one phone to another?

I believe if I understand your question, the linking between your Google account  happens automatically (as it should) when you log into your Google account on your handset, and your contacts all synchronize. However it sounds like some of the merging of duplicates, and what number is the "default" number get lost? For this I would definitely recommend the Gmail application online.  All you need is to login from a computer and select "contacts". Then just go under "more actions" and do "find and merge duplicates" That should give you just one contact per person. This is your best option if you have lots of contacts, some are duplicates, or other information not entered or organized correctly. It can be quite time consuming and tedious to do editing from the handset. If this is not what you are asking, you may have to rephrase the question slightly.
When you say "sync the default number" that is rather ambiguous sentence. For example, I log into Gmail, click contacts, and then select one of my friends. There it shows me the numbers stored on my phone (in the Google cloud). If I were to change the numbers shown, that change would be reflected when I grabbed the handset next. Are you looking to make one number the default number for that person? And have it do so automatically?
Edit: After doing a little more research, it looks like this question was addressed here at the Google forums. The last comment in the list (by ratgurrl) mentions exactly this frustration. And despite what you do on the phone, when you resynchronize you lose the preference settings you put in the handset, and the 'DEFAULT' will revert to whichever contact number is at the top of the list on that contact in Gmail. So the REAL answer until Google addresses this: log into Gmail, and move the one you want as the "default" contact to the top of the list.

Any app that exports/imports contacts while preserving the 'default phone number' setting?

Google Contacts on the web browser currently doesn't allow moving numbers: to do that, you need to (1) add a new number and paste inside it the number at the top, (2) replace the number at the top with the one you want to be the default.


text:
Can't remove app icons from the desktop
I installed AdwLauncher. In the beginning it worked well.
But now, I can't delete the app icons from the desktop.
The situation is that when I longpress the desktop, the list doesn't show up so that I can't add shortcuts, apps or widget to the desktop.
Also, when I longpress the app icon on the desktop, list doesn't show up so that I can't remove, delete or edit the icon.
My cellular is HTC Desire. Is this a bug problem or I just set up in a wrong way?
Restarting the phone didn't help.
I used "home switch" to change the launcher back to HTC sense, then changed back to ADW but it still remains the same.

does restarting ADW (or the phone) helps?

Have you accidentally locked the Desktop?  The option to "Unlock Desktop" should be on the Menu (possibly under the "More" option).


text:
Where can I find Android release notes?
Today I upgraded to 2.3.4 Gingerbread MR2 but I wonder: what changed?

Similar to this question which asks about 2.2.1, there don't seem to be any real "changelogs" made available for Android updates. However, you can look at their git repository to see the commit log. Here's the shortlog for the 2.3.4_r1 tag.
The summary: mostly bugfixes, and the addition of video/voice chat for the Google Talk app. Apparently this is only enabled on the Nexus S since the Nexus One doesn't have a front-facing camera, but I don't know that for certain.
In any case, the video/voice chat could probably be made to work on the Nexus One somehow considering that it has already landed on the CyanogenMod codebase (and the latest nightly builds), so it's more or less working on other "unsupported" phones already. I know the EVO has a working implementation in the latest CM7 nightly build, though it did crash when I tried to switch to my rear camera (not that I'd really need to do that).

From a developer's point of view?

That's interesting. But I'd rather see it from the end user POV


text:
Samsung S Galaxy II (i9100): possible with stock Google Android OS?
I'm in the market for a new Smartphone. Except for iPhone's, I'm new in the field and probably have some misconceptions.
My first choice was the Google Nexus S, but I was offered a great deal on the Samsung S Galaxy II (i9100). The only issue is that I read that it came with an "enhanced" version of Android. Being familiar with PC's, I know that these enhancements are almost always bloatware: I always do a clean install of Windows to get rid of it.
My question is fairly simple: is this possible to use the stock Google Android OS on the Samsung S Galaxy II (i9100)? That was the killer feature of the Nexus S for me: coming directly from Google, easily upgradable. Would that be possible and if yes, how?
Thank you for enlightening me.


text:
I just ordered on ebay an HTC incredible 'flashed to cricket,' is android still installed on the phone?
I only want to use the phone as a dev tool and I need the android 2.2. What does 'flashed' mean exactly?

possible duplicate of What do "root," "flash," and "ROM" mean?

In short, the phone will still have the Android OS as 'flashing to cricket' is NOT in reference to the ROM or Operating System.
The seller may be referring to moving the phone off of Verizon as the carrier to Cricket, another CDMA mobile carrier in the US.  This seems to be a normal process as Cricket does not have the expansive collection of Android compared to that of Verizon Wireless.
Here are a few thread topics explaining this -
http://androidforums.com/incredible-all-things-root/82397-flashing-htc-droid-incredible-cricket.html
http://androidforums.com/cricket/232152-flashing-phone-verizon-cricket.html
Hope that helps!

I would suggest asking the seller which Android OS version the ROM they flashed is based on.


text:
What is Acer Liquid Metal maximum SD card speed class?
I want to buy a new sd and I'd like to get best bang (and speed) for the buck...
But I can't find this information...
Anybody knows?

Do you have any reason to believe not all classes work?  Otherwise I don't think this is a real question.

I just don't know and I would not like to buy something that doesn't work well.
That's why I'm asking...

OK, I'll answer I suppose.

There's no reason a class 10 card wouldn't work.  The card being faster shouldn't break anything.  I can find no evidence that the Acer Liquid Metal detects and behaves badly with a fast card, or does not use the SD card specifications properly, or anything like that.

I just wanted to know if it was worth buying a class 25 device if my acer liquid metal supports maximum a class 4 :)

@Pitto Class 10 is the maximum.  If you want advice about which card to get, I'd get a good brand name (like Kingston) and you don't need more than a class 6.  Normal reads and writes shouldn't delay the system at that speed, and it should be fine for video recording.  Most phones ship with class 4, so that would probably work fine as well.

That was what I was looking for :)

I bought a class 6 SD and it works nice!


text:
How can I tell which account contacts have synced from?
I've just noticed that I've suddenly had 7 contacts appear in my list all called "Me Mob" all with my mobile's phone number as the only entry. I don't know when they appeared, but I don't think they've been there for long.
When I open these contacts up, I can see a Joined Contacts section with a generic icon and no details, clicking that just says "Unknown" "Me Mob".

Is there any way that I can tell where all of these have come from?
Galaxy S, running stock Samsung 2.2.1 OS in case it matters.

In the Contacts app, under Menu | Display options I can select which of my accounts contacts' to display (and, in the case of Gmail contacts, which groups to display). Assuming Samsung hasn't monkeyed with that, you should be able to determine which account they're from by process of elimination.

Thanks, the process of elimination approach should have occurred to me! They seem to have arrived from Skype's contacts sync, quite why there's 7 of them I don't know but at least I know who's help and support to look through! Can't help feeling there should be a better way to identify where a contact comes from that that though, who knows how many accounts we'll be syncing in the future.


text:
Can't log into google apps after sim card change
I went to Germany and I had switch my PLAY (PL operator) SIM card with Blau.de SIM card. Everything was good, I had Internet connection and full facebook/twitter/google sync. After return to Poland, I switched to my original SIM card and my android phone failed to log into facebook/twitter/google.
I'm sure I'm using good passwords.
Error message says that phone was unable to establish Internet connection. But Internet is fully working (now I'm using my phone as a modem).
I have correct apn's and I can use for example gmail through default web browser.
I found in Internet that this is common problem with android phones, and it can be repaired after factory reset.
It's very important to me to avoid factory reset. Anyone know other way to log in?
My telephone: Samusng i5500, Android 2.1
Update:
I found that I can't fully use applications such as Waze, Glympse, Opera, basically all applications that use internet - they cannot connect to internet. But, I can use default browser to check gmail, and surf net. It looks like phone has disabled ability co connect to internet for every application except default web browser.
Update2: I can log into google account and fully sync phone when I'm using wifi. After disconnection from wifi everything is stopping despite the fact that I have GSM internet connection working.
Solution: My operator has 3 different APN's, one for WAP, one for MMS and one for internet. First two was automatically configured, third one have to be added manually

You're actually lucky -- my phone does a factory reset when I switch SIM cards.

First, I'd start by ensuring that the APN settings are correct.  A different SIM card from another carrier could have overwritten them.  You can access these by going to Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Point Names and then tapping on the selected one to edit it.  The correct settings are sometimes listed on your carrier's website.  At worst you may need to call their support line.  While you are there, make sure under "Network Operators" option your provider is selected.  After making the changes toggle the Airplane mode on and off to re-connect to the mobile network.
Try dialing the following number in the Dialer app: *#*#2432546#*#* (spells out "checkin" between the stars and pounds) and see what it comes back with.

Thin number appears to be to long, or nothing come out from it because it vanish right after I type it in dial pad.

It's supposed to vanish - this is a special code that sends a "check-in" request to Google servers from your handset. A "checkin success" notification should appear if it worked.

OK, I tested this code on my wife telephone and I know what to expect. So on my telephone nothing appears.

As the post points out, first of all check the APN settings


text:
About how  long will my touchscreen last before it starts to lose sensitivity?
I've read on various posts on the net that touchscreens lose sensitivity over time, but I have not found any detailed information about why and how I can prevent this. Does anybody know why and how this happens, and how long it takes?

Can you reference these posts?  I've never heard that.  All hardware breaks down over time though, of course.

@Matthew: after searching again, it turned out that most posts were faulty hardware, faulty software, or as Eric said below, really old touchscreens

Capacitive touchscreens found in modern smartphones don't wear out, physically, because they're solid-state technology behind a piece of glass. Practically the only way to destroy them is to build up a goodly amount of static electricity and then touch the screen -- if you're deliberate about this, it might zap the circuitry, but it's not specific to touchscreens and you can do that with all kinds of electronics.
Resistive touchscreens found in older electronics can wear out because they're basically made of movable things; two layers of transparent conductive material with a thin air gap in between them. Because the screen relies on physical pressure from your fingertip, there can't be a solid piece of glass in front of it (even if the LCD screen behind the touch array probably is made of glass). When your finger presses the layers together when you touch this screen, you effectively create an electrical short that is used to signal which point on the screen was touched.

Press hard enough and you can damage these layers so that they don't move away from each other again.
Press often enough and you'll simply wear out the outermost soft plastic material of the screen -- this is why it's important to use a clean stylus (and/or a screen protector).

I have a T-Mobile G1 (the first Android phone) that's a few years old now and sensitivity on the touch screen is still intact.
If you don't treat your phone well it is likely that over time you're going to damage it or the screen can get so dirty that sensitivity might decrease, but it is not an issue with the touch screen technology. Any phone that is badly treated will get damaged.

My Motorola Droid is as sensitive now as it was in October 2009.  At least I don't notice any appreciable loss of sensitivity.  This is my daily carry/drop/reflash/abuse phone, so if there were going to be some loss, it would happen by now.
In my PalmPilot days, I could definitely tell a difference after about a year, but that was probably due more to the precise poking of a stylus.

Touch screen are made with Indium Tin Oxide... and over time the Indium migrates out... so they stop working.
That is one of the reasons manufacturers would like to start using graphene in touch screens.
There are two types of screens resistive and capacative. Capacative screens are the main ones in use today and last 1-4 million touches:
http://admetro.com/pdfs/Touch_Screen_101.pdf
That can be as little as 3 years use... which is often fine for many phones... but on the low side for something like a monitor?
Resistive screens last ~10x longer (~35 million touches).
:-)


text:
Do I need to revert to stock firmware and/or wipe data before installing a custom ROM?
Several sites I've visited mention that I need to revert to the stock firmware and possibly wipe my phone data before installing a custom ROM. Is this recommended or completely necessary?  I have a Samsung Captivate (Galaxy-S), running Froyo 2.2 (installed via Kies).  My phone is rooted.  In case it matters, I have Windows XP.

It's not always necessary, but always a good idea.  There are custom ROMs that change the partitions of the phone storage, and some flashing methods don't reset the partitions.  What ends up happening is that the update can't be written properly -- it either fails, or files and firmware end up in the wrong place and the phone can't boot.  In some cases, this can brick the phone.
With a Galaxy S, the best way to ensure this doesn't happen is to revert to stock firmware, wipe everything, and then use Odin to flash an Odin-compatible ROM with the "re-partition" option checked.  My answer here has some more info on Odin (just be careful not to use the firmware I linked to, since it's for the GT-i9000 and not the Captivate).


text:
Should the phone be fully charged before flashing a rom?
In posts like this, and from other sources, I have heard that the handset should be fully charged before flashing or installing a customer ROM.  I assume this is because the calibration for the battery is kept somewhere within the ROM, but I don't know for sure.  Is this really necessary?

For most ROMs if you are over 50% battery you'll be alright

I always just leave my phone plugged in while I make backups or flash a new ROM.  If you're concerned with battery calibration you can manually reset it by fully charging your phone and then letting it run down to the point where it shuts itself off twice in a row with no charging between 100% and 0%.

@JonnyP Thanks, I'm definitely familiar with the calibration reset method, but I am more concerned with whether or not it is even necessary.  Seems like this is more a measure to prevent borking the rom than anything else.

That's my feeling as well.  Better safe than sorry when the consequences are so drastic.

It's just because, under some circumstances, flashing can take a while.  You really don't want your device shutting off while it's being flashed; it can brick the device.
The calibration for the battery is stored, yes, but usually it gets adjusted within a few charges of the phone.  It might be a little inaccurate for a while, but it's not a major concern.


text:
Connect Android GPS with Computer
Is this possible to connect my Android's GPS with my computer? I have a Samsung Galaxy Fit running Froyo.

If your computer has Bluetooth (most laptops do, and some wireless keyboards and mice connect through a bluetooth adaptor), then there are apps that will allow you to share your phone's GPS device to the PC as a bluetooth GPS adaptor.
See this previous question for some of them: Can I use the Nexus-S GPS as an external GPS for another device (via Bluetooth)?


text:
How to update the LG GT540 Optimus to the lastest stable Android version?
How can I update my LG GT540 Optimus to the latest stable Android? Is if safe to update, or I could brick my phone? Or it does it by auto? How are the installed softwares (from Android Market) updated? I have to do manually  or is it done automatically?

It doesn't look there is (nor will be) an official update. If so, you're only remaining option is a custom ROM. See: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/11882/how-to-install-custom-rom-in-lg-gt540

Backup your phone

this is important if you wish to keep any data from your phone. You will have to restore backed up data (such as apps) after you update. The only way to update to the latest software is to erase your device, so backup whatever you do not want to lose.

Extract the .zip file, which you can download from this AndroidForum thread or this XDA thread. Open the folder and install MSXML 4.0 SP3 Parser (msxml.msi).
Once that has finished, install LGAndroidDriver_WHQL_ML_Ver1.0_All_Win7.exe which are the drivers so your computer will recognize your phone. Windows XP Users download this driver, extract the contents anywhere (e.g. desktop), right-click on the 'android_usb.inf' file and click 'Install'.
Next, open KDZ_FW_UPD.exe
(i) Change 'Type' to '3GQCT' THIS IS A MUST, THE UPDATE WILL NOT WORK OTHERWISE AND YOU MAY BRICK YOUR PHONE
(ii) Make sure 'PhoneMode' is set to 'DIAG'
(iii) Browse for the 'V20B_00+Fastboot.kdz' file.
Prepare the phone by enabling USB Debugging by going to Settings>Applications>Development>Enable USB Debugging and connect the phone to the computer via USB cable and wait for the drivers to install for the phone. Sometimes the computer still won't recognize the phone, if this is the case, try this: Windows Vista and Windows 7 users press start and type device manager (Windows XP users right click 'My Computer' and click properties, then click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager) then locate LGE Android Platform Modem, right click it and click disable. Accept any warnings that come up. Also, make sure you've disabled Mass Storage Mode on your phone. To do this, go to Settings>Storage>Enable Mass Storage, and untick the box.
Click 'Launch software update' and do not use your computer until the update is complete. The update will take roughly 10-20 mins to complete.

This method was found in the AndroidForums. There is also a Youtube tutorial on rooting the GT540.
Bricking is always a possibility when modifying software that doesn't come directly through the intended channels
That said, the methods here have been proven to work and your risk is significantly less if you perform these steps correctly.
Let us know if you need any help!

This is the exact same answer you left on another question. This question, I don't believe, is asking about custom ROMs.

i just added this answer to that question because it seemed the same question (it has been tagged as a possible duplicate). And i found this answer most appropriate, as i do not believe there is a LG GT540 2.3 update without using a custom ROM.

see note on other answer.

While the answer might (ultimately) be the same, I think they're different questions.

i'll agree with that. i have modified the other post to fit that question better.

You probably need download and install LG tools and drivers from lg web site. And follow the software instructions.
Also this is the site for ireland http://www.lg.com/ie/android/index.jsp, mentioning  Upgrade of GT540 to Android 2.1 Eclair.
You may also check these two references:
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032744
- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803695
I learned a lot from xda forums and beware most of things in xda are on your responsibility, meaning yes, there is a chance you can brick your phone.

there is no offical way to update android without the risk bricking it?

no, you have to wait lg to release an official update. even official update procedures can brick your phone, there is no absolute guarantee


text:
What is the relation between ROM Manager, ClockworkMod and Nandroid? Which one(s) do I need?
So I understand the first thing I need to do with my phone, after rooting, is to back everything up. But I was confused about 3 of the apparently popular tools used for this.
For example, is Nandroid an application I run on a computer connected to the Android device, or on the device itself?
I understand ClockworkMod is a "custom recovery". What does that mean? Why do I need it? What does it mean to "flash" it?
Asides from browsing and installing new ROMs, how does ROM manager interact with the other two? Does it include them both, so I just need to download it from the market and be done with it?
I will appreciate any answer that can sort out the differences, with emphasis on what I, as an end-user, actually need to do, and whether there is any risk on those actions.

A "Recovery" is a special space in the internal memory of your phone, set aside by the manufacturer to perform diagnostics and OS upgrades.  In Windows terms, it's a rough equivalent of Boot Menu (usually accessed by pressing F8 during boot-up.)  It's invisible to the phone under normal operation, and is accessed in a special way (usually by turning the phone on while holding one or more buttons).
The problem is that the recoveries that comes with stock devices do not allow for installation of custom ROMs, only firmware images "signed" by the manufacturer.  In order to install custom ROMs (e.g. CyanogenMod for example) you will need to replace the stock Recovery image with a custom one, made by community developers.  On Android there are several custom recoveries, Clockworkmod (CWM) and Amon-Ra being the most known ones.  These custom Recoveries allow you to do a lot more things with your phone.  The biggest advantage is being able to flash unsigned custom ROMs.  Other benefits include various tools and utilities for further managing the phones.
One such utility is called "NANDroid".  It's a backup and restore tool that allows you to take a full image of all the phone's internal NAND memory (hence the name) and store it on your SD Card.  Should something go wrong with the phone's software, you can use the previously saved backup to restore the phone to a working state.
The maker of ClockworkMod Recovery also created an Android app called "ROM Manager".  This app allows you to easily upgrade the CWM recovery to a new version when one becomes available for your device.  It also allows you to manage NANDroid backups stored on the SD Card, as well as perform a slew of other useful advanced tasks.  These include fixing app/data permissions, re-partitioning of the SD Card right on the phone, downloading different custom ROMs and flashing them directly from the app.  A paid "Premium" version of the app has more advanced features, such as OTA update notifications for custom ROMs that support it, etc.

Thank you, this is precisely what I was looking for. Just one question - ultimately, to make backups, is the ROM Manager enough? Does it include both the ClockworkMod and Nandroid tools?

@Oak: CWM can be installed from within ROM Manager, and CWM itself is what performs the NAND backup, so yes. The first menu item in the ROM Manager interface is simply "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery", after which you're set to use the other functions (such as creating and restoring from NAND backups).

+1 for all the info. Very util and clarifying for the newbies. After I select "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery" I'm supposed to select my device model. I'm using a Samsung Galaxy i551, what should I do if it doesn't appear in the list?

I don't believe there is a CWM recovery for i551.

A nandroid is the name for a complete backup or image of your device. It can be performed in clock work mod (cmw) .
Clockwork mod is a custom recovery because it is a second of tools that can used without booting an os. Think of it has an additional BIOS. When rooting and jailbreaking, u will want to install the clockwork mod. It is the workhorse that has utilities for backups /restores /wipes and installing unsigned zip updates.
Rom manager is an app accessible in the os that allows quick access and integration with clockwork mod. Rom manager can update and install clock work mod versions as well as automatically booting into clock work mod for quicker access to those functions. Cwm and Rom manager were started by the same person. Rom manager let's u download Roms and then boots into cwm to backup and install them.
U will need a custom recovery... (I know of two) cwm or armon ra. They permit u to perform the backup. Rom manager isn't necessarily needed but its useful and is well integrated into cwm.

think of ClockworkMod Recovery as a recovery partition commonly seen in most laptops/netbooks made in the past 5 years, a recovery partition is a basic OS that have a basic set of tools to diagnose, recover, fix, and reinstall the primary OS in case the primary OS is damaged.

That's got it all covered pretty good, but a couple of things should be pointed out

One feature of ROM Manager--"Backup Current ROM"--is useful in that it integrates all of your apps (including paid ones), all of your data (such as contacts, text messages, saved photos, browser bookmarks), and your system state (your desktop arrangement, your preferences, your app defaults) and rolls them up with your ROM into a complete system image--your "Current ROM". That's great if something goes screwy with a new ROM, but it's not the way to restore apps and preferences after upgrading your firmware--unless you want to go back to your old firmware too. Titanium Backup will backup or restore your entire app set in a single batch process; or, you can wait for Android Market to restore your apps; as for non-market apps, you can use Android Mate to individually save each app to SD as an installable apk
The first thing a long-time Android user does when faced with an FC is open up ROM Manager and run Fix Permissions. I cannot overstate how valuable that function is.

A note to 1. is that Titanium Backup at least in its Pro-version can recover single items out of NANDroid backups.

What is an "FC"?

@mattwilkie: I think it stands for "Force Close", but I'm not sure. If you want to be sure, ask a new question, quote the sentence you're wondering about, and ask what "FC" stands for.


text:
Where can I find files/db/etc of Memo application?
I'm wondering is it possible (sure it is :)) to find all the memo notes manually and where exactly they are stored?

Android does not have a default memo application, but most android app stores their database in /data/data/PACKAGE_NAME/databases/.
Some applications write their data to the sdcard instead, so you might want to check that as well.

I think you mean PACKAGE_NAME ;)

@onik: true, I was thinking what's the name for the name. Corrected.


text:
Galaxy S lagging
I've bought a brand new Galaxy S just several weeks ago and so far my expectations are not met. I've never used a PDA before, so I expected it to be a full power computing machine in a hand. :) But here's what I've found out (and corresponding questions):

sometimes (haven't figured or experimented to find out the proper steps to reproduce yet) it simply reboots without any message, notice or any event alarm
some apps may suspend the device, which can be solved by forced reboot (there even were several times the only working solution was to take out the battery :S)
the latest lag I've found was Aldico eBook suspend > reboot > sd card is not visible from the app and several other apps, though seen by certain apps (it also removed phone, messaging from bottom pane when showing home screen)
processor requires a good cooler as reboot/suspend is average after allowed t < actual t

Questions:

is it normal/average for PDAs (android devices) to reboot or suspend sometimes (let's say after certain uptime threshold)?
any one else experiencing reboot/suspend issues?
any idea why sd card might be non-visible to certain apps but seen by others?

P.S.: my favourite is having default music player not reading .flac format while alarm app does it perfectly. :)

rebooting with no reason is not normal; if you experience it regularly, you probably had a faulty device; ask the carrier/shop for replacement?

I'm thinking about doing a factory reset and treating it real nice and watch carefully what apps are installed. As now my experience showed certain apps which work flawlessly and those which are rubbish. That will give me a thorough understanding about what's going on, as reboot is likely to be triggered by some third party apps. At least that's a usual scenario.

I've heard on a review site, I think it was AT&T, that some people's phones reboot regularly for no reason.  I have a Galaxy S phone that does not have a problem, but that's not to say that there's some manufacturing issue that affects a certain percentage of phones (similar to iPhone's wall wart issue). That being said, you can follow @Lie's advice of getting a replacement in case a factory reset doesn't work, or even skipping the reset step.

Regarding your first 2 questions (reboot / suspend) :
No this is not normal, however, as a lot of software from a lot of different vendors are running on your phone, it's inevitable that under certain conditions certain apps can cause your phone to "crash". In an ideal world, no piece of software should be able to crash the underlying OS and the phone, however, most likely, difficult to reproduce bugs with the underlying Android OS can lead to phone reboots.
Regarding the lag. There is a known issue with the Samsung Galaxy S and the "lagging".
Checkout the links below for more info on the actual issue, and some fixes (all require rooting your phone unfortunately).
Updating the android version to > 2.1 doesn't seem to resolve the issue. Samsung is aware of this issue, but doesn't seem to have any plans in fixing it (probably focusing on their new flagship phone). It's an outrage that users need to resort to all kinds of hacks on their 500$ phone to get it running properly.
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/how-to-speed-up-your-samsung-galaxy-s-with-the-voodoo-lag-fix-50002228/
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/mobile/most-common-lag-fixes-for-samsung-galaxy-s-captivate-vibrant-fascinate-epic-4g/

Supposedly, the SGS is supposed to update to Gingerbread this year.  Does this address the lagging?

I doubt this very much. The key issue causing the lag is the filesystem that Samsung is using, and as such is not related to a specific Android version. I don't think the Gingerbread update will be combined with a filesystem fix for the lag.

Makes sense.  That must be why some custom ROMs, like the one I'm using, uses a different filesystem.

Yes, some custom ROMs do include the lag-fix.

@Chance you don't even need Gingerbread, Samsung's official 2.2.1 update (not the original 2.2.0 Froyo release) massively improves the lag issues to the point where you won't notice any slowdowns in normal use.

@GAThrawn, thanks, that's good to know.  The ROM I have (Serendipity) is based on the 2.2.1.

About the lagging: please update your software to the latest supported by Samsung.
After updating my Samsung Galaxy S to version 2.2.1, my phone was much, much and I do mean much smoother than before.

Unfortunately, this update doesn't fix the lag issue. You will run into the lag again (black screens for a couple of seconds when launching apps, or when performing certain actions). It's a shame Samsung gets away with this, and is not addressing this issue at all.

@Addewaele: Make sure you have enough free system memory. Android does a good job in managing it's internal memory, but if you have few bytes free as system memory, it has to swap applications out of the memory. This could explain the lag (which I don't see much to be honest). It is a shame that Samsung does not address the problem where you cannot move applications to SD card (which would free up system memory even more). And BTW I am talking about 2.2.1 , the 2.2 did not fix the problem.

The lag issue is there, and you're bound to encounter it at some point. Not much point in trying to free up system memory in order to fix the lag. If you ever worked with a phone of similar specs (ex: htc desire) you'll notice the difference. I sometimes stare at a blank screen for over 5 seconds when opening the phone app, that's not normal by any standard.

@addewaele I'm going to have to agree with @Edelcom here, the 2.2.1 update made a huge difference to the lag issue as well as overall performance, it's a long time since I last had to look at that black screen opening apps, or felt responsiveness problems inside apps.

This update isn't available from Kies for me. What alternatives do I have?

The lag issues are caused by Samsung's modifications to the offical Android release, nothing to do with Android itself or the capabilities of the phone.  For reference, i have owned an SGS for 9 months now and have got it to the point of being basically perfect.  The hardware capabilities of this phone are amazing.
However, the default SGS software is without a doubt terrible.  The above answer is very good at addressing your specific concerns, but my advice is to do away with the standard Samsung ROM and replace it with Darky's ROM which has all of the above answers already implemented, as well as a host of other speed and usability improvements, including integrating a large part of the Gingerbread UI which is very nice.  Version 9.5 would be my recommendation, which is based on the official Froyo release and is proven to be very stable.  I recommend you erase all caches and apps off your phone and start afresh - it helps avoid some minor niggles you can have with apps that were installed on a previous version.  Full and clear instructions are available in the Forum section of the linked page.
With this ROM, i have no FCs and no lag at all, but some of the problems you mention (eg - Flac compatibility may fit into this category) are app specific and can only be fixed with updated applications.  Bear in mind that the official Gingerbread update should be released by Samsung in the coming weeks, but based on their previous efforts im still likely to stick with the derived Darky's ROM 10.x when it comes out of Beta.


text:
How can I prevent Android from auto-installing all of my apps?
I usually install different ROMs regularly...
When I set up my account on a fresh ROM, I don't want my phone to start loading all of the apps that I had installed with the same account on previous ROM. I want to choose what I want reinstalled on a new version.
Can I control this behaviour or is there a another way around this?

Make sure to disable the auto-restore under Menu -> Settings -> Privacy -> Automatic restore before installing a different ROM.

automatic restore i had disabled for about a month.. in fact i havent checked the option to backup my data even..for more than a month..

On most ROMs (if not all) there's a checkbox after logging in to your Google account in the initial setup wizard which allows you to enable backup/restore for the device. If you deselect this checkbox, your apps will not be automatically installed.

After you flash a new ROM, you are usually asked to log-in to your Google account. If I remember correctly, one of the (wizard) steps has a checkbox that will ask if you want to sync your account, or re-install the apps that you installed previously.
Is it possible that you missed this step and just moved to the Next screen?


text:
When to know it's time to replace the Nexus One battery?
As we all know, battery consumption rate (i.e. "per hour") is not very standardized and its highly dependent on actual use, per user.
This makes it very difficult for me to know whether I need a new battery for my Nexus One (I bought it used) or not.
Assuming WiFi and Bluetooth are enabled, how long should the Nexus One battery last while the Nexus One is in Standby?
How long should the battery last when the Nexus One is completely turned off?
Thanks.

If you're leaving wifi and bluetooth on constantly, then I'd expect short standby battery life, no matter how new your battery is!

@GAThrawn Thanks. What you are saying makes sense, but how short is "short"? 1-hour? 12-hours? 24-hours? Other?

you know it's time to replace your phone's battery when it regularly cannot survive your typical day. A "typical day" might be extremely different for every people, for example, I almost always have a USB cable and my laptop with me so I can charge almost anywhere. It does not matter if the battery is short-lived if you're mostly at home, car, and work and you have (wall/car) charger everywhere. More precisely, you know you need to replace your battery if you regularly drained your battery in a situation where you are unable or unwilling to charge.

@Lie Ryan My typical day requires the phone to go without recharge (while in standby, WiFi+BT enabled) for 24 hours. My current battery doesn't meet this requirement. Will a new battery do?

It is very difficult to put a number on the estimated battery life of the N1, mainly because there isn't really a standard "typical use".
But since it seems that you are looking for a number, this thread may help.
Since at least 2 people reported at least 2 days in a single charge (given certain conditions), I would say that if your N1 battery doesn't hold more than 10 hours, it is time to start shopping for a new battery.


text:
What are HTC system images for?
HTC recently released a Nexus-One system image for Gingerbread. What do I do with that? Can I use it to update my phone to "stock" Gingerbread (no carrier modifications?) If so, how? Or is it just some kind of backup?

It's more or less a backup version of the Gingerbread release for the Nexus One. HTC manufactured the Nexus One, so they host a copy of the kernel, drivers, system images and so forth that are released for it, just like they do for the other phones they made.
You can use it to flash back to a stock ROM if you own a Nexus One, but if you have a different HTC phone it won't do you much good. You might be able to flash it, but it would most likely either not run properly or brick your phone. I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

I own a nexus-one, so I'll start digging around for the flashing instructions.


text:
how can i make my phone not show "Other contacts" from my gmail account?
I have a google acount set up, and i had lots of contacts in my address book that got synchronized with the ones in my phone address book.
I've found out that i can organize my contacts into groups, and then make those groups "not sync" with my phone, but i have no way of un-selecting the group named "other contacts", basically thats the group where all unassigned or recent contacts go. That is very annoying.
How can i make my phone not fill up my phone agenda with my email contacts? Is there any other sollution other than deleting the contacts from my "other contacts" every day?

My Motorola Droid 2 (VZW) has a similar problem. My contacts menu has a "Display group" option. This shows several options:

Create a new group
All contacts
Favorites
User created groups
Facebook contacts
Google contacts
Phone contacts

As you can see there is no way to specify Google contacts that aren't "other contacts" except to create my own groups. Unfortunately whatever group I show does NOT become the default group that shows every time I open contacts.
I have decided to solve the problem just by using workarounds.

For the couple people I call the most I have widgets on the home screen to call that specific person. (Long press home screen -> Motorola widgets -> Contact quick tasks)
For the next tier of people (I will call them more than once in a while) I just use favorites. Either Long press home screen -> Shortcuts -> Dialer -> Favorites ... or just hit the call button and choose the favorites tab.
When I have to resort to the full contacts listing I just start typing the person's name and that narrows the list to a manageable size.

not the answer i was hoping for, but it does the trick...

I feel your pain. It definitely feels like settling.

I'm not sure how this works on Morotola Defy (Moto is known to replace the stock apps with their own versions), but in standard Android installation (2.1 and above) you can pick which groups are displayed in the Dialer/Contacts apps.  Launch the Contacts app, then go to Menu -> Display Options.  Under the "Choose contacts to display" section, expand your Google account and you should be able to un-check any group, which will hide its contacts.

i have done that. On my defy, its under Contacts->Show/Hide-> and there i have the possibility to hide the google groups, bu i have no way of hiding the "other contacts" group. At this point, i've checked all checkboxes and everything should be hidden, but its not... the "other contacts" group is still visible.

It's important to note that "Other Contacts" isn't actually a group.  It's all the contacts that don't have a group, and they are only grouped together for display purposes on the website.

@Matthew: yes, you're right, but i still dont want to have them displayed in my agenda. I'd rather have my Family group be displayed that "Other contacts"..

How can i make my phone not fill up my phone agenda with my email contacts?

You can set it to only display contacts with phone numbers if that helps.
In the contacts app, check the option:
Menu->Display Options->Only contacts with phones

Can you merge this with your other answer and delete this?

I've deleted the other one as there was already a similar answer above. (Need to read better!) I thought the two answers were different though so that's why I submitted twice. Is that bad form?

I dont have that option in my menu... i saw this solution on the web, but it ain't available on the defy i guess...


text:
Does a "one key" voice recording application exist?
I am looking for a voice recording application that could be used in the same way as a dictaphone, by pressing one key (for example "volume up" during a few seconds) without having to unlock the screen and find and click the shortcut to the application. Such an application could easily be used while driving.
Does such an application exist ? Is it even possible for applications to use key triggers while the screen is locked ?

Something like that would have to be done in a custom rom, there's no way in the api to do that.  I'd suggest looking at something like widget locker to put a slider on your lock screen that takes you straight to your voice recorder app.


text:
Yellow, Green, Red icons with contacts and with sms messages
I have seen these icons coming in front of sms messages and in contact list. What they stand for?
These icons are just like a "clock"

What kind of phone/device do you have? This seems like something that could potentially be part of a manufacturer's UI (TouchWiz, Sense, Motoblur, etc).

I am using Huawei Ideos - http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_u8150_ideos-3513.php

The icon refers to that contact's "availability":

Green: Available. You are online and ready to chat.
Yellow: Idle. Your status automatically changes to idle when
  you're away from your computer for 15
  minutes. You can't manually select to
  appear idle
Red: Busy. This lets your contacts know you're busy and don't want to be
  interrupted
Grey: Signed out of chat, or Invisible. If you set your status to
  Invisible, you'll appear to be signed
  out of chat even when you're actually
  signed in.

Source: Google Chat support answer


text:
How to ping [some resource] on [some network] on an Android phone or emulator?
I have serious doubts that my emulator really can access a certain server. I want to confirm that by trying to ping the server. Is it possible, and how would I do it?

You can use the ping utility from terminal emulator or adb shell.  Also: https://market.android.com/search?q=ping&so=1&c=apps

Solves the issue for a regular phone, but I also (and especially) want to know how to be able to do it on the emulator.

@Shathur: You can use the ping utility from terminal emulator or adb shell


text:
Do Android 3.0 tablets have standby/hibernate mode?
I am considering an Acer Iconia A500 device as a book reader. Having years of experience with using (and programming) different devices (PDAs, smartphones, tablet PC, book readers), I am used to charge the reading device (whichever I use) only once in a week or so. When I don't read, I hope to have it in sleeping mode consuming only minimal energy (as it's a bookreader, I don't need it running any background apps or hanging on the net).
So the question is - do Honeycomb devices have a true standby mode which can keep the battery for a week or so (and let the device power on in less than 10 seconds), and not just "sleep" mode we see in Android 2.2 smartphones?
Update: got myself the above mentioned device. It holds power for about a week when not used, so I guess this is close to what I would like to have with sleep mode.

As far as I'm aware, Android basically just doesn't work this way. You can turn off the screen ("sleep" mode) and put it into airplane mode for some extra battery saving, but there's no "standby" equivalent like on a laptop. The processor should underclock itself when you do this, too (how much probably depends on the device). And, as Lie Ryan points out in the comments, for phones this is largely due to the fact that a call could come at any time. I'd guess Honeycomb's behavior is essentially a hold-over from that since it's easier than rewriting it.
That being said, if you just want a book reader, you might consider something like a Nook Color. The Iconia is really a full-fledged tablet PC (though running Android), but something designed specifically for e-reading will probably offer better battery life.

Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.


text:
Bricked Moto Defy
I have bricked my Motorola Defy.
I have tried flashing a new ROM using RSD Lite (following this guide). It says 'complete' but my phone will not turn on. Sometimes it will just show the Moto boot logo but never fully boot up. I can only open the boot menu.
The ROMs I have tried flashing can be found here (All UK 2.1 at the top of the page).
Does anyone have any ideas?
EDIT
I have looked at the answer here but the recommended ROM was not compatible with my handset. Does anyone know which ROM to use for my defy (here)?

Did your phone come with or have a 2.2 ROM on it at any point? I feel like I read somewhere that trying to downgrade from 2.2->2.1 could cause a soft-brick, but flashing a 2.2 would work (might be thinking of a different phone, though...).

Hey, I think it came with 2.1.

Not sure which ROM you're looking for - but have you checked out the available ROMs on XDA Developers?  Also suggest you check out this guide at Modaco for how to flash/unbrick your phone.

Can you summarize the guide perhaps?  If the post gets remove or the site goes down this answer will become much less helpful.


text:
How to disable secure credentials password?
On DesireZ running android 2.2 I've run into a rather annoying problem. The phone forces me to make a credentials password for WIFI, and then I have to enter it before the phone will connect to a secured wifi network.
I don't care about the security of my wifi passwords being compromised in the event of my phone being stolen, so I would like to disable this annoyance.
I cannot find any setting or way of doing this, however. Is it possible? Or is there an app which can remember and automatically enter the password on boot-up?
Thanks.
[edit]I can uncheck the "use secure credentials" option, but that simply prevents me from connecting to any wifi connection which requires a password. Attempting to enter a password for the wifi connection first prompts me for a new secure credentials password...[/edit]
The minimum password length is 8, so it won't let me leave it blank.

or leave the password blank

@LieRyan It won't let me leave it blank, minimum is 8 characters. :(

You can try Keystore Unlocker if your phone is rooted and Keystore Notifier if it is not.

Have you tried disabling the "Use secure credentials" option in Menu -> Settings -> Location & security, under "Credentials storage" section?

Did you uncheck "Settings > Location & Security > Use secure credentials"?
EDIT: or leave the password blank

Besides disabling the "Use secure credentials", if it still asks for the password upon joining a Wi-Fi network, make it happy by going back to Settings => Security => Set password (Under "Credential storage"; applicable to HTC Desire device). It won't bug you anymore after that


text:
Bluetooth headset in-call volume doesn't change?
I have a Motorola Droid (the original, A855) and a Jawbone Icon bluetooth headset. The headset does not have its own volume controls, so I've tried adjusting the volume using the volume rocker. While the on-screen display shows BlueTooth volume as what's being adjusted, the volume seems to be exactly the same when turned all the way down or all the way up.
Is this just an issue with the Icon, the Droid, or am I doing something wrong?

Try updating your Jawbone's firmware and see if that fixes it.  You can also try installing Jawbone Companion and see if that helps.  It doesn't have the OG Droid listed as being compatible when I click on Install on the Google Play site, it has my OG Droid as one of the options so it's worth a shot.


text:
Rooting the HTC Desire Z
Just received one of these (SIM Free, UK Version, Android 2.3 with Sense UI).
Can anybody point me towards the simplest and most easiest way to root this handset?

Question: Was the Desire Z really delivered with 2.3 already? Because I have one as well and it is still using 2.2.1 saying that this is the latest version.

A quick Google search returns these two methods.
I would recommend the manual method.  It's more complicated, but gives you a "better" root ( S-Off, SIM-unlock, SuperCID).

Visionary has been known to brick phones. It worked only on earlier versions of Froyo.

Please do not use the Visionary method. You may brick your phones.
If you are currently on Gingerbread then use this Guide by Setherio to downgrade to Froyo after which the phone can be rooted. You may also use the PDF available in the above link to do the same along with rooting your device.
If you already happen to be on Froyo with software version 1.3x then you can use the PDF to root your phone.

Note that "above" has no context here, since answers can be sorted in a number of different ways.

@AlEverett I've edited the reference to another answer.


text:
Is it possible to disable the system update notification?
I have a Nexus One that I want to keep at v2.2 for testing purpose. But the update 2.3.4 has been pushed to my phone and I keep seeing the notification to install it. Is it possible to disable the system update notification?

I believe the only way to stop the OTA notifications for good is to unlock/root the handset and install FOTAkill.apk to the /system/app/ directory.  The version of this app for Froyo can be found within the GApps package.
You might also need to "fake" your phone's signature by modifying the /system/build.prop file and altering the ro.build.... lines, so that they match the latest OS version.
On my Nexus One (it's rooted and running CyanogenMod 7) these are the relevant entries:
ro.build.id=GRI40
ro.build.display.id=GRJ22
ro.build.version.sdk=10
ro.build.version.codename=REL
ro.build.version.release=2.3.4
ro.product.model=Nexus One
ro.product.brand=google
ro.product.name=passion
ro.product.device=passion
ro.product.board=mahimahi
ro.product.manufacturer=HTC
ro.build.description=passion-user 2.3.3 GRI40 102588 release-keys
ro.build.fingerprint=google/passion/passion:2.3.3/GRI40/102588:user/release-keys

In either case you will need to root your N1.


text:
how can I stop Outlook calendar from syncing?
since I updated the OS on my intercept, my outlook calendar is now syncing and I want it to stop.  I only want to see my personal google calendar appts on my phone.  Any ideas how I can turn it off?

Go to Settings -> Accounts and sync, select your corporate (Exchange) account, and uncheck Sync calendar.


text:
Does Samsung Galaxy S Indian ROM (latest DDJP6) has Bengali support?
I've read in several forums that Indian version of Samsung Galaxy S (I9000) supports Hindi language. Some of them mentioned it should support Bengali/Bangla also.
Can anyone here confirm that-
1) The latest Froyo firmware DDJP6 for Samsung Galaxy S supports Bengali? I don't need IME/a Bengali keyboard, just ability to render Bengali websites (like, Bengali Wikipedia) properly would be great.
2) If it doesn't support Bengali out of the box, does installing a Bengali fallback font serve the purpose? Please note that merely showing Bengali characters won't help. As this is a complex language, a proper shaper must be present in firmware to render kar/matra and conjuncts correctly.

Update: I have recently bought a Samsung Galaxy series device. Yes, its Indian ROM has Bangla shaper, only replacing DroidSansFallback.ttf with a Bangla font will do.

I wonder if you could try it out using the Android Emulator within the SDK ?

Android doesn't support Bengali out of the box, but some vendor specific firmwares do (Like Sony Ericsson Xperia X10i Indian). Is it possible to setup AVD using exactly the Indian firmware of Galaxy S?

I am interested to know if it supports tamil language. Did anyone find a link which has the list of languages supported?

I have latest official firmware sgs.
I can see hindi website, but no bangla.....at all!!!
u can use the procedure to see bangla fonts by http://suhreed.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/how-to-install-bangla-font-on-samsung-galaxy-tab/
or
http://blog.mehedi.me/bangla-font-on-android/
thanking you

Here's a workaround using Opera Mini.
Download and install Opera Mini (OM). Try accessing a site like the one cited above - http://bn.wikipedia.org
If it doesn't work out of the box, do the following:
In the address bar, type opera:config
Navigate to the option Use bitmap fonts for complex scripts and set it to YES
The fonts and script lettering should now be visible, albeit as images instead of text. That'll make content visible, but unlike text non-selectable.

Oh! Thank you. I knew about this Opera Mini trick. That's actually the last place to go. You not only loose selectable text, the huge flexibility (including javascript support) of default browser is gone and transferring image instead of text increases data volume. iOS 4 supports complex scripts, it is a shame that all androids don't. (Or, do they? How?)


text:
Is there a way to "downgrade" (revert) an HTC Desire HD to stock Froyo from Gingerbread?
I don't have any backups or whatever. My phone isn't rooted. It updated to Gingerbread 2.3.3 OTA a couple of days ago, and I hate almost every change that it introduced.
Thanks.

I have no answer to the question, but am curious to know what are the changes you so dislike? I have an HTC Incredible S and will probably be upgrading soon.

It's minor, but really annoying changes in interface: 1. Text size in browser is different: normal is smaller, large is too large. 2. Browser skin doesn't follow Sense skin, looks awful. 3. Useless tabs in the slide-down notification area. 4. Uglier widgets, notification icons (personal taste of course). The saddest part is, there are no fundamental changes. I'm using Swype, so the "improved keyboard" doesn't matter to me, and I doubt I'll need NFC. Gingerbread doesn't offer any other improvements AFAIK. Oh, and while typing this, I discovered manual caret positioning is flawed.

Update: caret positioning seems to be an issue only with stackexchange. I guess it's how the character counters work and isn't a problem introduced by Gingerbread. But the original point still stands.

Stock Froyo, I assume you mean Froyo with HTC Sense on top of it.
You would have to root your phone and then load a Froyo ROM.
How to Root HTC Desire
See here for instructions to install custom rom: Modaco Froyo with Sense


text:
How to uninstall SuperManager
I installed the SuperManager app and every time I try to uninstall it it just stays there. Has anyone experienced that and found a solution?

Do you mean SuperUser?

No, "Super Manager" by gpc

What method have you used to try to uninstall it?  Have you rebooted your phone since uninstalling?

This might seem like running in circles, but try downloading and installing the "Uninstaller" app http://www.appbrain.com/app/uninstaller/com.rhythm.hexise.uninst and use that to remove Super Manager.
I can't speak on Super Manager itself, but I know I've run into problems with not being able to uninstall things before, and this app has helped out.  Then, once Super Manager is gone, you can just uninstall the uninstaller app and you're no worse for the wear.
Good luck!


text:
How can I zip a folder into a zip file in Android to send over the Internet?
I have root, and I tried running the zip command from shell, but zip is not found. I think Android doesn't come with zip. How can I install zip on Android?

androzip might help you with that

The ZipOutputStream class will help you. There's an example of creating a zip file in the documentation.

I read that example, but it doesn't show how to recursively zip an entire folder consisting of multiple files and subdirectories.

I don't really understand your question, but if you are developing an app and you want to zip files with it, the following article might help you:
http://www.jondev.net/articles/Zipping_Files_with_Android_(Programmatically)

Thanks, but it doesn't show how to recursively zip an entire folder consisting of multiple files and subdirectories.
That's why I'm interested in a Linux zip command that I can execute from shell, thus skipping the programming of the ZipOutputStream method.


text:
Acer A500 internal storage is not auto-mounted by Ubuntu
I just got my Acer A500 and have problems accessing the it's storage from my ubuntu machines.
If I try it with Win7 in VirtualBox it is automatically mounted without requiring any actions on the tablet itself.
Ubuntu accepts the USB device (it can be passed to vbox) but nothing further. The only dmesg entry is:
[119174.117100] usb 1-1.2: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 22

I'm able to mount and use other usb storage devices.

Can you boot ubuntu off a livecd directly onto the hardware and see if it works then?

I know there's a guide on XDA for the Xoom. Could be the same kind of procedure for the A500 since they're both running Honeycomb. You can take a look at it here and see if it helps.

On Ubuntu, your device needs to be manually identified to the udev system:
As root:
Create or edit /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules and add this line:
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idVendor}=="0502″, MODE="0666"

Then:
# chmod a+rx /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules
# restart udev
udev start/running, process 3793

This works for my Sidekick on my Ubuntu 10.04 system.

Im not able to mount but ADB push/pull works... see this thread http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/adb.html


text:
Wallpaper is blurry when cropped from downloaded image
When creating my own wallpapers on my Nexus S, they always end up being low quality. The image is slightly blurry. Edges are not crisp. These are the steps I'm doing:

Download a very large image from the web browser.
Long tap my current wallpaper.
Wallpapers > Gallery > download
Selected the large image and expanded the crop marks to the max.
Save

It seems like Android is compressing the image too much. Is there any way to set the quality higher?

Why don't you try another image editing application?  I mainly use PhotoWonder, but there's also Photoshop Express.  Both have their issues, but I haven't noticed low quality results with them.  The Nexus S wallpaper size is 960 x 800, so you can make them that size and then use them without having the Nexus S editor do any cropping.


text:
Android Market applicatin top, filtered by country
Android Market has an application top (free and paid apps), but it seems it is universal since in the top I see many apps in different languages.
Is there a way to see these tops by "market"? (by this I mean country, for instance France). It would be extremely interesting to see how an app is positionning itself on its market, and I guess for the users it would be extremely welcome to be able to see what's hot in their country.
Does anyone know the status of such a feature, or if there is a way to access all these data by a specific country filter?

You can use AppBrain.
Up right menu. Press "More" -> "Popular in ... (I'm not sure translation)" -> country
Example for Poland http://www.appbrain.com/apps/country-poland/


text:
Share Picture to Picasa
To begin with, I'm using a Google Apps account as a primary account, and am running 2.2 on a Samsung Captivate, non-rooted. I have Picasa Web Albums checked off under account Sync, and can see my web albums in the Gallery, however, I can't share pictures to Picasa, it's missing from the 'share to' list. Does anyone have any idea how I can set this up?

Found the problem. It's not that Picasa wasn't there as a share option, but rather it was not visible. There were too many items installed that offer this intent, and the Gallery application does not have a scrollable menu. This is apparently a known bug and it's been there for quite a while so it doesn't look like it's going to get fixed either. I now use a different application for sharing to Picasa.

You can try some dedicated apps for this such as:

EasyShare - adds all sorts of sharing options
Picasa Tool Pro - tool for managing your Picasa account from the phone.


text:
Terminating adb.exe?
I am trying to hot spot my htc evo.  When I click on PDAnet,  it tells me that I have to terminate adb.exe.  how do i terminate adb.exe.   thank

ctrl+alt+del, look for adb and then terminate process. That should do the trick.

adb kill-server
You need to run that from wherever you installed the android tools.

This is the preferred way rather than killing it from the task manager. There's not a lot of shut-down logic, but it's always better to do things in a calm manner if you can. Just create a .bat file to do this and stick it some place convenient.


text:
Disable Data connection automatically
I own an Optimus One. I want the Data Connection to go off, everytime I lock the keypad. For that, now, I manually go to Setting--> Wireless & networks--> Mobile Networks--> Data Enable.
Is there any way to automatically disable the data when the keypad is locked(or phone is in sleep mode) and enable it when the phone wakes up?
Also, I can't find Mozilla Firefox in my app store. Why it's so?

You probably need to use some sort of 3rd party program like Tasker, Locale or AutomateIt.
These programs allow you to set triggers such as:

starting an app
screen on/off
connected to Wi-fi
location
etc...

and perform actions based on that, such as:

toggle data
toggle GPS
run an app
etc...