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Where should issues with Google Play Services (e.g., fused location provider) be reported?
Google is bundling a number of services, including Location Services, in the Google Play Services application instead of including them in the open-source Android platform.  Main reasons behind this are to support frequent updates of core services without requiring OEMs to update the entire platform, and to hide the implementation of some proprietary services.
The problem is that there doesn't seem to be a good forum for reporting issues with Google Play Services and Location Services (e.g., problems with the new fused location provider).
Here are the current options for reporting Android issues that I'm aware of, and none of them seem like the right place to report a Google Play Services issue:

"Support" link at bottom of Google Play Services page - Most obvious place to start, but it redirects to the generic Android Developer Support page.
Google Product Forum for Android - This forum seems on-topic for Google Play Services, but was closed as of Sept 3, 2013.
Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) issue tracker - This is where the "Report a platform bug" link on the Android Developer Support page points.  This issue tracker is for AOSP, and since Google Play Services is independent of AOSP, issues related to Google Play Services and network Location Services implemented by Google (including the older network provider) are off-topic here.
android-platform Google Group - Also aimed at AOSP, not Google products.
android-developers Google Group - Description of the group says to post bugs/feature requests to the AOSP issue tracker (#3 above).  Also, it appears most questions related to location/ Google Play Services posted to this group are rarely addressed by the Android team and replies mainly come from other developers.
StackOverflow - There are Google Play Services / location tags here, but there is no indication that any issues are being observed or triaged by Google.
Google Maps API Issue Tracker - Android Maps API v2 - This feature of the issue tracker is specifically for the Android Maps API v2 (which is part of Google Play Services), but not Google Play Service in general and not for Location Services, which are separate from the Maps API v2.

What is the proper location to report issues with Google Play Services and Location Services?
I'm primarily interested in reporting issues from a developer's perspective.

Are you asking from a developer point of view or an end user? I'd expect you'd report issues in different places depending on your use of the Google Play Services.

@bmdixon Primarily developer point of view, but ideally the answer would include both.  Although, users typically wouldn't know whether an issue was caused by Google Play Sevices or another component/API.

I feel like Google wants to make Google Play Services all but invisible to the average end user. Issues with it would normally manifest themselves in a broken app or feature and that would push users to follow the standard app support paths. That's not a comment on the validity of your question, however - it's a very good one from a developer/enthusiast point of view.

Had a similar issue where I could not find support : https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?can=2&start=0&num=100&q=&colspec=ID%20Type%20Status%20Owner%20Summary%20Stars&groupby=&sort=&id=55616. Tried most of the channels you listed but got nowhere. This lead me to drop the entire thing....  If you found an answer to this I'd be interesting in hearing about it.

@ddewaele Unfortunately I haven't found any good forum yet.

Then post your question where it's sure to be seen: googleplus help. That link is, after all, one of the few links the closed page offers with any actual developer interaction. I looked, and saw many questions were way off-topic, but the questioners were usually led to the right forum, or had their question answered. And you can always point back to the "closed forum" page you referenced as your reason for being there. You have a legitimate question; let them know that, the only way that seems possible!

I'm also trying to report a bug for them and I don't know where. The naswer from user53872 from above https://android.stackexchange.com/a/63627/51412 led me to Play Store and there's e-mail address
apps-help@google.com

which I think may be used for reporting bugs.
Another way around this issue it to find appropriate repo in official google samples, e.g. android-play-location, and fire github style issue on them and see if target responds.
I see that method may be succesful, here is example:

I've passed this on to the eng team and they're taking a look. I'll update this issue when I hear back from them.

I once spent 2 hours trying to find a way to report a bug in Google service on android, and it's apparently next to impossible to do, at least from user point of view.
There's no bug tracker, theoretically you could use some mailing lists, but there's no guarantee any Google employee actually reads them.
There's also absolutely no way to contact support unless you purchased device through play store (you need to enter valid order number), so people (like myself) buying Nexus 7 from local reseller have no access to support.
To summarize: You can't.

You maybe interested in this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=65177965&postcount=30
Well, I had a similar problem: with Google play services enabled my phone (SM-N9005) Note3 (Still on Android 4.3) never went to deep sleep.
Yesterday I tried this: I disable the service, then deleted the contents of the directory /data/data/com.google.android.gms/ leaving just the directory, then I uninstalled google play services updates and reinstalled the latest version.
Now my phone sleeps again.
So I think this problem is due to some corruption that happens over time in that directory.
I have now google play services ON, location services on, gps on. and battery drain is minimal.

You can give feedback through Google's feedback form.
To do this, open the Google Settings app, press the three dots at the top right and select "Help and Feedback". Then, go to the bottom of the page and select "Send Feedback". This option will open the aforementioned form, allowing you to describe your issue, as well as send diagnostic data to Google.

Directly in the Google play we can give a feedback for Google Services. Go to the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms. This link will open Google Play going directly to "Google Services".

Leaving a review is not the right way to report a bug in any software. You can't give enough useful information, and other users with the same problem can't collaborate. There's no way for developers to track open bugs this way. And only in the smallest organisations will your review be seen by anyone who's in a position to fix the bug.


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Galaxy S2 stuck in boot loop (nor reco, no safe mode working)
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 that when hot after intensive use, the day after while rebooting it got stuck to the Samsung initial logo screen and could never start again.
I have tried the boot tricks :
- Safe mode: won't go pass the logo screen (tried power + menu)
- Recovery mode: won't start either (tried volue up+menu+power)
--> When doing that the screen goes black, the phone looks to be off
--> There is no SD card in the phone, is it required ?
I tried before those action to do both a soft reset and hard reset to no effect.
The only thing i can get the phone to is the odin mode (volume down + home + power)
From there i used Heimdall to check if the device was detected and it was, i could even download the pit file (but don't know how to check it's content). I was thinking of doing a dump, but this option have been removed since it was not effective.
This being the situation, the phone have not been backed up (nor locally, nor online) and I wish to recover the address book (and optionally SMS) so I would like to try all option that would allow me to keep those data before trying anything destructive.
Any hint, help and ideas would be appreciated,
Thank you in advance

source: Stack Exchange

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

sort: votes


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Removing App from Play Store (Unpublish) - What happens with the users that have the App already installed?
I have to temporarily unpublish my app from Play Store for legal reason until I sort them out.
What happens with the users that have the app already installed? I understand they are not allowed to find it from the store or install it, but does it also mean the apk they have already installed will be uninstalled from their device?

Although this is clearly a developer question, I think the answer is of relevance and interest to end users too, so I don't think it should be closed as off-topic.

When the Hotmail app was replaced with the Outlook app it was upgraded to a defunct app that only directed you to installing the Outlook app. I was however able to re-install the previous  functional version from my app backup.

No, the application is still available for users who installed the play and only store can not be reinstalled. By Play Store
If you put back the google play, users can download and install it again.
But never, under policies of google, an apk can / will be deleted from the device remotely by google / application owner
But we had a case in the past, about a malicious app that was removed remotely without trace, all done and confirmed by Google itself

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


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Motorola Defy stuck in animation loop with CynogenMod7
I have installed CynogenMod7 (Jordan) on my Motorola Defy using ClockworkMod Recovery.
The phone boots up, first with a screen saying "Google" and then an animation of the Android mascot skateboarding into a cyan circle with "Cyanogen7(mod)" appearing at the bottom.
The phone then goes into a loop of this animation - the mascot skateboards in, the circle and name appears - repeat.
I have been unable to enter "fastboot" mode (by pressing power button along with volume up+down keys). I did do a back-up of my previous ROM onto my SDCard.
What should I do to fix this?

I can get into "bootloader" by pressing the power button along with the volume+ button.

Are you able to get into your recovery? It may be easiest to do a full wipe and re-flash the CM ROM from scratch.

Have you tried anything yet? There seems to be the same opinion below as what I suggested... Any feedback?

@RossC - I couldn't boot into Clockworkmod, but I could boot into bootloader. So I installed a new SBF image. See my answer below.

Great, I'm glad to see you got it sorted out and posted the steps! We've all had that fear before!

Thank you for your answers everyone. Unfortunately I was unable to boot into Clockworkmod Recovery.
Fortunately I found the following solution:

Downloaded and installed RSD Lite (on Windows 8 Professional x64)
Downloaded and installed the Motorola USB Drivers
Downloaded a SBF image from here: http://sbf.droid-developers.org/umts_jordan/list.php
Started RSD Lite
Booted the Defy with Power and Volume Up buttons
Plugged the Defy into my computer via a USB cable (my USB3.0 hub seemed to cause problems so I plugged it directly into a USB2.0 on my laptop)
Inside RSD Lite I selected the SBF image file on my computer.
Selected "Uncompress and Start Flashing" in RSD
Waited for phone ROM to get flashed.
Enjoy working phone

Just as a note - if you run into any annoying Motoblur authentication issues you may have to do a factory reset on the phone. This will clear all your user data and can be done in the follow way:

Boot the Defy with Power and Volume Down buttons
The Android mascot with the triangle/exclamation mark should appear
Press both the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons at the same time
You should enter the standard "Recovery Mode"
Use the Volume Up/Down buttons to navigate the menu items
Select "wipe data/ factory reset" with the Power button
Confirm

That is a boot loop. You will have to re-install your CyanogenMod again.
You have to hold volume down and power for about 5 seconds to enter clockwork.
You have to keep trying, I sometimes have the same problem. Just try and may by you will get in recovery, so you can reinstall the rom again.
Also when you are in recovery make a full wipe of your phone to.
I usually do it:
pull battery out and at the same time as putting it back in hold volume down and power for about 5 secconds.

1) Power off phone by taking out battery 2) while phone is off (and battery is in) hold power AND volume down buttons at the same time. This should put you into bootloader. Scroll to recovery and select so you can boot into recovery. Next, factory reset, clear cache, wipe davlik cache, and try re-flashing CM7

first he should retry flashing the rom. If this fails resort to factory reset.

He's already tried to flash the rom.

he tried flashing it once. Doing it again often yields the result of getting out of the bootloop. Cant say why but personally experienced it more than once. Its worth a try.


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I cant find my kernel number anywhere
First off I'm not very experienced with phones, but while trying to root my phone I need the kernel number.  I've looked where the instructions told me to look, in my about phone section. Under the kernel version it only says:
3.0.31-980103
se.infra@sep-129 #3
smp preempt fri mar 1 04 29 20 kst 2013

Second, I've downloaded the update to 4.1.2. (I think ice cream sandwich or jelly bean.)  My model number is sch-r760x.  I have an Alltel wireless.
I just want to root my phone.  I don't want to spend forever looking for this "kernel version".

That is your kernel version.  Specifically, you are running version 3.0.31 of the Linux kernel.
The rest of the line is various details about who compiled it, what options were set, and when it was compiled.

Also if you have Terminal emulator, you can find the kernel version just by typing the following command (which is same in all Unix style OS')
uname -r


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Does Google Nexus 7 LTE has the integrated Portable Wi-Fi hotspot?
The unlocked Google Nexus phones famously have the Portable Wi-Fi hotspot feature integrated right within the phone, and available for anyone's use, per my understanding, regardless of carrier support.
What about the tablets?  Would the 2013 Nexus 7 LTE tablet have a similar feature, similarly not being tied up to any carrier?

Disclaimer: I do not own a Nexus. So the answer does come from internet sources (XDA).
As per this thread these are some of the responses from the owners which indicates that the Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot settings is indeed present in the settings.

The option for hotspot tether is there both before and after the system update.
Nexus 7 FHD LTE with T-Mobile sim has Tethering & Hotspot available but not with newly activated AT&T data plan sim. The Tethering feature disappeared in setting. When I re-insert T-Mobile sim that comes with the tablet, the mobile hotspot is available again in the settings.

So, it is safe to assume, only if your carrier allows tethering or you have a tethering plan the option will appear in the settings menu.

I have a brand new Google Nexus 7 (2013) LTE tablet, bought directly at a computer shop (no carrier-related) and I can confirm, that it comes with Tethering & Hotspot option available by the default.


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How to install Google Play Services?
In notification panel, I have a notification that says "Instal/update Google Play Services" (or so).
How can I solve this problem?

What app throws out the notification? Do you have the Google Play app installed on the device? If not, check out How can I install the Google Apps Package (Play Store, …) on my Android device?

Note that "Google Play Services" is not the same as "Google Apps Package". This is not a duplicate of "How can I install the Google Apps Package (Play Store, …) on my Android device?"

Just tap the notification?

This might work since I have had success in installing play services in one of my devices.
Go to the Google Play link of the Play Services App and install the app to your device of choice.

Clicking on the notification that says that you need to install or update Google Play Services opens up the Play Store with Google Play Services as selected app. From here, you can install/update Google Play Services.


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How to check if there is a 3G software / hardware issue with phone?
I have HTC One X running Android 4.1.1 and Sense4+. Lately my 3G service has gone pretty bad. I contacted my telecom operator but there customer service representatives aren't much help. My GPRS works flawlessly. Its only the 3G where I face issues.
I would like to know if I can check whether there is a software or hardware problem with my phone with respect to 3G.

What exactly is the problem? The question is a bit vague, no clear explanation, Lately my 3G service has gone pretty bad. Indicative of some carrier issues on their end? Poor signal reception...

@t0mm13b: The problem is that my 3G connection has become a bit finicky. But that's not the question. What I am looking for is that how can I check if there is a software / hardware problem with my handset in connecting to 3G network. Any apps on Google Play may be?

This will be my way of checking the 3G connectivity issues. Might work for you too.

First try to reset the APN and restart your phone.
If it did not work, try forcing the phone to 3G. In your
dialer, enter *#*#4636#*#* -> Phone Information -> Select WCDMA only
in the drop down menu. This should make your phone work only in 3G.
Try testing your speeds via Speedtest for bandwidth.
If both steps did not solve your problem, try using a different SIM
in which 3G is working. If this solves your problem, replace the SIM
from Customer care.
Even now your problem is not solved, try factory reset your phone.
Warning: This will reset everything in your phone including pictures, take a backup of your phone before proceeding further.
If none of the above solves your problem, take it to your HTC
customer care to check them for hardware defect.

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


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Clock Work Mod Recovery isn't picking up External SD Card
I have Clockwork Mod Recovery installed on my phone and I'm trying to install a custom ROM on it. But when I go to 'install zip from external SD card' it gives the effect as if it's going into the SD card but nothing is displayed (none of the files, folders etc that's on the card).
And when I try and go back it doesn't want to either...
Some details:

Samsung Galaxy Note II (GT N7100)
Clockworkmod 6
Trying to install Paranoid Android 3.99

Thanks in advance for some advice!

What's the size and format of the SD Card?  Currently ClockworkMod recovery doesn't support exFAT partitions.  If you have a newer card that is over 32GB, chances are it's formatted using exFAT file system.  The solution is to either use a smaller card formatted as FAT32, or use a different recovery that supports exFAT, such as TWRP.

Thanks for the reply Chahk. I didn't try all the different SD cards and formats. Just went straight and used TWRP and that seemed to work 100%. Thanks again :)

Glad it worked for you.  I'll post this as the answer then.

Check the size and format of your SD Card.  The current ClockworkMod recovery version (6.0.3.x) doesn't support exFAT partitions. If you have a newer card that is over 32GB, chances are it's formatted using exFAT file system, due to limitations of FAT32 on Windows. The solution is to either use a smaller card formatted as FAT32, or use a different recovery that supports exFAT, such as TWRP, for example.

Maybe you can use Philz Recovery instead. I used it with CyanogenMod 12.1 on my Galaxy Grand 2 (G7102). It worked perfectly and has SD Card support. You can try TWRP recovery too.


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Delete my Google master account without factory reset?
I have three Google accounts configured in my phone. I want to remove my master Google account without losing other important data of my phone.
When I am trying to delete it, it is not allowing me to remove it, as some of the dependent application are installed with that Google account. I tried with removing those application also but still not able to remove it.
Please suggest any solution other than factory reset?

Since your master google account is the primary account, and the only way Android suggests to remove the primary account is by factory resetting. Are you rooted? do you have Titanium Backup? What Android version? What device? Please re-edit your question to include the specifics :) By the way, have you read this?

It should work by deleting cache and data from all related Google apps (Playstore, GSF, GMail, etc.). Though I never tried that, I've read positive reports about that.

Though its is good @Izzy but your phone will behave like a Factory reset after clearing cache

@Dr.Andro Definitely not. If you clear cache, all apps and data remain on the device. If you clear cache and data for only the GApps, all other apps remain unaffected. If you do a factory reset, all data is gone, and all apps and updates you installed as well. So you see there is a difference :)


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Can I update the adb shell's environment variables?
I wanted to update the PATH environment variable permanently in the adb shell. I guessed the shell was mksh for I've found /system/bin/sh pointing to /system/bin/mksh. Then I tried

Making a new file /data/.mkshrc and adding the PATH definition into it.
Copy the above file into /.
Copy to /root.

But all attempts failed.

In addition to what Alex-p wrote, you can also set the ENV environment variable to override the path of the mkshrc file used.
All login shells also read /system/etc/profile and $HOME/.profile (these are a good place to export ENV). Apparently (for some reason that defies my ability to explain), adb shell does not start a login shell¹, though, so /system/etc/mkshrc is the file you will have to change for that.
(Disclaimer: I’m the mksh maintainer.)
① I’d expect “adb shell” to behave like ssh and start login shells if there is no explicit command given, as it does start a (new) session every time it’s run. Subshells will be interactive but not login shells, of course. But this is not the place to discuss that… if I care I’ll take it up at AOSP via Gerrit.

By default stock Android mksh uses this config file: /system/etc/mkshrc

To update the PATH variable inside a running adb shell you can use the expect command. This works on a non-rooted phone where you can't edit system files as suggested in the other answers.
Put the following script somewhere on the path of your development machine, for example in ~/bin/adb-shell-busybox:
#!/usr/bin/expect --
spawn adb shell
expect "$" {
    sleep 0.1
    send "export PATH=/data/data/burrows.apps.busybox/app_busybox/:\$PATH\n"
}
interact

You can also inject any other setup commands that you might need.


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Android software updates: How can I tell if I can update a device?
I keep seeing Android devices in shops that state what version of Android is installed. Thence I conclude that not all Android devices can be updated to a current version of Android.
How can I tell before I buy (or even after I buy) if a device can be updated to the newest release or not?
Can Samsung's Android devices usually be updated?
Update: Note that I am not refering to abandoned devices but to current devices available in stores now.

Other relevant info here

When will my device get the Android 4.1 update (Jelly Bean)? and its relatives here are a pretty good repository of what official updates are available for a particular device.

There's no guarantee that any device will ever see an Android OS update.
A Nexus device will probably see two, maybe three, updates (if the past is any guide).
Devices from big-name manufacturers will probably, eventually, see one Android upgrade. However, considering the resources needed to modify the Android source to fit with their customizations as well as to do all that testing, which will result in exactly no incremental income for them, it's in their interest to get you to buy a new phone.
Lower-end/older devices from the big names or devices from OEMs you've never heard of will probably never get an OS upgrade.
Fortunately, a lot of core functionality is being pulled out of the OS into the Google Play Services framework. That'll leave things like hardware APIs in the OS level, which probably wouldn't benefit from an OS upgrade anyway. (I mean, you can't install a bigger sensor for your camera, so OS support for bigger sensors won't help you.)


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Checksum Error on restoring userdata*****.backup file
I gave my Phone (Celkon A95) into a service centre because of touch malfunctioning before it I backed up the user data by pressing Power and Vol+ buttons, it gave me a backup file called userdata20130902_131223.backup. After a few days I got my phone back and when I restored the data it gave me "Checksum Error". I'm unable to restore my previous data. Is there any way get back at least messages and contacts?
Sorry for my bad english.

Had you synced your contacts with a Google account? If so they should all be backed up automatically.

so, what about messages..?? can i extract that backup file in pc..??

Maybe try extracting it using this: http://sourceforge.net/projects/adbextractor/ FYI I don't know how to import them back into Android and I've never tried the program so make a back up of the backup just in case it does something silly.

It's a 512 byte header in front of a "tar.gz"
hexdump -C userdata_xxxxxxxx_yyyyyy.backup | less

showed the magical zip header "1f8b0800 00000000" at offset 0x200
So, skipping 512 bytes, the rest can be gunzip | tar
dd if=userdata_xxxxxxxx_yyyyyy.backup bs=512 skip=1 | gunzip -c | tar xv

In the /data/ directory, hunt down the db file.  It's a sqlite3 database file which you can view with a variety of tools, e.g. sqlitebrowser

Stock Android recovery backup files can be restored with a Nandroid custom recovery, if you simply repack them into tar archive.
i put this two command lines in a dirty shell script (extract + repack as tar). thanks to ektoric figuring out his gunzip method!
the shell script will convert your backup file into nandroid backup automatically. download >bckp2cwm.zip< at
From http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=65374561#post65374561


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What does the error message "Light old sensor_state 0, new sensor_state : 128 en : 1" in logcat mean?
I have my Galaxy S4 connected with my PC and ran the "Building My First App" tutorial from http://developer.android.com/ . There were no problems, but I noticed many messages about the LightSensor in the LogCat view in Eclipse, like these:
09-17 17:41:24.781: E/LightSensor(736): Light old sensor_state 0, new sensor_state : 128 en : 1
09-17 17:41:25.152: E/LightSensor(736): Light old sensor_state 128, new sensor_state : 0 en : 0

I found several occurrences of the string "Light old sensor_state 0..." on the web. So others get this type of messages, too (where a phone was mentioned it seemed also to be a Galaxy S4). But the posts/questions/answers were always about something else. It looks as if everybody ignores this kind of messages as noise.
I played around a bit and noticed this: As long as the phone is active those messages do not appear. But when I switch it off, the messages appear about every 10s. Does anybody know what they mean?

They're nothing to do with your app, and they're not really errors. As you might have guessed, they're just reporting changes in the light sensor state. (That's the sensor that controls the screen brightness.)
Samsung ROMs are particularly known for having very 'noisy' log output, owing to Samsung being a little slapdash about software integration. In contrast, Nexus devices tend to have very clean logs, because Google engineers are aggressive about disabling logging when code is committed. You can filter the log messages in Eclipse (or when you use adb logcat on the command-line).

Are you sure? Then why does the phone report the changes only while it is switched off? And why are the changes reported as errors? Also a change from 0 to 128 and back to 0 every 10 seconds seems strange to me, too. It is not as if I switched on and off the light in the room every 10s....

Only someone with access to Samsung's source code would know why it behaves as it does.


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How to get Waze alerts in Google Navigation?
I'm new to Android and I like Google Navigation. I really appreciate how the indications are displayed and how the application works.
I also discovered Waze, which is a very convenient app to show alerts that other drivers report.
I've seen Google Navigation sometime displays some Waze alerts as tiny icons, but is there any nice way to use Google Navigation as a GPS and hear Waze sounds and display alerts? (Accidents, traffic jams, police...).
Thanks for your advice.

They've only just started to integrate Waze functionality into Google Maps, and vice versa. The functionality you're looking for is probably coming.

FYE: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2013/08/new-features-ahead-google-maps-and-waze.html

@AlEverett : This is what I have for the moment but it's not very visible and I don't hear alerts...

I have both loaded, but always use GMaps, and as of today the Waze alerts are appearing in Gmaps. I didn't do anything to make it happen. Doesn't look like I can create a Waze alert from within Gmaps though. That would be nice.

@EricHiggins, is there a sound every time you get close to an accident or other alert?

No sounds, but icons appear on the Gmaps route. Then you can click on the icon and see the detail, i.e. "traffic incident". And it notes in the pop up it was applied by the Waze app. Pretty cool.

Ok, that's not very convenient as you have to keep an eye on the map. I also experienced disappearing alerts on some levels of zoom. Not very practical. Let's wait and see :)

@everyone Anyone who has not installed the Waze app seeing Waze notifications in GMaps ? If so, where / how ?


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TF700 boot loop after update to CM10.1.2
The Transformer Pad TF700T worked almost fine with the previous Cyanogenmod10. Today I updated the pad with the CM-Update Manager. It downloaded the cm10.1.2 update package and then booted recovery. After the installation was completed I found the pad stuck at boot loop.
The Cyanogenmod circle circuits but then stucks, waits for a few seconds and then the pad reboots and the same happens again.
I Hope anyone can help me.
Thanks in advance,
mrstrauss
EDIT:
I did a format of the cache partition as well as the dalvik cache. The result is still the same. It boots until the circle stops to circle and then it reboots.

Does it boot into safe mode successfully? Also, you might try to re-flash CM. Though not that often, but I've heard of cases where that helped. Wipe again, optionally factory-reset even, flash, do another wipe. If that doesn't help either, I'm out of ideas (except for going back to the last version you had working on the device).

I did not find any hint on entering safe mode on the transformer pad.
Reflashing the update did not solve the problem. I flashed the previous - working - version of CM and it seems to boot normally into android.

So it's most likely a bug the specific CM version has with your device. You might wish to post that solution as answer, and accept it lateron to show a possible way to solve that issue.

Bug still exists in the new 10.1.3 version.

Installing the previous, working version solved the problem. After that an installation of the gapps zip-package may be required.


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Set default app for file type NOT recognised
I'd like to associate an app with a file type that android does not recognize.
I am using a samsung tab 3 with android 4.2.2.
In my case I have a .tex file and 2 apps that can read it, but when I click on the file from "My files" app, it says
"Open file
Unable to find application to perform this action"
How can I tell it it to associate the readers with this file format?

When you do an action like viewing a file, Android shows the chooser to let you choose from all the apps that say they can understand that file or URL. It's up to the app author to tell Android what files the app can understand. If an app doesn't show up in that list when you think it should, it's a bug in the app, and you should contact the app developer to ask them to make that change.
It's possible to use a third-party app to act as an intermediary, to let you send any action on any file or URL to any app of your choice, but the result will almost always be that the 'target' app crashes, or just opens to the main screen without opening the file you want, because it hasn't been programmed to understand that intent.

There are many file extensions that could easily be read by any text editor. Js,html,txt,csv,and i am sure hundreds of others.  I would say it is quite reasobable to allow any type to be handled by an app. What third party app can do this?


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Can chinese tablet be used without a battery?
I have a Chinese tablet xpad xpod 7" tablet, bought it 2 months ago, I am already having problem with battery, it is discharging too quickly, so I want to operate my tablet without battery, simply by plugging in the power adapter.

Can I operate tablet without battery?
Will direct use of power adapter negatively affect the tablet?

I do not need battery anyway, it is an unnecessary expense for me, it will wear out, it is a hassle, and I don't need it because I need to use the tablet in my home only.
I have tried to google for this, but no detailed reliable answers, it appears to be a grey area, I need expert opinion.

Instead of asking google or here, how about simply trying this? What have you got to lose? So far l've seen only one device where you could remove/exchange the battery while running & plugged in, and that is the Openmoko Freerunner.

I believe most of the Chinese tablet can do that.
There is no negative effect but it might overheat.


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Folder on phone not showing in Windows
I'm in the process of developing an Android app and using my Nexus 4 as the test device. One of the functions of the app is to create a folder on the phone for storing data. If I browse the phone using ES File Explorer I can see the folder/files, but when connected to a Windows 7 (64bit) PC I cannot see the newly created folder. The missing folder is called "Cruise Speed".
Desktop screenshot:

Mobile screenshot:

This is really curious! My first thought was a permissions problem, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Permissions, owner, and group all match files that don't do this.
Just so others know, I was able to reproduce the behavior just by creating a file/folder on the internal storage with a terminal emulator or file manager. Anything I created on the device in this way was invisible over MTP.

Well I am glad it's not just me. I did think it may be something to do with how I set the save path of the file but clearly not.

I know its a long shot but...to set the save location of the file I used android.os.Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(); however Windows is referring to this as Internal Storage. Seems strange that in one instance it is referred to as External and the next as Internal.

I'm pretty sure the discrepancy is just because of how MTP handles things.

There was a similar case already this week. The affected user reported after a reboot of Windows the folder was visible (which makes it clear it's a problem on Windows' end). Have you tried a refresh in the file explorer? Or checked with a different file manager on Windows (e.g. Total Commander)? My guess is it's some kind of caching Windows performs.

It could be an issue with the Android device. I sometimes need to tell Media Scanner to rescan to pick up folders. I use Rescan SD Card!.

It might be a problem when you have created the folder while the device was connected to the desktop. You might have to disconnect and reconnect for the folder to appear on the windows or change the option from MTP to PTP and then revert to check if it helps. It used to happen to me with Nexus5.

This is a famous issue affecting USB file access over MTP.
I can't even remember how many hours I've lost trying to access files created by my first app on a PC (and I'm talking about GBs of important files).
If you start the app and it creates the folder, then you have to reboot the device in order to let your PC be able to correctly display the folder.
This happens only if you use USB and MTP.
You could solve the issue using MediaScannerConnection in your code or cleaning Media Storage's cache but I suggest you to do the simplest thing: use AirDroid ;)

Just a comment on this, on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, not even a reboot makes the file show on the computer.

I was having the same issue, a folder was created by Vuze app on my nexus 6 phone. This folder was accessible/visible on my phone but not on PC when phone was connected through USB. I simply copied another random file on my phone to this folder which was not visible on PC. After this copy I was able to see the folder on PC.

Just create the dir on the pc first then copy it over to the sd card/phone storage.
you can either put in the contents into folder first and copy over or just the folder first. as long as the folder is created from pc, any content can just be copied directly to internal/external mobile devices.
for zipped contents they cannot be directly unzipped and copied over unfortunately, you need to unzip them first manually onto the desktop.
good luck and have a good day! :)

In my case, clearing the cache didn't work. However, I managed to access the hidden folders/files by renaming the parent folder. Remember to dismount the phone and connect it again after renaming the parent folder if the phone is connected to the PC.


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Wifi access point login page everytime I open the browser via an intent
This one is driving me mad :)
A few days ago, I connected to a free WiFi AP at a store.  The network requires a logon and showed the logon page when I opened the browser.  The terms and conditions included me giving them permission to send me marketing SMSs so I just ignored the logon.  Chrome was my default browser.
Now, every time my browser opens via an intent other than the launcher, e.g. from Flipboard, it displays this logon page.  This happens whether or not WiFi is enabled.
I've cleared all data and defaults for both my browsers (I only have stock Google browser and Chrome), rebooted my phone and "forgotten" the WiFi AP but still it shows up.
I'm running stock 4.1.2, rooted, on a Galaxy S3 GT9300.
Any ideas before I have to do a factory reset?
Thanks.

Have you cleared the caches as well, and closed that tab? The latter might be pointless (as you already cleared its data), but the browser might open with the last page/tab when called up again.

@Izzy I did clear caches and closed all tabs - however, I found the problem -- see below.  cheers

Found it.  When I say "e.g. Flipboard", it is only Flipboard that has the problem.
If I clear data on Flipboard, it stops happening.  I went back to the same store and repeated the process of accessing the AP but not completing the logon, and it came right back.  Cleared Flipboard data and all good.
I've bugged it with them.


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Can an app call a phone without me knowing?
The reason I ask is because I have gotten various calls from seemingly random numbers saying that I had called them. When I check my call log, there is no outgoing call to their number.
This has happened multiple times, but not very often, maybe once every two weeks. I am normally very careful with the apps that I download and have avg downloaded and scanning periodically. Could it be that someone else can use the same number to call?

Anecdotal: I've called a friends number that I know was right, rang it several times, every time I was put through to an increasing irate lady. I assume the networks routing was messed up somehow, eventually it sorted its self outself out. How long has your problem been going on?

@Peanut It's happened about 4 times in the past month and a half, and I'm not sure it's really an issue. Now that I think of it, when It happens, I am in a really bad signal zone, so that might contribute.

Is this issue still happening to you? 2. Does your carrier let you view your call logs online? 3. Is it possible that telemarketers are making robocalls and including your phone number in the caller ID data packet? I believe the "your captain speaking" telemarketers and the fake "Marriott Hotels" telemarketers both send fake caller ID data.

An app with the appropriate permissions can not only initiate calls without you knowing, but also remove all evidence from your call logs:

CALL_PHONE: Allows an application to initiate a phone call without going through the Dialer user interface for the user to confirm the call being placed.
WRITE_CALL_LOG: Allows an application to write (but not read) the user's contacts data.

(Source: Manifest Permissions).
If your provider supports a full call listing on your bill: that's a place no app can touch, so there you would find evidence.
Though it is technically possible somebody else could fake your number, that's rather unlikely. To do this, one would need some privileges a normal phone connector doesn't offer; so this person must either sit at a provider's site directly, or at some (usually bigger) company with the appropriate privileges granted.

To help you isolating the possible culprit, there are several tools available. I'd suggest to take a look at something like Permission Explorer:

Permission Explorer (Source: Google Play; click images to enlarge)
As you can see, this app allows browsing by category, and nicely lists up all installed apps with a given permission. You can most likely skip system apps here, then see what's left and re-check playstore comments on suspicious apps. I also recommend checking on AppBrain, as they often point out malicious apps: Use their search page and see if the result for your app is "minimized", which already is one indicator. Also a good idea: try AppBrain Ad Detector, which does the same for apps on your device:

AppBrain Ad Detector (Source: Google Play; click images to enlarge)
Additional benefit of this app: it automatically alerts you when you install an app with suspicious permissions ("Live Detection Mode" triggers on app install).

Thanks for the info. I will double check with my provider to see if they have any call logs that I can't account for and will certainly go through my apps and their permissions.

Good ideas both. I will just update my answer to include some helpers for the latter.

Great ideas, Permission Explorer looks promising. I'm sure what's happening in my case is a non-issue, but it helps to be sure. I was just wondering if it was possible for an app to do so.

Such things are sometimes even desired. Think of an app which should conditionally forward incoming calls (from a given number/pattern), or emergency apps in the security area ("Dead-man-Switch": If not hit within x mins, call someone for help because you're probably knocked-down; useful in dangerous areas (not limited to crime, think e.g. of climbing a rock), and such apps do exist).

Why is the WRITE_CALL_LOG permission even given out as a permission for developers to exploit? Is there a real use case for it?

@Munim sure there is. Think about a "Call Prefixer" (which adds a prefix to e.g. place an "incognito call"). You don't want that prefix in your list, maybe. So the "Prefixer" needs to rewrite that entry.

@Izzy Heh.. I am sorry, but I don't incognito call mode on a phone is a good idea. I can already think of ways it can be misused. I'd rather that the user had manual control over the full log himself.

If you use it is up to you. Even dumb phones support incognito calls (via the very same GSM code prefixes, e.g. #31#012345). This is a real use-case, even if not for you – but you are one and we are many :) Furthermore, that was just one example (and no, this is not a discussion, so no more of that here. Feel free trying in chat ;) And in order for the user to have full control, the user needs an app for that, which needs that permission. Ooops? :D

Spoofing a number is easier than you make out, using a service known as http://spoofcard.com


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Usb tethering does not work but pdanet does
Here's my problem: If I go to the built-in android tethering system and enable it, the computer connects just fine but it does not have internet access(the yellow icon is there). However, I installed pdanet and it works great but the free version is limited :/.
How can I get the built-in tethering to work?
Info:
I installed the adt and I can upload programs to the phone via usb with no problem.
Brand: LGE720
Android: Android 2.2 Kernel 2.6.32(there is no newer version for this phone)
I only want usb tethering.
Let me know if you need additional information. Thanks!

Android offers a standard usb-network adapter (implemented in software) to accomplish usb tethering.
The problem can be on the PC side or on the Android phone's side as well.
Some hints for debugging:

Do you see that usb network device on your PC if you enable tethering?
If so, do you get a DHCP offer from that "USB network card" on your PC?
Can you ping the phone gateway from your PC (usually ping 192.168.4.129)?
Can you resolve DNS entries (nslookup google.com)?
Can you ping a random host on the internet (eg. ping google.com)?

To view debug logs on the phone use a logcat viewer and see for obvious entries.
If the problem is your phone software and you're willing to void your warranty, the aftermarket CyanogenMod firmware also offers this functionality, as well as several other custom ROMs (your phone seems to be supported, according to CM's device overview).

Thanks for answering. The phone does make a dhcp server and I can ping the phone gateway. However, I cannot resolve the DNS entries nor ping a host on the internet. I also installed cyanogenmod, but that made it worse(no DHCP server/usb network device). Oh and thanks for pointing out the link to cyanogen, it looks and works a lot better than the stock rom :).


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What is the storage constraint for Micro SD cards on the LG Optimus L7 II
What is the maximum capacity of the Micro SD card that the LG Optimus L7 II can accommodate?
According to the following review it's 32GB
LG Optimus L7 II & L2 II available next week
Is this accurate? I would much prefer to put 64GB in there. Is there any disadvantage to using the largest Micro SD card I can find.
I found the following question on this site
Will bigger Micro SD will slow down mobile
The answer to the question states that the phone in question can go up to 32GB, is this a coincidence or do most or all android phones have this limitation.
The product page on the LG site doesn't seem to indicate what the limit is or if there is one.
LG OPTIMUS L7 II

32GB is the maximum capacity for a card following the SDHC standard found in version 2.0 of the SD standard.  Cards larger than that are SDXC cards.
Unlike the compatibility issue between SDSC and SDHC, An SDXC card is likely to work on an SDHC device, especially if you reformat the card to use the FAT32 file system, rather than the default exFAT, though a high performance card (e.g. UHS) will be limited to SDHC levels of performance.

So I need to determine whether the LG Optimus L7 II is an SDHC device or not?

Basically.  From what I can find, it appears to only have SDHC support.  Barring testimonials from other users, the only way to find out would be to try it with a 64GB card.

Where did you find that the LG Optimus L7 II is an SDHC device? I tried a 64GB SD card and it said "unrecognised file system" when I tried to mount it. Previously I had used the SD card on a windows machine, so I know that it does have data on it and is readable. Might it be the exFAT formatting you mentioned? How can one tell what format the SD card has?

Yup, it's tripping over the exFAT filesystem.  What you need to do is to reformat the SD card as FAT32, either on the phone itself if it will do it, or on a different machine.

A lot of devices limit you to formatting 32 GB blocks if you format in FAT32 or will not format because the partition is "too large".  If you run into that problem, use this utility to format it on your PC.


text:
How do I know if an Android tablet supports Project Butter?
As far as I know, Project Butter is just shorthand for versions of Android OS that have quicker touch screen response, close to the "physicalness" of iOS devices.
But how do I know if a particular Android device has it?
Will a version of the OS with Project Butter (for example, Android 4.1) have silky-smooth touch response on ANY device it is installed on?
I'd like to use the answer to this question to buy a lot (20) identical tablets on ebay, so hopefully there is a way to answer the question for a particular device without having it in my hands.

"Project Butter" is Google's name for the UI latency enhancements implemented in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Any Android device running Android 4.1 or later will have those enhancements.
Remember, though, that software is only part of what makes an interface smooth and 4.1 isn't a cure-all for lag. Slow hardware will result in a slow UI regardless of the OS. Your best bet is to find a tablet with 1) 4.1 or higher, 2) good specs, and 3) good reviews of its performance.

Nuts. So buying a random no-name tablet with 4.1 might have a laggy touchscreen...

Why "nuts"? A noname tab will probably be perfectly fine, if it's recent. Project Butter tries hard to give a smooth user experience. It obviously cannot do magic if the hardware is cheap/crappy. Trying out the device in advance, if you want to buy it is the answer here. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8m9sHdyXnE

@ce4 I think "nuts" is being used here as a mild profanity, not in its "crazy" sense.

@DanHulme: Thanks for the clarification, non-native speaker here :-)

@user41634: unfortunately so. My 2012 Nexus 7 16GB, for example, is running the latest Android version 4.3.3. It can suffer from fairly extreme hang ups even with decent internals. I do love it but I wouldn't call it consistently smooth. YMMV of course which is why I think reading reviews is a big part of a buying decision.


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How to use an USB-attached wired Ethernet adapter through USB-OtG on an Android smartphone?
Due to my profession I use to have to connect to wired-only LAN-attached devices (like managed switches, routers, set-top-boxes etc) frequently to access their configuration interfaces via Telnet/SSH/HTTP. And I am totally tired of carrying a bag with a laptop with me wherever I go.
I have just bought a Samsung Galaxy Ch@t B-5330 (Android 4.1.2) smartphone (almost the only modern model with a physical QWERTY on the market today, certainly the only QWERTY by Samsung) and an USB-OtG ("USB host") cable for it.
It would simplify my life significantly if I could connect it to wired Ethernet networks.
Is this possible? Where do I even start?
It seems to be no custom firmwares like Cyanogen Mod available for my particular model but I am most probably going to root it.
I've got a USB NIC based on ASIX AX88772 chip (which is detected by Ubuntu out of the box and is said to be compatible with XBox, PS3 and Apple Macs so it seems to be a very standard kind).
Also, I have not even found a single USB device (I have tried an USB flash drive, a keyboard and a mouse) which would work with the Android phone. It seems that they don't even receive power from it. Perhaps it (USB host mode) should be switched on somewhere in settings? I couldn't find where.

You might want to take a look at: Connect an Android tablet to ethernet / Communicating with micro USB to Ethernet / Android Tablets: Use USB to Ethernet connector? and more questions on usb+ethernet. Don't forget to let us know here whether (and which) solved your issue, or why/where you are still stuck then.

Sure as hell I am sharing a solution if I find it.

http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/25019/connect-an-android-tablet-to-ethernet

How to make Ethernet work on Android over OTG?

According to GSMArena, this phone doesn't support USB-OTG. That would explain why none of the other devices you've tried worked.
In that case, there's nothing you can do to make USG-OTG work, and you can't use a USB ethernet adapter.

I have tested following phones which work with micro usb otg cable to ethernet (i.e have build in ethernet drives).
Asus
1. All models of padfone ()only the phone part, not when docked to tablet).
When otg usb to ethernet adapter is attacheds (or otg cable attached with usb to ethernet adapter, then ethernet menu pops in on the setting menu as well as on the notification bar.

Sony
Most Sony phones have ethernet drivers built in so they work, but no notification pops up. just switching off w-fi and data and using the browser will confirm that you have ethernet connection
Google Nexus
Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 (but not Nexus 4) have ethernet drivers built in so they work, but no notification pops up. just switching off w-fi and data and using the browser will confirm that you have ethernet connection.
Motorola
Moto G (2013 edition, 2014 edition).
Moto X (2013 edition and 2014 edition)

Following brands phones do not work with ethernet cable as the drivers have been removed Samsung, LG , HTC, Huwawei.

I found on a Samsung SM-T530 tablet running Android 5, when I attach an OTG adapter with USB to Ethernet, it connects to the attached ethernet cable automatically; there was no need to change any settings. Using a Lenovo tablet running Android 6, everything worked out of the box as well, only I found the tablet to reboot itself consistently after moving data over the Ethernet connection!

In addition to ethernet drivers, as in "android even supports the protocol", drivers for the individual physical controllers hardware are required (you can check kernel defconfig to see if OEM included them to begin with). The tablet rebooting is very likely indicating you are hitting bugs in these.

Old post, but anyways ...
My suggestion is to use a small portable router (like TP-Link WR702N), set AP mode, connect it to Ethernet and then connect the smartphone to router's WLAN. This way you will bypass the lack of OTG capability of smartphone's (or tablet's) USB port. Never tried, but this should work.


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what is latest android version for samsung s7562?
i want to know which is the latest android version for samsung galaxy s duos s7562. in my phone android 4.0.3 is installed but it is very slow.though not much applications installed still it takes 8-10 seconds to respond to touch commands

A newer Android version won't make your device faster necessarily. You might instead want to take a look at My device is getting slow, apps start misbehaving/crashing. What can I do?

4.0.4 is currently the latest version, and updating your device does not make it any faster.
Try formatting your device as S Duos is prone to lag after some use.


text:
Are settings and accounts (like email) removed when changing the SIM card?
My android phone was stolen. The SIM-cards PIN must be entered on start and I also had a PIN set for unlocking it. My question now is if the SIM card is changed, will all the settings be reset or could the "new owner" now just read my emails etc...?
EDIT:
As addition to my below comment:
On another Android device it seems that the SIM-card PIN and the unlock PIN must be entered before the phone can be accessed so I guess I'm safe?

The setting differ from device to device and SIM only allows one to access call and internet it has no part in the email account credentials holding and all.
So if you have new device then you can just put old account credentials and access the data.

And yes is the stolen device is not protected with some lock then the person can access all the data of your phone

Well it was locked as in a PIN needs to be entered to access the phone and when restarting it the SIM must be unlocked. However what happens if the SIM is changed? Then the PIN is known and the phone can be accessed?

Exactly. The SIM lock only holds as long as the SIM is inserted. If the thief removes the SIM, and there's no other lock defined (pattern lock, device password/PIN, face unlock), he's free to access everything then which is not otherwise protected.

Accounts and data are not removed if you switch the SIM.
For obvious reasons:
Travelling abroad when you don't want to roam, or getting a new phone/data plan from a different carrier, etc. You could guess how mad people would get if their device got wiped by a SIM switch.
You're not safe, unless you also have set up a screen lock (or full device encryption).
All common smartphones act similar here (Windows Phone/iOS/Android):

If the SIM is locked with a pin, it must be re-unlocked each boot if it's present
If the device has a screen lock, it must be unlocked each boot and if you switch on the screen

I.e, a SIM lock is only bound to your specific SIM and it only prevents misuse of your number and phone/data plan, not the device and its data stored within. As soon as the SIM is replaced or removed, one doesn't need the SIM-PIN to to access the phone. Only a screen lock PIN (or password, unlock gesture or full device encryption) will do.

I did set a PIN for screen-unlock. But yeah this answers my question. So it is very, very important to set a screen unlock PIN (or gesture,...). For my replacement phone I now configured it for android device manager.


text:
Change file permission in BlueStacks player qwerty.kl
I want to edit BlueStacks '/system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl' to add few more key map to this file, but I'm not able to edit this file due to permission issue. Any suggestions on how can I change file permission in BlueStacks. Any hacks for changing the file permission?
Res: https://getsatisfaction.com/bstk/topics/change_bluestacks_system_file_permission

You probably need to root BlueStacks. A quick search revealed this on XDA

@ce4 +1 Thanks man!, your comment should be the answer :)

You probably need to root it to gain access to the protected "/system" file system.
XDA Developer's has a (probably) outdated thread how to do it here.
After you suceeded, you can take the usual steps to mod it (remount /system read-write, copy your edited file over, etc.)


text:
Cyanogenmod - What is "Notification mode"?
I think I'm misunderstanding the profiles options in Cyanogenmod regarding notifications.
Here's what I'm trying to do: I would like all notifications to pop in the status bar, but only the phone and messaging ones should vibrate. At work, the phone & messages shouldn't  ring.
I've configured my profiles this way:
Group "Phone&Messaging" contains phone, messaging, email and gmail apps.
Work:Phone&Messaging

Notification mode: on
Ring mode: off
Vibrate mode: on

Work:Other

Notification mode: on
Ring mode: off
Vibrate mode: off

Home:Phone&Messaging

Notification mode: on
Ring mode: on
Vibrate mode: on

Home:Other

Notification mode: on
Ring mode: off
Vibrate mode: off

But some stupid notifications still vibrate (when I download an app on the Google Play Store, my phone vibrates during all the download duration).
So how should the "Notification mode" be used?

It vibrates while downloading? That sounds like a bug to be honest. What version are you using, is it a nightly release? Did you look on the thread for your device/ROM and see if it has been reported. I do love CM but the nightlies are sometimes riddled with bugs.

"Notification mode" refers not to the notification bar, but the notification sounds. If you turn it off, then notification sounds will be off. Notifications in the notification bar will still show.
Some notifications still vibrating: sounds like the app developer implemented manual vibration instead of using notification settings.

A ring vs. a notification is known to most, you may not have just thought about it. Notifications are shorter, dings, bells, tones, etc... where a ring is an actual ringtone, longer, usually a melody or song. With CM, you can of course choose your notification sound if you have a root browser, in /system/media/audio my ROM's bring up a list right in settings, but CM needs a rot Browser... I guess because they have CMFileManager


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HTC desire x issues after update to Android 4.1 Sense 4+
Ever since I installed the update to 4.1 I've been having major issues with my desire x.

The keyboard disappears frequently while typing, sometimes I can't get it back without closing the app and restarting.
When I exit a lot of apps, but most notably any of the browsers (I use Firefox and Chrome but have also tried the standard browser) the home screen shows the loading symbol for several seconds and I have to wait before I can do anything.
Lots of apps close without warning.

This phone has gone from a great easy to use, relatively fast and reliable phone into something I can barely use for typing on. I did a factory reset a month ago which helped for a short time but now the problem is worse than ever. Continuously doing a factory reset is not a solution!
Does anyone have any ideas how to fix this? I should note I am using SwiftKey but it makes no difference if I use the standard keyboard.


text:
How can applications be installed on SIM and how do I view and disable them?
I've got a new sim card. After it found the network, soon I've got an sms (supposedly from my operator) saying:

Dear client! We are installing applications on your sim card for free. Please enable automatic sms sending if necessary.

After about 30 minutes, I've got another sms saying:

Highway fees, mobile lottery, parking, infoSMS/MMS. Use the 'operator-name-here' menu on your phone if it supports it.

To be clear, I want to opt out. Need none of these and don't like the idea that any applications are auto-installing, not even 'for free'. But I don't even understand what's going on.

Can applications even be installed on the sim card?
What kind of applications, what's the technical name for them?
How do they work basically in technical terms?
I see no <operator-name-here> menu in all applications nor in settings.
What standard should my phone support to have this menu?
The sms said that please enable automatic sms . Since I want to opt-out, I've searched all my settings to disable it, but in vain.
What is automatic sms sending?
How can I disable automatic sms on Android in general, and in 2.1 eclair, specifically?
How do I list and view what applications are installed on my SIM?

Please remember that our site rules are "one question per post", not "any list of questions, how many they might be" :) I tried to sum them up, hope the answer covers it. For detailed questions, better open separate posts.

@Izzy you are right; I should separate them; although I couldn't grasp how because I don't know what were I talking about exactly. They all try to point to 'how to opt-out', though. Thanks for your kind answer. :)

Yeah, it's hard to separate that (which is why I first answered, then commented ;) Basically, 1-4+7 make one question ("apps on SIM"), 5+6 another one ("automatic SMS"). You might want to "outsource" 5+6 to another post ("What is...and how to disable") if you need closer information on that topic.

No, apps cannot be installed on SIM. What you describe are rather SIM services. AFAIK you can use those with the "SIM Toolkit" app only (which is where you also should find your <operator-name-here>, and where you should be able to see what's installed there).

As long as you did not actively subscribe to any of those services, they should simply stay dormant and never bother you. Last time I've checked for those must be 10 years ago, on my old Nokia. I never encountered them afterwards, though not (un)installing anything on/from SIM.
Neither I ever heard about "automatic SMS". Even service SMS must be approved by the user before being executed. But as many of those services are rather a kind of "SMS mailing lists", could it be that should mean "please subscribe to one of them"?

They are here indeed, although not all that was mentioned by the sms, rather some of them new. 'Operator-name-here menu' is not a menu but a title at the top for me - unmodifiable and without alternative. It lists the services in a kind of hierarchy; but no operations like uninstall, remove, unsubscribe, opt-out, etc. is available through menu button or long-pressing.

I never used them myself, and not even touched that stuff since moving to Android, so I have to pass here. As I wrote, it's at least 10 years ago since I last looked at that stuff. But as long as you didn't actively subscribe, you shouldn't be charged. To be on the safe side, talk to your provider to list you all subscribed services, and optionally "lock them all down". He will also be able to send you another services SMS which alters/removes what you don't want, though I doubt he will admit that. In that case, you SIM has "trouble" (invent some), and he should send you a new one :)


text:
I was given an used HTC desire, doesn't boot, how can I reinstall it?
I never tweaked an android phone.
I was told to turn it on by pushing both the power button and volume down button.
I'm not sure if it has been rooted, I can read "clockworkmod" when I go into recovery.
Here is the whole phone and the text displayed. The third image is what I get when I go into the "recovery" menu.

Screenshots (click images for larger variants)
I'm just looking to make the phone usable again, what are my options ? If it involves reinstalling android, there is a 128MB micro sd in it, what should I copy onto it, or using some particular application ? I also have a micro usb cable.

clockworkmod is a custom recovery, so the device is probably rooted.
A 128 MB SDCard is as good as no SDCard at all, and probably cannot even hold a single image to flash. You might want to check for a bigger one, everything below 4 GB makes not much sense (make sure to buy nothing below class-4, class-6 is better, class-10 not really necessary). After that, check on CyanogenMod.COM for your device, and follow instructions there.
Before doing so, however: Have you tried to boot the device normally (just using the Power button)? It might even boot up normally. If not, you can execute the wipe data/factory reset item in the last screenshot, followed by reboot system now and see if that helps. If not, see above :)

I have larger microSD cards around yes. Booting normally, it show the HTC logo for 30 seconds or more, and then displays "android" text logo, which blinks with a 5 seconds period. The device is quite hot though.

If that stays the same even following a factory-reset, a fresh install might be the only thing left. If that doesn't cure it either, it might as well be some hardware defect.

how do you make a fresh install ? HTC sync doesn't seem to detect it when I plug it in.

Have you followed the link to the CM site? I did no deep-check, but the wiki page for devices usually includes full descriptions on that. And no, it doesn't work via HTC Sync. Usually it works via ClockworkMod's install zip from sdcard, which you can see in your last screenshot. But take care for all pre-requisites, processing, and after-work instructions the wiki might give.

I downloaded a zip which is only 88MB...


text:
Will adb restore increment the custom binary flash counter?
With adb backup an archive of all apps and their data can be retrieved from the phone. I could not find any clear information which exact files and partitions are accessed during the process. If it modifies /system, could this affect custom flash counter found on most Samsung devices, when adb restore is applied?

Why should it do that? adb restore is not flashing anything, it's simply unpacking files from the specified backup archive.

I do not know what exactly are the contents of the backup and what parts of the android system are affected. I hope my edit clarifies this.


text:
How to change my phone model if i have root access?
I have rooted my phone and changed the os with CM9.X.
My phone name was Sony Xperia MINI sk17i. after installing of new os then model name has been changed.
So i want to change this this to that name. I have terminal app & have root access how can i do that, Please advice me.

Which model string is currently set? And why would you want to do that? It's checked by subsequent updates to be sure the update fits. Have a look at /system/build.prop for variables starting with 'ro.product.'

WARNING: Messing with your build.prop file can have serious repercussions to your ROM. It is a very 'sensitive' file and can cause unforseen consequences. Doing any of the below is done at your own risk. ALWAYS make a nandroid backup before messing with a ROM. I learned this the hard way, don't do what I did!

This should work, though it depends on CM9:
Download Root Explorer for your phone.

Open root explorer, go to /system, and Search Build.prop
Open with text Editor
Search your baseband and device model
Don't edit anything except baseband, custom ROM and device model.
Reboot
Look in Settings → About

EDIT: Here is an alternative method for doing the same using ES file explorer. I haven't tested this myself, but it has more detail for a beginner. See XDA Developers forum.
EDIT 2: build.prop Editor is an app to modify your build.prop directly. I have NOT tested this either so use at your own risk. Link to source code in the description in the play store.

"I learned this the hard way, don't do what I did!"  Sounds a bit scary! What did you learn? Is there a risk of bricking the phone? Otherwise can't you just keep changing the file until it works properly?

@Poldie I didn't brick it entirely, but it didn't boot until I reinstalled the ROM. I didn't have a nandroid backup either. It was a total pain, and wasted hours. ALWAYS backup! And I would read anything and everything on modifying build.prop files so you know in advance what to be wary of!

Another thing to be aware of when messing around in build.prop is that even though this name is purely cosmetic (doesn't impact functionality of the device itself,) Android uses this file to report the device's capabilities to Google Play Store.  There may have been a good reason for the ROM to change your phone's model name. Some device names will yield better results when trying to install apps from the Play Store. If you change it back you may find that some apps are listed as "not compatible" with your phone.

For CM9: Get shell, get root, "setprop net.hostname whateveryouwant" for a temporary change to test. Will reset on reboot. To make this change permanent, you'll need to add it to build.prop. Add it as a new line "net.hostname=NewDeviceName" and you're set.

You could make this more clear I think, perhaps more of a step-by-step.

Use this application. Do the same things but safe.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.model.phonemodelchanger&hl=en


text:
Do I have a virus on my phone? A message from an Android app says so
I have just received a message from an Android app on my phone saying my phone has been infected with a virus and to click a link to fix the problem.
I'm not sure I trust this, is it possible to have a virus on Android?

That sounds very fishy and untrustworthy. Can you post a screenshot and the link it wants you to click?

Have you installed apps from places other than the Google Play Store? If not, I'd say it's quite unlikely (though not impossible) for you to actually have malware. Except for this fishy app, that is, that is most likely trying to trick you into clicking an ad and/or downloading some other piece of junk. As ce4 says, a screen shot would be very helpful here.

Well, that message might be true. I'd remove the app that sent it, it was reporting (or rather outing) itself being malware. Do not click that link, or you really will be in trouble.

What kind of message? There are different kinds, and the way you find out what app is responsible is different each way.

It is possible to have malware on Android, although these usually 'infect' a device through downloading and installing apps from un-reputable and/or warez sites. When installing any app you should review the permissions and not blindly download/install an app simply because it looks ok.
It is possible that the message you received is from a malicious app or an app trying to get you to install malware. You can install a security app such as Lookout or Avast and they will scan your device for issues/malware. Be aware that anti-malware apps such as these can report false positives, and they may not detect all issues so you need to use common sense and ensure you only install apps you trust.
Thanks to t0mm13b for pointers on how to improve this answer.

Its can be feasible to have malware by downloading from un-reputable scammy sites, it boils down to reading permission requirements and not blindly downloading just for the sake of having a "want" for an app! That would be a useful pointer to add in to your answer to educate... :) However I do not recommend using such anti-malware apps like what is mentioned as they could well report false positives or lure you into false sense of security - common sense is the modus operandi here.

In addition to the possibility that bmdixon raised of malware, I'd like to add that it's entirely possible that it's not even necessarily malware, but rather instead social engineering type adware trying to get you to install malware or buy something useless.  You often see those types of pop up messages on websites for Windows users, and this sounds very similar to me.  Without more info, like which app popped up this message or a screenshot, this would be my guess as to what's happening on your phone.
Many of these types of adware can be blocked using system-level adblockers such as AdAway, which can be installed from repositories such as F-Droid if you have root. (such blockers are no longer available on Google Play as they undermine Google's primary business model)  Or of course by not installing apps that rely on ad revenue in begin with :)

If that application which sends that message is a trustworthy anti-virus you personally choose and installed, then you can trust the message.
Otherwise I recommend to ignore that message and uninstall the application which sends that message.
Internet is full of such false "free antivirus check"s, which push you to click on install their crap - but actually, this programs will install a backdoor, spyware or other crap. This exist on PC, now you met it on your android.

You likely have an instance of "rogue security software". Despite the name, it only pretends to be security software. From Wikipedia:

Rogue security software is a FraudTool (a form of Internet fraud using computer malware) that deceives or misleads users into paying money for fake or simulated removal of malware (so is a form of ransomware)—or it claims to get rid of malware, but instead introduces malware to the computer.

Unless this message is coming from a tool that you know and trust to reliably treat malware infections, do not follow the link, and remove the software, if you can. If the software came from the Google Play store, report it for investigation.

Android apps that pose as legitimate apps and warn you of such malware and provide a link to help you clear the virus ARE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY INSTALL MALWARE.
I recommend that you do the following:

uninstall the app that is providing the link.(unless it is a very very useful app which I doubt it is)
If you can't decide if it is a legitimate app, search in Google play and search in Google for reviews.
Never side-load apps from untrusted sources, unless you know what you are installing.(I am not against side loading, actually I do it a lot myself)


text:
can you "voice to text" without using wifi or data
Is there a way or app that allows  "voice to text" when I am not near wifi or have data?

For the most part, sure.
I just put my Galaxy Nexus (Android 4.2.2) into Airplane mode and tried to compose an email message with speech-to-text.
It worked, but it was slo-o-o-o-w. And not as accurate as I'd like.
If you go into Settings > Language & input > Google voice typing (settings) you can set which languages are downloaded to your device for speech-to-text. English is my default (and is already downloaded) but I see about 20 other files I can download.
However, whether you can do this or how well it works depends a lot (I think) on your device and the version of the OS you're running.

It really does depend as I put my phone into airplane mode and it was very fast at picking up my speech and very accurate.

Any information on the privacy policy when using this offline? IS the data transmitted later when going online?

"I think it depends..." is not an answer.


text:
How can I control which device gets downloaded apps on the Google Play website?
I have two devices, a Note 2 and a Nook HD Plus. I can download apps to each device with their Google Play apps with no problem. but I don't know how to choose which device gets the app download on the Google Play website.

When you click the "Install" button on the app on the Play Store website, you should be prompted which device you want to use.

If you're not seeing that, then I suspect you're using different Google accounts on your devices.

Beaten to the punch by Al :)

Assuming you are using the same Google account on both devices to purchase and install apps from, it should prompt you for the device to install when you click the "Install" button on the Google Play Store website:

You can even customize the names of your devices. On the main Google Play Store website look for the "gear" icon on the top-right corner of the screen:

Click it and select the Settings option, which will bring you to the Devices page:

Here you can click the Edit button, enter the name you wish and click Update.  Now the Install prompt will use the names you've given your devices.

Thanks, I understand. I was trying to add an app to my new tablet that was already installed on my phone. The button said "installed", but when I clicked it asked for a device.


text:
Debugging Galaxy S2 Bluetooth problem: Bluetooth disconnects, Bluetooth status never fully turns on, Only reboot resolves this
I know many have problems with Bluetooth and certain car kits. I specifically have a VW. In any case, my Galaxy disconnects from not only my car, but also from my Philips in home audio system. In both cases, the disconnect is the same. What happens in both cases is the Bluetooth pair is lost. If I try to turn off and then on the Bluetooth (on the phone) to reset the pair the Bluetooth light never fully turns on. It stays a dim green. To get it to work I have to restart the phone.
I wrote a script to collect the Bluetooth logs, and programmed it to start logging whenever Buetooth is connected. See link below for the3 log. notice that around 7:56 the probem occurred. I was in a call on my galaxy s2 connected to my vw tiguan, and the hands free audio stopped. I was able to pick up the phone and switch from hands free to the speaker (on the phone) to resume the call.
Around 8:19, I think, I turned off the Bluetooth on the phone, and then tried to to turn on it again. But,it did not fully turn on. The green Bluetooth light is dim rather then bright. The only way I can restart the Bluetooth is to reboot the phone.
There are exceptions thrown that I am going to look at.
Have any thoughts?
Thanks!
I am running the stock rom that I downloaded from Kies. The Android version is 4.1.2
Logs:
1. S2 paired with VW Tiguan (7:56, 8:19 approx)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hd809geb4hoxvrr/btlog.txt

2. S2 paired with Philips AS351 (Time 21:02-21:06 approx)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6w7je0xrdcn7kiy/20130916_902-906btlog.txt

Did you consider giving Cyanogenmod a try? I think this would be your best bet, because debugging could become time intensive and costly, and maybe turn out that it's something you can't fix yourself (e.g. because low lever firmware related). I think that's you best bet.

I have used Cyan, but have found the interface on the stock samsung rom is much better.  It has been a while tho, and perhaps they have fixed this in later versions of Cyanogen.  However, the last time I tried it the problem was there too. I will give it another shot tho.  I don't mind the debugging, but you are right as far as it possibly being a waste of time.

In particular if the problem also appear with a different ROM. That would rule out most software components and only leave the firmware/hardware as possible error causes. I am not a friend of Samsungs TouchWiz and really enjoy the plain CM interface. Your mileage may vary.

I have also been using Bluetooth Keepalive from Google Play.  Not sure if it is helping just yet.  One thing about debugging this that is very difficult is that I am not sure how to recreate the issue.  So, I just have to wait for it to appear and catch it in the log

Hi, I tried CM 10.1, and the problem was horrible!  Happened a lot.  I am currently testing with CM 10.2 which might be better.  I will stick with whatever works, but I also forgot about the echo problem in CM.  That is the main reason I discontinued using.  I have noise suppression on, and the echo is still there. But that is another issue for me to look at. haha.  Will let you know what I find out.  Thx.

Here is where I am.. I have spent quite a bit of time over the past few weeks testing different Android versions, testing Bluetooth Keepalive, speaking to other developers, logging errors and debugging, installing different versions of Cyanogenmod, and speaking to Samsung.
In short here is what I have found:

The problem still exists in the stock rom that is downloaded from Kies with Android version 4.1.2.
Problem was still encountered, and potentially worse, on Cyanogenmod 10.1 with Android 4.2. (Problem happened more frequently)

Continued.. 3. Still testing with Cyanogenmod 10.2 with Android 4.3, and so far I have NOT had any issue.
4. I have had mixed results with Bluetooth Keepalive, but have been in contact with the developer.
I spoke with Samsung yesterday as well as last month. I requested a call from a developer, but they would not allow.  They said they would connect me to the next level of support, but I would have to wait on hold for an hour.  Oddly enough, I did not want to or have time to wait an hour.

Continued.. However, over the coming days I am going to contact Samsung using a more direct method in hopes of speaking to a developer.  The tech guy I talked to seemed to indicate that it was his position that it was a 3rd party issue, and I should contact my auto manufacturer.  I explained to him that this problem happens across multiple auto manufacturers, and the one common theme is the Galaxy phone.  In addition, my auto manufacturer has replaced everything Bluetooth related, and has had no issue testing with other phone models.

Continued.. The Samsung rep  also said, and I agree, that sending the phone into Samsung for repair would be worthless.
Short of rooting your phone and installing CM 10.2 with Android 4.3 the problem still exists. Again, I am still testing with CM 10.2, and look forward to speaking with Samsung again.


text:
Asus Memopad sd card unexpected removed
At the moment the Asus Memopad HD7 came out, i bought it.
I bought also a micro sd card and inserted it. But frequently the sd card will be unexpected removed.
Is there anyone who recognizes this? Is it a general problem with the Memopad?

Never heard about such, but I also never used the Memopad. As a precaution, you might want to check all the apps you've installed for those having the permission to mount/unmount file systems, maybe one of them has gone havoc.

I will go to the shop where i bought it and get another one. Maybe it is a production failure

That might be possible, yes. Please update us concerning the results then :)

My wife is having the same issue.  It seems to be related to how you hold or handle the tablet.  If she hands it to me and I am handling it by the top right corner, it will almost always sense the card is not there.  As soon as I change where I am holding it by the card is mounted again.  It seems like the card is loosing contact with the port by a minor flexing (just by the weight of the tablet itself) when you handle the top right corner only.  It is annoying.

I had the same problem….. downloading the firmware update from ASUS (from the HD7 tablet) appear to have solved the problems.  Remember, you must un-mount the Micro sd Before removing it……………… see manual http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/EeePAD/ME173X/e8255_k00B_me173X_em.pdf
Good Luck
Good Luck

i have updated my firmware, but the sd card still removes unexpectedly. (although it seems to be less sensitive.) I am going to go to the shop where i bought it. I will update this soon.


text:
How can I decode the Bluetooth Error numbers found in errno, that show up in Android log?
I am trying to find the definition of the Bluetooth Error Numbers.  For example they might appear in logcat output as:

09-16 07:38:50.896 V/BluetoothSocket.cpp( 8809): ...accept(69, RFCOMM)
  = -1 (errno 125)

The errno global variable concept is not Bluetooth specific but comes from the (POSIX) system calls used by BluetoothSocket.cpp. Your log shows that the system call accept() failed, because it returned -1 (negative values usually indicate an error). Additionally accept() also set the errno to 125. If you look at the related definition in the Linux sources, you find that it maps to ECANCELED:
#define ECANCELED   125 /* Operation Canceled */

See also

Wikipedia on errno.h
POSIX errno.h

Thank you for the valuable information.  Perhaps you might have an idea about my other related question regarding Bluetooth. http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/53477/debugging-galaxy-s2-bluetooth-problem


text:
unlock Xperia Neo bootloader on linux
I was following these instructions to unlock the bootloader on my Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo until I reached steps 9 and 10.
There was no extras/google directory or android_winusb.inf file anywhere. So from Eclipse's Android SDK manager I tried to download the Google USB Driver but found it as not compatible with linux.
What should I do now to replace steps 9 and 10?

That should be similar to the ADB stuff, see my answer here. There's no such thing as a "driver install" on Linux.

this is what you need

both solutions mentioned by @Izzy and @darknight in comments could work, But I found the easiest way is to replace steps 8,9,10 of the instructions by the following terminal command:
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot

and then continuing as normal (and of course write fastboot instead of fastboot.exe in steps 15,16).
That saves the trouble of manually downloading and installing flashboot and configuring files and so.


text:
Using external AIS and GPS and OpenCPN via Windows/Linux on a smartphone for sea navigation
Having read excellent answers about using external USB devices on SmartPhones (HTC Desire in my case), I would like to complicate the issue still further: I'd like to use a Windows emulator on the Android OS in order to run an external AIS dongle (and possibly an external GPS).
The reason for this is that suppliers of these maritime safety devices seem to make them only with drivers for Windows (occasionally for Apple OSs too), but not for Android/Linux.
The point of what I'm trying to do is to avoid using a laptop at sea A)as they are vulnerable and have to be kept inside, B) go wrong at sea anyway C)have long startup times D) most important of all, they use a lot of battery power so can't be left on permanently.
What 'every' boat owner wants is a portable device that can run C-MAPS (sea charts) on a program called OPEN CPN (freeware) without entering into the equipment race by various 'big screen' GPS manufacturers who sell their various charts in various formats at exhorbitant prices.
So I know I speak for at least tens of thousands of people who would love to find a solution to this issue.
So does anyone know if/how to install drivers on, say, an HTC Desire to make it work with an external AIS dongle? (The data stream should be relatively simple if I understand rightly. Would I need Android drivers for the external USB or Windows drivers for it (if a Windows emulator is to be installed), or both? or is there a smart person who can make a driver for such external devices on a smartphone with Android and make himself 'millions' and avoid Windows altogether, (using perhaps Ubuntu or a stripped down Linux version (- OpenCPN works with Linux)). (Saying that, there will always be companies who make products with drivers for Windows only, so maybe via windows isn't the worst way?).
Boats work on 12v so the optimal solution would be to find a phone/tablet as the 'mother part' in such a system that works on 12v - or - if a voltage converter is to be used, the more efficient it is, the better.
The reason for wanting the device on all the time is for safety at sea - watching for an AIS signal 24 hours a day = a vessel approaching, or so that the 'anchor watch' can be used (= if the vessel moves more than a few metres whilst one is asleep, or the water depth changes, an alarm sounds).
Having researched the issue, it seems no in the whole world has made a system that runs Open CPN that is not laptop based. I haven't even found a tablet based version capable of running the external AIS receiver/GPS as well, which I find almost shocking. But using a phone would mean far less power usage and a cheaper platform, available to all. The ability to then connect an external screen (by the helmsman, for out in the weather, daytime, let's say) would be the creme de la creme.
Got all that? Good! ;)

What's your specific question?

Your question is very specific and you seemingly fall for the X-Y Problem. Just shorten and rephrase and tell your specific problem concise and what you do want to solve instead of how to use this windows driver on android etc.

First, there's really no way to emulate modern Windows PC's on Android, and there is a long list of reasons for that. So to be honest, you're simply not going to be able to run Windows software on an Android phone.
That said, OpenCPN can actually be run on android. And googling shows that there are some "easier" guides for making it happen. Many Android devices already have a built-in GPS and communications hardware, which (I assume) would be sufficient for your needs as long as you're in coastal or inland waters (Where you have a data connection). I wouldn't be surprised if some AIS Dongles worked with Android without need for drivers, giving you AIS access virtually anywhere at sea(But I could be very wrong).
As for AIS as a separate feature, there are actually quite a few AIS applications available for Android with varying feature sets. I don't think I have enough information to determine if they have the features you need, but feel free to look at them. Here are some links, if you haven't already found them yourself:
Boat Beacon, MarineTraffic Ship Positions, and mAIS - Ship Position Reporting
Now, on to the down-and-dirty: If you want a seamless, power-efficient setup "That Just Works™", then Android most likely isn't going to be the answer. I would suggest looking at low-power Atom-powered Windows tablets. You can keep Windows or, alternatively, install Linux on them. They draw considerably less power than an average laptop and are quite capable.
TL;DR... OpenCPN works on Android. And you can get how-to guides on making it happen (needs root). There are AIS Applications for Android (Links above). Finally, your best bet is probably a cheap Windows tablet, not Android.
I suggest this tablet, or anything similar.

Well I'm stunned that OpenCPN don't show on their download page that it runs on Android. I need AIS and GPS for use far away from shore, not reception based. But also am very sceptical of service providers where many times phones just don't work 'over the border' in Europe even when they should. What I am not sure of would be how to connect the phone to two USB devices, but assume that a suitable connector cable that allows a phone to work as a host to a USB device would run two devices with a simple splitter?

Here is a link to a Windows emulator for Android: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tablets-in-the-enterprise/how-to-run-legacy-windows-with-limbo-for-android/   ...this is what I meant by running Windows

what I have found in the past half hour is a stripped down, enhanced and specialised Linux version especially for boat owners which proclaims even to run AIS using an old VHF set. It also allows a hard drive switch off to save power and will run from a USB stick to avoid the problems of rough seas jerking the computer causing data failures: navigatrix.net

I have heard of people installing Ubuntu on phones so presumably one can install Navigatrix!? Thanks for the links and help.. oops not allowed to say that here ;) I'm going to ask the Navigatrix people if they know of people installing their OS on SmartPhones and will get back on that.

Oh, that's a really cool bit of info about a Linux specialized for boat owners. And yes, using Ubuntu on phones is done in a very similar way as the suggested method for using OpenCPN on Android. Navigatrix should be a similar (but probably more difficult) process.

Of course, if Navigatrix doesn't have official support for ARM, then it could be very hard. With that said, my suggestion for getting a low-powered Atom tablet is reinforced - you can install Navigatrix on a cheap Atom tablet. I'll put a link to a suggested tablet in the answer.

OpenCPN states future Android suppport, possible as soon as they've migrated their graphics engine to OpenGL.
It's probably the easiest path to still run OpenCPN on a Windows based laptop and just use a remote viewer app like

TeamViewer
AirDisplay
AndroidVNC

to your Android tablet/phone/etc. until a native Android way is available.

Nice idea, but these work via servers which I/most yachtsmen won't have aboard a small boat. Even if we could afford them money/spacewise, they're an 'extra gadget to go wrong'.

You don't need a "dedicated" server, your regular notebook, locked up in the hull, will do just fine. The "additional electronic gear that might break" holds true of course.


text:
Android app for decorating destination numbers
I have set up a IP-PBX with a GSM gateway. This lets me call into my PBX. At this point I reach a IVR. One option lets me forward a call over VOIP by sending a destination.
To automate this I decorated the destination with the gateway number and pauses. As described about.com.
So I end up having to enter a number for each of my contacts like so:
#gatewayNR#,,6,*pass*,#destinationNR#

Anybody knows an app who let me do that for Android?

Related: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/28821/clickable-phone-number-with-pauses-and-bridge-extension-in-calendar-event

Related: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/2621/how-can-i-connect-to-a-number-with-a-conference-call-code-via-google-voice

Related: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/26846/prepend-phone-numbers-with-a-calling-card-dial-in-number

Thanks a lot. Looks like there is an app that can do this: Prefixer. So glad I moved away from ios.

and verified, Prefixer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tftbelow.prefixer


text:
In call Mute button sound. Can it be STOPPED?
Is there a way to set the MUTE button (the one on the in-call phone menu) to NOT make a sound when pressed. For instance, when I'm in conference calls on my GalaxyS4, and want to mute my microphone, I press the mute button which makes a "drop" sound. Which I do frequently when I am not speaking. Soon after, a colleague of mine sent me an instant message and informed me that they could all hear the "drop" sound every time I pressed the darned thing..
Is there any way to make it not do that??


text:
Is it possible to share data across multiple accounts?
I have a 2012 Nexus 7 with stock Android. I have the owner account and have created a restricted account for my kids.
For each account it creates a separate space for each users data.
However I would like to share movies, music and other data between the accounts. Is this possible?

Not having a multi-user capable device I cannot verify it, but shouldn't that work via space on the (external) SDCard? Usually everything there is "world readable/writeable".

Thanks Izzy. I think this would work but Nexus 7 doesn't have an external SD.

Right. Have you tried via the internal one? IMHO it should behave similar, being treaded as "SDCard" as well.

/sdcard is realy folder, every user have it's own folder without sharing :(


text:
Lookout security not working
I successfully installed Lookout but when I try to open it it says "Unfortunately Lookout, has stopped. I tried reinstalling it. I can see it running in the notification bar e.g. it says it has finished scanning apps
What can I do to use it?

Clear cache/data?

@AlEverett tried

Look in the Android log and see if the reason for the crash is logged there.

A reboot might also be worth a try. On one of my devices, two apps seem to regularly require that.

Since an application update fixed the issue, this seems unlikely to help any future readers.

@AlEverett ya, go ahead and delete this

I contacted the makers and they said it's a known problem and they were working on it. The latest update fixed this.


text:
adb can find device but fastboot cannot
Context
I can run adb commands on my Nexus 4 and they work fine but when my device is in the bootloader and I try to list the device with,
fastboot devices

my device is not listed. I was having problems with adb on my Windows 7 VM due to driver issues, so I switched to OSX because it does not require any drivers.
I think I may have corrupted my bootloader and recovery in my previous attempts to root my phone with a toolkit(I know I should have done it manually).
Question
Is it possible to reinstall my bootloader or a recovery using just adb i.e. without using fastboot?

That might be possible if you find some images to load via the revocery's install update.zip from sdcard feature (just as a hint what you might want to look out for; I don't have a Nexus, so I'm not 100% sure).

My recovery was corrupted too, I couldn't reach it. Anyway, the problem resolved itself. I didn't do anything different other than add the adb and fastboot commands to my bin folder.

You might want to add that as an answer (so others can see there's a solution), and accept it lateron.

The problem with my device not showing up with the fastboot devices command resolved itself. I was then able to flash a custom recovery.
The only thing I did different was, I rebooted my computer and symlinked the adb and fastboot commands in my bin folder.