text:
Nexus 7: Compass drifts over time
When I use apps like Google Maps on my Nexus 7, I find that the compass drifts, with the indicated direction rotating counterclockwise over time (from north to west to south to east).  As a result, I am unable to rely on the direction information.
Is this a hardware issue?  Is there something I can do to correct this?

It turns out the compass needed to be calibrated.  I rotated the tablet a full 360 degrees in all three axes, and the problem cleared up.
I used this app to monitor the orientation sensor, and while I still see the X axis orientation value drifting, it is being corrected automatically so that accuracy is maintained.


text:
HTC One Camera photos have "pink background"
I am an active user of Android device, and I purchased a HTC One. In the advertisement they showed that this device has an Ultra Pixels camera, and you can click pictures in the low light with the best quality. But its just disappointing, when I click the pictures it comes with "Pinkish background". So can you please help me find out if this issue is with the software or with the camera itself. And if this issue is with the software will a fix be released or not?

It is not a software issue, it is a hardware issue. Most of the times, they are referred as pink spots or purple tint/haze
It happens because apparently the component called ZOE puts a lot of strain on the camera module, which causes it to heat, and it could even lead to burning down your motherboard (in extreme cases).
Reference: http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/351874-htc-one-heres-skinny-infamous-purple-tint-thermal-defect.html
Better call HTC for a replacement/Fix before your Warranty runs out.

source: Stack Exchange

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

sort: votes


text:
Sony Xperia ZR wifi problem: wpa_supplicant: wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-ASSOC-REJECT
I have a strange problem with Wi-Fi with my Sony Xperia. I can't connect to most of the networks I have tried, but the list of networks is ok (but somehow slowly loaded). It stopped working suddenly after a week. My previously used networks are all marked as "Saved", but when I try to connect the following happens:

Saved (doesn't even change when tapped)
Connecting -> Saved
Connecting -> Authentication problem -> Saved

This is what I have tried to fix it:

Restart phone
Restart phone, take out battery, SD card and SIM card
Restart wi-fi router
Connect to another network (sometimes works with some networks)
Forget network -> Type password again
Connect another Android device to the same network
Connect another non-android device to the same network
Change the router wireless settings to WEP, WPA and unsecured
Factory reset of the router
Sony Companion -> Repair
Factory reset of the phone

Router: D-Link DIR-615
Phone: Sony Xperia ZR C5502
Android version:
4.1.2
Baseband:
9x15A-ACEFWMAZQ-30110041-29

Build number:
10.1.1.A.1.310

Kernel:
3.4.0-g6df7905-02327-g1aa3092
BuildUser@BuildHost) )
#1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Apr 11 11:17:13 2013

Log after turning on the wifi and trying to connect:
09-18 09:10:08.116: I/WifiManager(2391): Process ndroid.settings enabled Wifi
09-18 09:10:08.186: E/WifiHW(571): File "/data/misc/wifi/WCNSS_qcom_cfg.ini" exists, not copying
09-18 09:10:08.497: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): nl80211: Don't connect to APs with RSSI < 0
09-18 09:10:08.497: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): rfkill: Cannot open RFKILL control device
09-18 09:10:08.497: I/ActivityManager(571): No longer want com.google.android.onetimeinitializer (pid 1747): hidden #51
09-18 09:10:08.637: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wapi_supplicant_init: Init WAI packet p2p0
09-18 09:10:08.637: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): Own MAC address: (Here's phone MAC address)
09-18 09:10:08.637: E/wpa_supplicant(3838):  Initialization: WAPI:set Staues=1
09-18 09:10:08.657: E/Diag_Lib(3838):  Diag_LSM_Init: Failed to open handle to diag driver, error = 13
09-18 09:10:08.757: E/wpa_supplicant(3838):  QMI_UIM_EVENT_REG_REQ_V01, qmi_err_code: 0x0
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): QMI_UIM_GET_CARD_STATUS_REQ_V01, qmi_err_code: 0x0
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].card_state: 0x1
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].error_code: 0x0
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card READY
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].app_type : 0x2
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].app_state : 0x7
09-18 09:10:08.777: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card found
09-18 09:10:08.797: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): Reading GSM home network domain configuration file '/system/etc/wifi/gsm_domains.conf'
09-18 09:10:08.877: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): nl80211: Don't connect to APs with RSSI < -83
09-18 09:10:08.877: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): rfkill: Cannot open RFKILL control device
09-18 09:10:08.917: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wapi_supplicant_init: Init WAI packet wlan0
09-18 09:10:08.917: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): Own MAC address: (Here's phone MAC address)
09-18 09:10:08.917: E/wpa_supplicant(3838):  Initialization: WAPI:set Staues=1
09-18 09:10:08.957: E/wpa_supplicant(3838):  QMI_UIM_EVENT_REG_REQ_V01, qmi_err_code: 0x0
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): QMI_UIM_GET_CARD_STATUS_REQ_V01, qmi_err_code: 0x0
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].card_state: 0x1
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].error_code: 0x0
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card READY
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].app_type : 0x2
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card_info[i].app_state : 0x7
09-18 09:10:08.977: E/wpa_supplicant(3838): card found
09-18 09:10:09.037: E/WifiConfigStore(571): Failed to look-up a string: W
09-18 09:10:09.037: E/WifiConfigStore(571): Failed to look-up a string: SMS4
09-18 09:10:09.037: E/WifiConfigStore(571): Failed to look-up a string: SMS4
09-18 09:10:09.077: I/WifiManager(2391): Process ndroid.settings requested an active scan
09-18 09:10:09.087: E/Parcel(334): Reading a NULL string not supported here.
09-18 09:10:09.087: E/Parcel(334): Reading a NULL string not supported here.
09-18 09:10:09.097: E/Parcel(334): Reading a NULL string not supported here.
09-18 09:10:09.097: I/SuperStamina-WifiAnalyzer(571): WiFi is ON.
09-18 09:10:09.117: E/wifidirect(3726): onStartCommand 1
09-18 09:10:09.117: E/wifidirect(3726): Exitting file transfer service.
09-18 09:10:09.117: W/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Failed to initiate AP scan
09-18 09:10:09.117: W/wpa_supplicant(3838): p2p0: Failed to initiate AP scan
09-18 09:10:09.127: E/wifidirect(3726): onStartCommand 1
09-18 09:10:09.127: E/wifidirect(3726): Exitting file transfer service.
09-18 09:10:10.128: W/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Failed to initiate AP scan
09-18 09:10:11.119: W/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Failed to initiate AP scan
09-18 09:10:12.130: W/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Failed to initiate AP scan
09-18 09:10:12.811: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Trying to associate with (here is my router MAC) (SSID='smartus@unifi' freq=2427 MHz)
09-18 09:10:14.023: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-ASSOC-REJECT bssid=(here is my router MAC) status_code=1
09-18 09:10:19.088: I/WifiManager(2391): Process ndroid.settings requested an active scan
09-18 09:10:22.812: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Authentication with (here is router MAC) timed out.

These lines will later repeat:
09-18 09:10:12.811: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Trying to associate with (here is my router MAC) (SSID='smartus@unifi' freq=2427 MHz)
09-18 09:10:14.023: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: CTRL-EVENT-ASSOC-REJECT bssid=(here is my router MAC) status_code=1
09-18 09:10:19.088: I/WifiManager(2391): Process ndroid.settings requested an active scan
09-18 09:10:22.812: I/wpa_supplicant(3838): wlan0: Authentication with (here is router MAC) timed out.

Any ideas what could cause CTRL-EVENT-ASSOC-REJECT? I believe this is usually happening when the network is congested (there are only 3 devices, 2 of them work. The phone won't work in the network alone neither).

Usually that event is sent by the router (as you wrote, when the network is congested). Googling a little also showed cert problems as possible reason. Only thing you did not yet factory-reset is your Android device; maybe something got messed up there? As connecting to other networks only "sometimes works", this is a more likely cause than all of those APs being "broken". If there's nothing else left, you could try to factory-reset your Xperia.

Factory reset doesn't help neither. Also I did the repair using the companion before which flashes the rom. That should be equal to the factory reset, right? Certificates problem, hm, I am not aware of using any certs...

Also I strongly believe that the problem is in the phone (HW or SW). I am trying to find the problem so when I get to the service centre, I can give them not just the device, but pinpoint the problem exactly...

Certs are used by WPA automatically if I understood that part correctly, i.e. I take it they refer to the "key files" exchanged. And yes, I fully agree the culprit must be on the Xperia, whether hard- or software. As you've already tried a factory-reset, the service centre is a very good idea: they should have a WiFi AP, and with some luck can reproduce the issue (unless that's one of those few networks where it does work, you know Murphy's Law ;)

I did not get any definitive answer what is wrong from the service centre. They tried flashing some special ROM they had, but same result. They closed the issue with the conclusion it is a HW problem in the phone.

So did they repair it for you? I mean the phone must be in warranty? So, how did it finally work out?

@NikhilKhandelwal Full story here: http://android.kul.is/2013/09/sony-xperia-zr-wifi-problem.html

This is an official solution I found after weeks of testing and research. In the end, the driver is not loaded properly or by default, custom ROM created the havoc.
I noticed that when running ADB GUI, there is this file missing from /system/data/misc/wifi called WCNSS_qcom_cfg.ini .
I'm using ADB Helper Version 4.2.0.0, under build.prop Viewer tab, choose wlan.driver.config it points to that location. I downloaded it from somewhere on the Xperia developer forum website. Then I modified and modified until I found the solution.
In this file I modified the line gDotMode=3 (which is running in N mode only) to either 1 or 2 which s "a" or "b" mode.
I rebooted the device and the wifi works and N mode is disabled meaning you wont be able to connect in 5GHz mode anymore. But you will be able to connect to all the CURRENT 2.4GHz AP.
I read somewhere where ICS android allows you to Enable or Disable 5GHz scanning of AP. But was removed from later versions.
Now, my phone can connect to any 2.4GHz WiFi.

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


text:
How to stop "Cell Info Display" in HTC Desire X Duos
this question is with regards to HTC Desire X dual Sim. I have this device and since the day I purchased this device I am suffering a lot with the CID massages, in a minute I am getting 10-15 messages, and I am not able to turn that off. So please suggest me how to turn the CID massages off.

Put the SIM in another HTC mobile like Wildfire and go to settings > call > cell broadcast > uncheck it and delete any subscribed channels like 50.

If anyone got problem with cell broadcast sms or service messages, just first save the channel in any name and just block that channel in message block list. If can't block in default sms application, just download any sms application from android market ( i used Handscent sms) and block the channel

Put the sim in any Nokia handset and deactivate the cell info to stop the irritating broadcast messages.

Most people don't have other handsets just lying around.


text:
HTC ONE hung and can not restart the phone
I have a HTC ONE. While using the phone it got hung. And when i tried to use the power button the Display as well got switched off.
Now When i try to hold the Power button for ten seconds and try to hard restart its of no use. When i connect the phone to a pc via USB i get the device detected sound on windows but HTC One doesnt show its mass storage.
Any way to solve this problem ?

As per XDA here you can perform force restart by doing this.
To reboot the phone without ADB, just hold down the Vol Up and power button for 9 seconds, the phone should shut down.

If this doesn't power down the phone, you can try this. Lot of people has reported success in this method for most of the HTC phones.
Put your phone under a bright light then hold power+volume down.

If both of them fails, you have to wait till the battery die and let it charge and power on the phone normally.
Hope this helps you. Good luck.

i gave it to the service center waiting for them to get back to me :(

Looks like a hardware issue.

As odd as it may sound, I found a solution in the net and it worked for me twice already !!
Put the phone in a bright light, strong bulb or direct sun, and do a hard reset!!
Worked twice for me.

It worked for me too, just using another phone lighter and pointing directly to front camera and sensors.

I've had the same problem with my HTC One M7, but the vol down or vol up with power button didn't force it to reboot.
I was messing around with the phone and a call came in.  I was able to answer the call and after the call my phone went back to normal!  So I'd suggest trying to call the phone from another phone.


text:
Reinstalling Samsung Home on Samsung Galaxy Y Duos
I had removed Samsung Home and made another launcher as the default home screen. I now need to reinstall Samsung Home; and I have tried moving both the APK and the ODEX file for Samsung Home into the /system/app folder, and tried to set the proper permissions, but this didn't work.
Any other suggestions (other than restoring the Nandroid backup with CWM)?

A suggestion for next time: you don't need to remove the default launcher to start using another one. You can choose between the two with a chooser the same way you can for web browsers or any other kind of app.

@DanHulme: Frankly speaking, I went into an uninstalling spree after rooting my phone. And I do know of the chooser

That's good. I'd still like to make sure that anyone else who finds this question knows there's an easier way.


text:
handling multiple devices on the play store
I have multiple Android devices, and each time I go to the play store website to install an app, I get a list of devices to install to.
my questions:

Is it possible to change the order of them? currently i only see how to hide (no removal? weird) or change their names (here), but it doesn't help re-ordering them.
I ask this since I use one of them the most.

is it possible to install to multiple devices at the same time instead of one by one?

As for 1) the web page usually remembers the last device selected, doesn't it? Apart from that, the answer to both is "No", as bmdixon's answer correctly states.

@Izzy for 1, i wish it was, but it doesn't remember anything.

1) No there is currently no way to sort them. As you have noticed you can hide them and give them different names but not remove them. From my experience they disappear after 9 months without checking in to the play store, so simply hide any that you don't want to see.
2) Again I don't think this is possible at the moment via the Play store.

thanks. is it possible to request it from google?

You could try contacting Google (click the "Contact Us" link on that page) but i don't know if it'll get you very far.

i've tried, but i can't find out where exactly i can write anything. it's like a fully automated FAQ. it doesn't get me nowhere interesting...


text:
PDF Reader with MP3 player?
I'm learning a new language using a PDF book and audio dialogues on an Android tablet. My problem is to have a MP3 player near my PDF viewer so I can start/stop audio reading text.
Is there an application for this? Or, is there a method that simplify respect quitting PDF reader to pass to MP3 then reopen PDF reader?

As long as your tablet is running Android 4.1 or newer then there are a number of music players that can put player controls in the Notification area on your device. This is so that you can just access the notification bar while you're running another app, without exiting the original app.
I haven't got a screenshot handy of how it looks on a tablet, but here's an example of one on a phone:

Try searching the Play Store for something like MP3 Notification Bar Controls

EZ PDF Reader pro (There is also a trial version) will allow you to read and have the mp3 file play at the same time. I have used it while performing. I can have lyrics and cords on the screen and have an mp3 file playing at the same time.


text:
ADB on Ubuntu does not recognize Nexus 4
I'm unable to get my Nexus 4 phone recognized by ADB on Ubuntu (12.04 with a newer kernel installed: 3.8.0-30-generic). Developer mode is enabled on the phone.
The device shows up in lsusb:

$ lsusb
...
Bus 003 Device 034: ID 18d1:4ee5 Google Inc.
...

But when I run adb devices I get an empty list. I found many posts on the internet about this problem but none of them solves the problem. There are two solutions.

Add a rule to /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules. I found various variation for the content of this file. In most cases a idVendor and idProduct value should be set based on the output of lsusb. Below are some examples that I tried

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTRS{idProduct}=="4ee5", MODE="0666" GROUP="androiddev", SYMLINK+="android%n"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="18d1", SYMLINK+="android_adb", MODE="0666"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee5", MODE="0666", OWNER="my-login"

After adding this I set the permissions for the rule file to 644 and I rebooted PC/ restarted udev, restarted phone and plugged in my Nexus 4.

Add the vendor id to ~/.android/adb_usb.ini.

echo 0x18d1 >> ~/.android/adb_usb.ini

I ran adb devices as root and normal user but I only get an empty list:

$ adb devices
* daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
* daemon started successfully *
List of devices attached

Any ideas on how to solve this problem? Any help of suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It's not enough to make the Developer options page appear in the settings menu (by repeatedly tapping the build number). On that page, there's an option USB debugging, which defaults to off.
When USB Debugging is enabled, connecting your device to a PC using USB makes the "USB debugging connected" notification appear, regardless of whether adb is currently running on the PC.

Could you please detail your answer? Where can find this "page"?

@LuísdeSousa http://android.stackexchange.com/q/33496/12442

I am trying to connect through adb because the touch screen is broken. I have no means to access any of its menus and applications. Would there be any other way of activating this USB debugging feature?

For a more complete instruction set of how to get the Nexus 4 udev rules on ubuntu configured follow these instructions:
How to find your device Vendor ID
You can find a Vendor ID for usb connected devices with the following linux command:
lsusb

This will generate a list of all connected USB devices so make sure your device is connected before you do so.
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 18d1:4ee2 Google Inc.

The first part of the field after ID is the vendor ID (18d1) and the second part corresponds to the mode in which the device is connected. In this case 4ee2 equals MTP mode with debug on.
CREATE UDEV RULE FOR NEXUS 4
To be able to detect the Nexus 4 phone under Ubuntu, first thing is to create the proper udev rules that will allow the system to detect the phone.
These udev rules should be able to handle 4 different cases:

phone connected in MTP mode (USB debug on or off)
phone connected in PTP mode (USB debug on or off)
phone connected in Fastboot mode
phone connected in Recovery mode

They will be declared in /etc/udev/rules.d/99-android.rules. If file already exists, just append the content at the end of it.
# sudo gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/99-android.rules

Below contents has to be added. Make sure to replace the your-login field with your proper username your logged in with.
# Google Nexus 4 16 Gb
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee1", MODE="0666", OWNER="your-login" # MTP media (multimedia device)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee2", MODE="0666", OWNER="your-login" # MTP media with USB debug on(multimedia device)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee5", MODE="0666", OWNER="your-login" # PTP media (camera)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee6", MODE="0666", OWNER="your-login" # PTP media with USB debug on (camera)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="4ee0", MODE="0666", OWNER="your-login" # Bootloader
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="18d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="d001", MODE="0666", OWNER="your-login" # Recovery

Restart services
Once done, udev service has to be restarted.
# sudo service udev restart

Note that in some cases it's also needed to restart adb with:
adb kill-server
adb start-server

Or completely reboot the system with:
sudo reboot -n

Reconnecting the USB cable (instead of a reboot) might also work.
Authorize ADB connection
If you have just enabled the ADB debug option on your phone and created this new connection the ADB command might list your device as unauthorized. Just check the screen of your phone then to authorize the new connection.
Credits
Most of this information was found at http://bernaerts.dyndns.org/android/267-android-nexus4-root-twrp-ubuntu . This is a rooting guide for nexus 4 on ubuntu. I only used the first step of this guide.

I just tried this solution from Ubuntu 14.04 and even after rebooting the system the Nexus 4 is not recognised.

Did you try starting adb with root permissions? See one of the other replies about Ubuntu 14.04 + did you check the USB connection mode on the device?

Yes, I tried it with sudo. The phone gets connected in MTP mode with debug off.

I'm running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and I've found that I have to run adb with root permissions for it to detect my phone. Just now I ran (from the platform-tools directory) ./adb devices and came up with an empty list. I restarted adb as root by running ./adb kill-server and then sudo ./adb start-server. Now adb devices returns:
List of devices attached
01d17087d29dec60    device

Whereas before it looked like this:

List of devices attached

killing, then starting as root worked for me. Using a Nexus 5

I just tried this solution on Ubuntu 14.04 and I still get an empty device list.

FYI: I recently updated the android version from 4.4 to 5.0 on my phone and ADB would no longer show the device as connected. It seems where USB connection method MTP was correct before it now has to be PTP.

Could you please detail your answer? Where exactly should this method be tweaked?

As I stated MTP was correct BEFORE, AFTER the update PTP was correct.


text:
How do I change call recorder file destination?
By default my call recordings are saved on the internal phone memory, in the Sounds directory.
How can I change this, e.g. to the external SD card?
(Android 4.1.2, Omega ROM v49, inbuilt recording option)


text:
Nexus 7 rooting false device not responding
I am tried to root the nexus 7,
at the time of rooting i wrongly deleted the boot.img so device not switch on.
i have tried lot many ways to switch on the device and recover the operating system no use in that,
do u have any way please help me!!!
i need to know how to restore os or install new os to boot the device please help me!!!
any way to recover that problem!!!
what is an need to write the os on flash at first time.

Have you tried to boot to HBOOT (first screen, when power Nexus 7 with "volume down" pressed). If it can boot - we can use fastboot to flash normal bootloader and recovery.

ya tried but no use,device given to service center

Ok, then, please close the question, because completely correct answer isn't possible to detect now...


text:
Mobile Data only working when used as hotspot
I recently bought a HTC One. Everything worked fine including mobile-data and Wifi. Until I once used my phone as Hotspot for my laptop.
The whole time while using the hotspot I had working internet on both my phone and laptop. But the next day (hotpost disabled), I couldn't get the mobile-data to work.
I don't get an error, it just doesn't load.
Wifi connections still work.
Now I tried reenabling hotspot and to my surprise it works. I now have internet on the laptop but NOT on the phone.
It seems that somehow the mobile-data will only work when the phone is used as hotspot.
What have I done wrong?
Android 4.2.2

Somehow there was a proxy set up in the APN settings …
Edit: To change the proxy you have to go to the settings and click on mobile data. Select Access point names, select the active APN (or the one you're having problems with) check/reset the Proxy/Port settings.

@dot: Pit will have to wait two days for that.

@Pit: It would be nice to have the steps to reach those settings for future readers who find themselves in this situation.

@AlEverett I added the steps to reach the settings

If you're using Android 8, follow the Path
Setting -> Network & Internet -> Mobile Network.
Change to the tab the represent your active cellular SIM (in case of dual-sim phones)
-> Access Point Names -> [3 dots icon] on TOP RIGHT -> Reset to default.
Worked perfectly for me right after reset.


text:
Using Google voice number without data
So I know similar questions have been asked, but I feel my situation is a bit unique to everything I've read.  So I transferred my old number that everyone knows to Google voice, then I got a new phone with a new number that only has calling and texting.  I took the SIM card out of that phone and put it into my android phone, effectively giving me an android that has calling and texting, but no data plan.  I set up google voice to recognize my new number and call forward and everything seems to work while I'm on wifi, but I don't seem to receive text messages when I am not on wifi.
Is there a way to tell google voice to send all text messages it receives on my gv number to my carriers text plan with my new number (even if I don't have access to data)?  Also can replying to these messages without being near wifi show my gv number instead of my new phones number?  I can call Google voice and have it call the number I want to have my old number always show up, but with texting I haven't seemed to find a way yet.  Anyone in a similar situation have a good solution?

I figured it out.  If you navigate to this page, and tick the receive text messages on this phone box all texts to Google voice will be forwarded to your phone via SMS.  This generates a new number for each of your contacts that will travel between Google voice before delivery, making it so you will always show as your Google voice number to friends, even if you are outside of wifi.  So just need to save the new number for each contact and be sure to text that instead of their actual number and it works perfect.  More info here.


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Galaxy s2 is recognised by computer but doesn't charge
This is an odd one but today I noticed by S2 wasn't charging while plugged in. I tried connecting it to the computer and it came up as a media device as normal but still didn't charge, the battery percentage went down until it was 0% and the phone shut off.
Is there any way I can fix this myself?

Can you get your hands on another S2 USB cable and try that first? Then look into a new battery and other solutions after that. It's often something simple like that. I had a damaged and a generic Micro USB for a HTC phone and I could copy to and from it but not charge with either, same as you, and when I used the mains outlet it took about 16 hours to charge!

Does it charge when you plug into AC? It could be that the USB port simply doesn't provide enough power.

@RossC Will look at getting another USB cable but I don't think that's the issue because charging my Nexus 7 with the same cable works fine.

@AlEverett Doesn't work over AC either. The battery icon in the status bar looked as though it was charging (had the lightning symbol) but the phone said 'Please connect your charger'.

I suspect a bad battery, then.

@AlEverett Good suspicion! Cleaned the battery contacts and it appears to be charging as normal. :)

@Sam Great! Glad to hear it's fixed. It is often something small like that at fault. It's easy to go wild flashing ROMS and going down the complicated route. I had a friend spend 4 hours reinstalling kernels, drivers, etc etc and his brother came along did a battery pull and everything that was wrong was fixed immediately!


text:
Switching to Android, how do I handle music?
My wife and I are planning on switching from apple phones to the Note III when it comes out later in the month. I was preparing to switch my music collection from itunes based to google play by uploading and organizing everything to the google play web app. However, I ran into a couple of issues.

I have a computer that plays background music during the day, regardless of if we are home or not. Up to now I have been playing it through itunes, however since I have been pulling the google play web app during day, I have noticed that if I play music from work, that I come home and the music has stopped playing because you can only stream music from one device at one. I would like to have this music playing at all times.
I assume, since my wife and I share the same music collection that we will both sign in to google play using the same google ID. However, if only one device can stream at a time, what happens when I am listening at work and she is wanting to listen at work. Will it kill one of the streams?

Has anyone else run into this? Is there another way to manager music on the Android platform?

You could just always leave your iTunes setup as-is. Google Play Music can sync directly from that.

You don't have to use Google Play Music to play music on Android. There are many other options: you could store music on each device and keep them in sync with a general-purpose file sync app, or set up your own streaming music server on your "background music" computer.


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How does CF-Autoroot work?
What's the theory behind how CF-autoroot is able to root android devices?
I'm wondering on what techniques it used to run su?
Does it use a custom/patched Linux kernel? Or it is based on local root exploit?
I couldn't find CF-Autoroot source code, so I assumed that is a closed-source project.

On Nexus devices, at least:  CF Auto-Root works by unlocking the device's boot loader via fastboot (if it isn't already unlocked), then sending the device a custom boot image (kernel and ramdisk) that it should run instead of booting from the built-in system or recovery partition.  It's analogous to booting your PC from a CD or USB drive instead of from the hard drive.
(This is a supported feature of the fastboot program included in the Android SDK; it doesn't involve any exploits.  If you look at the script that comes in the CF Auto-Root package, you'll see that it really just runs fastboot oem unlock and fastboot boot commands.)
Once the custom boot image is running, it has full access to the device (just like the built-in system software does), so it copies some files (the su program and superuser APK) into the system partition.  On recent Android versions (5.0+), it also makes some changes to the kernel's SELinux configuration that are needed to allow the root account to be functional.  Then it reboots the device so that it'll boot from the (modified) kernel and system partition.


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How can I replace the "gallery" app? (On rooted bluestacks app player)
I am using BlueStacks app player with a rooted Android system installed. I use it for WhatsApp and Kik messengers. I like to send pictures to my contacts but the shared folder is not visible in pictures, so I downloaded QuickPic which works Awesome! but one drawback: Some applications still launch the gallery app, and ignore the fact that QuickPic is my default gallery app. I cannot uninstall "gallery" from the apps.. so how do I replace it? Gallery app is limited and unusable for me, I like to browse the directories myself on the SDcard. I also have a terminal available if that's of any help (Android Terminal Emulator). How can I permanently replace the gallery with QuickPic? I cannot choose my own wallpapers because Gallery is launched instead of QuickPic.

Most apps, when they want to choose an image, use an implicit intent, which just says what they want to do, and doesn't specifically name the Gallery app. This means that any app that can perform that action can be started, and if you have more than one, you get the chooser to choose which to launch. This is the normal behaviour.
You won't get a chooser if you've previously clicked Always in the chooser to set one app as the default, or if the calling app uses an explicit intent, naming the Gallery app specifically.
It's best to check the first case. In the device settings, go to the list of all apps, and find the Gallery. Click it to go into that app's info page, then click Clear defaults. If Clear defaults is greyed out, then it's not set as the default for anything.
If you still don't get a chooser, then it's the second case: the calling app is specifically asking for the Gallery, not just for any app that can choose an image. Only the author of the calling app can fix this.


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How to set google now to use the media volume instead of system volume?
For a long time I thought something is wrong with Google now that it doesn't say anything when I ask it questions.
Now I've finally found out the reason - it uses the system volume instead of the media volume (the one that is usually used in games). Since I've set the system volume to be mute and I sometimes set the ringtones to be quite, it makes Google now itself to be quite.
My question:
Why does it use it? what is the system volume used for?
According to what i've found , system sound is used for key typing ,lock screen sounds, and camera shutter sound
Can I set google now to use the media volume instead?

hi, did you ever solve this? I see ppl using tasker but love a simpler way.

@TiloBunt I've forgotten about this, so I now wrote an answer...

Not sure from which version of Android it has changed, but on my Pixel 2 with Android P, it uses media volume.
So it doesn't matter anymore.


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Is there any way to know the cause I cannot install app from Google Play
I'm using Sony Xperia S (also I have old SE Xperia X10 Mini) and want to install mytaxi app. But Google Play says that I'm not eligible to do this and I do not understand why! I've found an apk in the internets and it works fine, but I want to know the reason and have updates.

Doesn't it give any reason along – such as "not compatible with any of your devices" or "not available in your country"? What is the exact wording?

@Izzy it says "This app is incompatible with all of your devices."

Contact the developer and let them fix it.

This problem is rather frequent and only the developers can fix it. Reason is probably that the app wants features like GPS, certain screen sizes or a minimum Android version. One of those requirements is not met although it runs just fine. Tje devs need to relax that declaration...

Thank you guys for the comments! I've send them a mail. Also my phone have GPS module. Never saw Androids without it. @ce4 you can make it an answer - I'll be glad to accept.

@ce4 - Probable reason is forgetting to include android:required="false" in a  declaration.  It defaults to true if not included, making the feature mandatory rather than optional.

Sorry, I'm only using my mobile atm, hence the qick comments. Answer comes in a minute. See also: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/53460/incompatible-devices-with-my-newly-released-app-why

This problem is rather frequent and only the developers can fix it.
Reason is probably that the app wants features like GPS, certain screen sizes or a minimum Android version. One of those requirements is not met although it runs just fine.
So the obvious way to get this fixed is to contact the developers and have them relax that declaration..


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Error installing Android 4.3 using adb sideload
Situation : My phone battery drains out completely one day and even after charging it fully the phone is still stuck in boot-loop with Nexus 'X' logo.
What I did :
Tried factory reset from recovery mode multiple times but no luck.
I tried to install factory 4.3 as well as 4.2.2 using adb sideload but constantly get the error..
"Signature verification failed".
I checked the md5 checksum for my downloaded file and it seems fine.
What am I doing wrong here ?
Amongst the images downloaded in a .tgz file what is the the file I should be using for sideload ?
Note : I am using xubuntu to run the adb command

You can't install a ROM using adb install, just like you can't install a fresh Ubuntu system with apt-get. You use fastboot to install new ROMs, when the device is in fastboot mode. Instructions are different for each device, and the ROM you downloaded should come with them.
Regardless, from the symptoms you describe, it doesn't sound like installing a new ROM will help with the problem. Before trying anything so drastic, check the boot-loop tag wiki to see some more triage/debugging steps you can try.

Updates :
I did fastboot all the images and the 4.3 image using adb. No errors but was still stuck at the 'X' logo after while booting. Next I tried to flash the twrp recovery and clockwork recovery image so that i could sideload the image.zip. But was still getting the verification failed error.
On closer look at the logs of clockwork i found these :
"cant partition non-vfat: datamedia
cant format unknown volume: /external_sd
cant format unknown voume: /emmc"
Have I done any damage to the memory ?


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Multiple Androids with one bluetooth keyboard
Is there some software that simply lets me use one bluetooth keyboard to type on several different android tablets in front of me?
Provided:
The keyboard supports pairing with multiple devices, and it is paired with all of my tablets.
A solution to this problem should ideally give a way for me to choose which tablet is currently receiving keyboard input using only the keyboard; in other words, I shouldn't have to touch a screen in order to switch to another tablet.

No. Although the keyboard can pair with multiple devices, it can only be connected to one at a time. You can't fix that with software that runs on the tablet.

I don't know of software that will allow any given keyboard to pair with multiple devices at a time, but the Logitech Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard K480 will do that. It has a wheel to cycle through and choose which device you want to use.


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How come YouTube ads do not load on default Android web browser?
I am confused when ads show up on Android browsers. This video for example is configured to show ads all the time before the video starts:
But it doesn't show that on my Android browser, but does show the ads on the web. Would anyone know why that happens?
Thanks!

Are you using stock ROM or custom ROM? Do you have any ad blocker installed?

It is entirely dependant on what you are running. I get them on my unrooted S4. You may have ad-block or similar running.

@RossC hmmm..you get the ads on the video I posted in this question? Interesting...I don't think I have any ad blocker running. At least I didn't install one.


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Setting Defaults for Links
I've been confused about how this works for quote some time now-- when I click a link, say in a browser (Chrome for example) and get the "open with" dialog if you will, if I chose to save a default for a Google maps link, will that set the default to ALL Google maps links, that particular link, or am I missing something?
I'm often afraid to set defaults because I'm not clear on what it is I'm actually setting a default for-- is it the domain name?
I'd appreciate any tips, links to documentation, or app suggestions to make this clearer to me. Thanks!

I'm not 100% sure whether I understood you correctly. You are not asked for every link (most should simply open the linked page in your browser), are you? This should only happen for targets the browser cannot handle itself, and then you can set the default app to handle that mime type, regardless of the domain/website/page it comes from. Basically, it's saying "Open MP3 files always with [my player], don't ask me again to chose", for example.

@Izzy It's not only for targets the browser cannot handle itself: it's for any URL where more than one app can handle it. YouTube links are the usual example. For web links, it's usually the URL rather than the MIME type, because the browser doesn't know the MIME type until you follow the link.

Good example – you're absolutely right! I just cannot remember that happening for "normal" links (text/html) when multiple browsers are available, so that seems to be an exception somehow?

Short answer: yes, it's for all Google Maps links.
The long answer is that Android's intent mechanism (which is the way Android decides what app to start) can use different parts of the URL to match the app. The app can register itself with Android to handle:

a particular URI scheme, such as market://
a particular domain, such as youtube.com
paths within the domain matching a particular filter, such as /users/*

Apps can also filter on other things not relevant to clicking a link, such as different actions (e.g. share) or different MIME types. One app can have more than one filter, and one filter can match any combination of the above things. For example, a YouTube app might have one filter that matches when all these conditions are met:

the scheme is http:// or https://
the domain is youtube.com
the path matches watch?v=*

and another that matches when all these conditions are met:

the scheme is http:// or https://
the domain is youtu.be (the domain for short URLs)

In this case, there are two different defaults to set: the first time you click a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJRFaR71HfY it will set the default for that kind of link. Then, if you later click a http://youtu.be/DJRFaR71HfY, it'll ask a second time, because that counts as a different kind of link.
In the case of Google Maps, there are several different kinds of link it can handle (as well as other intent filters not relevant to links):-

geo://*
latitude://*
http://maps.google.tld/ or https://maps.google.tld/ (with nothing after the /), for every TLD that Google has (google.com, google.fr, etc.)
http://maps.google.tld/maps* or https://maps.google.tld/maps*
http://mapy.google.pl/ or https://mapy.google.pl/ ("mapy" being Polish for "maps")
http://mapy.google.pl/maps* or https://mapy.googl.pl/maps*
http://local.google.com/ or https://local.google.com/
http://local.google.com/maps* or https://local.google.com/maps*
http://m.google.com/latitude or https://m.google.com/latitude
http://www.google.com/latitude or https://www.google.com/latitude
http://m.google.com/u/m/* or https://m.google.com/u/m/*

Each one of those lines counts as a different kind of link, so Android will ask again. In addition, all but the first of those have two separate entries: one for opening or browsing a link in the usual way, and another for scanning an NFC tag (or receiving by Android Beam) a matching link. Again, those two things count as different links for the purposes of setting defaults.

To get this information from the Google Maps app, I used the app PackageExplorer. The information it gives you takes some knowledge to interpret: you may find the Android intent API guide for developers useful.

Thanks for the thorough information, Dan! Do you have any suggestions for managing or showing this level of detail easily on the phone? I've seen an asp called Default Manager, but from the reviews I've seen, it doesn't appear to be a viable solution.

@Kurt I'd suggest not bothering. Unless you're writing your own app or something like a Tasker script that needs to interoperate with this specific app, it's easier to just let the system work as designed. Even so, I updated my answer to add this information.

Do you have an alternative link for PackageExplorer? The current one is dead.


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Is it possible to root my phone without installing a custom ROM?
I have a Samsung Galaxy Stellar on Verizon.
Whenever I hear anything about rooting a phone, people always say that you have to install a custom ROM. How do I just use my current stock ROM and root my phone?

It is possible for the "custom" ROM to just be the stock ROM with root added in.

In theory - yes.
In practice, it varies from device to device - a very common way of an end-user obtaining root is to flash an insecure kernel. This can be a standalone kernel or a pre-rooted kernel + ROM combination. For certain devices, there are also available a number of 3rd party "one-click rooting" apps.
That being said, rooting might cause your device to be unusable (if not done correctly or something unexpected occurs), so read the instructions carefully before proceeding and ALWAYS backup your data to an external source like Dropbox or to your PC before you begin.
Here's a link (unverified) on how to root your Verizon Stellar.

Short answer
That very much depends on your device, as the rooting process often is device specific. Following up to the rooting tag wiki will give you some basic info, and also provide a link to our rooting index, which might even already include a link for your device.
TL;DR
Basically, rooting just means to push a binary (su) and a helper app (SuperUser/SuperUser or SuperSU) to the system partition. So as Compro01 wrote in his comment on your question, you're "customizing your ROM" somehow.
On most devices that's all you need, though how that's accomplished is a different thing, as it's a little chicken-and-egg: You want to gain root permissions on your device – and for that, you first have to push those two files to /system, which only can be done with root permissions. So in most cases, this requires some "hacking", which is what Sparx refers to in his answer might cause your device to be unusable. I rooted several devices already, and when sticking to the instructions the device should not become "unusable" (though I admit there might be rare cases). I had it once a device became instable (apps crashing, device rebooting itself multiple times a day), but that was easily cured by a factory reset.

The answer is YES .
It is not mandatory for you to install custom ROM for rooting your device.
ROOTING process is a actually YOU ARE GETTING ALL THE PRIVILEGES of your phone . So it is not necessary to install Custom ROM
Steps to Do Rooting :

Find root files for your Android Device on the internet(Every phone has a different root file ). Place it in your SDCARD
Reboot your phone in the boot loader mode.
Select file from the boot menu
Hit install.

I can help you in your rooting process if you tell me which device you are using.
here is an Unverified way to do it (Samsung Steller).

So basically I have to get a custom ROM that's the same as mine? Or am I misunderstanding you?

you are misunderstanding me . I mean you have to download a small root file like (root.zip) probably of 2 MB. It is different from custom ROM. Its is just an update file for your phone.

Kingoroot - you can download it to your phone and root with one touch or onto Windows and root via usb, it requires no flashing so is safe and takes up to two minutes. I used it on my Samsung Galaxy phone and it worked fine (may need to do a couple of tries). It even installs super user (a root access manager) app for you.

Mainstream phones are easier to root since their source is well adopted. Less familiar phones can be harder to root. Why? When you're rooting, you're adding one functionality to the phone which is initialized at boot; that is to run the SuperSU Daemon which utilizes the su binary in coordination with the Kernel to work in providing elevated permissions over Read Only File Systems like the /system. How is this achieved? The Kernel has to be patched to be able to do this since that's another third party services being added. If a phone has an unpatchable boot.img. All these things might require installing a third party boot.img which still support the current system to be able to root. Failure to find a way to develop a boot.img that will support the system will require you to install a full Custom ROM to be able to do this. Remember the kernel is in the boot.img together with something they call the ramdisk that's why you should talk about boot.img if you're taking about Kernel in Android. It is either possible to root without Custom ROM or Impossible depending on your device


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Does LG Optimus G (E-0975) support USB host mode?
Device: LG optimus G (E-0975)
Android: 4.1.2
Does LG Optimus G (E-0975) support USB host mode?
If yes, what can I do with that? How do I use it?

According to USB Host Diagnostics, NO.
Related Post:

How can I determine if my device has USB Host Mode (OTG) support?
What is the difference between USB On-The-Go (OTG) and USB Host Mode?

no it doesnt...and you cant enable it because the battery is too low and it should be able to provide the usb with 5V and its not...so sadly there is now way to enable it

authors: ᏒᏬᎮᏗᏦ ᎷᏗᏠᏬᎷᎴᏋᏒ


text:
Phone is being overrun with ads
Whenever I switch on my Internet every morning I get a page which opens up with applications and games that aren't from the Play Store and I see a message that says my phone has stopped outside applications from being downloaded. Plus my gallery gets flooded with pictures of game icons and stuff and no matter how many times I delete them, they come back again. How do I make this stop?

You have installed something a bit dodgy by the sounds of it. Try AVG or AVAST security (both are free on play store) and see if they find the app then uninstall it. You could factory reset if it gets very bad, but lets not do that first!

I would never recommend an anti-virus Android app. They are bloating and unnecessary.

You have downloaded an app using an advertising platform that uses these ads.
These ads are actually against Google Play's Developer Policies, so when you find the app (see below) that is doing this, be sure to report it.
There are a few ways to find the app:

When did the adverts start? If you can remember this, try and think of any apps you might have installed not long before they started, and uninstall them.
Are there any apps in your Manage Apps area that shouldn't be there? Uninstall them, and see if the adverts go away.
Check through all your apps, and look at the permissions. Adverts like these will need loads of permissions, so if you see an app with many permissions which it may not need, uninstall it and see if the adverts go.

If the worst comes to the worst, you can factory reset and reinstall all your apps one by one, however this is a last resort, as you will lose all of your data.


text:
How can I pick the correct replacement usb charger for my phone?
My phone has a wall charger with outputs 5vdc and 850mA, which just broke (I saved the USB-microB cable which I've been using to charge from laptops). Unfortunately, OEM chargers of that particular model are not readily available in our area. So, I have to resort to generic/replacement chargers or adapters. Now, when I got to an electronics store, they don't have a charger with the exact specs. It's either a 700mA or an iPhone adapter that has 1A output current. Which should be somehow better/safe for my phone which has Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery? I've seen other threads which suggest getting higher outputs while some say otherwise.

Welcome to the Android Enthusiasts, Jerikj! Please note that shopping recommendations are off topic here. You might want to look into Where can I ask questions that aren't Android Enthusiast questions?

I think this question is fine here. He's not asking about what to buy or where, but what to look for when buying.

Using a higher current charger will not be a problem.  The phone "pulls" current, rather than having the current "pushed" to it by the charger, so it will only take as much current as it wants, regardless of how much the charger is capable of supplying.
By relation, there's no point in getting a charger with a current rating higher than your phone will accept.  It's just a waste of money, as your phone won't make use of the extra capability.  Exactly how much current your phone will accept is usually unspecified and is generally only determinable by direct measurement (i.e. put a multimeter in the circuit), and thus generally isn't practical to exactly determine for an everyday user.
1A chargers are fairly standard and would be completely adequate for almost any phone.  Chargers with more current than that are generally intended for tablets/phablets which have much larger batteries and will accept more current (e.g. 10" tablets generally charge at around 2.5A).  Your phone will charge off those fine, but as I said above, just won't take advantage of the extra current capability you paid for.

ok. Got it. but, in terms of keeping the battery itself in tiptop condition or the chances of preventing damage to the phone (well, because its just a replacement). can I assume the charger with lower current is "safer" than the higher current charger? or both will be no problem for the phone?

Neither will be a problem.  As I said, the phone will only take as much current as it wants, regardless of how much the charger can supply.  Whether the charger is just capable of supplying the peak charge current or whether the charger could supply enough current to light up Manhattan will make no difference, the phone will pull the exact same amount from it.

The 700mA is safer bet but will result in longer charging period than the 1A/850mA.
The 1A charger would be charging faster but might not be preferable (check your battery for the details Voltage & Current).
PS: Incompatible chargers tend to cause weird ghost touches in the touch screen.


text:
Silencing notification of scheduled quiet mode (LG G2)
I have quiet mode scheduled and it works exactly as I want. The problem is there is a notification every morning that my scheduled quiet mode occurred. I'm starting to hate seeing this notification and I don't need to see it.

What application do you use to enable quiet mode? Is it standalone application or a system app?
If it's a standalone application then you could try turning off notifications for that app however note that this will disable all notifications coming from the app, not just the silent one.

It's the system quiet mode app. Can I adjust notifications for that? I'd like to do the same thing with the Battery Saver thing that always has a thing on my notifications, but the Settings app doesn't let you disable or edit notifications.


text:
adb-shell : /sbin/sh: command: not found
I've managed to root Google Nexus 7 (2013 Wi-Fi) and now I have CyanogenMod 10.2-20130919-NIGHTY-grouper running on it and Clockworkmod recovery v6.0.1.9 following this guide.
Then I downloaded and installed Thinktube image-file to allow ad-hoc networking.
I am now able to create ad-hoc network in my tablet (not yet tested with other same-model tablets) and I can see the adhoc network from other iOS phones and adnroid 2.1 only. However, I want to make sure that:
does Thinktube image-file actually support OLSR rooting protocol or not ?
if not, then I am already following this guide to download, install and enable OLSR mode.
But, when I am in the Recovery-mode in my tablet, and when i open the adb-shell from my PC, I can list files and browse folders in my tablet normally. But I cannot run any other command on the adb-shell. it always gives me this error:
/sbin/sh: "any-command-rather-than-ls-&-cd": not found

what is this error ?  what did I do wrong ? and what I should do to fix it?

What commands have you tried?

@DanHulme: make .. su (but I understood I don't need to do this because I am already in the superUser account when I am inside the adb-shell).. scan_results  and any other commands

Unlike a desktop GNU/Linux system, Android isn't designed for command-line use, so it doesn't come with the full set of command-line programs that a GNU system would have. It only has the most basic commands (like the ones you've already seen working), and Android-specific utilities such as am, pm, bmgr.
You can get access to the basic POSIX commands (such as less and grep) by installing Busybox. There are several installers for it on Google Play. For any more specialist programs like make, you'll need to find an Android port of the particular program and install it.

I don't have google-play app in my tablet after installing CyanogenMod which means I cann't install Busybox-app.. I don't have even SuperUser-app after unlocking ..

@Rania-Boy You can install Busybox from another source, or install Google Play first.

The shell on Android is placed in /system/bin/sh instead of the regular /bin/sh – I wonder where you’d see /sbin/sh which I’ve never encountered in the wild on any Unix (and violates the POSIX standard), but in this place you should just change the script/invocation involved.
Most commands are in the $PATH anyway, so calling them with explicit paths is not necessarily needed.
That being said, Android Unix userland is very minimal – it didn’t even include a cat(1) implementation until recently – so you may be disappointed a bit.
Some people suggest using busybox on it. If you do, make sure to not replace the system shell, as Android’s default mksh(1) is much more powerful than busybox’ ash.
Disclaimer: I’m the mksh maintainer.


text:
How do I find my Nexus 7 model number
I am building an adhoc network using Asus Nexus 7. I've managed to root using CyanogenMod and ClockworkMod recovery and establish the adhoc after installing Thinktube image-file. However, i need to buy similar tablets so that i can test the network for real.
I am now trying to find out my Nexus 7 model number. But when i go to Settings-->About Tablet-->Model Number, All I can see is Nexus 7.
how can I find the Model of my Tablet ?

The XDA Wiki entry of the Nexus 7 only mentions two models:

Wifi Model: ME370T
Cellular Model: ME370TG

So if you have a functional SIM card slot then you have the cellular Model, otherwise the wifi-only one.

thanks .. before I wasn't know the difference between ME370T and ME370TG..


text:
short battery life
I have a gs3 running slim bean, and the battery life seems horrible to me. I woke up this morning at 8:00am with 100% battery life and by 1:30pm it has gone down to 23%  I have been I barely use the phone throughout the day too. The entire time the phone is probably being used for 30 min to an hour the rest of the time the screen is off.
What causes this?

Hard to say without hard facts. Have you checked the consumers in battery stats? Tried to check if anything keeps it awake all the time (using e.g. Wakelock Detector or BetterBatteryStats)? Or monitored your system using an app like SysPanel? All these things provide useful clues.

Also check the battery-life tag-wiki for similar top-rated questions, their answers might help you tracking down the culprit.

Does your GS3 have LTE capability?  If so, are you in an LTE service area?

It does use LTE, but usually I only get zero or one bar when I am at work or at home.

You have to remember that GS3 has a quad core processor which uses quite a bit of power.  Also you have 4 radios (GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and Mobile data.  If you are leaving all the radios on during the work day, you are consuming battery power.  Did you listen to music sometimes during the day....?  Did check Facebook or take pictures?   Which apps to do you have running?  All these features consume power.  You might need to adjust your features - turn off bluetooth and/or GPS and WiFi if you are not using them or close some of the apps. If I am away from a charging station and am listening to music and don't need my GPS or WiFi, I usually turn those features off to conserve battery poweer.

Even a quad core processor only uses lots of power while it's running at full tilt: if the device sleeps as much as it should, it shouldn't use that much power. Also, merely having GPS turned on in the settings doesn't make the GPS receiver burn energy: it's only powered when an app is actively using it (when the GPS notification is displayed).

I wasn't implying that just having GPS on uses a lot of power.  I was looking at usage as a whole.  I find that I have a shorter battery life when I have ALL the radios on, just as the user was complaining about.  My suggestion was to turn off any of the un-needed radios in order to conserve power when away from a charging station.

That's great. I just want to make sure other visitors don't get the idea that having GPS turned on draws power even if no apps are using it, as that's not true.


text:
Is there any difference between Samsung Galaxy S 3 GT-I9300 and I9300?
I've been looking into flashing a custom ROM on my Galaxy S 3, and most of custom ROM are only supported by the I9300 model of the Galaxy S 3.
When I went into my phone's settings, it said GT-I9300, so my question is: Are these two are the same and the HTC part is just being omitted, or these are two different models of the device?
Thank you for the attention, I.

I9300 is just a shortened form of GT-I9300.  They both mean the same device.
Just don't mix it up with the I9305, which is a different device, specifically the international LTE version.
Wikipedia has a useful chart of the different models and how they differ.  Minor models (e.g. I9300/I9300T or I747/I747m) are inter-compatible for ROM purposes.


text:
Snapchat receives blank chats
Since signing up for Snapchat about a month ago, I have regularly received Snapchats that are simply black screens (and obviously confirmed that the sender did not send a blank screen) about 1 out of every 4 messages.
I have the LG Spectrum 2, running Android 4.1.2 (JB) and just did a factory reset in an unsuccessful attempt to fix Snapchat. I have tried using an old version of Snapchat (v2.something) which received less blanks, but still some, as well as the new Beta version which received just as many as the most recent version. I even tried signing up for a new account and deleting the old one - this worked for about two days and then the same problem started again with the new account.


text:
How do you close apps in Android so they aren't taking up resources?
This may sound silly but it's a good point. In apps such as web browsers pressing the back key only navigates the browser back to the previous page. Pressing the home key makes an app disappear, but isn't it still running in the back ground? So for apps like web browsers where pressing the back key doesn't close them how do you close them when you want to change applications and not have an unused one taking resources?
Isn't it a bit rediculous that there's no built in way in android to exit an app?

Advanced task killer is very simple, light(< 300kb), and can be placed as an widget to kill all the running process in a single touch.
Also if you have developers options enabled in your phone you can select the number of background process limit or what to do when user leaves a process.

Thanks can you elaborate? I installed advanced task killer but don't see any option to kill all processes at once. There's a few I would like to leave running as exceptions e.g. antivirus, vpn client. I do have developer options enabled.

you can use any task killer or task manager for it.
Or simply you can go to
System ->Application -> Running -> select app and click on stop.
if android v 3.0 + then
just long press Home key On lenovo long press menu key and just left or right
slide you app it will get killed...
ok...


text:
How do I install apps (.apk files) that are placed in my Xperia U's internal memory?
I have Xperia U. I copied 2-3 games, their .apk files to be precise, to my internal storage. How can I run them? I have not installed them yet.

Please do not use all caps.

What are these files? APK files? or data (savegame) files?

1. Updating the firmware
Sony Xperia U has official firmware upgrade to ICS (4.0.4, I believe).
Connect you phone to your PC and run Sony PC Companion. From there you can update your phone to ICS.
Warning: Always take a backup in PC companion before updating firmware.
2. Installing APKs which are not from market
To enable installation of applications which are not from market, please follow the steps

go to Menu > Settings > Applications and make sure    “Unknown sources” is checked.
Open a file manager and click on the APK which want to install and in    the dialog box click install.
Open the application from application drawer.

Connect your phone to your PC and run Sony PC suit.
and update your firmware
take backup of contacts, messages, notes etc.
just go to your file explorer and run then select verify and install or package installer.
if it says enable unknown app installation
    go to Menu -> Settings -> Security -> Applications and check “Unknown sources”.


text:
How can I update my Samsung Galaxy Gio without a PC/Kies?
I have a Samsung Galaxy Gio and at home we do not have a computer. Is there anyway I can update or upgrade my software without using a computer? It will be fine if I have to download a few apps for the update.

I'm afraid not. There is an official 2.3.6 upgrade available, but it's not available using Android's over-the-air (OTA) update system, so you have to use Samsung Kies on a PC to flash it to the phone. There are also unofficial 4.1.2 upgrades available, but similarly, you need Kies to flash the phone.


text:
Water Damage to Droid 4 Non Removable Battery
I dropped my Droid 4 in a clean toilet.  The battery is not removable so I am concerned that waiting 2 or 3 days while it "drys out" in rice is a complete waste of time.  I am hoping someone can tell me if there is any hope that it may function normally again or should I buy a new one.
I'm not a patient person so waiting for it to dry out is sort of annoying.

If you have warranty then give it to the service centre and tell them to clear the water logs, if you don't have then you can do it by yourself and there are lots of tutorials available for dismantling and assembling. Keeping the phone with battery and water could cause some short circuit and there are possibilties that you battery will be dead completely. So act fast


text:
Convenient way to retain accounts/settings/icons/logins between installs?
I like installing the latest CyanogenMod nightly now and then. I do so by putting the zip on the SD card and installing it through ClockworkMod Recovery. But every time I do that, I have to do a lot of manual backup and recovery to get the system back to where I started:

Email accounts
Text messages
Home screen icons and widgets
Login settings for apps such as DropBox and Remember the Milk.
Wifi settings

My contacts and installed apps are carried over automatically as soon as I've connected the phone/install to my Google account.
Is there a convenient way to get the above points carried over automatically?

Have you tried the built in OTA updater? you won't need to wipe anything.

@Kmelkon No, where can I find it? I like to try new nightlies. Can that be done through the OTA updater?

What are you using for backup/restore? I never used the built-in CM updater (still running CM7.2 where I use CM). But maybe a partly automated backup/restore might be a welcome answer, too?

Yes, it's great for trying out nightlies, go to settings->About Phone->CyanogenMod updates..
try it out. if you like it, then install cyan delta from the play store so you can update w/o downloading the whole ROM. happy flashing!

@Izzy It would!

As you welcome it, I've added the backup/restore solution I had in mind as an answer. Hope it proves helpful – it did plenty of times for me :)

As a (partly) automated backup/restore process seems a welcome option, I might point you to Titanium Backup. At least in its payed version (I bought it long ago, so I don't remember the differences to the free version), it offers you automated/scheduled backups as well as restores. You can define "labels" (effectively grouping apps) and operate based on those, e.g. just backing up/restoring apps with a certain label. TiBu let's you diffentiate what you want to backup/restore also in terms of "app, data or both", so you've got a bunch of possibilities.
This app also has the possibility to keep a copy of its configuration on your SDCard. Starting for the first time (e.g. on a fresh ROM), it would check for that copy and use it, so its settings survive even a wipe.
You still might need to take care with "system data", as structures (e.g. in the SQLite databases) might have changed. But TiBu can even take care of that if you enable its "migration mode".
Summing up, while this isn't a nice one-click solution, it still might ease your upgrades. Even across different ROMs or even devices (I used it a lot for things like that, and got my apps & data from my old HTC Wildfire via Motorola Milestone² to my LG Optimus 4X that way).

Are you doing a wipe? Back when I still had CM on my S2 (I am on S4, with stock ROM now), I never had to wipe when updating to a minor update (via zip with CWM recover). I retained my data.
However, if you're updating to a major CM update, a wipe is sometimes necessary (esp if it's a major Android update).

I always wipe everything with ClockworkMod Recovery and then install the zip. What is considered major? 10.1.3 to 10.2?

@Andreas Something like CM9 to CM10, or CM10 to CM10.1; can be either nightly or stable. You can always check in XDA forums (or CM forums), and see or ask if a wipe is required. Wipe is usually not necessary with nightlies (but again, you need to check the version if it's a major jump).

Also, if you got caught by a bug in a nightly, there's a risk it may have corrupted some data, which would need a wipe (or a "clear data", if it's only in one app) to fix.


text:
How to change /system/fonts directory permission to writable in switch off mode?
I have Micromax A57 android 2.3.5 rooted phone, I have installed font using "Font Installer  Root" application , after installing successfully I realize that font is not good, then after I delete that font from /system/fonts directory, and I install DroidSans.ttf font from that application, while installing process device get hanged, so I remove battery and place it again and start the device , Now my phone is not started,
when I attach cable with device I can see in Eclipse that in /system/fonts folder DroidSans.ttf has o bytes that means by mistake that font has been deleted, now wants to copy that font in /system/fonts directory, i have tried with Eclipse but it has read only permission so I am failed, If I can copy that file then issue can be solved,
Please help me to change permission of /system/fonts directory so that I can copy that fonts and get my device data back

As it seems you can access your device via ADB, you should be able to remount /system read/write to repair that file, using
adb remount

After that, you can copy the intact DroidSans.ttf to /system/fonts, overwriting the 0-byte-file. Following a reboot, /system will be mounted read-only again, and everything should be working.

In case that adb remount should fail with a "permission denied", you might wish to read How to remount /system as read-write in Android, which explains the manual remount process step-by-step. That would basically be:

get a shell on the Android device using either adb shell or a terminal app
become root using su
find out how and where /system is mounted, using mount | grep system
mount /system read/write using the information obtained, e.g. mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/<device> /system (make sure to use the device obtained in the previous step instead of /dev/block/<device>)
verify whether your remount was successful, again using mount | grep system
now copy your DroidSans.ttf to /system/fonts
either reboot, or simply remount /system read-only using the parameters obtained in step 3, e.g. /dev/block/<device> /system ext4 rw,relatime,barrier=1,data=ordered 0 0

Always make sure to use the device and parameters obtained from step 3, or you might completely mess up.

Hello Izzy,
Thanks for answer,
but when I write "adb remount" in command prompt, it says "remount failed: Operation not permitted"

Exactly for that case I wrote the second part of my answer, below the horizontal ruler. Have you read the part In case that adb remount should fail...?

when I enter su after in adb shell it says "su: permission denied"

Then either your device is not rooted, or you have denied the shell in SuperUser/SuperSU. First time you execute "su", you have to confirm the SuperUser/SuperSU popup on the device itself. If you don't, it will simply timeout and reject the requestor.

But how can I see popup on device although my device is not being switch on.

That's in fact a problem: when your device's GUI does not fire up (due to the missing font), the popup cannot be shown. Have you tried to boot into recovery, and work from there?

yes, I reboot the device in recovery mode by holding up power key, volume up and volume down key together and its working there

Glad to read! So your issue is solved by this? If so, please indicate by accepting/upvoting the answer :)


text:
Battery performance of Dual SIM phone running only one SIM
Does a dual-SIM Android phone running only one SIM yield almost the same battery life as a single-SIM phone?
Will both the radios be running all the time regardless of whether both the SIMs are present?

From Wikipedia:

Battery life (talk time and standby time) of active dual-SIM mobile
  phones is reduced, typically by about a third. For instance, Device
  manufacturer Samsung declares a standby time for its Champ Duos E2652
  Dual SIM phone of 476 hours when used with one SIM card and of 322
  hours when used with two SIM cards. To compensate the shorter battery
  life, some Dual SIM phones ship with better capacity batteries, for
  example newer Lenovo P780 have a 4000mAh capacity.

Wikipedia also describes different types of dual-sims, such as:

Pseudo-Dual
Dual SIM Shift: Accepts 2 SIMS; only 1 active at a time; 1 signal bar
Dual SIM Dual Stand-by (DSDS): both active; 2 signals, but only 1 call at a time
Dual SIM Full Active (DSFA) Dual SIM Dual Call/Dual talk: both active; 2 signals, and can process both calls at the same time. I think this one would consume the most battery.

UPDATE 2013-09-23: The answer to your 1st question is NO, as described in the quoted Wikipedia text above. For your 2nd question, I don't know, but I assume it wouldn't run since there is no SIM. Probably also the reason why it consumes lesser battery.

Agreed! But my question is what happens wen only 1 sim is used in a dual sim phone

That was answered by the first part of his answer.

The quote implies that the answer to the first part of his question is YES, not NO.

If one SIM used on dual SIM phone, then the battery life increases. It also depends upon network range, i.e. if poor network connection then it consumes more battery than usual.

Unfortunately, I don't see the answer addresses the questions (1 SIM usage on dual SIM vs single SIM, and if both radios running or not)


text:
Languages in Nexus 4 from Germany
I hope my question is not too strange. I would like to buy the current Google Nexus 4 16GB in Germany from Google Play. But I am interested if anyone can confirm that it has English language installed in in the system languages. I am concerned that it only has German.
Thank you very much.

It will indeed have English. The default language may be German, but it can be changed in the settings.


text:
HTC One recommended Cyanogenmod ROM?
I have HTC One (model PN07100 - 801n) which I've unlocked and rooted. However I'm having an issue with booting Cyanogenmod, and the boot screen seems to loop endlessly.  At my last attempt I left for half an hour. I'm using TWRP to install the ROMs, and doing a cache/dalvik cache clean before attempting a reboot.
The Cyanogenmod website lists many roms (not sure which ones apply to my model) and I've tried two;

m7tmo & m7ul.
cm-10.1.3-RC2-m7tmo
cm-10.1.3-RC2-m7ul
NB: I'm on T-mobile but T-mobile in the UK.

Go here and follow the steps: Official CyanogenMod thread for HTC One
Download latest version from here: Official CyanogenMod downloads for HTC One
Regarding your problem, getting stuck in a bootloop may mean that you forgot to flash the kernel(boot.img) or didn't flash it properly. Do that again.

Thanks for that, running through official instructions I noticed Cyanogenmod suggest using ClockworkMod-Recovery rather than TWRP. It worked and Cyanogenmod boots without problem.


text:
Nexus 4 wont hold charge after screen and battery replacement
I've just replaced my broken screen and put a new battery into my nexus 4 following this you tube vid:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZDAIgwbXk4.
When I first plugged in the charger (1A generic usb charger) The battery level dropped to critical and the "connect your charger" message popped up about 20 times per second.  I turned it off and plugged in the charger but it wont charge.  It displays the battery charging graphic, but the battery never takes in charge.
I thought it might be a dud battery so I replaced it with another new battery.
The new battery charged once successfully, (and here I was thinking that I had pulled my home repair off that this point and was just about to break out the champagne and celebrate!)
I just plugged in the charger and the phone did the same thing.  Lost the charge, flashed the 'connect your charger' pop up a zillion times per second, and now again, it wont hold any charge.
Any ideas on what I can do?
Any and all help much appreciated!
Bruce.

I suppose you prob got a new phone by now or fixed it.
But if you say the "The new battery charged once successfully" you mean you were able to charge it only with the phone off?
If so, sounds like you might have had a short circuit somewhere near the battery's USB port connection, and only occurs when a certain circuit is on due to the phone being on. Or it could be just something is loose... hard to tell from the details given.
What I'd do is try and take it apart again and see if anything got damaged or loose around that area.
Gotta keep in mind these devices are very delicate and use low voltages. You gotta do fixes like this as if they were "surgery" and take all precautions, proper tools, etc. A bit of static electricity discharging from your hand or even damaging the track in the board somehow can cause big time damage. Tiny transistors are easily damaged by static electricity so always wear a anti-static wriststrap when doing these repairs.
Let us know what happened!?

One can also replace the USB flex/USB connector board and see if that fixed the issue.


text:
How do I open a text file of any extension in Android?
I have several types of file on my Google Drive and on my SD card (.C, .ASM, .H, .INC, .LOG) which are all just text files. But I just can't view them on my Android phone because it says that there are no programs assigned to that file type. Dropbox would do fine if I could just assign it to open these extensions. So, my questions are:

Is there a way to assign any extension I want to Dropbox?
Is there a text viewer that will let me do that?

I tried so many, but none seem to do it. Only this HEX editor https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tuba.tools seem to do it, but it won't allow me to view as a text file. Only in a split HEX/TEXT screen.

Jave you tried 920 Text Editor or DroidEdit? They at least offer syntax highlighting for multiple programmin languages. I just don't know whether they also associate with their repective file extensions/mime types.

WOW the 920 Text Editor is really nice, it opens .ASM as well. Thanks!

A programming editor might solve your issue. Take a look at e.g. 920 Text Editor or DroidEdit:

920 Text Editor and DroidEdit (Source: Google Play; click images for larger variants)
Both support at least syntax highlighting for several programming languages, and from the screenshot at least DroidEdit seems to be able to directly work with Dropbox (see the headline).

Is this answer up to date(Sep 12 '17)? or is there something better?

@kouty 920 Text Editor can now be found on F-Droid (a more recent version in my repo). Apart from that: I don't use Dropbox, so I cannot really tell.

How about using a third party file explorer, such as ES File Explorer?
It allows you to select a way to open a file. If it finds an unknown extension, it asks you to open the file as text/audio/video.

ES File Explorer has been plagued with ads and privacy issues recently. Could you recommend another application that has this functionality?


text:
How do you see the full name of a track in Google Music?
For podcasts with a long name, it sucks not to be able to see the full name of the track. How do you see the full name of a track in Google Music?

What version of Google Play Music (GPM)? Mine used to display the entire Podcast path, which was a problem, but currently shields the path and displays only the filename, generally just an mp3. This is current to a Galaxy S3 with GPM 4.4.811H526848. That version may even be out of date, since I generally use ES File Explorer to play media files and have not updated GPM in some time.

It's v5.2.1204L.814012 (gee, Google really put an effort into sucking at the versioning of this). Anyway, maybe that's why you don't GPM, it used to suck, now it's pretty good and the most beautiful player I'm aware of. The problem is just that the tracks with long titles such as in podcasts are a problem to read, especially because the name usually starts with "podcast #xx (name of program)"


text:
Are GPS-tracking apps data dependent?
Are GPS-tracking apps data dependent or will devices use GPS signals alone, to notify their locations?
I am looking for a GPS-tracking app to track family members on a trip where we gonna have limited network coverage, and in some areas no coverage at all.
I am not sure if these apps need data connection to send the location to another device, or they would only use GPS signals.

It's not entirely clear from your question what exactly you mean by "tracking". If you only wish to record a log of where the device has been (so you can look at it later, or retrace your own steps), then you don't need any internet access for that. The device just receives the GPS signal, calculates its position, and saves that position to a file every so often. There are many apps that can do this: some of them are intended for sports, and offer features like finding your top speed, or comparing your time over a certain route with your friends; others are designed for making your own maps, or geotagging photos made on a real camera.
However, it sounds like you might want different devices to tell each other their positions, using something like Google Maps "location sharing", so that you can find where family members are right now. Obviously that would require internet access (whether that's 3G or Wi-Fi) so the devices can communicate with each other. The GPS receiver is exactly that: it receives signals from satellites to determine its position, without transmitting anything. GPS only tells you where you are, not where anyone else is.

Yes, we need to know each other's location. I didn't know smartphones are only receivers... thanks for the help.

@Omne It's not just smartphones. All GPS receivers are only receivers: even the ones you get in your car, or the handheld units you use for hiking. Only the satellites transmit anything.

While a data connection might prove helpful for a faster fix (see: AGPS), it's not strictly necessary to have one. There a a lot of "Offline GPS Apps" available. I personally e.g. used Locus Maps successfully for that in the past, but there are plenty of similar apps available.
Tracks can be stored on the device, of course, and do not need to be sent to a server for the tracking process itself. Most apps allow to export them later in GPX or KML formats.
If, however, you want to now the position from a "remote device" (as your updated question shows, to e.g. know where your kids are at the moment), that cannot work via GPS alone, as GPS signals are only received by our devices, not sent. So this requires at least some kind of coverage: solutions are available to exchange data by different means, e.g. via internet (requires mobile data) or by SMS (still requires a network signal).


text:
Disable window animations when the menu option is missing?
How do I set Window animation scale and Transition animation scale to Animation off when  the option to do so is not available on my ROM (though it ought to be). Specifically it should be under Developer options in Settings but all of the User interface options are missing.

If you have root, you can edit the Settings database through adb:
adb shell
# sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
sqlite> update system set value=0 where name='window_animation_scale';
sqlite> update system set value=0 where name='transition_animation_scale';
sqlite> .exit
# exit
adb reboot

I first attempted to edit the field with the SQLite Editor app from the Play Store: Settings Storage (com.android.providers.settings) → settings.db → system → window_animation_scale but it unfortunately gave me Update failed - error code 5: database is locked. Whereas updating the database from adb worked fine. (Perhaps a different app would also work.)
Other settings are also editable this way.
If sqlite3 says permission denied you may need to chmod it to allow execution. You also may need to find the right path to use above for the settings.db file, here's an example:
# find / -name sqlite3
/system/xbin/sqlite3
# chmod 755 /system/xbin/sqlite3
# find / -name settings.db
/dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db


text:
Simplified prepaid phone balance with Tasker
On my prepaid phone, I can receive current balance as text message responses. They are five messages, four indicating the balance itself and some additional bonuses, and one more indicating the remaining SMS count. However this requires sending a message to the balance number, reading each of the responses, then deleting them manually. How can I set up a simple notification as replacement for this using Tasker?

Here is a summary of how I have implemented it. Besides Tasker, I also used:

AutoNotification, for a richer notification.
SMS Popup, for suppressing SMS notification for the balance responses.
SMS Auto Delete, for silently deleting those SMS responses after a while.

Profiles

Request Balance on Calls - on outgoing call: Balance Before Call, on exit: Balance After Call.
Process Received Balance - on SMS received from the balance numbers: Process Balance.
Show Balance Summary - on Balance variable set: Show Balance.

Tasks

Balance Before Call
AutomatedBalance = Yes
CheckConsumption = Yes
Request balance by SMS

Balance After Call
Wait 15 seconds
Unset CheckConsumption
Request balance by SMS
Flash "Balance has been requested"

Process Balance
response = number from each SMS response
Case SMS sender is the one responsible for
    Bonus balance
        BonusBalance = response
    SMS balance
        SMSBalance = response
    Normal balance
        BalanceConsumption = (Balance - response)
        Balace = response
    Favorite-number balance
        FavoriteBalanceConsumption = (FavoriteBalance - response)
        FavoriteBalance = response
    Same-carrier balance
        CarrierBalanceConsumption = (CarrierBalance - response)
        CarrierBalance = response
    Local landline balance, then
        LocalBalanceConsumption = (LocalBalance - response)
        LocalBalance = response
    Unknown sender
        # This normally means an error, when none of the above have been fired
        Append "(previous)" to Balance

Show Balance
If CheckConsumption
    If Balance is not currency
        notify "Error while getting the balance in the beginning of call"
    Exit from task
Wait 5 seconds
If Balance is currency
    If FavoriteBalanceConsumption > 0
        consumption = FavoriteBalanceConsumption
        Prefix consumption with "Call to favorite (min) consumed"
    Else if CarrierBalanceConsumption > 0
        consumption = CarrierBalanceConsumption + LocalBalanceConsumption +
            BalanceConsumption
        Prefix consumption with "Call to same-carrier number consumed"
    Else if LocalBalanceConsumption > 0
        consumption = LocalBalanceConsumption + BalanceConsumption
        Prefix consumption with "Call to local number consumed"
    Else if BalanceConsumption > 0
        consumption = BalanceConsumption
        Prefix consumption with "Regular call consumed"
    Else if AutomatedBalance
        consumption = "Free call"
    Else
        consumption = "Phone balance"
    Notify consumption and all balances
    Set all unset balances to zero
    Set all consumptions to zero
Else
    previous_balance = number from balance prefixed with "Previous balance is"
    notify "Error while getting the balance", previous_balance
Unset AutomatedBalance

Action -> Event -> Phone -> Received Text

Type: SMS
Sender: Phone balance
Content: balance

New Task -> Variables -> Variable Set

Name: %SMSBALANCE
To: %SMSRB

Add Task -> Alert -> Popup

Title: balance text: [see in variables] ...

VOILA

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


text:
Can I add metadata to a jpeg in Android?
Does anyone know of a way to take jpegs imported from my camera onto my Android tablet then add the metadata properties that Windows calls Title, Tags (I assume, possibly wrong, that this is Keywords in EXIF terms) and possibly Subject so that they are there when I eventually transfer the photos to  Windows PC?
Any help appreciated.

There are several exif editors in Google Play. One of them is EXIF Tag Editor (Photo).
As suggested by Izzy, there are also gallery apps that can do this:

JustPictures!
Photo Mate

Note that the latter two apps are no longer available on Play Store.


text:
Can a MM download, being sent to one phone, also go to a third party who is concurrently sending the mutual receiver a text message?
I got a MM download that was being sent to someone to whom I was in the process of sending a text message; is this actually possible?  We both ended up with the MM download; the mutual receiver of both of our messages couldn't believe I ended up with the MM download that was only intended for him, and the sender of the download didn't intend for me to receive the download either.

What's an MM download? Do you mean a message sent via MMS (a.k.a. a picture message)?

Yes, this was possible on Android 2.2 owing to an error in Android. On versions with the bug, if you receive an SMS (or MMS) message while composing another, the message being composed has its recipient replaced with the sender of the message you received.
It was fixed in Gingerbread, as well as with an update to Froyo, but not all manufacturers or carriers may have passed the fix onto end users.


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Call Recorder Issue in HTC Devices?
I am unable to record calls on my HTC device, and also there is not any app to record the calls. So I tried with the Third party apps from Play store, but then to I am just able to Listen my voice not the other person with whom I am in call with? So is this the issue with software or just with my device?

Some devices don't use the Android system to process the audio that comes from the other end in a phone call: the audio goes straight from the phone hardware to the sound hardware. On such devices, there's no way to record that audio using software on the device.
It sounds like your HTC phone is such a device.

There's no need to say thanks for answers here. Accepting the answer as you've already done is our way of saying thank-you :-)

Ohhk, it seems a quite good website to learn, and I am new in here.


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google contacts sync
I have 2 Samsung Android phones and both are synced with 1 gmail account. now the issue i am facing is:

The number of contacts restored on both the phones is different. ie. for example I have total 500 contacts stored on gmail one of my phone is showing 490 contacts and the other is showing 495 contacts, where as in total I have 500 contacts.
Sometimes when I add contact to one of my phones it automatically adds the contact on phone memory & google contacts on the other phone instead of google contacts only. I want to store to google contacts only and not phone memory as it slows down my phone.

What could be wrong here, and how can I fix it?


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Why a phone gets slower as time passes?
I did a hard-reset, wiped everything everywhere, reinstalled firmware and changed SD card. However, the phone still works extremely slowly, not as when it was bought. What can wear out in phone? Inner flash memory or something else?

This is likely to be caused by one (or both) of two things.
1: Your phone does not have TRIM support - something that was only recently added in 4.3. This makes some devices slow down significantly over time - notably the 2012 Nexus 7 - and they stay slow even after a factory reset.
2: Aging flash. Depending on the quality, type and age of your device's flash memory, it may be deteriorating and you could be losing performance because of this. Note that you won't usually lose any noticeable speed or storage over the life of most flash products, but that depends on a lot of factors.
These are two likely culprits, but it really could be other things as well. We would need to know more about your device, more about the software you're running, things like the brand and model of your SD Card, phone, etc. Your question gives almost no information about any of this.


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android tablet locked after too many unlocking pattern attempts
After too many unlocking pattern attempts, my android tablet have locked me out..
How do i fix this? Is there a manually direction on how to unlock my tablet?

Try resetting the tablet by using reset button, usually this button is not very visible and would need a pointed object to press it, check manual to find location.

How can you suggest this without knowing what tablet it is?  A guess at best. I've never actually seen a tablet with one of these, usually a hard rest is done by holding down the power button for ~20 seconds.


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Can't boot because of deleted com.android.launcher2
Stupid me deleted the com.android.launcher2 apk file (located in system/app) thinking that my tablet will boot with another launcher I installed and now it doesn't boot up (gets stuck in loading screen).
Now, the tablet's chinese, so I haven't installed a custom bootloader.
I can only get to recovery mode.
I have a backup of everything, (made with an app) on my external SD card, so I did a fac reset (and a cache one), just in case. It did't work.
So now:
I need to manually copy a file in system/app via system recovery, without a Custom Bootloader.
I tried making a custom update.zip, with launcher2.apk in it by I get an error "Installation aborted" right after it starts authenticating it.
Is it possible to copy that file without having a custom bootloader, or is there another way to do this (adb commands).
PLEASE help me, I'm really frustrated right now.

You might wish to take a look at this answer. Though it's not about a launcher, it's about how to copy something to /system using ADB.


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WIFI not Connecting on my Samsung S Duos
My home networks says Saved, Secured but when i open internet it says no internet connection

First check whether its just the Wi-Fi on your phone or the LAN on your System.
There are many possibilities with the Wi-Fi not working properly.

Either the key is not matched with the key you configured under your modem Wi-Fi password.
Signal might be weak. ( if signal<=10% then some devices Wi-Fi
connection is disabled to save power)
In-appropriate configuration of your modem due to which although the
connection might be established you might not be able to browse
thereby showing no internet connection.
For this reason Wi-Fi is termed to have very least preference because of heavy loss of Data during the transmission or disturbance.
Solution:-
If you signal is weak try to get more strength by getting near to
    you Wi-Fi or having an external hardware that could boost your
    signal strength.
If the key is not matched then you need to enter the appropriate the
password as set by you.
If the connection is not configured then you need to check your
manual and Configure the Wi-Fi settings properly and click forget on your old Wi-Fi network to re-configure the network on your device.

I would reset the entire connection. Delete it from your phone and then reconnect, reenter the password, an make sure it saves it. You could have the wrong password, it could just be something simple. If this doesn't help, make sure you haven't turned your connections off, restart your phone. If that doesn't help, make sure your internet connection is up and going. Call your service provider or unplug your router and make it reboot itself then check to see if your phone will pick it up again.

Try changing settings to static IP address. Here is a video where you will find out how to do it in ICS 4.0

While this might help the OP, you could improve your answer by explaining how.


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VPN install enforces screen lock
I was trying to install a VPN on my phone and somehow I added a screen lock. I cannot turn it off now. When I go to lock screen, select screen lock, enter my pin and next it takes me to the screen select screen lock. I should be able to tap on 'None' to deactivate the screen lock, but its greyed out and I can't tap it. Any ideas, its driving me crazy. I'm using a Lg Optimus l5 (lg-e612).

VPN enforces a screen lock, that's an absolutely normal security precaution. Otherwise anybody getting hold of your device could easily break in into the network behind.

A precaution that makes sense. But anyway I can understand that users want to have control if the lock screen is enabled or not, given that their device is not affected by a adminstrative policy)


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How to get rid of this orange highlighter
Recently I've noticed a really annoying orange highlighting feature that I can't find a way to get rid of. It usually appears in the default browser and apps that use webview (websites that act like apps). So I was hoping someone would know of a way to get rid of it.
Some info about my devices:

Archos Platinum 50
Runs a vanilla flavored stock ROM (android 4.1.2)
Rooted

I've attached a sample image with it.

Settings > Accessibility > Enhanced Web Accessibility > Don't Allow.