My son asked me to write a quick'n'dirty app for him (click a button, play a sound file) so that he could annoy one of his friends (go figure!)
I did so (using Eclipse, and packaged/signed using the Export Wizard then zipaligned)- and sent it to him via gmail... but he got a parse error. I also sent it to my Fuze (on which I've installed HaRET & Eclair - thanks XDA!). Same problem: "Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package"
So I hooked my Fuze up via USB and simply copied the file to an SD folder. The apk installs from SD via File Manager without any problem (and works as it did in the emulator). I've attached the apk, if that will help diagnosis.
Is there a known bug with the 'install from gmail'? Should I just put my personal apps onto an accessible filestore (that my son can browse to)?
Any other mechanisms to allow me to email the apk so he can save it locally? (I'm a noob regarding android - this is my first app, and he just got the phone)
Thanks in advance!
I am not sure, but I believe that when you open an attachment from an email, it gets downloaded into the "Download" folder in your phone or SD card. And then it is installed from there. Have you tried installing through SD card? i.e. place the file in the SD card and use any file manager to install it.
Thanks for taking the time to read & respond!
JokerAce said:
I am not sure, but I believe that when you open an attachment from an email, it gets downloaded into the "Download" folder in your phone or SD card. And then it is installed from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I was doing - the install failed at this point. Gmail provides only a 'preview' button... no way to save the attachment in a generic sense -- I can see the sense in limiting stupid saves to protect noobs from themselves... but this is Android, why isn't this configurable behavior?
Have you tried installing through SD card? i.e. place the file in the SD card and use any file manager to install it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is what I did, and it worked... My son also downloaded the file on his computer, and synced to SD then installed...
My main question... what the hell is Gmail doing to the file during the download process? The file is obviously OK (it works when saved/transferred via PC from the gmail attachment... just not on the 'droid version of gmail)
tonycoyle said:
Thanks for taking the time to read & respond!
This is what I was doing - the install failed at this point. Gmail provides only a 'preview' button... no way to save the attachment in a generic sense -- I can see the sense in limiting stupid saves to protect noobs from themselves... but this is Android, why isn't this configurable behavior?
this is what I did, and it worked... My son also downloaded the file on his computer, and synced to SD then installed...
My main question... what the hell is Gmail doing to the file during the download process? The file is obviously OK (it works when saved/transferred via PC from the gmail attachment... just not on the 'droid version of gmail)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had success installing from gmail in the stock app, I clicked the 'install' button...
-htc desire
I had the same problem I while back when I still had my Tattoo. The problem was solved with tAttachApkInstaller (found in the market).
I'm just carious to where my Phone only apk is download to? It's not in the download folder and i would like to back it up in case something goes wrong with the phone. Anyone happen to know where i can find all the file i download off the market? Thanks.
If you installed an app from the market, the phone doesnt save the apk file, it just installs it. If you downloaded an apk from the browser, it will be in SD card/download.
Most of the time the app called appsaver will find installed programs and copy the apk to the card. There is also titanium backup.
I would use titanium to back up your apps. (Backs them up to sd card and you can then back up the folder to your computer.)
/data/app is where all the installed apk's go.
I have a confusion regarding android. this is very general query.
In Computer, first we have to have exe file to install anything and then we click on it to install the app on windows computer generally. when the app is installed on computer, we have installed app files in program files and then a dump (that is exe file) which we keep to install this app on any other computer.
Now, please let me know if this is applicable in android phones also?
I know that in android, there is .apk file instead of .exe file in computer. I observed that after installation apk file disappears. Is this true?
Not sure if in understood well, did you mean if instal anything from SD card? If you are asking that the answer is yes, i install everything from SD card and the apk file stay there after installation.
What if u install any app from Market?
vijay.gupta said:
I have a confusion regarding android. this is very general query.
In Computer, first we have to have exe file to install anything and then we click on it to install the app on windows computer generally. when the app is installed on computer, we have installed app files in program files and then a dump (that is exe file) which we keep to install this app on any other computer.
Now, please let me know if this is applicable in android phones also?
I know that in android, there is .apk file instead of .exe file in computer. I observed that after installation apk file disappears. Is this true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even in Android you can see the .apk files under /system/app. Also applications installed by you can be backed up & later restored using software available on market.
"Normally" these apks dissapear when you download from.market, but all of.your apks are stored in your phone, the thing is that you have to hav permission to do that, when you download an apk (the single file) and store it in sd card to install it, the apk is copied to the phone.
Sent from my GT-I5801 using XDA App
But if u back up ur apps as .apk and install them later using softwares (with exception of Titanium backup) u will loose connection between the app and android market (that means no updates)
the best option is to backup ur apps with titanium backup along with user data and restore it using the same
how do i access /system/app? Do I need to root the phone in order to see this directory?
vijay.gupta said:
how do i access /system/app? Do I need to root the phone in order to see this directory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download Terminal emulator from market & you are ready to go to /system/app !!!!
You can also download Root Explorer and so the same
Thank all. Can you please confirm what I am writing below:
Suppose I buy a android phone (with android 2.1 so you cannot install apps from SD card) in which I installed an application named XYZ from Market. Now, there is a apk file for XYZ which gets downloaded somewhere in the phone memory and then it gets installed automatically.
Now, I just want to know, where does this apk file go after XYZ is installed? Does it stay in phone memory with the installed files of XYZ.
If it goes to phone memory and not deleted from there, then phone memory
if u install .apk from market it will be stored and installed in /data/app in phone memory. i do not think it is stored twice in the phone.
Do u mean to say that only the installed file gets stored and. apk. File got deleted automatically after getting installed?
vijay.gupta said:
Do u mean to say that only the installed file gets stored and. apk. File got deleted automatically after getting installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that an .apk file its a variant of the .jar files when you install an .apk this file gets stored inside the phone along with its necesary dependencies when the app starts, the os reads this file line by line while the app is executed.
In short terms the .apk file its the application itself that need a proper interpreter to run, in that way when you install and app to the phone, it copies this file and links the dependencies, so the .apks downloaded from makret are stored directly inside the app folder, in that way you can extract them from this folder and use it in another android phone.
You are relying too much on the windows ways of things. You see an exe file installion in windows essentially unpacking everything (other things aside) where it is needed and you then often see a bunch of files and folders. This is not what happens in android, the apk file is conserved when installed and can be found in the root part of your phone. Its data/app/ if installed on your phone, mnt/asec. (or something like asec) if installed on your sd card. You can copy that file to your sd card or send it to another device and install it again. I did just that today (I sent an apk to a friend)
anyway i dont think its same if i delete .apk + odex files from /data/app as i uninstall it with titanium backup. i think TB will be delete also data stored by the app inside the database (its the place where the apps are saving data, settings, etc...)
In case you are installing from Android Market:
1. When you are at market, it doesn't ask you to download. You will only get option either to install or update the existing app.
2. If you are a normal user, after installing, you won't be able to see the apk file anywhere on your memory card. But if you are a root user or with the help of special file managers and specific apps like root explorer and terminal emulators, you can locate those spk files in the phone's hidden memory.
3. If you are a root user, or with the help above mentioned type of apps, you can locate the apk files in phone memory and copy it on your memory card and distribute it to your wish.
4. If you are worried for paid apps and losing your phone or apps because of resetting or any other reason then stop worrying. A record of your paid apps is stored in google servers. So, even if you reset your phone or lose your phone, once you log in to a your new android device with the same google account, it will automatically show your paid apps. You don't have to pay for it again. Just need to install it again. This is applicable only if you are paying for the app through android market and you are logging into your android device with the same google account you had before losing your apps.
In case of installing via your SD card:
1. apk files are just like java files (.jad or .jar). You can download it on your PC from various sources and transfer it to your SD card or any of your friends' via USB, bluetooth or any other way.
2. After transfering the apk file to your SD card, it doesn't get automatically installed. You have to click it or open it to install, just like how we double click the exe file in windows.
3. Whether installed or not installed, the apk file you transfer to your SD card will always remain there unless and untill you or someone else delete it or you format your memory card.
4. Once installed, a copy of the same apk file would also be there in your phone's hidden memory, which you can access using special apps.
If you worried about losing your apps, try searching for other apps which backups apk... you can do so at android market. Moreover, also search on the net about having root access on your android device.. it'll let you access files in your phone's memory.
I hope, this would solve down all your queries !!!
Thanks next2 devil. Very gud explanation. It cleared almost all confusions. I have some more confusions that i want to clear out.
1) just a general query that just like exe file got unpacked after double clicking on it and install its files in c: genrally, does the same happen with apk, jad and jar files?
2) just want to clear out that phone memory which is hidden for normal users contains the copy of only those apk files that are currently installed on the phone and not the ones that are uninstalled or not installed at all?
vijay.gupta said:
Thanks next2 devil. Very gud explanation. It cleared almost all confusions. I have some more confusions that i want to clear out.
1) just a general query that just like exe file got unpacked after double clicking on it and install its files in c: genrally, does the same happen with apk, jad and jar files?
2) just want to clear out that phone memory which is hidden for normal users contains the copy of only those apk files that are currently installed on the phone and not the ones that are uninstalled or not installed at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I am not sure about JAD and JAR files, but yes, APK files unpack itself to get installed. You can come to know the exact size/space that would be taken by the app directly from the android market. Details would be given there.
2. Yes, the phone memory would be having copy of files only which is installed. There would be no copy of any apk file which in not installed.
Thanks next2devil. Your response give rise to one more query.
if i compare unpacking logic from windows, there is no need for original exe file to remain in existence after it has been installed and user can delete exe file after installing it. Deleting exe file has no negative impact on the working of installed app. Please let me know if this is also the case with apk files? If yes, then what is the need of apk file to remain in phone memory after it has been installed?
vijay.gupta said:
Thanks next2devil. Your response give rise to one more query.
if i compare unpacking logic from windows, there is no need for original exe file to remain in existence after it has been installed and user can delete exe file after installing it. Deleting exe file has no negative impact on the working of installed app. Please let me know if this is also the case with apk files? If yes, then what is the need of apk file to remain in phone memory after it has been installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short and simple. Deleting the apk file from /data/app removes the app.
Sent from my Lestatious v1.4.5.5 Galaxy 3 FROYO
I have some friends that want me to install Phiremod onto their Nook Colors. What is the easiest way for me to install free apps in bulk without using the market? I thought it would be cool to have a bunch of free apps loaded on it for them so they don't have to install them all manually. Thanks!
Either push them with adb as a data/app folder or my preferred method....Open the rom with 7zip pre-flashing and just copy the apk's over.
hockeyfamily737 said:
Either push them with adb as a data/app folder or my preferred method....Open the rom with 7zip pre-flashing and just copy the apk's over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. I'll try that. But where is a safe place to legally obtain the free apps as .apk files?
I'd like that info too
OK guys. There are a couple of ways I do this. You can download any rom for any device, open it up and pull the .apk's you want out of it, you can find them on your android phone and transfer them to your Nook, and you can find a lot of good ones right here on XDA. I have a whole library of apps that I've saved over the last couple of years. They're all backed up on my computer andf my dropbox account. Let me know if there is anything in particular you're looking for if I have it I'll share.
My wife has a NC and likes it the way it is, i.e. BN store, but I would like to add an app that does not require root. I was thinking that I could use a clockwork recovery SD card with a zip of the app, just like we do with google apps.
Will this work?
How do I make a apk into a flashable zip?
The app is You Version Bible
Thanks
-EDIT-
So I have figured this out, it is possible to install apps (that do not require root) with out rooting anything. I would call it side loading via CWM sd card.
The key was to use the mount paths from ManualNooter (\META-INF\com\google\android\updater-script)
0.1.) Get apks for you apps (either with titanium or copy from 'data/app')
0.2.) Get a apk for 'Nook Color App Manager' (search the android market, can't post links yet)
1.) Start with the ManualNooter file and remove all folders but 'data' and 'META-INF'
2.) Delete all files in the 'data/app' folder
3.) Place the apks you want to install in the 'data/app' folder
4.) Edit '\META-INF\com\google\android\updater-script' using a programing text editor (otherwise you will not see the line spaces) remove all sections except the following: 'Mounting partitions...' 'Installing apks to /data/app...' 'Unmounting Partitions...'
5.) Save the script file and put all this back together in the zip.
6.) Use the CWM sd card to install the file. (if you don't know how, use google)
7.) Remove card and reboot after done. A new app App Manager will show up in your nook app list, go to the home page to run it and add links for your new installed apps.
Note: I did not post an files as I used other peoples work i.e. GMPOWER and apps from the market
So I have done lots of research and even tried this. I think I got the app installed but in this case there is no way to show the app in the stock launcher as it only lists apps it installs.
For reference I will include the procedure to install apps via CMW(Clockwork Mod Recovery)
Thread
You download the file attached to post 17 in the above thread, it is a empty zip that can be filled with your apks that you want. Simply place the new file on a CWM sd card and install the file via regular instructions in the above post.
If I ever find a script to add a link to the stock launcher I will post that and then this might be a usable idea for side loading apps.