Database Users

[Q] Android PC Contact Management

Hello (please excuse my English),
I am a vb.net developer with an android phone. I like to write a windows application that will manage the phone's contacts with no sync (the application will read and write the contacts directly on the phone via usb).
I like to make this because I really need a convenient way to manage my >480 contacts with groups, links between them, photos etc.
But I don't know what is the best method to connect to the phone. I have download various open-source projects that use abd.exe but I can not figure it out there is not documentation about this.
Anyway are there any suggestions on this or maybe any how to?
Thank You

No help from me, but lots of encouragement though ... I hate my messy contact list, especially because of multiple gmail accounts... Searched like hell, spend quite some time on failing apps... So good luck with programming!

Thank you for your encouragement. I finally ended that the best solution is to write an android client application that will offer contact records to the pc application. I installed all the android development tools and I am ready to go. This is gona take some time because it will be my first android application so stay tuned...

Ok I have done some progress on the device side, but I really need some help. These are my questions:
1. In the Android Emulator there is no contacts groups. Any idea why or how can I add them?
2. I need some android code guidelines on how to communicate via wi-fi and usb. I am trying to implement some kind of tcp/ip protocol for communicate with the pc application and I need this to be available with the usb cable also (if that is possible)
Thank you all...

MyPhoneExplorer you will love it

I love it allready I am using MyPhoneExplorer since my first SE phone. But it does not supports contacts groups which is very critical for me. This was one of the reasons that I decided to create my own contact manager for android...

Ok, some status update:
I finished my research about tcp connectivity on android and I downloaded all the neading sources and documentation. So I am ready to go with the device side development.
But I really need the contacts groups on the emulator. I 'm stuck here!!!
Come on guys don't leave me alone...
Thank you all

Trying to solve it myself...
First I thought that Contacts application in my phone (Samsung Galaxy 3) was a samsung application, so I downloaded the phones source-code but no Contacts application in there.
Now I found in source.android.com the contacts application for eclair and I downloaded it. It seems (from the source code) that it is the same application which is in my device's firmware.
I create a project in eclipse from this source and right now I am downloading Google APIs to make it run on the emulator. If it runs on the emulator I will start development for the device...

chrishohl said:
I love it allready I am using MyPhoneExplorer since my first SE phone. But it does not supports contacts groups which is very critical for me. This was one of the reasons that I decided to create my own contact manager for android...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
omg i realy thought, it was posible, whit MyPhoneExplorer, my mistake.
great to hear about your little progress

what's up Chris ?
Some news ?

Status Update:
I finaly managed to get contacts groups in the emulator (via 3rd party app) but I still can not export contacts with group information from my device. Anyway this is not very important.
The important thing is that I started developing in android and the results are pretty well.
Right now the device application which I call "MyUnit Android Server" is a multi threaded tcp socket application that communicates with the pc via the usb cable.
I have managed to get through the basic problems with tcp, threads and sockets in android (and java) and it works very stable.
So now it is time to implement some kind of a protocoll for the communication between the device and the computer (any ideas about that are welcome). I have allready implement two functions. One retrieves the group count and the other the groups list. I think that this is very huge progress because this is my first app in java (and android of course).
Maybe in some days (about 10 - 15 because my son's birthday 4yo are in monday so the whole weekend goes to him ) I will be ready to release an alpha test version...

Thats great news, congrat whit your son, I know whats that like.
I would love to beta test, and help out

Samsung Galaxy S Froyo Changelog

So I have seen the HTC Desire changelog but didn't see as comprehensive one made for the Samsung Galaxy S (though I suck at searching )
I have only had my android phone (Samsung Galaxy S) for about 6 weeks but lkike my previous phones (windows mobile) I like to get into the nitty gritty and so notice somethings/changes that others may not
OK I installed Froyo the other day moving from eclair update1 and below are the changes I have noted and even a few that now appear to have gone. My Eclair already had things like mobile AP, New Market (update all etc) so these changes wont be mentioned
Homescreen
- Now supports pinch to zoom to move between panes
- The menu button text/icons are now a darker black compared to grey
- Email icon now shows total unread emails (used to show nothing)
- Power down phone options now uses coloured icons
- Power off function now no longer confirms you want to shutdown, just shuts down
- Samsung Widget option now longer exists all widgets now come under one menu "Widgets"
- Possible changes to last used apps on task manager up from 6 to 8??
- Auto rotation option added to notification quick bar
- Vibration removed from quick bar, some report GPS added but my eclair had GPS option
- New Data network mode added, enables you to disable GPRS/3G/HSDPA
Settings Menu
- Icons have been changed to colour in the main menu
- USB Settings moved from About Phone to Wireless & Network
- USB Tethering moved from USB Settings "PC Internet" to its on menu in Wireless Network
- New better VPN Settings under Wireless & Network
- Mobile AP now accepts 5 devices up from 3
- Sound and Display now split into seperation menus each option providing more user settings
- Loss of Font Size in Display (this may have moved can't find it)
- New Horizontal Calibration
- Only 4 default fonts sure there were moe :/
- New Sensor Aiding for GPS in "My Location"
- New options for screen lock now supports PIN, Password aswell as Pattern
- Newer version of Swype providing more user variables
- Automatic Date & Time now correctly supports BST
- USB Mass Storage now creates a full screen logo with mount button on homescreen instead of a notification.
Applications
- Calendar now supports Week View and Supports Exchange details
- Camera now records in 720p & changes from 3gp to h.264 mp4 codec
- Flip to front camera now added as own button instead of purely from "Shooting Mode" menu
- Email icon now shows total undread emails (used to show nothing)
- Default Email view is not the crappy yellow background and weird fonts Instead of having two display modes (yellow and a better white closer to iphone) you now have 6 modes.
- Text size again only 3 options they have got rid of the smaller font size??.
- New View Mode? Standard View or Conversation View
- Exchange connection now better supports administration policies
- When you have multiple email accounts it now shows a last sync time next to each account
- Internet Supports flash as we all know iplayer and lovefilm work mint
- Settings settings changes including options for text sizes, I don't think they want us running at tiny text settings.
- Files - Changes the word sd to external_sd
- New Option "Press Reader" but Service not availble yet
- Youtube App - HQ Setting now added as button on main screen instead of phone under menu.
- Youtube Settings menu now allows you to choose default between HD and SD and no longer defaults to HD
- When Uninstalling applications the apps now shift up instead of leaving random gaps throughout each screen though further testing is needed on this.
- Now supports Move to SD card where applicable
- Dialer now contains and orange button to messages
Misc/All
- New "Iphone" style magnifying glass when editing text fields
- Holding Back button and then pressing Home will take a screen shot

I agree with you...
Regards

Thanks for the list!

Samsung Galaxy S Froyo Change log
Hi. I have a few questions that I hope you can answer.
1.) Did you do the official Samsung Froyo update (KIES or OTA) on your Galaxy S?
2.) Exchange integration; Calender: Can you accept,decline, schedule, reschedule meetings?
3.) Exchange integration: Can you browse company global address book? (Company directory?)
4.) Music over Bluetooth headset working?
I work in a corporate company running exchange 2007 and the lack-of decent exchange integration in Galaxy S is becoming a deal breaker.

maansleroux said:
I work in a corporate company running exchange 2007 and the lack-of decent exchange integration in Galaxy S is becoming a deal breaker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also work for a coperation also using Exchange 2007 and I have the same If not better access to Exchange from my galaxy S then the others on site who use iphones. I can access all my files, folders and attachements, my tasks, calendars it syncs with my outlook contacts and I can search my GAL when I need to.
maansleroux said:
Hi. I have a few questions that I hope you can answer.
1.) Did you do the official Samsung Froyo update (KIES or OTA) on your Galaxy S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plan ole Kies update
maansleroux said:
2.) Exchange integration; Calender: Can you accept,decline, schedule, reschedule meetings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though the meetings come through ok you don't have options to accept/decline etc . Your only option would be to connect via OWA to deal with meeting requests whilst out of the office and top be honest this is very usable and the OWA client renders very well on the Samsung Galaxy
maansleroux said:
3.) Exchange integration: Can you browse company global address book? (Company directory?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the Same as 2.1 where yu can search the GAL (it's fast) but you don't have a browsable list. Again if you did required more access to the GAL u could again use OWA.
maansleroux said:
4.) Music over Bluetooth headset working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got a bluetooth headset but haven't tested this
To be honest the "Better Exchange support" that was listed in Froyo changes seems to be now the ability to view calendars (I dont think u could in 2.1) and also you can now perform a remote wipe incase you lost your phone. This feature used to exist on windows mobile and no seems to exist on Android??

Hey thanks for the reply. Was really good to see that I could at least access the GAL through the email client. What I was actually complaining about is the ability to add contacts from the GAL. So search for a contact and then saving all their details to your contacts from the GAL.
A friend of mine has the HTC Desire (I am fairly sure he has Android 2.1) And in contacts under the menu options he has "browse company directory" (Same as my old windows mobile 6.5).
With that option he can search the GAL and save to his contacts. This is obviously great since you then have all the contact detail of the contact. I was wondering if you could do that in the galaxy S Froyo update.

Depending on the size of your company your GAL could be massive containing many private, public, distribution lists etc I wouldn't want any of that lot in my phones contacts cluttering it up If I really did I would save the contact from the GAL into my Outlook contacts which then my phone syncs with via the Exchange server.
In regards to the HTC Desire, my brother in law uses on of those i'll ask him this morning if his does then this is an HTC thing and not an Android.
I also came from using Windows mobile various versions from older CE to 6.1 (did use 6.5 for a bit on my Omnia) and to be fair the intergration was better on those phones because it actually used a MS Outlook client.

Would just be great to add/save a new contact from GAL like on the HTC Desire. but im sure I read somewhere that its standard on froyo.

Emexrulsier said:
- Camera now records in 720p & changes from 3gp to h.264 mp4 codec
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine 2.1 (JF3/JM1) was already recording 720p. And there's no codec change - it's only the file extension (.mp4 instead of .3gp) that changes. Internally it's still 3GP4.
- When Uninstalling applications the apps now shift up instead of leaving random gaps throughout each screen though further testing is needed on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. I'm still getting gaps after uninstalls. JPO.

Kies 2.2 here... International I9000 (Hong Kong) connecting to a 2007 Exchange infrastructure. I have zero visibility to my company's GAL. However on my iPhone I can search it up and down.
When @ 2.1 I ended up writing a .NET app to read our domain for "people" and created a csv of people within departments of interest.
I'd love to clear my Google contacts. Our Data Security team would likely be a smidge peeved if they knew I basically exported our forest and loaded it into Google Contacts.

Manifest : Improvements asked for the calendar

Hello
We are developers of the windows phone platform.
We have chosen this platform because in our opinion it is superior to other established phone platforms and we like creating apps that users enjoy and that help to emerge the windows phone platform.
We also think that nowadays there are some features that a user simply expects a Smartphone to “have”. One of these features is a great calendar.
The current windows phone 8 programming API lacks of some important features that hinder developers from creating a fully features calendar application.
- There is no programming interface to edit or delete existing appointments => Vote Here
- Access to calendar categories (private, office, birthdays, …) is not provided => Vote Here
- Access to sub-calendar of an account to recover name and color setting is not provided => Vote Here
- Information for private appointments is not returned => Vote Here
- No way to access “Task” in windows live and exchange => Vote Here
The built in calendar has all of this options but they are not accessible for developers.
In order to let developers improve your calendar experience, let Microsoft hear you voice. You can use the link above to vote for those missing features.
Hannes and Olivier
PS : Other persons are also asking for this improvements : message

Hello,
You can not access the built in calendar but you can make your own framework to provide the same functionalists. You can also use Live connect to sync with the hotmail calendar(which is the core of the built-in calendar anyway).
The only thing that the built in has and the custom do not is the notification and live tile update. The built-in calendar acts like a real time application, whereas any custom requires a background process to update, or interaction from the user.

mcosmin222 said:
Hello,
You can not access the built in calendar but you can make your own framework to provide the same functionalists. You can also use Live connect to sync with the hotmail calendar(which is the core of the built-in calendar anyway).
The only thing that the built in has and the custom do not is the notification and live tile update. The built-in calendar acts like a real time application, whereas any custom requires a background process to update, or interaction from the user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
that true - a developer can use the windows live sdk to CRUD calendar entries in the windows live calendar.
The major drawback: Appointments created/modified/deleted do not show up in the WP calendar - they show up the next time, the windows live calendar has been synced back to the phone calendar.
Next problem: A user have to give it's permissions to access the live calendar - this is possible but not the best way to do it - it should be done with a "ModifyAppointmentTask" and a "DeleteAppointmentTask" where a user have to give his permission to modify/delete calendar entries.
Next thing: A developer has to create an access layer for ALL caledar types a user has configured on his phone (exchange, google, facebook ...). When a users wants to create appointments in one of these calendars he has to sign in to the specific calendar. Of course this is not as user friendly as the built in calendar.
Most important thing: All this methods to CRUD calendar entries already exist (the built in calendar uses them) - making them accessible for a developer via a Task (like the new "SaveAppointmentsTask") imho. is the best way this can + should be done.

up

RESTful to Android connectivity

Hi,
I'm going to write a system for processing taxi orders. It consits of client application, driver application and restfull web service. For now I have only a few POST resources in my server that consumes JSON file and produces plain text. I'm wondering how to resolve the situation when the client need confirmation about the order he made or when the new order is made and has to be delivered to taxi driver app. I am a beginner android developer and I do not know which tools should I consider to achieve it. Is it good idea to use a service that checks let say every 30sec for new order/confirmation or shuld I use another solution for example let REST to connect directly to the particular android device?
Thank you in andvance for your response.

You can use push notifications by using Google Cloud Messaging.

EmptinessFiller said:
You can use push notifications by using Google Cloud Messaging.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea. I didn't know about it before. I have just one question - since I use RESTful service the easiest way to implement GCM is to choose http protocol (single POST request) but there is no upstream feature in it. Is it good approach to use GCM in "server -> android" connection and regular POST request (that I used till now) vice versa?

[Discussion] Security-Focused Marshmellow-Based ROM

Hey all,
I've been toying with some ideas for improving security / implementing existing security tools / creating a security-focused ROM for the ZF2. I thought I would bring my ideas here and invite discussion on the ideas / take improvements and suggestions from the community.
Purpose for this Post:
This discussion is for envisioning, dreaming, brainstorming. I want to put my ideas out there and have the community improve them. Currently there are a number of facets of mobile security that have a large number of options / apps available for managing them:
- Internet traffic encryption: OpenVPN apps (many available)
- EncFS style disk encryption: built in encryption tool, Kryptonite, LUKS, etc
- Per-app firewall, internet denial: AFWall+
- Secure texting: Text Secure and I'm sure there are others
- Keychains: KeePass, others
- Secure keyboards, etc
For the person who wants to use all of these features, keeping apps updated and properly working is a LOT of work. The idea would be to integrate these tools into a ROM with a simple GUI control for all of them, and the updates for the tools would come via the ROM updates. Perhaps this post may spark a change in the way current things are done, and a separate ROM wouldn't be needed. If CM implemented some/all of these features, it would affect a lot (all?) of ROMs that are currently made for this device.
I would see the following principles as important to this idea:
- Encryption without reliance on external services - encryption done on the device, and key exchanges would be done device to device (of course securely through cell towers)
- Seamless integration without the user usually seeing it (unless they want to)
- If services are allowed access to data like contacts, notifications, and SMS, the user has fine control over what data they want to provide (individual contacts and lists, certain subset of SMS list selected by the user, call logs only through XX date or from XX person, etc)
Before kicking off into the content, here's a disclaimer:
- I am very busy lately (60 hours work / week). I'm not saying I will be working on this or that this is an up and coming ROM that you can expect to hit the shelves next week (unless someone else wants to take the idea and run with it)
- I have some self-taught programming, and encryption knowledge, but no formal background. As such, there may be some gaps in my knowledge, misinformation, misunderstanding on my part and some of my ideas might not make sense.
- Notwithstanding #1, I may stretch myself some day (at least longer than 6 months from now) to create some of this according to my limited capability
Now to the ROM:
Marshmallow Based:
- Would have dm-Verity enabled - making changes to system would / should be somewhat difficult
- SE Linux
- Intel encryption hardware on our CPU utilized
Calls:
- Public / Private key based voice data encryption: The keys would be generated on startup, stored in memory only , dumped on power off or regenerated every so often
- Maybe first second or two of the call would be a handshake request (data over the voice channel like a 56k modem)
>> If there is a response to the handshake request - exchange keys and encrypt voice data
>> If no response to handshake request, no encryption
Contacts:
- Encryption / Decryption Middleware based on stored private keys on phone
- Contacts are synced to Google encrypted, decrypted on phone to user (not stored on internal storage - or that's ok?)
- Apps requesting contacts can either have the legit contacts or fake and/or encrypted (user choice)
>> Downfall - if keys are lost, contacts are lost. Requires backups
- SMS public keys stored for each contact perhaps?
- Contact lists allowing apps to access partial lists (like if you want to use whatsapp, whatsapp doesn't get your whole contact list, just who you choose)
- Options for using Roll Your Own Cloud services in lieu of Google (one click to switch between OwnCloud, google contacts, for example)
Messaging (SMS, MMS):
- Something like TextSecure - but based on device to device key exchange...
- Looking for help on this one...maybe each contact on first text ever received by the phone exchanges public keys over text and keys are stored per contact?
- Appended special character to the front/back of text to indicate handshake request?
Email:
- Email client for encryption/signing with PGP built in
- Can send emails encrypted through google so google (or whoever) doesn't see your message (not by default - who wants an inbox full of emails only readable by phone?)
- Other features?
PGP:
- PGP integration with email / what else??
- User friendly interface for building key and signing others
- Other PGP uses?
Keychain:
- Some sort of Keepass like keychain - maybe browser integration?
- Maybe utilizing private key stored on disk?
- Secure password generation feature for creating accounts
Wifi/4G:
- Selective OpenVPN integration - options to force connection (or no internet), prefer (on certain types of networks - no password networks), notify (persistent notification on lack of connection), or disable entirely
>> Per app settings and possibly per network settings (SSID based - like when you connect to "Starbucks", force connection, but at home, no connection)
>> GUI for easy key generation, config file creation for those who roll their own
- Built in firewall with features like AF Wall+ for selective disabling of app network access
- Is Tor use or option worth it?
Browser:
- Permanent incognito mode / no cookies / no trace? At least as an option - like a "Snowden" mode or something
- Ad blocker integration. Whoo.
- Something like "HTTPS Everywhere" plugin
Disk Encryption:
- How is google's? Do we need something better?
- How to secure disk better than digit passcode (keyspace ten thou - hundred million - trivial for modern PW crackers)
Looking for help / ideas here.
Key Storage:
- As mentioned - where possible, generate new keys on startup every time for non-persistent data (phone calls, etc)
- When on disk, in encrypted folders through some sort of EncFS functionality or similar
- Disk decrypted keys only stored in memory, flushed on power off
Security tips:
- Password checkers / other tips for the average user for being more secure as an option (perhaps through notifications or toasts)
Theft/Data Loss Prevention:
- Integrated SMS-based option to erase keys / factory reset phone / other features?
Something like this would give Blackberry a run for their money! What are your thoughts? Tell me what you like and what you don't - what's great and what's stupid. Looking forward to the discussion.

First of all, this idea and vision you have regarding privacy is seriously way too advanced! I'm mindblown after reading your post. Now, it would take a hell lot of work to build this rom for ZF2 models(Z00A,Z008) and keeping them up to date. Dont really know if this much security is indeed needed. For me , even the Privacy feature in CM roms is enough. Dont know about others, but i doubt the success of this rom, if it gets built. Please dont mistake me, just sharing my thought.

I like this idiea, it is actually too advanced for the zenfone 2 but if you want to build this kind of ROM i support you, because i really want to install that ROM to my device.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

So here's the thing: these are all independent ideas. All of the ideas together are complicated, but they don't necessarily all have to be implemented. Or perhaps they could be built in to a cm mod incrementally. Either way, even if complicated, dream big. Discuss what you would like and what you think would be a useful feature. Also talk about what wouldn't be worth the effort to use (dont worry about building/implementing). If you would use these features, what options would you want? Would you want fine control and visible metrics or seemless operation? Again, don't worry about how it would be implemented, just what's useful.
I disagree that it would be too complicated for the ZF2. The cpu has built in dedicated encryption hardware and these tools are all available - just not in one package.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00A using XDA Premium HD app

Just begin with encryption support (pgp|s-mime/openkeychain) on emails like native android email client or BlackBerry Hub for Android, sms app, contacts maybe? Start with the basic apps that is usually used by people.

that, and kali nethunters and the zenfone will be a good phone for cybersecurity engineers

I want this rom make it lol what can I do to have ometing like this? I can buy a encrypted phone but the price is rather high so a rom with full encryption with calls and texts is what I'm looking for

Security patches will be updated too?