Database Users

Stop killing android carriers

Cnet just put up a review of the Motorola Atrix, one of the most anticipated smart-phones. AT&T has blocked the ability to download 3rd party apps . "You can't install third-party apps" and goes on to say "No change of heart on third-party applications, as that feature is disabled on the Atrix."
Google's(andy rubin) response is to say let me market decide. I truly agree with this statement but when the carriers are in power (two year contracts) it doesn't let the market work. General consumers dont know know the difference between android phones. Consumer assume since they are getting an android phone, all android phones are the same. This blocking of 3rd party apps creates a bad user experience and users will blame android and not the carriers.
( http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/motorola-atrix-4g-at/4505-6452_7-34468396.html?tag=rvwBody )

Moved to Atrix General

babluc said:
when the carriers are in power (two year contracts) it doesn't let the market work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ITA.
Looking on the slighter brighter side, CNET also said this (emphasis added):
Of course, you've also got your obligatory AT&T services--AT&T Navigator, AT&T FamilyMap, and AT&T U-Verse Live TV--on there, but for once, you can actually uninstall any of these apps if you wish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not enough, but it's a start.

Side loading apps is such a trivial issue on any device, including devices on AT&T. Root not even required. So for the tiny percentage that want to do this (like rooters) the option is there.

No Third party software? No "FREE" bootloader? No reasonable laptop dock price? It really destroyed the purpose of open-sourced software.....I guess AT&T kills the fun of having an Android phone.....I went from "must have one" to "might have one"...sigh.....

My last 3 phones were not purchased from AT&T because of similar issues. AT&T modifies the phone to disable installation of anything not coming from their store.
I've been considering switching to a different provider because I find it very expensive to buy unlocked phones just to get them in their enabled state. I know I would lose the flexibility of using the phone around the world, but I don't travel that much.
Is Verizon doing this same thing on their phones? If not I may consider switching to them. How about Sprint?

sp_1st_timer said:
My last 3 phones were not purchased from AT&T because of similar issues. AT&T modifies the phone to disable installation of anything not coming from their store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AT&T restricts third-party apps, which means you can download only from the Android Market - which is not AT&T's store, btw.
Is Verizon doing this same thing on their phones? If not I may consider switching to them. How about Sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, AT&T is the only one of the 4 major carriers that blocks 3rd-party apps. As previously mentioned, getting around that restriction is extremely simple and does not require rooting the phone. The Sideload Wonder Machine, for one, is very easy to use.

has no one in here heard of the side-load wondermachine come on seriously when theres a will theres a way thats my way around att crap O rama

shadowscreation said:
has no one in here heard of the side-load wondermachine come on seriously when theres a will theres a way thats my way around att crap O rama
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point is we shouldn't have to find ways around it, and buying these devices only says that it's OK to at&t.

eallan said:
The point is we shouldn't have to find ways around it, and buying these devices only says that it's OK to at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know what your saying.but considering this is one of atts top o the line phones minus the bs tethering plan for laptop dock(totally ruined that for me by the way). im just hoping that the bootloader isnt crapped up im gonna wait a little bit on buying this till i know theres a way to custom rom the crap out of this phone so ya thats what im waiting on before i decide i want this phone or not if not owell there will be better ones later on this year im sure so guess we will see how this all works out
note to everyone i like grammatical errors and run-on sentences thats what makes life fun

babluc said:
AT&T has blocked the ability to download 3rd party apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relax... thats what xda is for.

peachpuff said:
Relax... thats what xda is for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No kidding. Do you really need to get your panties in a wad about sideloading? That's like complaining that it doesn't come rooted from the factory.

peachpuff said:
Relax... thats what xda is for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes i get that but im talking about common users. Common users will not use XDA or root there phone. Im also not talking just about just this phone. When carriers do stuff like this, it effects how people view android and its ease of use.

babluc said:
Yes i get that but im talking about common users. Common users will not use XDA or root there phone. Im also not talking just about just this phone. When carriers do stuff like this, it effects how people view android and its ease of use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Common users aren't going to be side loading to begin with. If its not in the market they aren't going to care. If they care they can google it and find XDA or the plethora of other sites that detail the simple few step process.
i agree it shouldn't be an issue, it is and its an easy fix so I don't worry about it. Efuse is a bigger issue to development that this. If it does have efuse I won't buy it out of principal and I'll get an inspire.

Aridon said:
Common users aren't going to be side loading to begin with. If its not in the market they aren't going to care. If they care they can google it and find XDA or the plethora of other sites that detail the simple few step process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Anyone who wants to sideload can figure it out. Its probably the easiest hack you could possibly do on your Android phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I know I found out about the side-load wonder machine long before I found XDA. But it just wasn't enough for my Captivate lol. Always wanted more.

DumIam said:
I know I found out about the side-load wonder machine long before I found XDA. But it just wasn't enough for my Captivate lol. Always wanted more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the Cappy always needs more! Here's to hoping the Atrix doesn't.
At least in the performance realm, it doesn't seem too need much help from hacks. Although I'm looking forward to seeing what can be accomplished...

This phone is a powerful machine to begin with. I will be happy once I can root just to delete any bloatware that I can't delete out the box. Sideloading will be nice too..
I just don't like the Motorola interface, launcher pro will be my first install..
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

I have decided pass on the Atrix due to pricing tech concerns. I am looking forward to the samsung i9100.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] safe to install the Total Equipment Protection App?

Do u guys think its safe to install Sprint's new Total Equipment Protection App? Im kinda worry that with the app they could tell our devices is rooted and refuse to give us a new device if needed.
I wanna use it because it coz has cool stuff like GPS ur device online and stuff

cocochannel said:
Do u guys think its safe to install Sprint's new Total Equipment Protection App? Im kinda worry that with the app they could tell our devices is rooted and refuse to give us a new device if needed.
I wanna use it because it coz has cool stuff like GPS ur device online and stuff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Epic isn't supported. Go on the website. As of Monday, the Epic was the only Android phone not supported by the app.

Eh, it's on the supported devices page, but they have the wrong picture and say only 2.1 is supported.
With that said, I have it installed on my stock EB13 with no problems, and I just tried the "locate my phone" thing and it worked just fine. Unfortunately I have no idea if it would be able to tell if you are running a custom ROM or anything, but I plan to uninstall it before I root and load up a new ROM again, just to be safe.

well it is possible that they can see what os we are running as it pulls the info from the device. websites do this all the time. we hear reports of an android version like 2.3 or 2.4 showing up in access logs of who visited the site... i would think the app would do something like that also. so i would not use it... i use lookout mobile security.

To be honest, that app scares the crap out of me. I don't need Sprint telling me they will not support my device anymore cause they had an application that told them what was happening on my phone. I would much rather use another application. Would suck if I had hardware failure, and they decided they will not replace it under warranty because of the evidence they have on hand to show that I was using root and foreign Roms.

I installed the app on my rooted dk28 epic and ill let you guys know. I'll know in the next couple days.

It does not work on my custom rom. I'm running Nebula, which declares itself in about phone. TEP program probably checks version numbers.

AFAIK this app won't run on a modded Epic for some reason. I hear it runs fine on the Evo roms.

i wounder if sprint can tell if your rooter and custom from just connecting to data services such as 3g and or 4g? They could pull simple things like version numbers... we could blame it on the 20 apps that google pulled that rooted phones....

dzuchowski said:
i wounder if sprint can tell if your rooter and custom from just connecting to data services such as 3g and or 4g? They could pull simple things like version numbers... we could blame it on the 20 apps that google pulled that rooted phones....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is another thread hanging around that would be of interest to you. Try the search
Sent from Bonsai 6

So I just rooted my phone, what now?

Ive been reading about the possibilities of rooting and why its a good thing.
Well I finally rooted, but what should I do now?
I've already removed the bloatware and im not interested in themes.
As for ROMS/CustomOS, there hasnt been any ROM that sets it that much more better then the stock 2.2firmware that came with the phone. Aside from the possible swipe texting, is there any significant benefit from using a custom ROM as oppose to the standard OS?
Also what are some must have apps for rooted phone?
Feels like the only real benefit from rooting (if one is not interested in themes/looks) is just removing bloatware

Same boat
So I just rooted my phone too, I was hoping to gain the ability to remove the bloat ware and maybe free mobile hot spot, but im such a noon im too worried about bricking my phone so really all I've done is the initial root, I did download the liberty 1.5 and saved it to my memory card but I don't really know if I did a full backup or not. I downloaded the titanium backup app that specifically says root on it and did what I thought was a backup in preparation for putting the liberty rom on my phone. Do I automatically gwet free mobile hotspot or is that a separate app all together?

Rhill051 said:
So I just rooted my phone too, I was hoping to gain the ability to remove the bloat ware and maybe free mobile hot spot, but im such a noon im too worried about bricking my phone so really all I've done is the initial root, I did download the liberty 1.5 and saved it to my memory card but I don't really know if I did a full backup or not. I downloaded the titanium backup app that specifically says root on it and did what I thought was a backup in preparation for putting the liberty rom on my phone. Do I automatically gwet free mobile hotspot or is that a separate app all together?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not sure about titaninum backup or the liberty 1.5 youre trying to install.
However, I can hopefully share with you what I know about the free mobile hotspot. If by that you mean tether, than yes, you do need a seperate app. In fact the app is the only thing you need, no need for roms and what not. Some of the tethe rapps are PDAnet, easytether, and wireless tehter
theres probably more but those 3 are the ones I see most mentioned and hear success stories with most of them

alot of the Roms out there include a wireless 3g hotspot app in them, for example the rom im rocking is Darkslide 4.2 and it includes the app, and always remember to give credit where credit is due ^_^ and always thank the devs for doing this for free

Oh for sure, I appreciate the help info ethus site is the bomb and the dev's here kick butt. So I was using pda net before I rooted but I was told by someone that you can get the wireless hot spot by rooting. I might check out that dark sliders rom too. Is it a lot of work tojump between roms?

Just remember than Verizon is now monitoring rooted phones and they can send you a bill for data. I would suggest against it but it depends on where you live as to if they are monitoring.

droid_freak said:
Just remember than Verizon is now monitoring rooted phones and they can send you a bill for data. I would suggest against it but it depends on where you live as to if they are monitoring.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do they even know that a phone is rooted? Im guess I don't know what to think of that.. I know its a service you are supposed to pay for but isn't that kinda along the same lines as apple or google monitoring you? Do we know what markets Verizon is monitoring? Is it something where they pick the people who are using gig's of data, I've only used maybe a couple hundred megabytes

Rhill051 said:
How do they even know that a phone is rooted? Im guess I don't know what to think of that.. I know its a service you are supposed to pay for but isn't that kinda along the same lines as apple or google monitoring you? Do we know what markets Verizon is monitoring? Is it something where they pick the people who are using gig's of data, I've only used maybe a couple hundred megabytes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's confusing Verizon with AT&T:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/...-using-unauthorized-tethering-methods-to-pay/

Carrier IQ

All right the company Carrier IQ is suddenly popping up in news stories everywhere. I assume I am safe from this garbage if I am using Cyanogenmod but how do I make sure my Wife's shift is clean of this if she's using Stock rooted 2.2? She will not let me change roms or even upgrade her to 2.3 so I would like to know what I need to delete to make sure Carrier IQ is not installed on her Shift or at least not sending any info back to it's mother ship.
If you haven't heard Carrier IQ is installed on millions of phones of different manufacturer's and is supported by many carriers including HTC and Sprint. It collects data and sends it back to Sprint or who knows who. Apparently it can log everything and it ignores any permissions or security you have set up or something like that. It is installed "invisibly" and you do not have the option to opt in or out. I assume Titanium or some other program can see the pieces I would need to delete but I don't know what they are.
Here's where I read about it and it does list an app that may be able to take care of it but I would rather know how to do it manually:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/carrier-iq-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-and-what-you-need-to/#comments
Thanks

Evo_Shift said:
All right the company Carrier IQ is suddenly popping up in news stories everywhere. I assume I am safe from this garbage if I am using Cyanogenmod but how do I make sure my Wife's shift is clean of this if she's using Stock rooted 2.2? She will not let me change roms or even upgrade her to 2.3 so I would like to know what I need to delete to make sure Carrier IQ is not installed on her Shift or at least not sending any info back to it's mother ship.
If you haven't heard Carrier IQ is installed on millions of phones of different manufacturer's and is supported by many carriers including HTC and Sprint. It collects data and sends it back to Sprint or who knows who. Apparently it can log everything and it ignores any permissions or security you have set up or something like that. It is installed "invisibly" and you do not have the option to opt in or out. I assume Titanium or some other program can see the pieces I would need to delete but I don't know what they are.
Here's where I read about it and it does list an app that may be able to take care of it but I would rather know how to do it manually:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/carrier-iq-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-and-what-you-need-to/#comments
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Run supreme sense

VICODAN said:
Run supreme sense
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know! I told my wife it is better...she still says no

You can use Treve's app http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17612559
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.treve.loggingkey

Evo_Shift said:
I know! I told my wife it is better...she still says no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Show her that video and tell her you want a divorce if she doesn't agree.
lol jk about the divorce part but seriously I just watched that video and im so glad im not on stock sense.

Flash MikShifted G v1.76 or Supreme Sense, then hand her back the phone. If she doesn't like them better than stock there is something wrong

i think people over think things too much about these little threats

+1 OP, I'm in exactly the same boat!
Unfortunately it seems at this point, no way to remove CIQ without root

guyandhisdog said:
+1 OP, I'm in exactly the same boat!
Unfortunately it seems at this point, no way to remove CIQ without root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he already mentioned that yes she does have root on stock if you read the OP. So yes titanium backup should be able to remove it no problem. Use the app carrier IQ detector to find out how much of it needs to be removed.

CIQ is built into the kernel too. He needs to swap kernels as well as remove the apps.
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App

Ron Overdrive said:
CIQ is built into the kernel too. He needs to swap kernels as well as remove the apps.
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I looked at the kernel. All there is in the kernel is bug fixes to allow CIQ to run properly. If you remove the system apps there is nothing for the bug fixes in the kernel to use.
Sent from my PG06100 using xda premium

has anyone used the advanced version of treve's app on a shift successfully?
or removed the the ciq stuff manually with success? if so is there anything that needs to stay on the device so it doesn't brick.
i'm using a stock rooted rom and kind of want to stick with it.

After root, where are my Sprint apps?

I bought my Galaxy S7 Edge a week ago and rooted immediately. I just noticed today that I actually don't have ANY Sprint apps on my phone. This is a mixed blessing... most of them are bloat but some I'd like to have, such as Voicemail (I have no voicemail app right now) and maybe SprintZone.
Is this normal for root users? Or was this because I didn't go through all the setups prior to rooting my phone?
Is there a way to get the apps I need back (or get them from Sprint)? Sprint's website wasn't helpful in getting an answer... and I would search more here on XDA but their search is down right now.

WarAxe said:
I bought my Galaxy S7 Edge a week ago and rooted immediately. I just noticed today that I actually don't have ANY Sprint apps on my phone. This is a mixed blessing... most of them are bloat but some I'd like to have, such as Voicemail (I have no voicemail app right now) and maybe SprintZone.
Is this normal for root users? Or was this because I didn't go through all the setups prior to rooting my phone?
Is there a way to get the apps I need back (or get them from Sprint)? Sprint's website wasn't helpful in getting an answer... and I would search more here on XDA but their search is down right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What apps are you looking for?

LeftyGR said:
What apps are you looking for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I need Voicemail. I probably want SprintZone. If I even knew what was supposed to come with the phone I may want one or two others, but the voicemail is the biggie.
I'd also like to know if my immediate root played a role in not getting the Sprint apps... for future reference.

Wait. I just "found" Voicemail... it was disabled. Several other apps are disabled, too.
I think I'm alright for a bit until I can figure out what I'm doing.

Most of sprints app are NOT in the play store but baked in the actually stock rom. You'll have to search around for the apk's if you can't find them on your rooted phone.
Sent from my SM-G935P using XDA-Developers mobile app

Many of Sprint's apps are downloaded as part of the activation process, so if you didn't go through that process, it would explain why you don't have them.