[Q&D Explanations] [Definitions] - HD2 Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting and Genera

I see a lot of confusion on the boards about kernels, files, formats and so on. This is simply a quick and dirty breakdown of some of the words you will see around here, and a hope that it will answer some of the questions I see. If I am mistaken on any of the terms please correct me.
Windows Mobile side of the HD2, applies to all winmo devices and was answered by RizwanKhan a few years back, and a good explanation of things.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3007244&postcount=2
spl= Secondary Program Loader. Think of this in the same sense as bios on a pc. (it sets where your system boots from, intialises sub system process etc)
sspl = soft spl (this allows you to flash another spl or hardspl).
hardspl = hard spl .. basically it allows flashing of any rom. It protects you from bricking your device. If you have a bad flash it just forces the phone to load into bootloader, from where you can flash another rom using pc or storage card to get your phone working again. Using a hardspl you can flash any carrier rom without cid unlocking your device first.
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radio = controls the transmitting of information from your phone to the tower, including all data inbound and out, different radios seem to work better for Android. .50's generally work well.
task29 = to keep it simple, it basically overwrites your internal memory with 0's or blank data. It ensures that when you go to flash a new ROM nothing is left behind from the old one and gives you a clean slate to work from.
ROM = read only memory, A file which when extracted and flashed holds all the files/folders and information that becomes your OS on your device which will reside on your ROM. You can find them in various forms around here from bare-bones to heavily tweaked and tricked out.
cid = carrier id, a lock basically that prevents you from flashing a ROM to your phone that is not from your official carrier. Fortunately cid locks can be removed easily.
ruu or custom ruu = ROM update utility, basically an exe that extracts the rom or nbh (signed rom) that gives you a nice gui to install/flash by, whether it be a complete ROM or partial.
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Android side of this beast..
kernel = directly from wiki. In computing, the kernel is the central component of most computer operating systems; it is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. The kernel's responsibilities include managing the system's resources (the communication between hardware and software components).[1] Usually as a basic component of an operating system, a kernel can provide the lowest-level abstraction layer for the resources (especially processors and I/O devices) that application software must control to perform its function. It typically makes these facilities available to application processes through inter-process communication mechanisms and system calls.
Zimage = A compressed kernel for linux/android. So many different versions that I cant possibly get into them in the scope of this quick breakdown. Basically though remember the newest build offers generally more features but also can be more unstable, more bugs as well. You can easily try a different zimage though so feel free to test them all!!
ROM = currently on the hd2 ROMs are a bit different than regular Android devices as they reside on the sdcard vs NAND, to get a clean ROM you format your sdcard fat32 with a sdcard formatter (hp has a good one) then create a folder called Android on the root of your sdcard, extract your choice Android ROM with 7zip or your choice of compression utility and copy the contents over to the Android folder.
NAND = in short NAND is your phones internal flash memory, hopes are high that with a ROM flashable to NAND our HD'2 will see better battery life, a bit more stable and a bit faster..although it remains to be seen at this point in time.
Modules = basically a driver, some ROMs or Zimages will have broken wifi or similar, you can often replace the driver with a working one that coincides with the Zimage your are using.
ROOT = default account or creation of account that has access to all commands and files, allowing you or an app to modify the file or file system as needed, without having to supply credentials each time.
ADB = Android Debug Bridge is part of the Android SDK, its a command line interface that allows you to modify, remove, replace or create folders/files/apps, basically anything in your phones working system. It is just what it says, a bridge between your device and your computer. Example would be
adb shell mount -o remount rw /system
adb pull system/app/
adb push appname.apk /system/app/
adb shell reboot
that will pull all the apps in your system directory to your computer, the next will push whatever app back to your phone as long as its in the same folder as adb, followed by a reboot. You have tons of commands available, and again, as this is not a detailed guide I wont go into details but wanted to give you a quick idea of what it can be used for. An alternative to ADB is Droid Explorer which offers you a gui to go with it, however I still prefer ADB personally.
APK = basically apps. Much like windows mobile cab files.
At the mention from faisalee, APK files can be installed from the market as well as using various app installers like Linda, App Control and so on. Another good one to have is Titanium Backup which can remove them system apps you may not want (amazon or something), App Monster is another great free app.
As with us on the HD2 currently we may find ourself from one build to the next and Titanium Backup or App Monster can backup all your apps and allow you to reinstall them from a backup folder on your SD. You can also push them over with ADB or use Droid Explorer to do a batch install directly from your pc, all you need is your apps in a folder on your pc and point Droid Explorer to them.
If you find yourself unsure of how to get the apps to your computer and arent to comfortable with ADB, simply grab App Monster or Titanium Backup , back them up then copy the corresponding folder over to your pc.
There are tons of apps that can do what these can, just listing a few to get you started..I am sure you will find your own favorite apps in time.
PPP = Point to Point Protocal, directly from wiki page. In networking, the Point-to-Point Protocol, or PPP, is a data link protocol commonly used in establishing a direct connection between two networking nodes. It can provide connection authentication, transmission encryption privacy, and compression.
PPP is used over many types of physical networks including serial cable, phone line, trunk line, cellular telephone, specialized radio links, and fiber optic links such as SONET. Most Internet service providers (ISPs) use PPP for customer dial-up access to the Internet. Two encapsulated forms of PPP, Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) and Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM (PPPoA), are used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to connect Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet service.
PPP is commonly used as a data link layer protocol for connection over synchronous and asynchronous circuits, where it has largely superseded the older, non-standard Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) and telephone company mandated standards (such as Link Access Protocol, Balanced (LAPB) in the X.25 protocol suite). PPP was designed to work with numerous network layer protocols, including Internet Protocol (IP), Novell's Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), NBF and AppleTalk.
PPP is also used over broadband connections. RFC 2516 describes Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), a method for transmitting PPP over Ethernet that is sometimes used with DSL. RFC 2364 describes Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM (PPPoA), a method for transmitting PPP over ATM Adaptation Layer 5 (AAL5), which is also sometimes used with DSL.
PPP is specified in RFC 1661.[1]
RMNET = Little is known to me about RMNET, outside of I find it slower on my builds that I have run, some find it more stable but with slower speeds, especially in regards to uploads. A general push is being made now to work with PPP only it seems by most of the Chefs.
APN = Access Point Name, from the wiki again, Access point name (APN) identifies an IP packet data network (PDN), that a mobile data user wants to communicate with. In addition to identifying a PDN, an APN may also be used to define the type of service, (eg connection to wireless application protocol (WAP) server, multimedia messaging service (MMS)), that is provided by the PDN. APN is used in 3GPP data access networks, eg general packet radio service (GPRS), evolved packet core (EPC).
I have read over and over on these boards about "my internets not working" or "I cant MMS" well..its your APN's. If you have a Android build that works for you do yourself a favor and write down the APN's. Or even better yet, go to the market and search for APN Backup and Restore, its a FREE app that does just what it says. Stop asking for XXX Carrier's APN's people, Google is your friend and won't let you down with this search, or like I said, find a build that has working internet and mms and BACK IT UP! Easy enough fix.
AXI = As per michyprima's definition in this thread, AXI scaling downclocks not only the cpu but also the ram to save battery, but can cause lag. use with caution.
FROYO = (frozen yogurt) Google's name for Android 2.2, it has several benefits over 2.1 (eclair) , mainly due to JIT (just-in-time) compiler. Google claims up to 5x faster and if you have used an older build not based on 2.2 you can tell a substantial difference. Several core apps have also seen an update.
Sense vs Stock = Sense is basically HTC's custom UI overlayed on top of stock Android. The differences are some pretty nice looking widgets for social networking, stocks, a people widget and so on. Sense seems to have better luck with Bluetooth and FM radio currently. Your stock HTC running WINMO is running another version of Sense, Androids IMO is a bit nicer. The down side is it is a bit lower then stock but to some its a acceptable trade off. The newer Sense builds are based off the HTC EVO. The EVO has a great deal in common with our HD2 and seems to work well. The stock builds are based off the Nexus One, and work very well as well. They tend to have proper working camera flash and a bit quicker.
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Android is very stable now, if your having issues odds are you did something wrong, your issue has been covered here on these boards I am almost certain, search for your answer and generally you will find what your looking for.
Stop asking what the best Android Build is..these Devs have literally hours upon hours of work in these builds...take a few minutes of your time and try it out, read others comments, if you see a lot of people saying feature XXX or whatever is not working move on to another build.
I know I have left some things out, but my intent was to simply allow new users a quick and dirty way to get caught up on some of the terms they may see around these and many other forums, hopefully cutting down on some of the questions. If a MOD feels this is redundant or should not be posted in the Development section, feel free to remove it or move it to general. My reasoning for posting here was this seems to be where I see most questions asked that this quick guide aims to answer.
If anyone feels I have something incorrect or something needing to be added post away.

Thank you for this. Hope this eliminates the flaming and the noob questions!
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

thus post might help someone
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

i think you did a lot of people some good with this , give it some bold print and some highlighted stuff and you got yourself a sticky i believe ...but would probably do better in general , but either way this will help a lot of noobs

thanks for the suggestion, added bold and colors..if it answers one question then good deal

I vote for this to be stickied

x2 on sticky

+1 for sticky!
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

good thread
+1 for sticky vote

Yup! +1 from meee too
Great post for some one not too lazy to search before posting
Since you added a section about APK, I think it will be a good idea to write a bit about how these "apk" files can be installed on your android without the market place

STICKY?
I agree that this is a most excellent post and well done to OP for undertaking the effort , however I would not support it being stickied and would prefer to see this content added to this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=732380 to consolidate all information about Android in one spot.
Just my two cents worth!

thanks for the kind words

ajt320 said:
I agree that this is a most excellent post and well done to OP for undertaking the effort , however I would not support it being stickied and would prefer to see this content added to this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=732380 to consolidate all information about Android in one spot.
Just my two cents worth!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, but I reckon that the people who SHOULD read that ^^^ thread usually dont.
Maybe the word "Definitive" scares noobs away because they think its will be a War and Peace-style guide.
If this got stickied and had the title changed to 'Noobs guide to Android', I reckon it would be used much more than the sticky linked above.
Just my oppinion
PS I'm not a fan of the word noob, but whatever works

updated a bit more, thanks for the suggestion's.

you might put the definition of "Kernel" in there as well.

Cool and usefull
+1 for sticking
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Excellent post, this may or may not get moved but wherever it is I think it should be stickied, or at the very least link this thread in the Definitive guide sticky

great guide!
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Great thread, great write out. This should save a lot of confusion for newbies. +1 on sticky!

Great info. Thanks...

Related

Android Privacy

Hi all, I have a major concern about privacy and all the 3rd party data collectors...
A lot of apps are uploading user info and stats to companies like Flurry, pinch media etc.
I'm about to make the move from iphone OS to android, and i'm looking for a opt out to keep my privacy intact.
Saurik creaded PrivaCy for the jailbreak community that enabled on\off toggles for the 4 major companies.
My issue on iphone was that Pinch Media alone gathered the following information without my knowledge :
* iPhone’s unique ID (imei)
* iPhone model
* OS version
* Application version (in this case, camera zoom 1.x)
* If the application is cracked/pirated
* If the iPhone is jailbroken
* Time & date I start the application
* Time & date I close the application
* My current latitude & longitude
* My gender (if Facebook enabled)
* My birth month (if Facebook enabled)
* My birth year (if Facebook enabled)
I want the option to chose weither or not this kind of info gets collected and distributed.
I've looked into this issue on the android platform, and it seems like there's no option other than not to install the app.
Take for instance Locale. To my knowledge it uploads my imei nr (+lot of other info) to Flurry, whilst i do see the developers need to gather info, and I do not see why my imei number should be uploaded at all.
When I get my android phone I can only chose NOT to install locale, but I just want to prevent it from uploading such info..
Can anybody create a toggle, preferably one that doesn't aquire root, or some guide as to hosts file editing, or a firewall app that will give me this control over my device?
regards
-e
just add a line in hosts file like the following for each website you want to block:
127.0.0.1 some.company.com
Fantastic, thanks mate.
Unfortunately I will have to have root permissions to edit the hosts file.
(it might take time before the htc desire gets root)
(edit: unless theres another way to get write permissions for that file..?)
If I do mess with the hosts file I'd be keen on adding a fair few entries to block ads too..
Since the hosts file gets loaded in ram at bootup, will there be any noticably difference in speed due to the size increase?
regards
-e
could you please post the host-file or the addresses/ip's of the companies your gonna block?
they should be of interest for everybody here
1. You will need root access.
2. The change shouldn't impact the performance in the least. Any local host lookup is always faster than DNS lookup. Meaning that it should increase performance in cases where it finds the match in hosts file, although I doubt if you will notice it.
3. I wouldn't worry about RAM. The host file, even if you add a hundred entries, given that each line consumes 100 bytes, should still be under 10kb.
Great to hear. Thanks for the replies.
@fabsn: I'll post my hosts file as soon as I get this working.. (gimme a few weeks to get my phone, move to android and root
Although: I'd be keen on using the adblock app in androidstore (the one that modifies the hosts file), but my manual changes will break every time I update the app.
I'll try to get hold of the dev to se if he/she might add these info collectors (like Flurry) in another version so that people can get "the best of both worlds"
By the way: I wish all devs that utilizes info collection in their apps could just provide users with an opt out, then my problem would be solved...
-e
http://textbin.com/x6430
Here is a complete "phone home" list for the iPhone. A lot of this will directly apply to android as well, so perhaps a nice soul here at the forum could compile the most useful adresses for me (I'm writing on my phone and it's a b**** to do this on)
the list is taken from: i-phone-home.blogspot(dot)com/
so credit goes to that community.
I really want to combine this with the hosts file that jamesisbored/droid has for adblock..
I will test this once desire hits my mailbox and someone finds root.
-e
This sounds like a great idea. Once a comprehensive list is compiled it should be passed on to "bigtincan". I know myself and a lot of other people use their "ad free" app to block ads using the same method mentioned by Ady above. Although they may be blocking them already and I don't know. I've never looked closely at the host file.
http://bigtincan.com/downloads/android.html
Any progress made on this end?
ady said:
1. You will need root access.
2. The change shouldn't impact the performance in the least. Any local host lookup is always faster than DNS lookup. Meaning that it should increase performance in cases where it finds the match in hosts file, although I doubt if you will notice it.
3. I wouldn't worry about RAM. The host file, even if you add a hundred entries, given that each line consumes 100 bytes, should still be under 10kb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am new to modding my phone, would you be so kind as to go into more detail how to do this. Specifically, what is this "Hosts file" you speak of? I do have root access and searched my entire phone for a file like that with no joy.
Also, the links provided to possible host data do not work, can somebody update that?
Thanks!!!:laugh:
You may be interested in the MOAB (mother of all adblockers) thread here on xda. Best ad blocker out there, imo, if you haven't already. Sorry, I can't link it now.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Q] Making a new app - need some advice!

So, here is the situation:
I'm a Magic: the Gathering player and I love to design cards for fun. There is a bit of software called Magic Set Edtior that lets you make and store collections of custom made cards on the PC. My goal is to make a similar program for android. However, I'm relatively unfamiliar with how android apps are developed, and I have one major problem starting out:
Basically, the program needs to be able to open, create, edit, and save sets of cards that each have a few features. How do I store data for these sets? How would I accomplish that sort of file system? Should I just have the app create a internal database for each set the user makes? Are there limits to how many databases can be created by a single app? I'm probably not being as clear as I could be, and I realize that this project is probably (far) beyond my abilities - but I'd appreciate any help and would be happy to clarify anything that doesn't make sense. I'll post progress once I get this off the ground!
Check out the notepad demo at developer.android.com, it should be a good starting point for what you are trying to do
Sweet! I'll take a look. Thanks for your help ^_^
One more thing about databases, then: If the app has an internal database and I release an update for the app that modifies fields in the database, does the information get wiped? (for example, say that the tables in the db have three fields: name, cost, rules, and i issue an update that adds a "stats" field. Would that clear out the current cards in the database?)
Basically, I just want to be sure that using databases to store the sets of cards is the best, most efficient way to do this (So I won't end up having to re-code that entire bit of app).
So, databases are confusing... At least, how android works with them sure as hell is @[email protected]
So, what ive got now is that I need to make a database to store the individual card data... however, I also need to store general information about the set as well. So, do I make one new writeable database per set created, or is there a way to just use one database, and one table per set? (though I dont think you can store general info about a table that applies to each row, can you?)
Or apply for appinventor from googlelabs. Its fast and easy, should suite your purpose. Also has ability to communicate via web.
goodluck
I did apply. I'm hoping they get it too me soon.
Roid1 said:
Or apply for appinventor from googlelabs. Its fast and easy, should suite your purpose. Also has ability to communicate via web.
goodluck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got accepted like a week ago. Sad part is. You can't upload apps made to the market
sent from my pimp hero running Froyo CM6 and the XDA app

[Q] Confused on the structure of things

After perusing the forums for a while I'm considering loading a new ROM/Kernel. Maybe I'm to much of a noob to know but I can't find a thread that lays out the structure of Android. The stuff I can find assumes that I am already on intimate terms with this stuff, but I'm not.
I flashed CWM 3.1.0.1 which allowed me to clear caches and reset the battery gauge which has really helped. In trying to go further I'd like to piece the structure of the system together so I know where I am in the bigger scheme of things. I rely on the Epic for work. I can't afford to go down the wrong path and find myself in a far away town relying on a hotel internet connection to get back up off the ground. The picture I have is this:
Root lets me do the things I have mentioned before. Namely clear caches, backup my phone, reset battery meter, run some utilities to aid in device management. Similar to root or SU on *nix systems.
ROM drives the hardware and basic user interface, seems to me to be equivalent to the boot ROM and some lower level of OS functionality
Kernel is the actual software that runs on the device. This would be some OS and phone system overlay and the basic applications that show up in your applications folder. This provides your Sprint connection, network interface and the like
Applications are the other things that you actually run on the phone like games, social media programs GPS etc. Some come wrapped with a kernel, or they could be pick and choose.
I'm a bit fuzzy on where the ROM leaves off and the Kernel begins, maybe someone can clarify this.
Which leaves me here:
I see stuff that makes flashing new kernels and ROMs sound as if they are a magic elixir. I see posts that make it sound as if its a playground for folks who are hobbyists. Some posts talk about things that don't work any more with this flash or that. Where is the list of stuff that works and does not work for various mods?
My needs are very basic.
I need a reliable phone.
I need reliable Google mail & calendar (there are a few advantages to outsourcing corporate email to google).
Usable but not mission critical texting and GPS.
Better battery life.
This phone is for business. I do not need: social media, games, gadgets, widgets, toys.
Any light you can shed on the subject to help a brother out is appreciated.
Root = Elevated privilege access.
Kernel = The software that drives the phone.
Rom = The files on the phone's storage.
Apps = Also files on the phone's storage.
Root gives you the ability to do things the phone manufacturer did not intend for you to be able to do. (Think limited user account on Windows/Linux).
The Kernel is like the "engine" of the phone, w/o it the phone does nothing.
The Rom is the files on the phone, some are used by the kernel in order to make the phone work.
Apps... you know what these are. =]
The kernel controls the device, it has the drivers for hardware to make that hardware work.
The kernel is a Linux kernel built specifically for the device (phone) it will be run on.
The Rom is a collection of files to be installed onto the phone.
The Rom contains the operating system (the part that makes it an "android").
A Rom also includes apps, might include a theme (modifications to images, colors), and possibly numerous other modifications to the "stock" files.
The "stock" files, or a "stock" Rom, is what we are given by Sprint.
The different custom Roms you see available here on XDA are basically the stock files, modified by someone to their liking.
Some include a theme to give a custom look, most include modifications to make things "better" (ie hacked Sprint Hotspot, the 6 or 8 Lockscreen mod, etc).
There are many other aspects at play here, and much more that could be said about each item you listed, but the above is a generalized rundown.
Android runs on top of Linux, so the more familiar you are with Linux the better off you will be.
Do yourself a favor and take the time to read as much as you can, Google is your best friend.
=]

[GUIDE | READ ME | DISCONTINUED-28/06/12 ] A Newbie Guide for your Galaxy Tab 7.7 ▓░░

[GUIDE | READ ME | DISCONTINUED-28/06/12 ] A Newbie Guide for your Galaxy Tab 7.7 ▓░░
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Do terms like ‘Android ROM’ confuse you? Is your understanding of ‘flashing’ limited to acts of exhibitionism? Do you feel left out or clueless when your friends talk about flashing the latest custom ROM to their Android device ? here is a guide for you to make your life easier
Hey guys, this is a guide which will help many people (new users).
The Very Beginning!​
Android is an Operating System (OS), like Windows or OSX to your computer or iOS [1] to the iPad and iPhone. It controls how the phone reacts to your inputs, what's displayed on the screen and when. Many would argue, the OS is the most important factor of any mobile device. Whether or not you agree, it certainly has a massive impact on user experience, hopefully at the end of this, you'll be able to make up your own mind.
Note-
Red color means -> its important !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Understanding ROM’s and Builds​
A ROM is essentially a custom version of Android. Each tweaks, combines, or optimizes Android to offer something standard versions lack. Within ROM’s, you have what are known as builds (basic branches of Android code) that offer certain features and characteristics.
Think of it as a crude metaphor for Microsoft Windows. There’s XP, Vista, and Windows 7. All three are Windows operating systems and can typically run the same programs, but there are major differences between them. Within each OS, there’s further distinction between Vista Home, Vista Pro, and Vista Ultimate. Likewise, one ROM can spawn multiple versions. For instance, there are several flavors of Drake’s Hero ROM..
Be advised that some ROM’s require a wipe (erases all information stored on your phone) before or after installation. This is done when you enter the recovery mode and perform a “factory data reset.”
What is Firmware?​
The read-only operating systems that we just discussed above are also called ‘firmware’, as they stay firmly in place without modification access to the users of the device. Modification of firmware is still however possible, just not under normal usage. Many devices require specialized hardware to be used for the purpose while other devices have the storage set as read-only through software protection only, which can be removed or overridden without the need for any specialized hardware, just by using software written for the purpose, often but not always requiring connection to a computer.
Thus, the terms ‘operating system’ and ‘firmware’ both refer to the same thing and can be used interchangeably when applied to such devices.
Flashing​
The ROM memory used in smartphones and tablets etc. is often same as flash memory found in SD cards and USB flash drives, simply optimized for better speed and performance while running the operating system. As explained above, it is read-only under normal usage and requires a special procedure for any modifications to be made to its contents. The procedure of modifying or replacing the contents of such flash memory is known as flashing. Thus, in layman’s terms, flashing is essentially the same as installing or modifying the firmware of a device that is stored on its protected flash memory.
2 – Mobile Operating Systems
ROM as the Operating System​
When it comes to smartphones and tablets, the term ROM is used to refer to the firmware stored in the internal memory of the device, rather than the internal memory itself. It can also refer to a file prepared for the purpose of replacing this firmware with another version of using a special method.
Thus, when you are told by someone to download a ROM, they are referring to the file that contains the firmware in a format ready to be installed to your phone to replace it’s existing firmware. Similarly, when asked what ROM is your phone running or when told by someone their phone is running a particular ROM, they are again talking about the particular variant of the firmware.
Types of ROMs​->
Unlike most desktop operating systems, mobile operating systems can be found in installable format in multiple forms, which can be categorized as follows.
A)Truly Stock ROMs / firmware​:
This is the operating system in its default form, without any modifications made to it except for any device-specific support required to run it on the particular device. Truly stock firmware provides the standard user experience of the operating system without any cosmetic or functional changes made.
B)Manufacturer or Carrier branded Stock ROM / Firmware:
This type of firmware has had enhancements added over the default operating system by the device manufacturer or the mobile service carrier. This often includes interface enhancements, proprietary applications and in most cases, restrictions intended to limit the use of the device with a specific carrier or region. There are often further restrictions preventing installation of firmware not released by the carrier or manufacturer.
C)Custom ROM / firmware​:
Independent developers who like to customize their devices beyond the standard options provided often tend to release the fruits of their labor for the rest to enjoy, in form of custom ROMs.
3 – Stock Vs. Custom ROMs​
Both stock and custom ROMs have their merits and demerits and choosing between the two requires careful consideration. In this section, we are going to make a comparison between the two types of ROMs to help you make the right choice. Let us begin by taking a look at their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Stock ROMs​
Stock firmware is the result of a lot of research and testing done by the operating system vendor, the device manufacturer and/or the mobile service carrier. Therefore, it carries several advantages:-
1>It is usually quite stable upon release.
2>Almost all bugs are patched during the extensive beta testing before release.
3>It carries the official support by the firmware vendor, device manufacturer and the mobile service carrier.
4>Updates are pushed automatically to the device by the carrier.
Along with its advantages, stock firmware also carries its disadvantages and these include:​
1>Updates aren’t frequent, as development is done mostly by corporations who have to follow a scheduled release cycle.
2>Providing feedback to the manufacturer in case of any issues is either impossible, unwelcome (often with Apple devices), or a long, tedious process.
3>Similarly, getting official support can be a hassle as well, involving a tedious process.
4>If the device manufacturer and operating system developer are different (as is the case with Android and Windows Phone 7), any updates released by thekoperating system vendor need to be edited by the device manufacturer or mobile carrier to add compatibility and additional software before release. Hence, some devices get updates delayed by months.
5>Updates are often released first in the United States, leaving the rest of the world waiting. (A world does happen to exist beyond the United States, we’ve confirmed it ourselves!)
6>Worse still, when manufacturers choose to no longer release official updates for their older devi#es in favor of newer ones, their users are essentially stuck with old versions of the operating system. This case is evident with many Android devices barely a year and a half old.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Custom ROMs-​
Custom ROMs are as good or as bad as the effort put into them by their developers. Key advantages of custom ROMs are:
1)First and foremost, choice! There are thousands of custom ROMs out there for a range of devices, each offering a diverse set of features not found in the stock ROM.
2)Update frequency – custom ROMs are often under active development and newer releases of the core operating system are incorporated in them way before updated official ROMs are released.
3)Providing feedback is as easy as leaving a message on the development forum for the ROM in question.
Getting support with your issues at the forums is similarly easy, as not only the main developers themselves but also other experienced users of the ROM from the community are glad to help you with your issues and in the process, improve the ROM for everyone.
4)Custom ROMs usually have all the extra restrictions removed
5)Performance enhancements and optimizations found in many custom ROMs can make them much faster than stock ROMs ,enabling users to get the most out of their devices.
5)Overclocking options are built into some custom ROMs, further speeding up the devices.
6)Undervolting options found in some ROMs on the other hand result in improved battery life.
7)Old phones with little internal memory can benefit most from custom ROMs that allow them to use the external SD card memory for the apps exactly the way they would use the internal memory.
So with all these advantages, there should be no reason to stick with the stock ROM, right? Not necessarily! Like all things in life, custom ROMs come with their disadvantages as well:
1)Due to the lack of extensive testing prior to release, many custom ROMs can be buggy in the beginning and installing a ROM with missing or corrupt critical files can even brick your phone.
2)Several custom ROMs that are ports of ROMs from other phones can have missing functionality that hasn’t been made to work on your phone with the ROM yet.
Installing a custom ROM usually involves wiping your phone to factory settings, so you lose your data and start from scratch. Fortunately, Android’s built-in contact syncing along with apps offering message, call log and app backup/restore make this process easier, letting you retain your data.
The installation process can be cumbersome and requires you to root your phone and often circumvent its security features to allow for custom ROM installation in the first place.
Installing a custom ROM will in most cases void your phone’s warranty, though often the process is reversible, meaning you can turn your phone back to stock as long as it isn’t bricked.
Choosing the Right Custom ROM​
With several custom ROMs available for most Android devices, choosing the right one isn’t always easy. The question of ‘which is the best ROM for _____ phone / tablet’ is as often frowned-upon at the forums as it is asked, since there is no universal answer for it. One ROM may be the best for me while another might suit you better. The only solution is to read a lot, go through the feature list, read user response and if required, ask the developer questions at the forum page for the ROM. Attempt to install the ROM only after you are fairly satisfied that doing so will not harm your device to the extent you can’t fix.
Nandroid BACKUP​A Nandroid Backup is a backup file of your current ROM and its settings, you can do it manually using Clockwork Mod Recovery, it's fairly intuitive so you shouldn't have too much issue figuring these steps out.*IMPORTANT*
RISKS OF ROOTING​When a root exploit is initially found, it may or may not be stable. What this means is that it may not work reliably, or worse, it may cause a permanent failure of the phone, preventing it from booting up. A responsible phone hacker will therefore test the exploit extensively across many phones and modify the exploit as needed to make it stable. When the exploit has been proven to work safely and reliably, it is released to the public. However, this does not guarantee that the exploit will work with every single phone that it targets. The person or team that releases the exploit will make it clear that the exploit is "use at your own risk." Each person considering rooting their phone needs to understand this risk and decide whether it's worth proceeding or not.
Once the exploit has removed the NAND protection, the risk of permanently damaging your phone becomes very, very low. That's not to say that you can't get yourself into a bind, but with a little bit of know-how, rarely does a bad situation mean a bricked phone. If you haven't guessed already, a bricked phone is a phone that shares the qualities of a brick: it can look rectangular and do nothing.
As a preemptive safety measure, the custom recovery program installed as part of the root exploit contains a very useful tool called a NANDroid backup/restore. This utility backs up your internal memory and essentially is a save-state. No matter how you change your phone in the future, you can always bring your phone back to the state it was in at the time of the backup. It is highly recommended to make a NANDroid backup before flashing anything.
Knowledge is power here. If you've read this far, you already have a really good foundation into the Android rooting world. For more excellent infor-ation, I recommend reading this post: Quick INTRO TO ROOTING for those new to rooting, which will give you a broader vocabulary of root-related terminology. The more information you gather, the more you will realize that the risks of rooting are very low, while the rewards are very high.
And don't hesitate to use these forums to ask questions and seek clarifications. The rooting community is strong, and there are tons of people eager to help. Today's newbies are tomorrow's experts. Good luck in your endeavor%r1
The Android Family Tree
Android has a come a long was since its birth in 2008, however we're not here to fire into its history specifically, but what its history might mean for you! Android has been released in incremental versions. Each phone may differ in what version it has installed, usually the vendor decides what version it will choose, and develops Android into a specific ROM [2] for the device. To find out what version of Android your device is, navigate to the settings menu and select 'about phone', under 'Android version' there will be three numbers, the first two, will tell you what release you're running. There are currently 5 flavours of Android for phones, these are;
1.5 - Cupcake
One thing you'll learn, Android has quirky names! This version of android is likely the most basic version you'll meet, very few handsets still selling have this version. If you have a handset with version 1.5, you're limited in a big way! There are many features missing that means 1.5 just can't support many of the applications offered up in the market!
1.6 - Donut
Donut offered a few improvements over Cupcake; Voice search, turn-by-turn navigation and an improved market to name a few! It's still missing a few features that don't allow the more advanced apps to run. So don't be suprised if you're missing a few from the market.
2.0/2.1 - Eclair
Google picked up their game with the move to 2.1, it is arguably the largest and most important update Google made. Most applications will work on 2.1! It also included support for Microsoft exchange (if you don't know what this is, you don't need it) increased speed, smoothness, and improved the user interface immensely.
2.2 - Froyo
Currently the largest version in use, you're with a masses here and perhaps will find comfort in it. a few performance tweaks, faster browsing and the ability to run Adobe Flash 10.1 is among the few things you can do over your 2.1 bretheren.
2.3/2.4 - Gingerbread
Updated UI, higher resolution screens, VoIP calls, improved keyboard, introduced NFC to the world, faster performance, and a better battery life are among the benefits over your older bretheren. This released also improved voice-to-text engine input, copy and paste, audio effects, and enabled simultaneous multiple camera support.
4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich
Ok huuuge update here, haven't played on it yet but this is shaping up to be the biggest update since 2.1, if not ever! Combining Gingerbread and Honeycomb, this is loooking a very mature and slick version of Android. Massive UI overhaul; hardware acceleration, no physical/permanent buttons, new Roboto font, Honeycomb task manager, new screen layouts, easily customisable folders, widget app drawer and a customisable launcher. Other improvements include new contacts or 'people' app, further improved copy and paste, further improved keyboard, visual voicemail with improved functionality, improved gestures, new lock screen, integrated screenshot capture, facial recognition unlocking, Android Beam utilising NFC, and awesome 3g data management software!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Power saving tips:
Dont use a live theme
Use a dark wallpaper
Turn off wi-fi & bluetooth when not in use
Stop friendstream, facebook & peep updating every 5mins. Set mine to manual.
Set email app to manual
Set screen brightness to auto or 40% (lower if you can put up with it).
How does one flash a kernel?
The process is a simple as flashing a ROM, put the .zip on ur sdcard, go into recovery,wipe cache,dalvik-cache, install .zip from sdcard, reboot phone and ur done.
How to Flash A Custom ROM-
Download a ROM of your choice from the All Things Root section (The Forum you are in) You can find direct links to each of them in the All Things Root Guide that is stickied at the top of this forum.
1- Once downloaded, its recommended to download it from your computer and place it on your phone, put it on the root of your internal or external sd cards. Root meaning not in a folder.
2- Reboot into recovery using Quick Reboot.
3- Using your volume keys to scroll and your power key to select, scroll down tand select "Wipe data/Factory Reset" then scroll to "Yes" and select.
4- Scroll down and select "Wipe Cache Partition" and then select "Yes"
5- Scroll down and select "Advanced" and select "Wipe Dalvik Cache" and then select "Yes" then scroll down and select "Go Back"
6- Sroll down and select "mounts and storage" then scroll down and select ONLY these 3 listed, "format data" and then select "Yes", then scroll down and select "format cache" and then select "Yes", then scroll down and select "format system" and then select "Yes". Then scroll down to and select "Go Back"
7- Then scroll down to "Install Zip From Sd", if you put the ROM on your external SD card select "choose zip from SD". If you put it on your internal scroll down and select 'choose zip from internal". Then after you selected one of those depended on where you put the ROM, scroll down and select the ROM and then Select "Yes".
Let it run and do its thing and once it says its done, select "reboot system now" and enjoy
How To Flash A Theme-
Download a theme of your choice from the All Things Root section (The Forum you are in) You can find direct links to each of them in the All Things Root Guide that is stickied at the top of this forum.
1- Once downloaded, its recommended to download it from your computer and place it on your phone, put it on the root of your internal or external sd cards. Root meaning not in a folder.
2- Reboot into recovery using Quick Reboot.
3- Using your volume keys to scroll and power button to select, scroll down and select "wipe cache partition" and then select "Yes"
4- Scroll down to and select "Advanced" and then select "Wipe Dalvik Cache"
5- Then scroll down and select "Go Back"
6- Then scroll down to "Install Zip From Sd", if you put the theme on your external SD card select "choose zip from SD". If you put it on your internal scroll down and select 'choose zip from internal". Then after you selected one of those depended on where you put the theme, scroll down and select the theme and then Select "Yes".
Let it run and do its thing and once it says its done, select "reboot system now" and enjoy
You can find stock firmwares here -​sampro.pl
sammobile
Important (Read it carefully)​ -> Forum & Marketplace Rules & announcements
Some other guides by some great developers-
> [ROM&GUIDE] Official Firmwares SGT 7.7 P6800 + P6810 Download By xenix96
>[GUIDE] Root By Jade Eyed Wolf
> [Guide] Full Tutorial To Install Custom ROM [GT-P6800] BY haidharbbc
Useful posts​ -
> [FAQ] Com-on Issues with the P6800 and their Solutions (where available) By Theory
>Welcome To the Galaxy Tab 7.7 Forum -Please Read Before Posting- by original_ganjaman
>[REF] Partitions P6800 + P6810 By Chainfire
> Simple ways to speed up your tablet!!
HONYCOMB FULL PREVIEW USER GUIDE *IMPORTANT*
I will update it ,when there is a need.
--->I will add more. If I ever miss anything please send me a private message
That should be enough to get you started.
CHANGELOG-​
UPDATE - 22/04/12 MAJOR UPDATE !! lot of information added!!!!
UPDATE -02/05/12 Android Terms,Slang & Definition added to guide see post #3 !!
UPDATE - 28/06/12-Due to fact, i dont own this tab anymore, there will be no updates.sorry!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope this guide helps you.......
Thanks..........
Please comment if you have any problems, or want to share anything.
Please give an REVIEW ,it means a lot to me.Thank you.
-------------------*Important Tips*---------------------
--- Important Tips ---​
[1]THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE *BEST* ROM OR *BEST* TWEAKS
-everything that has *best* in it's name is mainly made by questioner's preference.
[2] STOP ASKING FOR ETA'S....Stop asking when will it be released or when will that be released.its silly you know. IT WILL COME WHEN ITS READY GET IT ?
[3]OK this will be quite simple. If it says DEVS ONLY leave it alone. Don't comment unnecessary trash and ask for ETA's.
It's unstable so don't go making a thread in general section asking if it's stable or not.ok ?
[4]RESPECT THE DEVELOPERS*IMPORTANT*
[5] Read or search before posting anything! GOOGLE is your best friend!
https://www.google.com (use me)
SEARCH SEARCH SEARCH SEARCH BEFORE DOING SOMETHING !!!!!
I hope i am clear.....
[6] Stop posting and posting the same stuff over and over and over again! If it says in the ROM description that ""This" is not working" Dont keep on asking is "this" working? or something like that.
[7] Post in the proper section. You will get more help if you do this.
For example... don't start a question thread in developers forum just because you think it's more active than general section. EVERYTHING HAS IT'S PURPOSE
[8] If a bug has been reported once,then THATS ENOUGH REPORTING < Read once more,enough said
[9] LOOK,READ AND THEN ONLY POST,If there is something you want to post,then look at thread,read the whole thread and then ONLY post.
Credits - DooAce ,prawesome
Android Terms,Slang & Definitions*Important* + How to Increase Battery Life !
PART #1​
Android Terms,Slang & Definitions​
Apps2SD:A method of storing applications and cache on the device's microSD card.
ADB:Android Debug Bridge (adb) is a versatile command line tool that lets you communicate with an emulator instance or connected Android-powered device. It is a client-server program that includes three components:
•A client, which runs on your development machine. You can invoke a client from a shell by issuing an adb command. Other Android tools such as the ADT plugin and DDMS also create adb clients.
•A server, which runs as a background process on your development machine. The server manages communication between the client and the adb daemon running on an emulator or device.
•A daemon, which runs as a background process on each emulator or device instance.
AMOLED:Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. Basically, a very colorful, bright, display found in some smartphones.
APK:Android application package file. Each Android application is compiled and packaged in a single file that includes all of the application's code (.dex files), resources, assets, and manifest file. The application package file can have any name but must use the .apk extension. For example: myExampleAppname.apk. For convenience, an application package file is often referred to as an ".apk".
Alpha:The alpha phase of the release life cycle is the first phase to begin software testing (alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, used as the number 1). In this phase, developers generally test the software using white box techniques. Additional validation is then performed using black box or gray box techniques, by another testing team. Moving to black box testing inside the organization is known as alpha release.[1]
Alpha software can be unstable and could cause crashes or data loss. The exception to this is when the alpha is available publicly (such as a pre-order bonus), in which developers normally push for stability so that their testers can test properly. External availability of alpha software is uncommon in proprietary software. However, open source software, in particular, often have publicly available alpha versions, often distributed as the raw source code of the software.
The alpha phase usually ends with a feature freeze, indicating that no more features will be added to the software. At this time, the software is said to be a feature complete.
Boot Animation:Boot animation is a term for a graphical representation of the boot process of the operating system.
Boot animation can be a simple visualisation of the scrolling boot messages in the console, but it can also present graphics or some combinations of both.
Unlike splash screens, boot screen or boot animation is not necessarily designed for marketing purposes, but can be to enhance the experience of the user as eye candy, or provide the user with messages (with an added advantage of color coding facility) to diagnose the state of the system.
Bootloader:This small program's only job is to load other data and programs which are then executed from RAM.Often, multiple-stage boot loaders are used, during which several programs of increasing complexity load one after the other in a process of chain loading.
Bootloop:When your system recycles over and over without entering the main OS.
Beta: is the software development phase following alpha. It generally begins when the software is feature complete. Software in the beta phase will generally have many more bugs in it than completed software, as well as speed/performance issues. The focus of beta testing is reducing impacts to users, often incorporating usability testing. The process of delivering a beta version to the users is called beta release and this is typically the first time that the software is available outside of the organization that developed it.
The users of a beta version are called beta testers. They are usually customers or prospective customers of the organization that develops the software, willing to test the software without charge, often receiving the final software free of charge or for a reduced price.
Beta version software is often useful for demonstrations and previews within an organization and to prospective customers. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, prototype, technical preview (TP), or early access.
Some software is kept in perpetual beta—where new features and functionality is continually added to the software without establishing a firm "final" release.
CPU:It stands for Central Processing Unit and handles all the complex mathematical formulas necessary to do everyday things like surfing the Internet.
Cache:A component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere. If requested data is contained in the cache (cache hit), this request can be served by simply reading the cache, which is comparatively faster. Otherwise (cache miss), the data has to be recomputed or fetched from its original storage location, which is comparatively slower. Hence, the greater the number of requests that can be served from the cache, the faster the overall system performance becomes.
CDMA:Mobile phone standards called cdmaOne, CDMA2000 (the 3G evolution of cdmaOne) and WCDMA (the 3G standard used by GSM carriers), which are often referred to as simply CDMA, and use CDMA as an underlying channel access method.
CIQ:Carrier IQ. A piece of preinstalled software that runs with elevated access in the background of portable devices by default and records everything. Potentially can be exploited to steal information.
Dual Core:A dual core processor is a central processing unit (CPU) that has two separate cores on the same die, each with its own cache. It essentially is two microprocessors in one. This type of CPU is widely available from many manufacturers. Other types of multi-core processors also have been developed, including quad-core processors with four cores each, hexa-core processors with six, octa-core processors with eight and many-core processors with an even larger number of cores.
Dalvik:The Android platform's virtual machine. The Dalvik VM is an interpreter-only virtual machine that executes files in the Dalvik Executable (.dex) format, a format that is optimized for efficient storage and memory-mappable execution.
Dalvik Cache:Writable cache that contains the optimized bytecode of all apk files (apps) on your Android device. Having the information in it's own cache makes applications load faster and perform better.
EXT2:The ext2 or second extended filesystem is a file system for the Linux kernel. It was initially designed by Rémy Card as a replacement for the extended file system (ext).
ext2 was the default filesystem in several Linux distributions, including Debian and Red Hat Linux, until supplanted more recently by ext3, which is almost completely compatible with ext2 and is a journaling file system. ext2 is still the filesystem of choice for flash-based storage media (such as SD cards, and USB flash drives) since its lack of a journal minimizes the number of writes and flash devices have only a limited number of write cycles. Recent kernels, however, support a journal-less mode of ext4, which would offer the same benefit along with a number of ext4-specific benefits.
EXT3:Third extended filesystem, is a journaled file system that is commonly used by the Linux kernel. It is the default file system for many popular Linux distributions, including Debian. Stephen Tweedie first revealed that he was working on extending ext2 in Journaling the Linux ext2fs Filesystem in a 1998 paper and later in a February 1999 kernel mailing list posting, and the filesystem was merged with the mainline Linux kernel in November 2001 from 2.4.15 onward.Its main advantage over ext2 is journaling, which improves reliability and eliminates the need to check the file system after an unclean shutdown. Its successor is ext4.
EXT4:It was born as a series of backward compatible extensions to ext3, many of them originally developed by Cluster File Systems for the Lustre file system between 2003 and 2006, meant to extend storage limits and add other performance improvements.However, other Linux kernel developers opposed accepting extensions to ext3 for stability reasons,and proposed to fork the source code of ext3, rename it as ext4, and do all the development there, without affecting the current ext3 users. This proposal was accepted, and on 28 June 2006, Theodore Ts'o, the ext3 maintainer, announced the new plan of development for ext4.
FC/FC's:Short for "force close," meaning an app that has crashed.
Fastboot:A diagnostic protocol used primarily to modify the flash filesystem in Android smartphones from another computer over a USB connection. It is part of the Android Debug Bridge library.
Utilizing the Fastboot protocol requires that the device be started in a boot loader or Second Program Loader mode in which only the most basic hardware initialization is performed. After enabling the protocol on the device itself it will accept any command sent to it over USB via a command line. Some of most commonly used fastboot commands include:
•flash - Overwrites a partition in flash with a binary image stored on the host computer.
•erase - Erases a partition in flash.
•reboot - Reboots the device into the either the main operating system or the system recovery partition.
•devices - Displays a list of all devices (with Serial #) connected to the host computer.
Flashing:The ROM memory used in smartphones and tablets etc. is often same as flash memory found in SD cards and USB flash drives, simply optimized for better speed and performance while running the operating system.
Hotspot:A spot that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology.You can connect wifi campatible devices to it.
HDMI:High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting encrypted uncompressed digital data.It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency (RF) coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA (also called D-sub or DE-15F). HDMI connects digital audio/video sources (such as set-top boxes, DVD players, HD DVD players, Blu-ray Disc players, AVCHD camcorders, personal computers (PCs), video game consoles (such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360), AV receivers, tablet computers, and mobile phones) to compatible digital audio devices, computer monitors, video projectors, and digital televisions.
JIT:The Just-in-Time Compiler. Released with Android 2.2, it's a method of greatly speeding up apps in Android on the software side.
Kang:Someone writes a code,someone else modifies the code to make their own release,its concidered a kang release.
Kernel:A kernel is a layer of code that allows the OS and applications to interface with your phone's hardware. The degree in which you can access your phone's hardware features depends on the quality of code in the kernel. The homebrew (rooting) community for HTC has made several kernel code improvements that give us additional features from our hardware that the stock kernel does not. When you flash a custom ROM, you automatically get a kernel. But you can also flash a standalone kernel ROM on top of the existing one, effectively overwriting it. These days, the difference in custom kernels is less about new features and more about alternate configurations. Choosing a custom kernel is basically choosing one that works best with your ROM.
Launcher:Collectively, the part of the Android user interface on home screens that lets you launch apps, make phone calls, etc. Is built in to Android, or can be purchased in the Android Market.
LCD Density:Pixel density is a measurement of the resolution of devices in various contexts; typically computer displays, image scanners, and digital camera image sensors.
First of all you need to understand that the Android User Interface uses something called a "display independent pixel" or a "dip" (yes, it's confusing because the density settings are in "dots per inch" or "dpi" which are considered the same as "ppi" or "pixels per inch" as well).
The default LCD Density setting on Android is 160 dpi. As far as the operating system is concerned 1 dip @ 160 dpi = 1 screen pixel. It doesn't mean that's actually true, but you've gotta start somewhere. In my opinion it would have been a lot nicer if they'd chosen 100 dpi because then it would be an easy percentage thing, but they didn't so we're stuck with this formula.
Mod:The act of modifying a piece of hardware or software or anything else for that matter, to perform a function not originally conceived or intended by the designer.
Nightly:A build that is performed at the end of each day of development. If you use a continuous integration server, it will generally be configured to build the code and run the unit tests on every check in. At the end of each day you may want to run more extensive tests, regression test and integration tests for example, which take too long to run on each check in and these would be triggered after the nightly build. If you have a full continuously delivery pipeline the nightly build may also be used to deploy the built code to environments for user testing.
Open GL:An open source 3D graphics library used in many devices, including Android devices.
Open & Closed Beta:Developers release either a closed beta or an open beta; closed beta versions are released to a select group of individuals for a user test and are invitation only, while open betas are from a larger group to the general public and anyone interested. The testers report any bugs that they find, and sometimes suggest additional features they think should be available in the final version.
Overclock:To increase the speed of your CPU.
Partition:The phone's internal memory (not the SD card) is solid-state (flash) memory, AKA NAND. It can be partitioned much like a normal hard drive can be partitioned. The bootloader exists in its own partition. Recovery is another partition; radio, system, cache, etc are all partitions.
Here are the standard partitions on an Android phone:
/misc - not sure what this is for.
/boot - bootloader, kernel
/recovery - holds the recovery program (either clockworkmod or RA recovery for a rooted Evo)
/system - operating system goes here: Android, Sense, boot animation, Sprint crapware, busybox, etc
/cache - cached data from OS usage
/data - user applications, data, settings, etc.
The below partitions are not android-specific. They are tied to the hardware of the phone, but the kernel may have code allowing Android to interact with said hardware.
/radio - the phone's radio firmware, controls cellular, data, GPS, bluetooth.
/wimax - firmware for Sprint's flavor of 4G, WiMax.
PRL:The Preferred Roaming List, basically a way of telling your phone which towers to connect to first.
RUU:a complete software package released by HTC, it can contain many things they are trying to update. Radio, ROM, bootloader, etc... Installing an ruu is like installing an image on a hard drive it wipes the phone and installs the image. It will wipe everything data and all so if you install one be prepared.
Radios:On the HTC side of things,the radios persist of:
•WiFi, which operates at 2.4-5ghz depending on what channel it's running
•Cellular/3G, which carries voice and data
•4G/WiMAX, which only carries data
•GPS, which is receive-only
•Bluetooth, which talks to WiiMotes and headsets
Flashing a radio means updating the code that controls the phones way of sending and recieving a signal.
Root:The first level of a folder.
SBC:(the ability to charge your battery beyond the default safe limit). The concept is similar to overclocking a processor: you're overriding the safety limits established to achieve additional performance. The benefit here is that you may gain more use of your battery per charge. The drawback is that you can damage the battery and significantly reduce its longevity. Some kernels claim they are using a safe technique to prevent battery damage. Just be aware of the potential risks.
Sideloading:It means installing applications without using the official Android Market.
Splash Screen:A splash screen is an image that appears while android is loading.Splash screens cover the entire screen or simply a rectangle near the center of the screen. The splash screens of operating systems and some applications that expect to be run full-screen usually cover the entire screen.
Superuser/SU:On many computer operating systems, the superuser is a special user account used for system administration. Depending on the operating system, the actual name of this account might be: root, administrator or supervisor.
Normal work on such a system is done using ordinary user accounts, and because these do not have the ability to make system-wide changes any viruses and other malware - or simple user errors - do not have the ability to adversly affect a whole system. In organizations, administrative privileges are often reserved for authorized experienced individuals.
Script:The Scripting Layer for Android (abridged as SL4A, and previously named Android Scripting Environment or ASE) is a library that allows the creation and running of scripts written in various scripting languages directly on Android devices. SL4A is designed for developers and is still alpha quality software.
These scripts have access to many of the APIs available to normal Java Android applications, but with a simplified interface. Scripts can be run interactively in a terminal, in the background, or via Locale.
SDK:(SDK or "devkit") is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.
Stock:This is the operating system in its default form, without any modifications made to it except for any device-specific support required to run it on the particular device.
S-On:Security on,means no acces to the phones operating system.
S-Off:Security was exploited,now have access to the operating system.
Tethering:Means sharing the Internet connection of an Internet-capable mobile phone with other devices. This sharing can be offered over a wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, or by physical connection using a cable. In the case of tethering over wireless LAN, the feature may be branded as a mobile hotspot.The Internet-connected mobile phone acts as a portable router when providing tethering services to others.
USB:Stands for Universal Serial Bus. Is a method of connecting devices to a computer. Most smartphones now use microUSB cables to charge and sync.
Updater Script:When Android devices install updates via 'update.zip' files using recovery mode they have to perform a wide range of functions on files and permissions. Instead of using a minimal shell such as {b,d,c}sh the Android designers decided to create a small functional language that can be extended by device manufacturers if necessary. Since the Android "Donut" release (v1.6) the scripting language is called Edify and is defined primarily in the bootable/recovery/{edify,edifyscripting,updater} directories of the Android source-code tree.
Wireless N:Wireless N technology increases wireless internet connection. Wireless 'N' routers also work with Wireless 'G' and 'B' wireless adapters.
WiiMax:(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas.
YAFFS:Yaffs1 is the first version of this file system and works on NAND chips that have 512 byte pages + 16 byte spare (OOB;Out-Of-Band) areas.[clarification needed] These older chips also generally allow 2 or 3 write cycles per page,which YAFFS takes advantage of - i.e. dirty pages are marked by writing to a specific spare area byte.
Newer NAND flash chips have larger pages, 2048 bytes + 64 bytes spare areas, and stricter write requirements.Each page within an erase block (128 kilobytes) must be written to in sequential order, and each page must be written only once.YAFFS2 was designed to accommodate these newer chips.YAFFS2 is based on the YAFFS1 source code,with the major difference being that internal structures are not fixed to assume 512 byte sizing,and a block sequence number is placed on each written page. In this way older pages can be logically overwritten without violating the "write once" rule.[clarification needed]
YAFFS is a robust log-structured file system that holds data integrity as a high priority.A secondary YAFFS goal is high performance.YAFFS will typically outperform most alternatives.It is also designed to be portable and has been used on Linux, WinCE, pSOS, eCos,ThreadX and various special-purpose OSes.A variant 'YAFFS/Direct' is used in situations where there is no OS, embedded OSes and bootloaders: it has the same core filesystem but simpler interfacing to the OS and NAND flash hardware.
Zipalign: An archive alignment tool introduced first time with 1.6 Android SDK (software development kit). It optimizes the way an Android application package (APK) is packaged. Doing so enables the Android operating system to interact with the application more efficiently, and hence has the potential to make the application and overall the whole system much faster. Execution time is minimized for zipaligned applications, resulting is lesser amount of RAM consumption when running the APK.
CREDITS-Diablo67
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PART #2​How to increase battery of Your Tab !​
While many of us, and our readers, are seasoned vets of the Android ecosystem, there are many that are just starting out. After spending the last hour looking for something to cover that was extreme, I had an idea. That idea is what you are seeing here. A newbie friendly series of posts that will outline various topics from the simple, to the more complex. Not always about some new root tool, some new device or some insane kernel. More focused on basic daily operations, things that can improve upon the newest users experience to the Android ecosystem.
In today’s newbie guide we are going to outline a few battery saver tips and tricks that can help extend the life of your battery.
Tip #1 - As much as we all love the look of live wallpapers, they suck battery. Sticking to a static, or regular picture, will help out. Alternatively, the best option for many devices is using a true black png image. This is particularly helpful on AMOLED based screens, as color pixels use power where as black does not. Click the link to head to a black png, long press on it and save it. Then apply it as your wallpaper. If you can set it as a lockscreen wallpaper too that would be a good idea.
Tip #2 – Cut back on the widgets. While widgets are pretty, fun and often times useful, over doing it can hurt you long-term. Not just in battery performance, but even device performance. For instance, using Beautiful Widgets, you can get the date, time and weather in one widget versus running three different ones. If you can’t live with out them, then at least adjust the settings for when they update. Instead of polling the weather every time you turn your screen on, set it to every 4 or 8 hours. Most widgets will also let you set them to only pol manually. While it might be a slight inconvenience, pulling data for updates uses power and it uses your data plan.Similar rules apply to apps like Hootsuit, Facebook and so on.
Tip #3 – Screen brightness can dramatically affect your overall battery life. Many devices have an auto brightness setting that will use your light sensor to adjust the brightness according to the current lighting conditions. It is recommended that you leave that turned on. I have found that while it is nice, I prefer to have manual control of my brightness. If you spend a great deal of time indoors, the lowest brightness setting is enough to see your screen and use your phone. While the next statement might seem to contradict the widget tip, not all widgets consume power. Most Android version have a ‘power control’ widget which gives you quick access to WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Sync and brightness. If your device doesn’t have one, you can locate single button widgets that offer the brightness control, such as this one. I personally keep it to the lowest setting and if I need more light, just tap the brightness button to make it brighter when I need it.
Tip #4 - This one is simple and easy. Keep Wi-Fi and GPS off unless you actually need them. Both are easily controlled with the power control widget ro any other number of apps to keep you from having to go through the settings all the time. Heck, many newer devices even have those in the notification drop down bar now.
Tip #5 – When traveling or staying in an area that has no reception, turn of the devices radios. Sounds silly right? But if you are somewhere that gets no service at all, your device is going to be constantly searching for service and your battery is going to drain like crazy. The easiest and most universal way to turn of your radios is to put the device in ‘airplane mode.’ That is generally under Menu > Settings > Wireless and Networks. Although some UI’s have it in a different location and there are also apps and widgets that can accommodate this function. This also works out well in an office environment where Wi-Fi might be present but cell service is non existent. You might need to toggle the Wi-Fi back on for data use, but your phone won’t be searching for cell connection the whole day either.
Tip #6 – Adjust your screen off time. Many of us seasoned vets just hit the power button when we are done on our phone to turn of the screen. While it is rare, some devices don’t have that option. Setting the screen off time to the lowest amount of time will help ensure your phone’s screen goes off in case you forget. Believe me, I have seen people set their phone down with the screen on for hours and wonder why their battery dies so quickly. This can be accessed via Menu > Settings > Display. Depending on your current device, it might be screen off timer or sleep. Maybe others, not sure.
Tip #7 – This tip has a few various parts. First, running your battery through a few charge cycles is always a good idea. This means fully charging the device, then running it until it powers off. While it is off, plug in and charge it to 100%. Then repeat the process at least twice, but three times is a good idea. Sadly, the batteries the manufacturers use, aren’t always of the highest quality. Bummer huh.
Tip #8 – Watch for ‘rogue’ apps. By that we mean, if you have recently installed an application and you have noticed that your battery life has also recently gotten worse, you may have a rogue app running. This is usually pretty easy to find by checking Menu > Settings > Battery. You can usually see what apps are sucking juice. If you locate one, you can kill that process to stop it from eating battery, or if it is an app you hardly use simply uninstall it.
Tip #9 – Final tip for this post. Your launcher. Yes, your current launcher might be the culprit as well and you may not even know it. The fantabulous Sense UI found on HTC devices, TouchWiz found on Samsung devices and MotoBlur found on Motorola devices can also attribute to battery brain. Often times switching to a new launcher such as Go Launcher EX, ADW Launcher EX or countless other launchers can provide not only a boost in battery performance, but also a boost in your devices speed. Not to mention the added benefit of fun UI elements, themes and tweaks.
While there are plenty of other tips and tricks that I am sure our readers will add to the comments, these are 9 that can really make a difference in your daily consumption. Give them a try if you haven’t already done so and give it a couple of days. Nothing happens over night.
CREDITS-> Stormy Beach.
Good guide for the noobs
Thread updated - Major update - 22/04/12​
Please comment if you have any problems, or want to share anything.
Please give an REVIEW ,it means a lot to me.Thank you.
Great job. I'm sure it'll help newbies a lot. Too bad that there is still not much in the development section to put your guide to work. Hopefully that'll come soon.
Marand55 said:
Great job. I'm sure it'll help newbies a lot. Too bad that there is still not much in the development section to put your guide to work. Hopefully that'll come soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes , you are right... there is not much in the development section ,it can be due to since its new tablet . hope it gets better.
Thanks for putting all this together... haven't read through it all yet as I think it probably covers a lot of what I know and have learnt since I joined the Android world last year, but I will bookmark it so I can point friends this way if they leave the iPhone flock.
Ruxin said:
Thanks for putting all this together... haven't read through it all yet as I think it probably covers a lot of what I know and have learnt since I joined the Android world last year, but I will bookmark it so I can point friends this way if they leave the iPhone flock.
Click to expand...
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Thank you
This is a fantastic guide not only for someone new to the p6800/p6810, but anyone new to the Android ecosystem in general. Thank you for clearing a lot up for me!
JemaKnight said:
This is a fantastic guide not only for someone new to the p6800/p6810, but anyone new to the Android ecosystem in general. Thank you for clearing a lot up for me!
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Your welcome ;-)
Great information. I wish I had it to look at when I first started playing around with rooting my Nook Color! This is a good thread to keep handy when a real novice gets the bug. Thanks.
GUIDE UPDATED -2/05/12​"Android Terms,Slang & Definitions" added SEE post #3
Thanks for using the siggy!
And thanks again for the effort on piling things up!
billy_overheat said:
Thanks for using the siggy!
And thanks again for the effort on piling things up!
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Your welcome !
Thumbs Upz! This is amust read and priority post before u go to other topics.
Help
Great Post!
Please I know I am most likely in the wrong area or post, I have had a Desire HD before and been down the road of rooting and flashing roms on it, I now own a Galaxy tab 7.7 and feel as if this is all new for me again. unfortunately I am in South Africa and had bought my tablet online, I was not told it would be a Arabic region tablet. Could I please ask who to speak to or ask for help on roms, I have the build number (HTJ85B P6800JPKL4) and want to know what roms will work and what not to use on this.
Please, I know you guys have better things to worry about but your advise or help would be gladly appreciated
Thank you in advance!
evil_penguin said:
Tip #1 - As much as we all love the look of live wallpapers, they suck battery. Sticking to a static, or regular picture, will help out. Alternatively, the best option for many devices is using a true black png image. This is particularly helpful on AMOLED based screens, as color pixels use power where as black does not. Click the link to head to a black png, long press on it and save it. Then apply it as your wallpaper. If you can set it as a lockscreen wallpaper too that would be a good idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anybody have a link to the png? I have misplaced mine, and I miss it. There doesn't seem to be a link here anywhere. thx.
Thanks
Thanks, really helpfull covers many things I was wondering about
thx
very helpful

[Q] Corporate Android Usage

Hello Guys,
before I start: My apologies for this, I am not quite sure if I am even in the right Topic.
I think of myself as pretty new to Android, but got some experiences in Rooting, Custom Roms and such. But that is already as far as it gets.
Now my Problem: We lost our BES and now my Company decided to go with Android (SG4 I9505) and I have to make it happen :angel:.
1. I Need some Kind of Freeware tool to administer Android Devices (Basic: find device, delete data, restrict Apps)
2. If something like this dont exist (which I dont think-I just havent found it)), I would Need to know if I can use CM 10.2 as our Standard Rom and before you start rolling your eyes with experimental and such....
I have to restrict the phone solely to Telefone, Exchange and some preselected (mostly travel)Tools. NO GAPPS!!! and I think that nightly CM provides this with no problems
To realize this I downloaded the nightly from 18th, I think. I then added some APK´s into \System\app Folder and installed the ROM. This actually worked fine until I updated to phone afterwards via build in updating tool - all Tools were gone.(what did I miss?)
Now, our Standard is SG4 I-9505.
Any ideas on how I could do this? (I couldnt find what I was looking for)
1. Adminster a fleet of androids (free)
2. Customize a Custom ROM for corporate Identity (How to pre-setup Exchange Boot Logo, Lockscreen, etc.)
3. or customize a ROM to the Point it cannot do much except what is in the \System\app Folder and turn off updates
Any link is much appreciated. Sadly there is sooooo much andoid articles out there that I seem to get lost while searching for the right one. Thanks in advance!!!!
AccEss-dEniEd said:
1. Adminster a fleet of androids (free)
2. Customize a Custom ROM for corporate Identity (How to pre-setup Exchange Boot Logo, Lockscreen, etc.)
3. or customize a ROM to the Point it cannot do much except what is in the \System\app Folder and turn off updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My guess is I'll get flamed for saying this - but here goes.
Android corporate (MDM) leaves a lot to be desired next to iOS, at least as far as I've been able to find. We manage a lot of iPads and obviously minus the custom ROM we've been able to do it all for little to no cost. We've shied away from Android a lot because of the limited MDM control.
But, since you asked:
1. Meraki Systems Manager (and the accompanying app from Google Play)
2. Good luck with that
3. See number 2
I think the reality is you're going to need to do something to the effect of either cook your own ROM and deploy it or use a tool like CWM to create an "image" that you would then restore to the devices. I did that with a batch of 60+ Nexus 7s and it worked out pretty well.
Edit:
With all that said - I would urge your management to reconsider their approach as the world has changed since Blackberry was the only game in town. Yes, still stick with MDM, device location, remote wipe etc. But unless you're dealing with highly sensitive information (exp banking), let people actually USE the device you're giving them. Don't lock it down to where its basically a first generation iPhone. I'm a big fan of giving someone a good tool and letting them use it the way that works best for them, while still keeping the device and more importantly the data under corporate control.
Assuming you have Exchange, does this not provide the management part?
AccEss-dEniEd said:
Hello Guys,
before I start: My apologies for this, I am not quite sure if I am even in the right Topic.
I think of myself as pretty new to Android, but got some experiences in Rooting, Custom Roms and such. But that is already as far as it gets.
Now my Problem: We lost our BES and now my Company decided to go with Android (SG4 I9505) and I have to make it happen :angel:.
1. I Need some Kind of Freeware tool to administer Android Devices (Basic: find device, delete data, restrict Apps)
2. If something like this dont exist (which I dont think-I just havent found it)), I would Need to know if I can use CM 10.2 as our Standard Rom and before you start rolling your eyes with experimental and such....
I have to restrict the phone solely to Telefone, Exchange and some preselected (mostly travel)Tools. NO GAPPS!!! and I think that nightly CM provides this with no problems
To realize this I downloaded the nightly from 18th, I think. I then added some APK´s into \System\app Folder and installed the ROM. This actually worked fine until I updated to phone afterwards via build in updating tool - all Tools were gone.(what did I miss?)
Now, our Standard is SG4 I-9505.
Any ideas on how I could do this? (I couldnt find what I was looking for)
1. Adminster a fleet of androids (free)
2. Customize a Custom ROM for corporate Identity (How to pre-setup Exchange Boot Logo, Lockscreen, etc.)
3. or customize a ROM to the Point it cannot do much except what is in the \System\app Folder and turn off updates
Any link is much appreciated. Sadly there is sooooo much andoid articles out there that I seem to get lost while searching for the right one. Thanks in advance!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently work in the infrastructure of a good sized corporation. We're using IOS with a mixture of android hardware and there's some good news and bad news for what you want to do.
Good news is, like Jpcurrie said, exchange will handle remote wiping and locking the phone down. you can require the phone to use a PIN, remote wipe and and a bit more. As for locating the phone, Google actually has finally built in remote locating of your device and remote wipe as well. There's a couple good apps out there (lookout) will turn on your GPS and allow you to locate the phone and they're free. If you happen to have a virtualized environment with VMware, you could also use VMware View Horizons which builds in a secure sector on the phone and you can remotely manage which apps and files the user can use. the best part of View is you can use a BYOD model and keep corporate data secure. The biggest issue is if you don't happen to already use a VMware architecture it gets pricey quickly.
Here's the rub now. you want to install your own logos on the bootup which you could do by installing a custom ROM. This will void your warranty on the hardware and as it isn't 100% stable you'll be spending a LOT of time trying to keep a consistent environment.
Like netsyd said, talk to management about an MDM, and the branding of the devices, maybe even talk to them about using a BYOD to reduce costs of hardware and administration of that hardware.
Isn´t Knox supposed to allow administrators to only delete the data that belongs to the Corporate account (emails, calendars, tasks, etc.), or an administrator can still force a full device wipe? Sorry if the questions is too basic, I've tried searching around for info on Knox but couldn't find anything besides press releases.
I'm not a network administrator, I'm just a user and my school secure wifi installs a device administrator.
I'm sorry to deviate the topic a little bit from the original.
At Delta we use Air Watch but it's far from free. You can however manage devices and remote wipe. You can also view installed apps and remove what should not be there. Options for device profiles also. I help maintain these devices everyday. Not Free but an MDM is your best bet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
long time - no see
Hiya,
sorry I didn t answer - kinda was overwhelmed with this Task.
Wanted still to thank you: I did what you suggestet and wanted to let you know where I am now.
1. Meraki = implemented - now runnning 160+ devices. (at no costs)
2. CM12.1 implemented (without GAPPS/no SU)
3. Standard Image/w Apps defined. (Mostly Offline capable Tools like "here" etc.(which actually reduced costs))
4. Since Android has limited capability to be administered in a "real" professional Fashion we mitigated this issue by creating a policy to forbid the user to temper with the device (e.g. Installation of Software/SU etc) yet to allow the Installation of Software manually by us via creating a ticket. We check the Software mainly for "sanity" and malware and install it if ok.
This has been working so far like a charm for us. None of the user were happy to loose the Gapps obviously - but once they had their Software and settled in, all was ok. For the Administering part: Meraki can tell me if Software is beeing installed without our Knowledge, also we see if SM doesnt speak with us anymore. So, for now, we got the most out of the System and I am happy to say: I got minimal Control in a Quality sense. No no more "KO Critera" - and we have implemented Android. Tracking etc. is forbidden in Germany anyway - so we use Meraki mainly to wipe if lost and to check if someone goes against policy.
What is still open:
- I am still working on a way to have the user enter his credentials and automatically enter These in all respective config files. (haven't had much luck - with the absense of SU obviously.
- a Little cosmetics still open (I am still trying to figure out how the theming really works ... I usually f**k up the Pictures and sounds.... but so far making Progress
- with less and less good Android devices coming out (now, I am probably beeing flamed now ) that suits our needs (open bootloader, known/supported CPUs, removable battery, SD Card Slot) - I think we might Switch by Q4/2016.
netsyd said:
My guess is I'll get flamed for saying this - but here goes.
Android corporate (MDM) leaves a lot to be desired next to iOS, at least as far as I've been able to find. We manage a lot of iPads and obviously minus the custom ROM we've been able to do it all for little to no cost. We've shied away from Android a lot because of the limited MDM control.
But, since you asked:
1. Meraki Systems Manager (and the accompanying app from Google Play)
2. Good luck with that
3. See number 2
I think the reality is you're going to need to do something to the effect of either cook your own ROM and deploy it or use a tool like CWM to create an "image" that you would then restore to the devices. I did that with a batch of 60+ Nexus 7s and it worked out pretty well.
Edit:
With all that said - I would urge your management to reconsider their approach as the world has changed since Blackberry was the only game in town. Yes, still stick with MDM, device location, remote wipe etc. But unless you're dealing with highly sensitive information (exp banking), let people actually USE the device you're giving them. Don't lock it down to where its basically a first generation iPhone. I'm a big fan of giving someone a good tool and letting them use it the way that works best for them, while still keeping the device and more importantly the data under corporate control.
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