hi!
i used the astro file-manager to backup my download apps from the market. it puts them in a backup-folder of my sdcard (as .apk). so far, everything is fine.
now i'm wondering, if i test another android build, and therefor install my apps (the .apk files) manually from this backup folder (instead of loading them from the market), will i get notified when updates are available? you know, like when i would have downloaded it directly from the market.
thanks a lot for your help
I have a confusion regarding android. this is very general query.
In Computer, first we have to have exe file to install anything and then we click on it to install the app on windows computer generally. when the app is installed on computer, we have installed app files in program files and then a dump (that is exe file) which we keep to install this app on any other computer.
Now, please let me know if this is applicable in android phones also?
I know that in android, there is .apk file instead of .exe file in computer. I observed that after installation apk file disappears. Is this true?
Not sure if in understood well, did you mean if instal anything from SD card? If you are asking that the answer is yes, i install everything from SD card and the apk file stay there after installation.
What if u install any app from Market?
vijay.gupta said:
I have a confusion regarding android. this is very general query.
In Computer, first we have to have exe file to install anything and then we click on it to install the app on windows computer generally. when the app is installed on computer, we have installed app files in program files and then a dump (that is exe file) which we keep to install this app on any other computer.
Now, please let me know if this is applicable in android phones also?
I know that in android, there is .apk file instead of .exe file in computer. I observed that after installation apk file disappears. Is this true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even in Android you can see the .apk files under /system/app. Also applications installed by you can be backed up & later restored using software available on market.
"Normally" these apks dissapear when you download from.market, but all of.your apks are stored in your phone, the thing is that you have to hav permission to do that, when you download an apk (the single file) and store it in sd card to install it, the apk is copied to the phone.
Sent from my GT-I5801 using XDA App
But if u back up ur apps as .apk and install them later using softwares (with exception of Titanium backup) u will loose connection between the app and android market (that means no updates)
the best option is to backup ur apps with titanium backup along with user data and restore it using the same
how do i access /system/app? Do I need to root the phone in order to see this directory?
vijay.gupta said:
how do i access /system/app? Do I need to root the phone in order to see this directory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download Terminal emulator from market & you are ready to go to /system/app !!!!
You can also download Root Explorer and so the same
Thank all. Can you please confirm what I am writing below:
Suppose I buy a android phone (with android 2.1 so you cannot install apps from SD card) in which I installed an application named XYZ from Market. Now, there is a apk file for XYZ which gets downloaded somewhere in the phone memory and then it gets installed automatically.
Now, I just want to know, where does this apk file go after XYZ is installed? Does it stay in phone memory with the installed files of XYZ.
If it goes to phone memory and not deleted from there, then phone memory
if u install .apk from market it will be stored and installed in /data/app in phone memory. i do not think it is stored twice in the phone.
Do u mean to say that only the installed file gets stored and. apk. File got deleted automatically after getting installed?
vijay.gupta said:
Do u mean to say that only the installed file gets stored and. apk. File got deleted automatically after getting installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that an .apk file its a variant of the .jar files when you install an .apk this file gets stored inside the phone along with its necesary dependencies when the app starts, the os reads this file line by line while the app is executed.
In short terms the .apk file its the application itself that need a proper interpreter to run, in that way when you install and app to the phone, it copies this file and links the dependencies, so the .apks downloaded from makret are stored directly inside the app folder, in that way you can extract them from this folder and use it in another android phone.
You are relying too much on the windows ways of things. You see an exe file installion in windows essentially unpacking everything (other things aside) where it is needed and you then often see a bunch of files and folders. This is not what happens in android, the apk file is conserved when installed and can be found in the root part of your phone. Its data/app/ if installed on your phone, mnt/asec. (or something like asec) if installed on your sd card. You can copy that file to your sd card or send it to another device and install it again. I did just that today (I sent an apk to a friend)
anyway i dont think its same if i delete .apk + odex files from /data/app as i uninstall it with titanium backup. i think TB will be delete also data stored by the app inside the database (its the place where the apps are saving data, settings, etc...)
In case you are installing from Android Market:
1. When you are at market, it doesn't ask you to download. You will only get option either to install or update the existing app.
2. If you are a normal user, after installing, you won't be able to see the apk file anywhere on your memory card. But if you are a root user or with the help of special file managers and specific apps like root explorer and terminal emulators, you can locate those spk files in the phone's hidden memory.
3. If you are a root user, or with the help above mentioned type of apps, you can locate the apk files in phone memory and copy it on your memory card and distribute it to your wish.
4. If you are worried for paid apps and losing your phone or apps because of resetting or any other reason then stop worrying. A record of your paid apps is stored in google servers. So, even if you reset your phone or lose your phone, once you log in to a your new android device with the same google account, it will automatically show your paid apps. You don't have to pay for it again. Just need to install it again. This is applicable only if you are paying for the app through android market and you are logging into your android device with the same google account you had before losing your apps.
In case of installing via your SD card:
1. apk files are just like java files (.jad or .jar). You can download it on your PC from various sources and transfer it to your SD card or any of your friends' via USB, bluetooth or any other way.
2. After transfering the apk file to your SD card, it doesn't get automatically installed. You have to click it or open it to install, just like how we double click the exe file in windows.
3. Whether installed or not installed, the apk file you transfer to your SD card will always remain there unless and untill you or someone else delete it or you format your memory card.
4. Once installed, a copy of the same apk file would also be there in your phone's hidden memory, which you can access using special apps.
If you worried about losing your apps, try searching for other apps which backups apk... you can do so at android market. Moreover, also search on the net about having root access on your android device.. it'll let you access files in your phone's memory.
I hope, this would solve down all your queries !!!
Thanks next2 devil. Very gud explanation. It cleared almost all confusions. I have some more confusions that i want to clear out.
1) just a general query that just like exe file got unpacked after double clicking on it and install its files in c: genrally, does the same happen with apk, jad and jar files?
2) just want to clear out that phone memory which is hidden for normal users contains the copy of only those apk files that are currently installed on the phone and not the ones that are uninstalled or not installed at all?
vijay.gupta said:
Thanks next2 devil. Very gud explanation. It cleared almost all confusions. I have some more confusions that i want to clear out.
1) just a general query that just like exe file got unpacked after double clicking on it and install its files in c: genrally, does the same happen with apk, jad and jar files?
2) just want to clear out that phone memory which is hidden for normal users contains the copy of only those apk files that are currently installed on the phone and not the ones that are uninstalled or not installed at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I am not sure about JAD and JAR files, but yes, APK files unpack itself to get installed. You can come to know the exact size/space that would be taken by the app directly from the android market. Details would be given there.
2. Yes, the phone memory would be having copy of files only which is installed. There would be no copy of any apk file which in not installed.
Thanks next2devil. Your response give rise to one more query.
if i compare unpacking logic from windows, there is no need for original exe file to remain in existence after it has been installed and user can delete exe file after installing it. Deleting exe file has no negative impact on the working of installed app. Please let me know if this is also the case with apk files? If yes, then what is the need of apk file to remain in phone memory after it has been installed?
vijay.gupta said:
Thanks next2devil. Your response give rise to one more query.
if i compare unpacking logic from windows, there is no need for original exe file to remain in existence after it has been installed and user can delete exe file after installing it. Deleting exe file has no negative impact on the working of installed app. Please let me know if this is also the case with apk files? If yes, then what is the need of apk file to remain in phone memory after it has been installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short and simple. Deleting the apk file from /data/app removes the app.
Sent from my Lestatious v1.4.5.5 Galaxy 3 FROYO
When market is updated itself to new version we have problems.
Mostly timeouts, lags, etc.
There is solution that can revert update.
In fact, market is 2 applications:
vending.apk
MarketUpdater.apk
To use "old" market you need only delete that 2 applications and install old market.
Deleting updater is necessary, because it will download new version right after you use old one 1st time.
To remove system apps you need root and application, ie "root app remover".
After you delete them just install old market (zip attached).
Unzip it on SD card and install via file manager or easy installer.
My wife has a NC and likes it the way it is, i.e. BN store, but I would like to add an app that does not require root. I was thinking that I could use a clockwork recovery SD card with a zip of the app, just like we do with google apps.
Will this work?
How do I make a apk into a flashable zip?
The app is You Version Bible
Thanks
-EDIT-
So I have figured this out, it is possible to install apps (that do not require root) with out rooting anything. I would call it side loading via CWM sd card.
The key was to use the mount paths from ManualNooter (\META-INF\com\google\android\updater-script)
0.1.) Get apks for you apps (either with titanium or copy from 'data/app')
0.2.) Get a apk for 'Nook Color App Manager' (search the android market, can't post links yet)
1.) Start with the ManualNooter file and remove all folders but 'data' and 'META-INF'
2.) Delete all files in the 'data/app' folder
3.) Place the apks you want to install in the 'data/app' folder
4.) Edit '\META-INF\com\google\android\updater-script' using a programing text editor (otherwise you will not see the line spaces) remove all sections except the following: 'Mounting partitions...' 'Installing apks to /data/app...' 'Unmounting Partitions...'
5.) Save the script file and put all this back together in the zip.
6.) Use the CWM sd card to install the file. (if you don't know how, use google)
7.) Remove card and reboot after done. A new app App Manager will show up in your nook app list, go to the home page to run it and add links for your new installed apps.
Note: I did not post an files as I used other peoples work i.e. GMPOWER and apps from the market
So I have done lots of research and even tried this. I think I got the app installed but in this case there is no way to show the app in the stock launcher as it only lists apps it installs.
For reference I will include the procedure to install apps via CMW(Clockwork Mod Recovery)
Thread
You download the file attached to post 17 in the above thread, it is a empty zip that can be filled with your apks that you want. Simply place the new file on a CWM sd card and install the file via regular instructions in the above post.
If I ever find a script to add a link to the stock launcher I will post that and then this might be a usable idea for side loading apps.
I've been a loyal Titanium Backup user for years... but only recently have I tried some of the more "advanced" features.
Among those advanced features is the option to create a flashable zip file from all of your backups, such that you can restore several apps in recovery (safestrap, in our case).
Unfortunately... this feature isn't working for me. When I choose to sign the update.zip file with ZipSigner, the process reaches 99% (and the update.zip file size around 3.2GB), and the final item being added is Titanium Backup. It will sit here indefinitely, until I touch the notification and open Titanium Backup. It will immediately finish, and the update.zip file will shrink to around 1.6kb. (I read the troubleshooting guide on Titanium Backup's website, and I do have the latest zipsigner installed).
If I do not sign the zip during creation... the operation will finish without intervention, and the file size will stay around 3.2GB. However, the file cannot be flashed in recovery.
If I try to sign the zip in the ZipSigner app... it will create the update-signed.zip file, but it remains only about 1.6kb in size.
Is this an issue with Titanium Backup (including the update.zip file created)... or a problem with ZipSigner?
DrPhant0m said:
I've been a loyal Titanium Backup user for years... but only recently have I tried some of the more "advanced" features.
Among those advanced features is the option to create a flashable zip file from all of your backups, such that you can restore several apps in recovery (safestrap, in our case).
Unfortunately... this feature isn't working for me. When I choose to sign the update.zip file with ZipSigner, the process reaches 99% (and the update.zip file size around 3.2GB), and the final item being added is Titanium Backup. It will sit here indefinitely, until I touch the notification and open Titanium Backup. It will immediately finish, and the update.zip file will shrink to around 1.6kb. (I read the troubleshooting guide on Titanium Backup's website, and I do have the latest zipsigner installed).
If I do not sign the zip during creation... the operation will finish without intervention, and the file size will stay around 3.2GB. However, the file cannot be flashed in recovery.
If I try to sign the zip in the ZipSigner app... it will create the update-signed.zip file, but it remains only about 1.6kb in size.
Is this an issue with Titanium Backup (including the update.zip file created)... or a problem with ZipSigner?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm fairly certain that the update.zip file is only meant to allow you to reflash an unsigned version of Titanium Backup in recovery so that you don't have to sign into Google Play to restore your apps (which you do through your back ups after your rom is installed).
DrawnToLife said:
I'm fairly certain that the update.zip file is only meant to allow you to reflash an unsigned version of Titanium Backup in recovery so that you don't have to sign into Google Play to restore your apps (which you do through your back ups after your rom is installed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you're not wrong. I'm aware of this option, and I have used it successfully to create and sign a zip file that will install TiB in a recovery environment. However, I'm not talking about this option. I'm 100% sure we're talking about different things, since I'm creating files upwards of 3GB, and not just a titanium backup installer.
If you go into the batch actions menu, near the bottom after the various backup/restore/etc batch operations... there is a lone option under the "Recovery Mode" heading for "Create update.zip from app+data backups" Using this operation, you can select individual apps (including system apps) from among your backups (filters help a lot) to create an update.zip file that will supposedly sideload the selected apps into your ROM when flashed in recovery.
***
Please see the changelog for TiB v. 5.7.0. (link)
[PRO] Added the ability to create an “update.zip” containing apps+data, apps only or data only. Both user & system apps are supported, encrypted backups are supported, and the resulting file can optionally be signed with ZipSigner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
***
I want to be able to use this option, since I have to spend a few hours restoring everything every time I flash a new ROM or new version. The time it takes is due in part to other issues I have with Titanium Backup, including an issue where it will get stuck on certain items until I install them via the Play Store before it will restore the data and continue to the next item. When this happens on stuff that is no longer in the Play Store, I have to force-close TiB, open it again, restore the item that it got stuck on, and then start the batch operation again. It's a real PITA.
Any help?
DrPhant0m said:
Well, you're not wrong. I'm aware of this option, and I have used it successfully to create and sign a zip file that will install TiB in a recovery environment. However, I'm not talking about this option. I'm 100% sure we're talking about different things, since I'm creating files upwards of 3GB, and not just a titanium backup installer.
If you go into the batch actions menu, near the bottom after the various backup/restore/etc batch operations... there is a lone option under the "Recovery Mode" heading for "Create update.zip from app+data backups" Using this operation, you can select individual apps (including system apps) from among your backups (filters help a lot) to create an update.zip file that will supposedly sideload the selected apps into your ROM when flashed in recovery.
***
Please see the changelog for TiB v. 5.7.0. (link)
***
I want to be able to use this option, since I have to spend a few hours restoring everything every time I flash a new ROM or new version. The time it takes is due in part to other issues I have with Titanium Backup, including an issue where it will get stuck on certain items until I install them via the Play Store before it will restore the data and continue to the next item. When this happens on stuff that is no longer in the Play Store, I have to force-close TiB, open it again, restore the item that it got stuck on, and then start the batch operation again. It's a real PITA.
Any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, I didn't even know that option existed. I'll try and see if I can get it working on my Nexus 7 (because flashing AOSP roms takes like 1/4th of the time), but I don't know when I'll be able to flash. Have you tried messaging the Tibu team directly?
DrawnToLife said:
Have you tried messaging the Tibu team directly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might as well write my question/issue on a piece of toilet paper, and flush it down the nearest toilet.
They never answer any of my messages, their knowledgebase just has a bunch of FAQs so most of the issues I come across have not been addressed (and can't be), and I'm not aware of a forum with user-submitted material (like xda) that is dedicated to TiB support, where I can ask questions and other users can answer them.