Database Users

Missing apps/live wallpapers from the D2 R2D2 rom dump?

So, I was watching an unboxing video of the D2 R2-D2 & noticed that an app "The Best of R2D2" was listed. I found it odd because, the MyDroidWorld ROM dump did not have this app. I did some more research and found that it's also missing 2 live wallpapers. So, to recap:
Missing Applications
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSubLQgsj_M
The Best of R2D2
A launcher for the exclusive video
Missing Live Wallpapers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFpeMVSN9qQ
3D Millennium Falcon
"Touch the screen and watch the
Millennium Falcon fly thru the
asteroid field"
The Empire Strikes Back
"Tap your screen to view the
greatest moments from Star Wars:
Episode V"
I don't mean for this to sound like I'm not grateful for the rom dump (I now get to have some of the exclusive stuff on my regular Droid 2), I just wanted to point out that some things were missing.

The original MDW/TBH R2D2 Rom release has the live wallpapers and the cheesy binocular app, as well as the standard wallpapers... I don't recall really looking for (or caring about) the "Best of" video or the lightsaber app before deleting all of it with the rest of the bloat anyway. And thankfully Motoboy removed the annoying C3PO on all of my contacts that do not have a pre-existing photo!

Sorry to necro an old thread but this one comes up in search results and it seems like it hasn't been answered yet. I figured I should answer it in case anyone comes along from a search engine.
In addition to the missing apps listed by the OP, there's also a 15th wallpaper, Han Solo in Carbonite, that seems to be missing from the leaks.
The leaked wallpapers all have the same naming scheme:
StarWarsESB_asteroids.apk
StarWarsESB_Binoculars.apk (this is the AT-AT Binoculars app)
StarWarsESB_lightspeed.apk
StarWarsESB_R2D2.apk
StarwarsESB_spaceslug.apk
And are present in /system/app. You can copy them out of there once you're rooted.
However, the two missing wallpapers are named differently, but still in /system/app:
Asteroids.apk (this is the 3D Millennium Falcon wallpaper)
swipe.apk (this is the The Empire Strikes Back live wallpaper, not Swype)
However, when I copy them out, I get a "App not installed" message. If I ever figure this out, I'll update my guide with instructions on fixing it (see link below).
The missing static wallpaper is with all the others in:
/system/app/BlurHome.apk/res/drawable-hdpi/
(APK's are just zip files, so you can open them up and see inside)
The Best of R2D2 App is just a video player which automatically loads the video located at:
/system/media/video/startupvideo_en.3gp
But the app is a normal user app, not a system app, so it's apk isn't located in /system/app like the rest. You can back it up using Titanium Backup or Astro File Manager or whatever.
I figured this stuff out while writing a guide about ripping all the R2-D2 theme elements from the stock R2-Droid 2 and getting them working again in a ROM on the R2-D2. Here's a link if you want to know more:
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/dr...-r2-d2-droid-2-keep-all-r2-d2-theme-bits.html

Should be an easy question

Ok.. I use the Google+ app on my phone. But because it its not a web app, if I ever am on this network and I see some image that someone has posted which I like, many times I would love to be able to save to my phone. But because this an app, and not built for a browser, I can't just long-press and save it.
And obviously google has not as of yet built this functionality into this app in any other way.
BUT....after much poking and prodding in and to the google+ app, I notice that when you are viewing an image, you CAN set it as your desktop wallpaper!
But, once I set it as my wallpaper, I cannot find it! Using root explorer, I have searched for every .jpg, jpeg, .png, and .bmp and no dice. I have tried opening up quickpic (the free market app), and hit ”display hidden images” (which hides icons and other stuff you wouldn't want to see anyway), and look through EVERYTHING that is revealed...but still I cannot find it. Its on my desktop as the wallpaper, so it must be on the phone.
It is driving me crazy. Does anyone have any clue where a file like this might be stored? I imagine a wallpaper image could be anywhere in the sys partition or the sdcard, but it wouldn't need to be convertthan those above extensions I search on, right? So WTF? Where could it be?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium

Survivalist's Tablet

I've got a friend who's about to be deployed overseas. He has used an Android phone for a couple of years, is an avid reader, has never had a tablet but is proficient with the Android interface.
He expects to have access to Internet (wifi) only periodically, he expects to be without electrical power for days at a time, he needs any non-essential gear to be lightweight and durable. He asked me if he should get an ereader. I think a rooted Nook Simple Touch would meet his ereader needs and go one better. I'm trying to set him up with a rooted NST that will give him access to a few essential tablet apps, an Internet browser for when he's got wifi and a selection of ereader apps so he can read anything that's out there in electronic print.
So far I've rooted the NST using SalsichaNooter (thanks for that), installed Go Launcher because you can easily increase the size of text and icons, SearchMarket to overcome the inability to search in Android Market (wtf?) and ereader apps Kindle and Google Books. I sent my Gmail account a pure white image that I use for wallpaper to make icons easy to see.
Some lingering questions:
Is there a way to reduce "color settings" or whatever it would be called so that the grayscale shades are fewer? I'd gladly trade more contrast for fewer times that a medium gray icon is barely distinguishable against an only slightly darker medium gray background.
Is there a way to make the icons of Button Savior larger? I love the app. I use it on every Android device I've got because I really like having these essential commands right under my thumb but making the icons twice as large would be nice.
Are there themes that are designed to optimize the settings for a grayscale device? I found a couple for "Go SMS" in Market but I don't know exactly what that is.
Is there a workaround for the inability to install the Barnes & Noble Nook ereader app? I keep getting "Installation error. Duplicate provider authority". I don't know if he needs three or more ereader apps but I don't want to limit his choices.
I've read the Nook Touch forums on XDA, I've done Google searches on these topics but haven't found good answers. If there are resources I've missed I'd appreciate a heads-up.

1. To reduce colors or increase contrast, the only method that comes to mind is to use APK Manager or APK Multi-tool and modify the XML, png, and 9 patch files, will need some knowledge about Android layouts, etc. and color codes like #ff000000 is solid black. I had to do some, not really sure how legit that is, but original devs did not reply to emails when requested high contrast color schemes.
2. Replacing images with APK multi-tool might work, I tried google but can't seem to determine if this project is opensource or not, if it is, send me a link and I will modify it for you.
3. The nooter that you used, installs a good launcher and theme with a lot of monochrome icons for various applications, but as you installed another launcher, you will need to come up with a theme. Go SMS is a SMS application useful on cell phones by the same developer as Go Launcher, you will need themes for Go Launcher.
4. You could try modifying the manifest using APK mult-tool, however, I fail to see the point when you have an optimized version for the device already integrated with the device.
I can only provide you optimizations for opensource software or if the dev of the application explicitly allows to modify his APK, I will not provide you with any other modifications out of respect to the developers, I am one too. I hope you understand.

TouchNooter has a version of market that has search working.
You might be able to find with a little searching an e-ink theme for Go-Launcher in market. If all else fails you could probably create your own theme based off of like Minimalist black or use a non e-ink theme that does the trick.
The built in e-reader app is the equivalent if not better than the market nook app.

While I appreciate the various suggestions from tazzix I'm not proficient enough with Android to know how to manipulate APK files or settings. I keep reading that there's a version of TouchNooter that enables search in Market but either I haven't found it or it isn't working for me (I had a lot of problems with the latest version of TouchNooter, which is why I went with SalsichaNooter). I do have basic access to Market and I am using MarketSearch for searching so I could live with this level of functionality if necessary.
I downloaded and installed the Black-N-Blue free theme for GO Launcher, which seemed to help increase contrast and thus visibility. I'd love to find a way (or at least a way that was within my abilities to use) to turn the background behind all the apps white so they were easier to see when I scroll through them all.
All in all I think this device will work for my purpose even if I can't resolve my remaining problems. Oh and I mapped the side buttons, using Nook Touch Tools, for Volume Up and Down (works great to turn pages in Kindle app), Back and Menu. All very handy. Mapping one of these buttons for Home, though, sends you to the Nook home rather than the Android launcher home. I appreciate the help I've gotten and any more ideas that I come across.

lesdense said:
I'd love to find a way (or at least a way that was within my abilities to use) to turn the background behind all the apps white so they were easier to see when I scroll through them all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Somewhere on this forum is a theme with contrast icons for go launcher, it really helps, although it is not for all apps.

lesdense said:
While I appreciate the various suggestions from tazzix I'm not proficient enough with Android to know how to manipulate APK files or settings. I keep reading that there's a version of TouchNooter that enables search in Market but either I haven't found it or it isn't working for me (I had a lot of problems with the latest version of TouchNooter, which is why I went with SalsichaNooter). I do have basic access to Market and I am using MarketSearch for searching so I could live with this level of functionality if necessary.
I downloaded and installed the Black-N-Blue free theme for GO Launcher, which seemed to help increase contrast and thus visibility. I'd love to find a way (or at least a way that was within my abilities to use) to turn the background behind all the apps white so they were easier to see when I scroll through them all.
All in all I think this device will work for my purpose even if I can't resolve my remaining problems. Oh and I mapped the side buttons, using Nook Touch Tools, for Volume Up and Down (works great to turn pages in Kindle app), Back and Menu. All very handy. Mapping one of these buttons for Home, though, sends you to the Nook home rather than the Android launcher home. I appreciate the help I've gotten and any more ideas that I come across.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems odd that you'd have troubles with the latest TouchNooter, the issue I seem to come across for most people using it is the Wait a Day issue with market, but since your Market is already working and the other Nooter has done most of the work you could try running TouchNooter 1.11.20 on top of it (making sure you're upgraded to 1.1 first), or burning the card (and after installing a file manager) try installing the Market+Gapps from there manually to "update" them.
As for setting the B&N button to take you home and ending up on B&N home, try and make sure you have the setting saved for home. Also make sure that your default home is Go Launcher. As long as Button Savior's home will take you to go Launcher the B&N home button should too if you've modified the right button. Perhaps try a reboot.
Go Launcher > Preferences > Visual Settings > Backgrounds > App drawer background > Custom Background
Then just select a blank wallpaper image.

XHDPI Icons everywhere...

... freaking hate them.
Just kidding, would be nice to have them. Unfortunately high-res icons are not provided very often, though, as you can see on the top left of the play store app, they technically exist. The devs are required to upload 512x512 icons to google, but not to include them in the .APKs.
Do you do anything about it? Has anyone found a convenient way to replace the icons throughout the system, e.g. not only on the homescreen but also in the app drawer? (Modifiying the APKs manually on the PC or with Ninjamorph is too much of a waste of time in my opinion.)
What I do about it:
Get the Icon: Advanced search for images (Google), filetype PNG. If there is no icon: Screenshot in the play store app, remove background, save as PNG. It should be downscaled to 144x144.
Store it on the device.
Replace icon on homescreen: Via longpress in Nova Launcher. Other method, works with every launcher: Create a "Desktop Visualizer" widget, and link it to the desired app. In case the icon looks blurry, check the Desktop Visualizer settings.
However, keep in mind that the app drawer icons remain as they are.
Please tell me if you know some launcher or a highly automated APK modification app that also replaces the drawer icons.
Cheers!

Thats actually quite interesting. I noticed the high-res icons in the Play Store. I don't have my Nexus 10 as of yet but I would hate to have low-res icons simply because the developer didn't take the 10 minutes to convert the icon and upload it with the .APK!
I would suggest we try to clip this problem at the source - TELL developers of this issue! Email them about it. Request it. Developers are in it for money, customers (and, being human, they obviously appreciate positive feedback). Tell them what we want, make it an issue, show them we care, and it will get fixed. Don't just rely on Google to push for a better ecosystem, tell them yourselves!
If someone posts their email to a developer about this issue here, I will take and alter that email to send to them in support, give a bit more force behind it. Sounds like the best option to me!

CWalkop said:
Thats actually quite interesting. I noticed the high-res icons in the Play Store. I don't have my Nexus 10 as of yet but I would hate to have low-res icons simply because the developer didn't take the 10 minutes to convert the icon and upload it with the .APK!
I would suggest we try to clip this problem at the source - TELL developers of this issue! Email them about it. Request it. Developers are in it for money, customers (and, being human, they obviously appreciate positive feedback). Tell them what we want, make it an issue, show them we care, and it will get fixed. Don't just rely on Google to push for a better ecosystem, tell them yourselves!
If someone posts their email to a developer about this issue here, I will take and alter that email to send to them in support, give a bit more force behind it. Sounds like the best option to me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. However, if you want to get it done quickly and properly, you will have to do it yourself. The problem is that I couldn't find a workaround, which is weird, because the idea exists. A long time ago, I had an iPod Touch, where you could install "Winterboard" - a Cydia app which redirected the read access to the icon file (which is stored within the app on iOS, too) to a folder where you could place custom icons.
If I were Google, I'd change the filetype of icons (or even more ui elements) to a vector format like .SVG. This way every device could calculate its own full resolution icons once and cache them for fast access. There wouldn't be the need for new icons everytime the displays are improved, which is happening all the time.

[Q] How To Get Rid Of These Horrible White Backgrounds!

This is on a rooted Verizon S5 SM-G900V with Alliance ROM 4.4.2. Is there any way to invert the background and text without inverting images? Especially in Chrome, but it would be nice for the whole phone. White lettering on a black background is much easier to read.
I'm seeing screenshots online of Alliance that are nice and dark (I think it's called Black Glass?), including the phone dialer. How do I get the whole android theme dark.
Same thing with other apps. There's a few local TV news apps that have a bright white background that I wish I could customize to a dark theme. The Samsung Music Player is bright white as well. Anyway to make these dark in Alliance?
The problem I've noticed with third-party dialer apps is that they let you type the phone number, but when you hit the phone button to place the call, it opens up the Android dialer with the bright white background. Right back to square zero. Basically, I'm just trying to figure out how to get that nice black look like I'm seeing on some of the alliance ROM screenshots.
Thanks.

Trunktracker said:
The problem I've noticed with third-party dialer apps is that they let you type the phone number, but when you hit the phone button to place the call, it opens up the Android dialer with the bright white background. Right back to square zero. Basically, I'm just trying to figure out how to get that nice black look like I'm seeing on some of the alliance ROM screenshots.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app on 4.4 you needed to theme was called InCall.apk there is an app on 5.0 call LegacyInCallUI.apk so would amuse that its this one but if you are running a custom rom then it may have the original InCall app, if you look is System\app or System\Priv-app folder (most likely the priv-app folder teh one you need will be in there.
Problem at the moment is that apktool has a problem with Samsung apk's and compiling them, its not so much apk tool as more likely something Samsung have added in their security to prevent apktool working as it should, so you can decompile apps fine if the app does compile then you can use the .png files, xml files but the resources arsc most likely will cause the app to crash. Also they have use .pkm files which you can't see like you can with .png files so you need specific software to look at them, again Samsung trying to prevent theming of stock apps.

Hmmm. Well, that's all a bit over my head. So, is there not an easy way to install an app or change a setting somewhere? I'm not sure what to actually to click on with all those files you mentioned. I find searching for files in Android to be confusing and nothing like a Windows PC with the usual file directory locations. Like, WHERE is the C:\ drive on the phone?

Trunktracker said:
Hmmm. Well, that's all a bit over my head. So, is there not an easy way to install an app or change a setting somewhere? I'm not sure what to actually to click on with all those files you mentioned. I find searching for files in Android to be confusing and nothing like a Windows PC with the usual file directory locations. Like, WHERE is the C:\ drive on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apps are in the system folder called
system\app
system\priv-app
system\framework
But if you have never done theming before then don't even try you would need to start with simple things and learn what to do and what not to do.
Can't help with the app question as I have no idea, maybe there is something that someone else can answer that for you.
I am looking at theming these form myself but I don't have the time at the moment, I don't share them any more though as there are far too many ungrateful people around these days.