Get rid of 'em pesky advertisements - Acer Iconia A500

Get rid of 'em pesky advertisements...
I am sure many of you out there already know about this app, but for those who don't here it is.
Ok we all hate them spoiling our nice apps.
So the options are...
Live with it,
Pay for it,
OR...
Simply download 'adfree' job done the adds disappear, gone, not seen, finished...
Hope this helps - Enjoy your apps that little bit nicer

While i do hate ads they do have their place sometimes.
Whitout those ads you probably wouldent get any free apps at all.

Related

EVO startup applications

Any way to control which application launch at startup? Judging by the long list of "open" applications in ATK immediately after a reboot, there's a lot of junk there. I know that "open" programs should not affect Android performance due to the way it multitasks, but it certainly can't hurt and will probably speed up boot time.
thx
Most things that get started at boot are either services from apps designed to run all the time (like Locale), or things the system has called to sync data (facebook, twitter, gmail, etc), phone services...trying to tweak it down without knowing what each and every one does is dangerous and has, historically, caused more problems than helped performance.
To my knowledge, the only way to keep something designed from starting up at boot from starting...is to uninstall it.
Here's a list of startup apps that I'm sure don't need to be launching...
Sprint Nav
FM Radio
Sprint Zone
Sprint Football Live
News
Amazon MP3 store
Footprints
ajd6c8 said:
Here's a list of startup apps that I'm sure don't need to be launching...
Sprint Nav
FM Radio
Sprint Zone
Sprint Football Live
News
Amazon MP3 store
Footprints
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unusual...Sprint Nav doesn't launch on mine until I actually click on the thing and clicking the "back" button repeatedly when in it, closes it gracefully. Does it have the little icon on the top bar that shows it as running?
FM Radio isn't showing as running on mine either.
The sprint stuff is usually safe to remove (as is the amazon MP3 store and foorprints if you don't use it). In fact, they all *look* safe to remove (the only one I'm not fairly confident on is "News").
If you root, you can probably just remove the .apk files associated with the things you don't want. Most all of them look similar to ones on the hero as "safe to remove"...but no guaruantees (we've had some surprises before ).
<insert time break here>
Well I just rebooted and all those DO start up with mine too...but they disappear after a while of non-use (android shuts them down gracefully). Once the custom rom's start coming out, a lot of those probably won't end up included. However, since root access is easy to get right now, you *could* just uninstall the stuff you'll never use anyways (go into adb, back off the .apk files (on the off chance it breaks something and you need to put it back) and then rm them).
I haven't tested ANY of the above except on my Hero so...keep that in mind.
Thanks for looking into that. I didn't realize that some of those close after a while.
I think I'll stick with the old adage "if it ain't broke..." and not try to root or remove these just yet. The phone works great as-is... I'm just kind of a stickler for memory use.
APK does the job of killing these too. And it remembers which programs you kill on the regular, so it's literally a 2-click process.
All in all, it's no biggie so long as the phone stays snappy (and boy is it ever!)

Get rid of 'em pesky advertisements...

Get rid of 'em pesky advertisements...
I am sure many of you out there already know about this app, but for those who don't here it is.
Ok we all hate them spoiling our nice apps.
So the options are...
Live with it,
Pay for it,
OR...
Simply download 'adfree' job done the adds disappear, gone, not seen, finished...
Hope this helps - Enjoy your apps that little bit nicer
The idea of this kinda bugs me, that anybody savvy enough can deny developers payment for their hard work. Sends me further in the direction of developing for iOS instead...
...
*downloads*

WARNING: browser hijacking from hidden malware

Today, I turned on my phone to discover a strange new widget/icon on my homescreen that looked like a blue magnifying glass and was labelled 'Search'.
Of course, being suspicious I removed the widget. I then looked through the list of installed widgets and apps, but nothing unusual was there.
Later when I opened the internet browser, the usual google homepage looked a bit different - identical, tabs and all, except for the search button appearing the same as in the widget and the Google logo missing (as if it hadn't loaded yet).
I've reset my homepage to Google, but in my history the bogus sites are:
start.infospace.com
searchmobileonline.com
Scanned with both AVG and Avast, but neither picked anything strange up.
I have since found out that this is adware that some free apps on the Market are using to generate revenue. In my case I have since confirmed it came from Brightest Flashlight Free, an app with over 1 million downloads and 5 star average.
Here's an article explaining it *http://www.pcworld.com/article/245305/sneaky_mobile_ads_invade_android_phones.html*
Just though I'd warn everyone, as I'm a very careful / savvy user and only use very popular, respected apps, but still got it. Personally I think adding phantom widgets and hijacking your browser homepage with a fake google look-a-like is disgusting and bordering on criminal, as no warning or notification is made that this is going to happen, where it came from and how to remove / fix it.
AXIS of Reality said:
Today, I turned on my phone to discover a strange new widget/icon on my homescreen that looked like a blue magnifying glass and was labelled 'Search'.
Of course, being suspicious I removed the widget. I then looked through the list of installed widgets and apps, but nothing unusual was there.
Later when I opened the internet browser, the usual google homepage looked a bit different - identical, tabs and all, except for the search button appearing the same as in the widget and the Google logo missing (as if it hadn't loaded yet).
I've reset my homepage to Google, but in my history the bogus sites are:
start.infospace.com
searchmobileonline.com
Scanned with both AVG and Avast, but neither picked anything strange up.
I have since found out that this is adware that some free apps on the Market are using to generate revenue. In my case I have since confirmed it came from Brightest Flashlight Free, an app with over 1 million downloads and 5 star average.
Here's an article explaining it *http://www.pcworld.com/article/245305/sneaky_mobile_ads_invade_android_phones.html*
Just though I'd warn everyone, as I'm a very careful / savvy user and only use very popular, respected apps, but still got it. Personally I think adding phantom widgets and hijacking your browser homepage with a fake google look-a-like is disgusting and bordering on criminal, as no warning or notification is made that this is going to happen, where it came from and how to remove / fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good call mate! I downloaded the AirPush Detector, AdFree Android, and Addons Detector thats mentioned on the post, and they found some on my SG2.
I will give all offending apps a one star rating, and this will get these dev's to act!!
Thanks
If you're going to give these apps one star ratings, don't forget to put a very scathing review up as well. A single star rating either way isn't going to bother these people much, but if you put a really negative review up as well, it adds a little impact.
In my experience, a brutal review tends to get devs attention fairly quickly, especially those who care about the rep of their apps
... and I wondered from where that magnifying glass appeared on my homescreen.
By the way, the icon sucks
I installed one crappy app from the market but unistalled everything fishy in the moment I saw that icon ...
This has happened to me 2x wish I knew what app it was. I normally only download popular ones too.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
I have the magnifying glass too. I didn't notice it at first because I use TWLauncher 4.5 and it only added itself to the stock launcher. I guess its time to do some forum searching or uninstall all my add based apps.
You guys (especially OP) need to use programs like Lookout or ESET and stay away from ****ty apps like AVG (Which is also **** on PC).
GRiM-UK said:
You guys (especially OP) need to use programs like Lookout or ESET and stay away from ****ty apps like AVG (Which is also **** on PC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lookout doesn't find the search adware widget.
I had that icon too.. it even changed the default search engine on my browser..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
AXIS of Reality said:
Today, I turned on my phone to discover a strange new widget/icon on my homescreen that looked like a blue magnifying glass and was labelled 'Search'.
Of course, being suspicious I removed the widget. I then looked through the list of installed widgets and apps, but nothing unusual was there.
Later when I opened the internet browser, the usual google homepage looked a bit different - identical, tabs and all, except for the search button appearing the same as in the widget and the Google logo missing (as if it hadn't loaded yet).
I've reset my homepage to Google, but in my history the bogus sites are:
start.infospace.com
searchmobileonline.com
Scanned with both AVG and Avast, but neither picked anything strange up.
I have since found out that this is adware that some free apps on the Market are using to generate revenue. In my case I have since confirmed it came from Brightest Flashlight Free, an app with over 1 million downloads and 5 star average.
Here's an article explaining it *http://www.pcworld.com/article/245305/sneaky_mobile_ads_invade_android_phones.html*
Just though I'd warn everyone, as I'm a very careful / savvy user and only use very popular, respected apps, but still got it. Personally I think adding phantom widgets and hijacking your browser homepage with a fake google look-a-like is disgusting and bordering on criminal, as no warning or notification is made that this is going to happen, where it came from and how to remove / fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
personally i feel you should report this app to Google straight. No chances should be given for developers of such nasty lowdown apps.
I personally dont use any of the antivirus stuff but have my host file update for removing ads and use LBE security to block applications access to the internet.
Thanks
Thanks... very usefull information
Installed LBE and now monitoring apps
Thanks for the heads up and the useful apps recommended.
All clean here, but glad I checked.
Further good reasons not go down the pirate route kids - get that Blackmarket and Mobilism app off ya devices
Mobilism app isn't malware.
I use Avast and adaway and they seem to be effective enough although no doubt malaware is a cause for concern.
666fff said:
Mobilism app isn't malware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take your word for it. It allows you to test pro versions or other paid apps, and if you like them, you go to Android's market and buy the "proper" goods.... Sure. That's all right then.
How much does eset cost? Could only see free 30 day trial
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
B3311 said:
I'll take your word for it. It allows you to test pro versions or other paid apps, and if you like them, you go to Android's market and buy the "proper" goods.... Sure. That's all right then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I use it for. I like to trial an app properly. If I like, buy from the market, if it's crappy, delete.
The same happened to me, I only realised when a lot of my google searches were US based and not UK. When I clicked on the "privacy" link at the bottom of the Google page (or what I thought was google, it just had a different search icon) it brought up info about a different company, it wasnt the usual google privacy disclaimer.
In the end I think I had to uninstall all the recent apps because I wasnt sure which had done it and had to clear data on the browser to remove it.
My Samsung Galaxy Note has also been invaded by this searchmobile pest and I am looking for a lasting solution, or an app that can identify which app invited the malware. "free iPads" have also appeared annoyingly frequent.

Advertisement. ok. But it's when menu button is pressed. Images included.

So. i havent installed any new apps. And all of a sudden ads, fullscreen ads are appearing when i want to go into the menu to do whatever.
I will not, factory reset, i will not reinstall all my apps AGAIN. I just want to know what is happening and why.
And i've disabled all the ads crap from google.
Just noticed that the ads have the form of "icon" that sais ads by google, and by pressing it, takes me to google ads stuff which i've already disbled.
So see pictures and give me a shout if you know whats up.
Kind regards, the really ****ing angry android user.
and of course i can't put link up in the forum which is retarded, since how am i to paint a wordpicture to my problem without writing a book.
h..ttp://imgur.com/a/czUsM
Did you recently update any App? Could you please take a look at the Device Administrators because this looks like a virus to me. Did you allow the installation from unknown Sources?
uninstall newly installed/ updated apps, and check

Instead of rooting...?

If I recall correctly, the Priv's OS has some application that checks the integrity of the OS, thus prevents rooting.
And can't we simply flash a new ROM which would be just a clean Android? Maybe unlocking the bootloader would be easier than cat-and-mouse play with the real BB Android.
no it does not exist and the drivers for some hw on the device to work like izat and keyboard won't work, also the priv kernel is also secure along with bootloader so if i see a custom or AOSP rom for this device i will be like on twilight zone
There have been lost opportunities here and there but BlackBerry has been active on patching all security holes and that is why is important to the company that a root has to be impossible or this effort has been all for nothing and they became the newest "Blackphone" (now that rooting was unfortunate for a device sold as a "secure" phone).
I know that there are audience in Android just for root capacity but not everybody are in a "real" need for it.
I like that the BlackBerry Launcher leave most of AOSP element, except for icons and notifications sounds.
Personally I only ever use root for CPU control and ability to delete ANY app I deem fit, and on my previous SGS5 that meant all those heart rate and other nonsense apps that ran in background and chunked the battery to no end.
Gonna assume the Priv then has no CPU management ability due to the lack of root, correct?
Skv012a said:
Personally I only ever use root for CPU control and ability to delete ANY app I deem fit, and on my previous SGS5 that meant all those heart rate and other nonsense apps that ran in background and chunked the battery to no end.
Gonna assume the Priv then has no CPU management ability due to the lack of root, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Though, they do use the interactive governor, and while I would kind of like to underclock the CPU a bit to deal with overheating, the default CPU management isn't too shabby. And since the Priv is almost completely stock, removal of unwanted apps is minimal, and all the carrier apps I had weren't system apps, so I was able to actually uninstall them, and what BB apps I didn't care for, I simply disabled. Learning that life without root isn't so bad on the Priv.
I just want root for Adblock for both YouTube and Chrome. I don't care if it's just a temp, as long as it lets me update the Filters for AdAway I am alright with it, I'll deal with the youtube ads.
KOAO said:
I just want root for Adblock for both YouTube and Chrome. I don't care if it's just a temp, as long as it lets me update the Filters for AdAway I am alright with it, I'll deal with the youtube ads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you could use Firefox. It supports extensions on Android, and ublock works nicely to kill ads, though I find functionally that Chrome runs infinitely better on Android than Firefox does, so your kilometerage may vary.
Artemis-kun said:
And since the Priv is almost completely stock, removal of unwanted apps is minimal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true! The Priv is full of bloatware that you can only deactivate but not uninstall (Yahoo Finances, for example). And some of those apps will stay active and make the phone unusable despite being 'deactivated'. Like BB Hub. I deactivated it from the start and just recently saw that it still had several permissions (location, contacts, messages, calendar etc). So I revoked those permissions. Now it constantly pops up and wants permissions. I can't even add a contact without granting these permissions. Annoying as hell. It's ridiculous that BB regard themselves as a secure company with secure smartphones (which was rebutted several years ago) that emphasize on privacy but when it comes to their own apps, it can't get any more privacy invading. I so hate BB!
So I'm waiting for
a) another producer to make an Android phone with a hardware keyboard or
b) someone to make root for the Priv happen so that I can install a ROM of my choice.
Shani Ace said:
Not true! The Priv is full of bloatware that you can only deactivate but not uninstall (Yahoo Finances, for example). And some of those apps will stay active and make the phone unusable despite being 'deactivated'. Like BB Hub. I deactivated it from the start and just recently saw that it still had several permissions (location, contacts, messages, calendar etc). So I revoked those permissions. Now it constantly pops up and wants permissions. I can't even add a contact without granting these permissions. Annoying as hell. It's ridiculous that BB regard themselves as a secure company with secure smartphones (which was rebutted several years ago) that emphasize on privacy but when it comes to their own apps, it can't get any more privacy invading. I so hate BB!
So I'm waiting for
a) another producer to make an Android phone with a hardware keyboard or
b) someone to make root for the Priv happen so that I can install a ROM of my choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't call it full of bloat. Full of bloat is what Samsung has on offer. Yes, there are some bloatware apps that you can't uninstall, but they disable just fine. Sounds to me like your hub got re-enabled, mine has been disabled since day one, and still has no permissions, and doesn't harass me about anything.
Artemis-kun said:
Sounds to me like your hub got re-enabled, mine has been disabled since day one, and still has no permissions, and doesn't harass me about anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Did you do any of the BB OTA updates (mine's running the most recent version, 6.0.1, security patch from August 5th)?
The Hub is still deactivated, but it doesn't seem to 'care' about that. I activated and deactivated it again to no effect.
So you're telling me when you go into Settings -> Apps -> BB Hub -> Permissions, all six permissions (calendar, camera, contacts, storage, phone and BB Productivity Suite) are turned-off?
I'm pretty sure I had these turned off when I got the phone in May. So maybe some of the OTA updates changed something about it. Unless you're running the same version that I am.
Oh and the fullscreen pop-up says Blackberry Hub+, maybe this is a new thing then?
And yes, other manufacturers may have more Bloatware. But at least there you can uninstall them or flash a different ROM. And all the BB services like BB Hub count as Bloatware for me, too.
Maybe I should sell my Priv and get a S6 Edge Plus (again). I still got the keyboard cover for that model and it's flashable, although Samsung also makes it hard for the users. But the keyboard cover is not back-lit and the phone is even bigger than the Priv (already too big for my taste).
EDIT: Ah wait! I just saw that the 'Blackberry Services' were activate, so I deactivated it and revoked all its permissions and now the pop up is gone. I definitely had this deactivated before the update, but as with the other BB apps, you have to deactivate them again after each update. Guess I just overlooked this one. Yay!
Shani Ace said:
Interesting. Did you do any of the BB OTA updates (mine's running the most recent version, 6.0.1, security patch from August 5th)?
The Hub is still deactivated, but it doesn't seem to 'care' about that. I activated and deactivated it again to no effect.
So you're telling me when you go into Settings -> Apps -> BB Hub -> Permissions, all six permissions (calendar, camera, contacts, storage, phone and BB Productivity Suite) are turned-off?
I'm pretty sure I had these turned off when I got the phone in May. So maybe some of the OTA updates changed something about it. Unless you're running the same version that I am.
Oh and the fullscreen pop-up says Blackberry Hub+, maybe this is a new thing then?
And yes, other manufacturers may have more Bloatware. But at least there you can uninstall them or flash a different ROM. And all the BB services like BB Hub count as Bloatware for me, too.
Maybe I should sell my Priv and get a S6 Edge Plus (again). I still got the keyboard cover for that model and it's flashable, although Samsung also makes it hard for the users. But the keyboard cover is not back-lit and the phone is even bigger than the Priv (already too big for my taste).
EDIT: Ah wait! I just saw that the 'Blackberry Services' were activate, so I deactivated it and revoked all its permissions and now the pop up is gone. I definitely had this deactivated before the update, but as with the other BB apps, you have to deactivate them again after each update. Guess I just overlooked this one. Yay!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://puu.sh/qYFcI/bca42bb0e9.png here is a screenshot I just took. I should also point out that I have everything else BB disabled as well, and I've never had to re-disable any of them. I'm on the MM beta program, so that might also make some kind of diffeerence, but I stay up to date with patches, and haven't had to disable anything again. Not sure how it happened in your case, but glad that you got it sorted.
Another thing I do feel I need to bring up, this is also a BB phone made for BB people, so it does make sense that they include the software suite that their fans have grown to love. Sure, those of us who couldn't care less about BB's software, and just wanted in on their amazing hardware prowess, will find these apps bothersome, but if nothing else, visually they left Android alone, and for that, I can't not happily thank them. They could have given us something like a BB10 inspired touchwiz, could you imagine? Lol.
Yeah that's true and I'm also happy that they didn't over-customize their ROM. It's just hard to accept any deviation when you've been used to having full freedom on all kinds of custom ROMs for the last ten years.
Strange though that you didn't have to re-deactivate the apps after the updates. Then I guess I'll look into the beta program (had seen it before but didn't mind).
and I do not have 'Secure Start-up' turned-on.
There's enough bloatware that I'd like to remove, such as "Hang-Outs" & BBM is eating data with stupid pics of available 'stickies' & other crap I don't want to see/read about & my ONLY choice for disable is "Do you want to restore this app to Factory Default?". No, I don't I want to Restore it to Factory Default - I want to DISABLE it. I do understand that the PRIV's supposed to be secure & yes that's a Good Thing. I also understand that most users LIKE to be kept informed. I am NOT 'social' - Let ME decide what I want to be informed about & when. I didn't even get a choice of what subscription (?) I wanted (which is NONE). There's a bunch of apps that I can only Restore to Factory default. That, too me, means I CANNOT Remove or Disable them. I call that bloatware. Un-wanted bloatware. If I could remove them without Rooting, then I would not be looking to do so! I have an 'Essential Tremour' & I NEED a physical keyboard or I'd look elsewhere.
OK: I managed to get BBM to stop shouting at me (as noted: I make mistakes, but I do learn from them); it's just down to wanting to get rid of apps I don't want taking-up space. Rooting a PRIV appears to be dicey, with no firm info from Oct/2016, onwards, regarding 'safe' rooting of my device. I'm running 6.0.1 & Bell is my provider. If it makes any difference, I do not have 'Secure Start-Up' turned-on. As noted, if I didn't need a physical keyboard, I probably would not have chosen this make/model. Guess I'll live with it & keep looking for ways to put my phone on diet (& the battery barely lasts a day, unfortunately). I basically use it as a PDA - no games, few calls, occasional checking notes & calendar - it should last longer.
Bootstrap69 said:
There's enough bloatware that I'd like to remove, such as "Hang-Outs" & BBM is eating data with stupid pics of available 'stickies' & other crap I don't want to see/read about & my ONLY choice for disable is "Do you want to restore this app to Factory Default?". No, I don't I want to Restore it to Factory Default - I want to DISABLE it. I do understand that the PRIV's supposed to be secure & yes that's a Good Thing. I also understand that most users LIKE to be kept informed. I am NOT 'social' - Let ME decide what I want to be informed about & when. I didn't even get a choice of what subscription (?) I wanted (which is NONE). There's a bunch of apps that I can only Restore to Factory default. That, too me, means I CANNOT Remove or Disable them. I call that bloatware. Un-wanted bloatware. If I could remove them without Rooting, then I would not be looking to do so! I have an 'Essential Tremour' & I NEED a physical keyboard or I'd look elsewhere.
OK: I managed to get BBM to stop shouting at me (as noted: I make mistakes, but I do learn from them); it's just down to wanting to get rid of apps I don't want taking-up space. Rooting a PRIV appears to be dicey, with no firm info from Oct/2016, onwards, regarding 'safe' rooting of my device. I'm running 6.0.1 & Bell is my provider. If it makes any difference, I do not have 'Secure Start-Up' turned-on. As noted, if I didn't need a physical keyboard, I probably would not have chosen this make/model. Guess I'll live with it & keep looking for ways to put my phone on diet (& the battery barely lasts a day, unfortunately). I basically use it as a PDA - no games, few calls, occasional checking notes & calendar - it should last longer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In order to disable some of the apps on this device they must be restored to factory default. I have hangouts and BBM disabled. My battery life is pretty good. You have to figure out what's killing yours. Do you use a case that has the preview window on the front?
On non rootable devices I use AdGuard to have a firewall and adblocker. It works by routing everything through a local vpn server. Great concept and working fine for me.

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