i bought an htc dream/g1 from ebay new. the catch is that it's in chinese (didn't know this when i bought it). i've set it to english, but the market place, among some other system dialogues are still in chinese. i've managed to log into my google account by guessing, but i'm getting error messages i can't read, and the whole market interface is in chinese.
so i CAN'T use the android market to download a file manager, or download anything at all (which seems to be required in order to root it). i can mount the sd card and access it in windows.
what i really want to do is just delete everything on there, os and all, and start from scratch (the same way i could with an iphone). the most important thing is that it be in english. secondly that it run smoothly. after that it would be nice if it could be a sense ui rom, but that is not required, i guess.
please, any help at all would be appreciated! i'm new to android and i can't figure all these issues out at once and in mandarin.
I would suggest downgrading to RC29 or RC7, but those are US and UK firmwares. What firmware version is it? it would be useful for us to have all the information in Settings > About. If it's on 1.5 you should be able to use the 'flashrec' method, but I guess that will ake some trial and error.
Ok so I picked up my Droid X about a month ago and haven't been able to put this thing down, I never thought about rooting it because it did everything I needed/wanted it to do, then one day I log into my car forum and all the OT guys are posting cool print screen's of their phones. I was intrigued, so I rooted my phone and have been trying to figure out a few things but I'm not really up on the terminology and/or logic behind doing certain things. I would greatly appreciate any help in regards to explaining the following:
1) Rooting - Takes off restrictions on the phone so that developer apps can be installed... Is there more to this or is that pretty much it?
2) Flashing - I see this term often but I'm not sure what it is exactly, I tried installing a theme once and the directions said to flash something somewhere and looked at it the same way my dog looks at me while I'm working out at home.. lol
3) ROM - !?
4) apk's - What are they, what do they do, and how do you install them!?
5) Installing themes - I'm thinking has to do with all of the above...
6) Locating and moving downloaded content...
7) How do all of these things tie together? I'm completely clueless as to what does what on the phone and would like to become as knowledgeable as I was when the iPhone first came out and I figured out how to jailbreak/unlock it...
As a reward for your time and effort I leave you Final Fantasy VII fan's with a cool wallpaper I found at work today.. Thanks for any/all input and again, your time is most appreciated!!
Initial GT3 said:
Ok so I picked up my Droid X about a month ago and haven't been able to put this thing down, I never thought about rooting it because it did everything I needed/wanted it to do, then one day I log into my car forum and all the OT guys are posting cool print screen's of their phones. I was intrigued, so I rooted my phone and have been trying to figure out a few things but I'm not really up on the terminology and/or logic behind doing certain things. I would greatly appreciate any help in regards to explaining the following:
1) Rooting - Takes off restrictions on the phone so that developer apps can be installed... Is there more to this or is that pretty much it?
2) Flashing - I see this term often but I'm not sure what it is exactly, I tried installing a theme once and the directions said to flash something somewhere and looked at it the same way my dog looks at me while I'm working out at home.. lol
3) ROM - !?
4) apk's - What are they, what do they do, and how do you install them!?
5) Installing themes - I'm thinking has to do with all of the above...
6) Locating and moving downloaded content...
7) How do all of these things tie together? I'm completely clueless as to what does what on the phone and would like to become as knowledgeable as I was when the iPhone first came out and I figured out how to jailbreak/unlock it...
As a reward for your time and effort I leave you Final Fantasy VII fan's with a cool wallpaper I found at work today.. Thanks for any/all input and again, your time is most appreciated!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off- that is a lot to bite off as an opener. lol. I have to get in a minute- plus I am a newb as well but here a couple of things...
1) You sound pretty on track. Root gives you access to more options with your phone. It also voids your warranty.
2) Flashing. A term used loosely. Normally it is used in conjunction with "flashing a rom". It simply means to install something (basically).
3) Rom. It is the image (not in the photo-graphical sense) that is embedded/burned on your phones hard drive with all the information of your operating system. For instance: you are on the stock 2.2 ota "rom". But you could "flash" the new "AOSP rom" that was just released. That means you would be removing the factory image that came on your phone and replacing it with a modified image. Theme's and .apk's -those are not "burned" into the phone. If you do a factory reset- those will be wiped. The rom image stays put. If you flash from 2.2 ota to AOSP and then did a factory reset- you would not return to the original state your phone came from Motorola bc that image is completely removed and replaced by the new image you flash. Instead you would return to a clean AOSP.
4) .apk's - .apk is simply the name of the file extension used for android applications. I came from Windows Mobile and they were called .cabs. So any app can be referred to as an .apk. You can download an apk from XDA, place it on your sdcard, tap the file, and i think you will be prompted with "do you want to install" (some where along those lines). There is a setting in the "Settings" that allows you to install 3rd party (non-market) .apk's.
5)Installing themes. This refers to modifying the images (and this time I do mean in the graphic sense) of certain .apk's and other whatchamajiggies. You can install a simple theme that just changes your lockscreen, or you can install a huge theme that changes almost every part of every image so the entire phone looks similar. Here is the tricky part about using themes- your phone has to be deodexed.
deodexed. When you get your phone all of the system files come with a few different parts to them. One of those parts is an odexed file. Apparently the theme building types do not like working with these files so they run this process called de-odexing in which all of the system files are somehow manipulated in a way where they no longer need their odex file. So you end up "de-odexed". There is a program called "xultimate 2.2" that enables regular folk like you and me to deodex our phones. I tried running it yesterday and it errored out on me. So I used another method that worked fine. There are some threads on here about deodexing- if you want themes you will have to do it.
6) locating and moving downloaded content. When you have root you can get Root Explorer from the market. I am sure there are other good file exploreres- but I can't speak to them- I use Root Explorer. As far as locating downloaded content- whenever I download something from my phone, it always (normally) goes to /sdcard/downloads. If it is not there, I guess you just do a search for it. If you want to move it- long press the item, copy, move.
And you will need to google "ADB" (android device bridge). Many of these activities will require the use of ADB. You plug in your phone through USB (make sure phone settings are set to "USB debugging") and... well there is just way to much on this one. Google this one and you will find a lot of stuff- or search it here on XDA
have a great weekend. got to go.
Hey guys,
First and foremost, I would like to say I have no idea about anything, and everything on this website is in a foreign language to me (can't understand anything), so please bear with me. I set up a new thread because after reading everything, I still don't get anything (being a noob).
I just signed up with vodaphone in australia to get a HTC Legend (my first android and smart phone after using n73 for the last 3years). Everything is going fine until I wanted to get apps from the android market. I didnt have a gmail account, so I signed up for one through my computer. However, when i tried signing in through the phone google account set-up wizard, after waiting 5mins for the phone to communicate with google servers, it fails and the phone would not let me, citing that it cant establish a reliable data connection to the server, being a temporary problem (Tried it with both 3G and wi-fi, also with 2 other friend's log-in). Any help on this would be good. Also, with HTC sync 3.0, I was unable to sync and backup all my sms for a factory reset. Is there any other ways to do this without the apps? Additionally, I cannot update my software to Froyo (Firmware 2.2) FOTA or finding a download for it onto my comp as the phone says my software is up-to-date (But HTC Australia shows that there is an update for Software 2.2 FOTA).
Alright, I know what goes through your mind, get the apps to do that, but without the sign-up for gmail settings, I cant access Market, cant download apps, basically cant do anything (and mind you, I dont know about programming or xda or anything of that sort to check the shell script or whatever that goes on in the forum).
I've went around looking for answers but never really got a definition, mostly about how-to's which I am not interested as I have no idea what they are.
What is flashing?
What is rooting?
What is un-branded or Vodaphone branded (in my case, if it makes sense)?
What is a goldcard and what's it for?
Is RUU or custom rom or rom the same thing? does that have to do with my firmware? and what is it?
What's with downgrading and upgrading for other stuff (to versions 1.1/1.3)?
What is Clockwork and Fastmode and all those other stuff?
What's the latest firmware/software for Legend (2.2 or 3.0) as I have read threads with firmware 1.3 or 3.3 (or something of that sort)?
I know I AM the biggest noob you guys will ever find. Seriously, no websites actually explain all these stuff, and I'm getting paranoid over using an android phone. I know you guys might just tell me to get a simpler phone, but I upgraded to an android to know more about it.
Thanks in advance guys, if any help can be provided. I have a cool phone, but I wanna use it fully.
Regards,
William
Firmware version
2.1-update1
Baseband version
47.39.35.09U_7.08.35.21
Kernel version
2.6.29-8d705e0d
[email protected] #1
Build number
2.10.178.1 CL211993 release key
Software number
2.10.178.1
Browser version
Webkit 3.1
http://lifehacker.com/5717356/set-u...tm_campaign=Feed:+lifehacker/full+(Lifehacker)
^ To know more about your Android.
Try various Wi-fi settings till you get proper Wi-Fi signal.
http://zubu.ca/legend/fota_check.php shows that there is no update available for your build, I suggest you debrand.
I just helped about with the basics, the more experienced people will be able to answer you better. Did you get a black Legend?
hey man, thanks for that. mightily helpful.
however, wat do u mean by various settings for wifi? there arent much to set.
also, what do u mean by debranding as well? like not go vodaphone or smtg like dat?
btw, i have a silver Legend i think? the metallic case.
marder101 said:
Hey guys,
First and foremost, I would like to say I have no idea about anything, and everything on this website is in a foreign language to me (can't understand anything), so please bear with me. I set up a new thread because after reading everything, I still don't get anything (being a noob).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be prepared to learn, and to become less of a noob
marder101 said:
I just signed up with vodaphone in australia to get a HTC Legend (my first android and smart phone after using n73 for the last 3years). Everything is going fine until I wanted to get apps from the android market. I didnt have a gmail account, so I signed up for one through my computer. However, when i tried signing in through the phone google account set-up wizard, after waiting 5mins for the phone to communicate with google servers, it fails and the phone would not let me, citing that it cant establish a reliable data connection to the server, being a temporary problem (Tried it with both 3G and wi-fi, also with 2 other friend's log-in). Any help on this would be good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I got that once before. If there's a different wifi network that you can get access to, try that.
marder101 said:
Also, with HTC sync 3.0, I was unable to sync and backup all my sms for a factory reset. Is there any other ways to do this without the apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are apps on the market, if you can sort the issue above then check those out.
marder101 said:
Additionally, I cannot update my software to Froyo (Firmware 2.2) FOTA or finding a download for it onto my comp as the phone says my software is up-to-date (But HTC Australia shows that there is an update for Software 2.2 FOTA).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, some users still haven't received the update. A debrand will help
marder101 said:
Alright, I know what goes through your mind, get the apps to do that, but without the sign-up for gmail settings, I cant access Market, cant download apps, basically cant do anything (and mind you, I dont know about programming or xda or anything of that sort to check the shell script or whatever that goes on in the forum).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, I have said about apps. If you temproot using visionary you can install Titanium backup which can backup everything. Both of these are available for "sideloading". Without a file manager on your phone I can't think of an easy way to install them. What I'd do is go to the settings, make sure USB debuging is on (Settings --> applications --> development) and then use adb to install it:
Code:
adb devices
adb install Visionary.apk
adb install Titanium-Backup.apk
This is assuming that you rename the files to Visionary and Titanium-Backup, and have them in the same directory as ADB. For an easy installation of ADB do this:
Download this file and unzip it to C:\Android\ADB\
Open cmd (start orb/button, type "cmd" and hit enter)
In cmd do this:
Code:
cd C:\Android\ADB
Now you can use the adb command listed above. If you have the apk files in the same folder you can pretty much copy-paste those commands
marder101 said:
I've went around looking for answers but never really got a definition, mostly about how-to's which I am not interested as I have no idea what they are.
What is flashing?
What is rooting?
What is un-branded or Vodaphone branded (in my case, if it makes sense)?
What is a goldcard and what's it for?
Is RUU or custom rom or rom the same thing? does that have to do with my firmware? and what is it?
What's with downgrading and upgrading for other stuff (to versions 1.1/1.3)?
What is Clockwork and Fastmode and all those other stuff?
What's the latest firmware/software for Legend (2.2 or 3.0) as I have read threads with firmware 1.3 or 3.3 (or something of that sort)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing is the process of writing a new operating system to NAND (internal) memory, otherwise known as flash memory
Rooting is like gaining administrator rights on a Windows PC. On Unix-like systems (Android, Linux, OSX) this is known as the root account, hence "rooting"
Vodafone branded means that Vodafone has it's logos and apps on there. Think of the ROM on your phone as a custom ROM, made by Vodafone. You need to wait for Vodafone to update it. Un-branded simply mean that all of that is gone, it's like having the ROM that HTC meant for it. So we only need to wait for HTC to update it
A goldcard is an SD card that has been specially prepared for making the phone think it's CID is different. I don't fully understand how it works, all we need to know is that it does, and that we need one for rooting
ROM and firmware are the same thing RUU is "ROM Upgrade Utility". It's a method made by HTC for upgrading the phones firmware. A custom ROM is simply a ROM that's been customised. It may be based on the official ROM from HTC, or the open source version of Android
ClockworkMOD is an open source recovery image. It allows us to do full backups of the NAND memory (nandroid backup), as well as easily installing new ROMs/updates. These come in zip files Fastboot is a way to test stuff quickly. It allows you to flash certain parts of a ROM without the need to flash the whole thing, as well as boot from a kernel that isn't flahed to the device. It's a dev thing
The latest version of Android for the Legend (officially) is 2.2. HTC firmwares follow a different numbering scheme. HTC ROMs v. 1.x and 2.x are based on Android 2.1, and v. 3.x is based on 2.2
marder101 said:
I know I AM the biggest noob you guys will ever find. Seriously, no websites actually explain all these stuff, and I'm getting paranoid over using an android phone. I know you guys might just tell me to get a simpler phone, but I upgraded to an android to know more about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get learnin'
I hope this helps
@GrammarFreak:
Thanks for your post! Even though I thought I kinda understood most things, this cleared a lot up for me!
RMWessels
No worries
ishan_rulz said:
http://lifehacker.com/5717356/set-u...tm_campaign=Feed:+lifehacker/full+(Lifehacker)
^ To know more about your Android.
Try various Wi-fi settings till you get proper Wi-Fi signal.
http://zubu.ca/legend/fota_check.php shows that there is no update available for your build, I suggest you debrand.
I just helped about with the basics, the more experienced people will be able to answer you better. Did you get a black Legend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello her last day i got a new legend and it was black and it looks like my old htc hero
Anybody tried the http://www.crossinstall.com/ ?
No SDK need to install, if you want simply can download the ad banner image with a parametered url for a right place.
They are very new, just a few day old, i dont know they have enough good ad.
Hi guys. Could someone please have a look at this weather app and establish why it throws up Parsing error when I try to install it on my Acer Android.
I extracted it from my Huawei P8 using SHAREit but it doesn't install for some reason. May be the name of the apk file is not as it should be but I don't know what to rename it to. It is the stock Huawei Weather app version 6.1.09 that came with the updated Android 6.
com.huawei.android.totemweather_6.1.0923_6.0-eng.apk
Or, is a working one available for download?
Any help is apreciated very much.
Thanks a lot.
More than likely it is corrupt, and/or wrong version for the Android version on the Acer, that's why.
Why must it be that particular weather app. there are loads on Playstore and many are way better, IMHO.
Hi and thanks for replying. Yes I'm aware of the many other similar apps available but this one has just the right amount of info and visuals for me whilst still being light weight and simple. I just can't get to like any other ones I try.
You're right about the apk file being corrupt since it comes up with the same error when installing on the same phone it was extracted from.
As I have the P8Lite running this app. Can someone please tell me how I can get the executable apk file directly from the phone.
Thanks