Database Users

X10 - Need convincing and set-up help

Hi,
I hope I am adhereing to Forum 'etiquette' here.
I've taken ownership of an X10 on Monday, after having experience of the iPhone. First impressions are 'I hate it' in capital letters... I just can't get used to it and have a number of annoyances.
I'm hoping this is a case of user error as some of this forum users seem to think it walks on water, so apologies for this, but a few questions
1) Is there a recommended set up? It is currently configured as it was out of the box
2) Android App Store - I don't want to register for a google email account that I'll never use, do I have to? Can I not access a full app store online via the web?
3) I find the bundled Sat Nav useless... It can't ever find my current location.
4) I really miss the 'notification' of the iPhone, the little red number when you've got a text, facebook update, missed call etc. Timescape does not replace this as it constantly updates and my phone is always on silent 8-6 every day so I'm missing calls, messages and notifications.
5) Recommended apps?
6) Battery Life... I've hardly used the thing today, yet its used nearly 75% of the battery life and I've made 2 calls, a little bit of Facebook and 4 text messages.
7) Any general recommendations?
At this moment, I really am close to sending this back (7 day trial) and getting a HTC Desire or going back to the iPhone.
Thanks in advance
Stuart

1) Is there a recommended set up? It is currently configured as it was out of the box
Unlike the iPhone, Android allows you to configure and personalize your phone as you like, what recommended setup are you looking for ? I have disabled Timescape and use handcent/K-9 for SMS/Email, though I still find Mediascape the best media player.
2) Android App Store - I don't want to register for a google email account that I'll never use, do I have to? Can I not access a full app store online via the web?
To use Googles Android market you do need a Google ID. I have never used mine to send email and it is only used for the Google applications I have downloaded. I only ever registered an Apple ID to be ableto download apps from the Itunes App store.
3) I find the bundled Sat Nav useless... It can't ever find my current location.
Have you got the GPS switched on ? My X10 locks onto GPS faster than my iPhone ever did. Download Google Maps.
4) I really miss the 'notification' of the iPhone, the little red number when you've got a text, facebook update, missed call etc. Timescape does not replace this as it constantly updates and my phone is always on silent 8-6 every day so I'm missing calls, messages and notifications.
These appear in the 'notification' drag down at the top of the screen. I prefer them to the iPhone as they stay there until I decide to clear them.
5) Recommended apps?
See other thread for this.
6) Battery Life... I've hardly used the thing today, yet its used nearly 75% of the battery life and I've made 2 calls, a little bit of Facebook and 4 text messages.
Wait a week or so, battery does improve and should improve further after the next firmware update in the next week or so. The X10 has a much more powerful processor than the iPhone so does use more battery, but having used the phone for a month I actually find that the battery lasts longer than the iPhone, although it does take longer to top-up and recharge.
7) Any general recommendations?
Use it, play with it, get used to it. Android is so different to the iPhone that it does take some getting used to. I personally love Android as it allows me to customize and personalize my phone far beyond what the iPhone allowed me to do.
At this moment, I really am close to sending this back (7 day trial) and getting a HTC Desire or going back to the iPhone.
The majority of the issues you raise above, you would also find on the HTC Desire.

Thanks for the reply, I just wondered whether there was a standard set up that most users used, seems not.
One final question;
There are far too many apps that I'll never use that I don't seem to be able to uninstall... E.g. I've got the Mail app, Google Mail and Moxier Mail... I'm only ever going to want one of these.
I haven't a clue what the Moxier things do full stop mind you, and I don't want GoogleTalk for example.
Is there a way to un-install or hide the ones I don't want?
And can I re-arrange apps, e.g. bring my Facebook onto the 4 icons you have on the homepage.
Sorry if this all sounds picky, I just want the customisation I'm used too.

"Is there a way to un-install or hide the ones I don't want?"
Not yet. We need to be able to root the device. (Like jailbreak on Iphone)
"And can I re-arrange apps, e.g. bring my Facebook onto the 4 icons you have on the homepage."
Press and hold on whatever icon you want to move.

StuartBrookes said:
Thanks for the reply, I just wondered whether there was a standard set up that most users used, seems not.
One final question;
There are far too many apps that I'll never use that I don't seem to be able to uninstall... E.g. I've got the Mail app, Google Mail and Moxier Mail... I'm only ever going to want one of these.
I haven't a clue what the Moxier things do full stop mind you, and I don't want GoogleTalk for example.
Is there a way to un-install or hide the ones I don't want?
And can I re-arrange apps, e.g. bring my Facebook onto the 4 icons you have on the homepage.
Sorry if this all sounds picky, I just want the customisation I'm used too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many of the pre-installed apps are not possibile to un-install. But if you load other mail apps then it will ask you which is the default mail app you want to use. The apps themselves take up such a small amount of space that you don't need to worry too much if you don't want to use them. Moxier etc are primarily used to access work/exchange email. There are many on here who are desperate to delete them but I have no real problem with them.
To add apps to your homescreen, just select he app in your app menu, hold onto it and drag it upto your homescreen. With default Android you have three homescreens to organise and you can add app shortcuts to any of these. From any homescreen, press and hold in an empty space and it will then ask which shortcut/app or widget you need to place there.
My own Android app whinge is that I cannot reorganize the apps in my app page, they are always displayed in the alphabetical order of whatever the developer has decided to name them.

Once we have root (jailbreak for android phones), we should be able to get rid of most of the unwanted apps that came pre-installed.

If those are the annoyances you are talking about, then the Desire won't fix anything because almost all of those "problems" are with android itself.
Battery life isn't much better on the Desire and the GPS is insanely quick to get a lock on almost everyone else's handsets.
I also wasn't aware that the iPhone was customizable...

Use Navigon for GPS navigation. Its by far the best for Android, similar to iGo & Tom Tom. Its also free if you know where to look! ;-)
Also make sure you turn GPS on and off when its used from the settings menu as it can drain battery. A-GPS also helps lock on as it uses the internet to track satalites positions for start up.

clear recent apps?

so i have no need of it now but the top line of apps that keep track of what you have opened just keeps getting longer.. anyone now how to clear that out yet?
also if anyone is looking for a password app to bock a few apps from the kids accidently buying apps or getting into your email the app "app protector pro"(also has a trial) is one of the few that work... some on the amazon store do not block at all and some are buggy. this one i have been using since yesterday and it has several good modes. only thing with this is i had to side load a different facebook app(touch client for facebook) because the "app" for amazon just goes to the browser. and this will allow the kids on theirs without logging me out or getting into mine.
.i know people are having problems getting the regular market place in. i stopped trying and just started using blapkmarket side loaded for my apps.
also im finding kobo to be the best ereader app to side load that seems to give the best results.
hope this helps anyone with the same issues

The Recent section is one of the more annoying aspects to the UI in my opinion. First it should need to be SO LARGE... and second, it would be nice to just turn it off. Many of the "icons" displayed are terrible looking especially recent web pages etc...
The other is the lack of control buttons being available without an extra step. Coming from a Android phone it takes some getting used to. I suppose someone who has never had a droid based phone might think it is okay, but I would guess not.

To clear apps from your carousel: Settings->applications->Filter by all Apps->AppManager -> Clear Data
to clear watched videos from your carousel. Settings->More->Applications->Amazon Video-> Clear Data -> Go back to the home screen click on one of the other tabs like books and then back the the home and it is gone.
-D

worked thank you

Now we need a setting that just makes the carousel disappear completely.... most likely a different app launcher though.

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.

Notification Bar ads for Android

While it has been rumored and feared practically since the operating system's creation, one of the nightmare scenarios for some unlucky Android users has finally become very real. Japan's second largest mobile carrier, KDDI, has gone where no carrier has dared before and has begun disguising advertisements as system notifications on their Android devices.
It seems that an app bundled with KDDI devices is the cause of the controversial ad system. The "au one market" is a secondary market application that comes with most of the smartphones on the carrier's service. This newest evil addition came in the form of an update which prompted the user with two warnings.
Quote
1. au one Market app stays resident even when you are not using the app, 2. notification space will be used to inform good deals to customers.
There are similar ad experiences from certain applications and services already in the U.S. but this is the first time we've seen this behavior from an actual mobile carrier. It's scary to think of this becoming common place so be sure to voice your opposition on this sort of guerrilla advertising to your carrier representatives before it's too late. This is also just all the more reason to keep your rootz skills as up to date as possible. Removing that carrier bloatware is becoming seemingly more and more essential these days....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source: RootzWiki
Read for yourself here

since i've installed an app (don't know which one) i'm starting to something like this on my status bar... do you guys know anything about this?

This sucks... Are they even allowed to do this?

@gigeaky
Check if you have Easy Mp3 Download or DroID3Tagger. One of them should be the Ads source.

Install Airpush Detector or Addons Detector from the market to find the offending app.

Nothing root+delete offending app can't solve.
That said, still sucks, they'll probably end any warranty or whatever services they may offer if they find out. I guess you can still delete any traces of root and send it to samsung. They probably couldn't care less if you uninstalled some carrier app.
I don't mind ads at all while they aren't intrusive. I understand their purpose and their importance. But being randomly interrupted by some notification ad is the worse kind of interruption, as useless as it gets, not to mention the unsolicited data traffic and extra battery drain. I can even see them going a notch up and create random popups out of that you need to dismiss. Now, i like android the best of all mobile operative systems, but i draw a line here. If google ever enforced this at system level with no way around, i'd leave android completely.

I agree, I guess all those stuff is from carriers and not from Google so that I think it won't be difficult delete it.

gigeaky said:
since i've installed an app (don't know which one) i'm starting to something like this on my status bar... do you guys know anything about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I seem to be getting similar notifications, I can't for the life of me work out what app they are related to...

Needing help with my cheap A03s

Couldn't find that one listened anywhere here specifically. I'm pretty sure my phones compromised but I'll probably just get people telling me I'm being paranoid. Just notice a lot of weird stuff going on.
I'll give some examples, but it would be cool if someone else here has an A03s and could give me a full list of the system apps to know for sure if mine has some extra ones that aren't truly factory. Because I've restore it several times and they don't go away.
Like under the apps screen under the basic ones I got apps like Android auto, webview, configapk, customization service, and something called data restore tool, device health services, group sharing, meet, nearby device sharing, quick sharing, quick share, settings..etc. which to my knowledge are pretty normal apps to see on phones right? But I seem unable to control them, if I disable them and go back and check later they mysteriously reenabled again, or after that the permissions lists will be greyed out not being able to do anything. Also there is a app called "permissions controller", as well as ones called "apps", "apps update", "tools", "app recommendations", "settings recommendations"..etc. is that normal? I never noticed that with my old samsung. They are really small file size apps with pretty generic looking icons and they don't let me disable them.
What gets more weird to me though is when I enable the system apps too. I see all kinds of suspicious looking ****.
Like for the android setup, and android system apps there are two of each, and the other two have generic looking icons, also got stuff like configuration restore, audio mirroring, auto hotspot, automation test, bluetooth/bluetooth midi service, call & text on other devices, callbgprovider, camera extensions proxy, carrier login engine, sim tool kit, cell broadcast services, clipboardsaveservice, cmh provider, companion device manager (where I have no idea where my "companion is or how to control it so I must be the one being controlled?", configupdater, csc, dcktimesyncapplication, dynamic system updates, ipservice, enterprise sim pin service, external storage, like 10 different gestural navigation bars, group sharing, iaft, ims service, settings, and logging, input devices, iothiddenmenu, keycustomizationinfobnr, launcher, locale overlay manager, service mode and service mode ril, media and devices, mdmapp, vpndialogs, mmigroup,mmsservice, mobilewips, mtp host, nearby device scanning (2 instances), network diagnostic, nsdswebapp, one handed mode, osulogin, package installer, an app called "people", private share, proxy handler, quick share agent, samsung core services? (is that a real app even? I can disable it but who wants to disable "core" system apps, so touche there if it is a program deployed by a hacker on their app naming skills lol, smart switch agent, 2 instances of software update, system connectivity resources, system uwb/wifi resources, an app called "tasks", tethering, tethering provision and tethering automation, tfstatus/tffunlock always running when I never access them, usbsettings, and theres one called wallpaper services/wallpaper and style that looks really generic which is confusing because I assumed the samsung theme manager just handled all that stuff in one? We also got wearable manager installer running, and sometimes wificalling and wifi direct or work setup will be running when I don't have any of those configured.
Sorry for the huge block of text, I'm sure I missed a bunch i missed because there's some that don't show even when you tap "show system apps", like the skms agent as one example, so got a few general questions for you, so for the file/download system I got a bunch of default apps. There's two different files apps, there's a download manager and download app, and also a storage manager, and ALSO a app called the external storage that always wants to be running but can you explain that if I have no external storage? Is the built in storage space on the a03 called external storage? I even have my drive apps and stuff disabled.
Another things that's suspicious to me is secmediastorage, secvideoengineservice, secsoundpicker, secureelementapplication, media and devices + ext storage. Like why should there be a SECOND video or audio engine running when I'm old school and don't even use cast programs/features or anything like that? In fact it's usually one of the first things I just go ahead and try disable.
I noticed a lot of weird things going on with the display though too, looking really sharp then suddenly almost looking like there's two layers of gui not exactly lined up, like off by a pixels making things look blurrier. Like the one ui home is the default factory launcher right? So why does my phone also have a app called "launcher", plus another hidden launcher or something running in the background? I can't remember the name of it offhand, something GUI..
And I understand the concept of android have a permission controller, and "core apps" but are there actually apps under the system apps named that lol? "permission controller", "samsung core apps" one called "device services"...
also is service mode suppose to be running in the background? I googled into it and know it's a genuine service, but I really don't understand why a lot of these apps are stopping and running or renabling themselves.. It's like I have zero control over my own phone and if I'm just paranoid and they are meant to be just seems like a waste of complete waste of ram/data to me.
****, I was just sitting here thinking for like a few minutes about to post and almost forgot the most suspicious ones I've noticed in last few days. all the "com." overlay apps. I guess I really saw the word "overlay" as something you should be suspicious about until the vpn I recently bought had a feature that is suppose to block web browser based overlays. Then I noticed that MOST of my com. apps are all overlay apps! Lol, ranging from google/samsung to mediatek.
I won't post all of them because there's probably 20 at least but here's a few.
com.mediatek.frameworkresoverlay
com.mediatek.settingsproviderresoverlay
com.mediatek.systemuiresoverlay
com.samsung.android.networkstaack.tethering.overlay
com.samsung.android.smartswitchassistant
com.samsung.android.wifi.p2paware.resources
com.sec.android.app.camerasaver and a camera.app.cameraapp one (camera always running in background even if background and battery saver with restricted settings enabled)
com.google.android.ondevicepersonalization.services (I never used any personalization service or see a personalization app for that matter)
com.google.android.networkstack.tethering.overlay
and there's a bunch of com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig ones /common geotz/ gsa/ photos/
com.google.android.overlay.modules.captiveportallogin.forframework
plus a overlay broadcastreceiver, ext.services, documentsui, permissioncontroller, and sdksandbox one.. tetheringresoverlay, wcmurlsnetworkstackoverlay, locale overlay manager..etc.
Also I get my service through straight talk which I think uses verizon and I noticed when I go to connections/mobile networks and network operators and uncheck the box "select automatically" that for some reason it only wants to connect to a network operator called "Home". I just thought that was kind of a weird and generic name for a network operator. I tried to use a android hidden settings app to change that because it was blocked out and thought I messed up my phone because I no longer had data and couldn't access the menu through the app anymore, but luckily a reformat fixed it but I'm still dealing with all this crap haha.
Can someone tell me I'm not crazy and there's definitely someone that is accessing and controlling my phone without my permission and what would be the best way to go about dealing with this?
Thanks.

First things fist: Here on XDA we expect you to follow the Forum Rules:
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If you haven't done that yet, click the link in my signature and do it now.
One of the rules you'll notice is this one:
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As a large forum, we don't need unnecessary clutter. You're free to edit your message as you like, so if you do not receive an answer, revisit your message and see if you can describe your problem better. Not everyone is online at the same time so it might take a while before you receive an answer.
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Always post in an existing thread if a topic already exists, before creating a new thread.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've copied this post at least once. We'll be removing the duplicate.
Now on to your question...
It is my opinion that the problem may not be with what you are observing, but with your assumptions. In the duplicate thread, you assume two possibilities:
You're being hacked
Your paranoia is justified
Have you thought there may be a third or even fourth option? Such as, maybe you don't understand that much about Android, you don't recognize what you see, you're assuming it's malicious, which combined with your own confirmation bias, has led you to the conclusion that foul play is afoot?
Nothing you have described sounds in any way abnormal. You have a Samsung device running OneUI (Samsung's framework overlaid on top of Android) that is powered by a Mediatek chipset. Everything you describe sounds completely normal to me, with over 10 years of experience in Android, most of that with Samsung devices.
My conclusion, to be frank: You are not being hacked, and your paranoia is unfounded.

OP your post gave me a headache trying to read it.
So...
Have it reflash to the stock firmware if you really think it's behaving erratically and a factory reset doesn't work. Change Google password and all others.
Then be careful what you install.
Don't put in foreign thumb drives or let others use it.