Related
Ok,
Just going to through this up in a thread of its own. If this info needs to be added to a newbie's thread fine, but I have not seen one.
This is a lesson learned with the Evo that as a NEW android user I was completely unaware of:
--You MUST have a GMail account. An old Google account will not work.
--You only get ONE CHANCE at entering the correct account for your phone set up.
It seems that while other android phones have tricks to work around changing accounts...the Evo does NOT. You must do the factory reset from...Menu > Settings > Privacy > Factory data reset.
YES you will lose all the screen customizations you made, all the emails you have set up, all the settings you wanted.
NO you do not lose data as all my test pictures are still there.
The GMail account must be set up BEFORE you try to add it to the phone. (This seems to be the gist of lots of stuff on internet and this is way I did it. Set it up through my old Google account before adding to the phone during the set up process.)
There you go. Very important and frustrating tip for those of us that are new to android and especially to the Evo.
....
are you sure?
you can't just got Accounts and Sync and change it there?
I can't imagine why not
You can't go to menu>settings>accounts and sync>google and remove your Google account?
if your rooted you can easily change google accounts
i found this goodie back in the hero days messing around with accounts.db
adb shell
sqlite3 /data/system/accounts.db "delete from accounts where type = 'com.google';"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Either he doesn't know any better, or hes a troll
BAleR said:
Either he doesn't know any better, or hes a troll
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Luv you too.
No, you cannot just go Accounts and Sync...tried it. When you go into the google account you have a button below that says...'Remove Account'. When you try you get two pop-ups. First says you will lose account information. Second says you must do the factory reset.
So...anyone else want to call me a troll before they actually TRY what they are suggesting? 'Cause I tried three different approaches I found when searching. None worked.
TrevE said:
if your rooted you can easily change google accounts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, phone only about 4 days old and still figuring out if she will be moving in with me or returned to the pound. So no rooting yet.
sablesurfer said:
Luv you too.
No, you cannot just go Accounts and Sync...tried it. When you go into the google account you have a button below that says...'Remove Account'. When you try you get two pop-ups. First says you will lose account information. Second says you must do the factory reset.
So...anyone else want to call me a troll before they actually TRY what they are suggesting? 'Cause I tried three different approaches I found when searching. None worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or maybe I just don't know any better, I don't have this problem with my phone, I've accidentally entered my Google account incorrectly and I always just re-entered it and it worked just fine.
My first post wasn't directed in any way negative. I just didn't know any better
Well, I'm pretty sure I've had my gmail account for about 3 years and it synced right up; worked on my mom's as well and then I made a new one for the dad.
Hrshycro said:
Well, I'm pretty sure I've had my gmail account for about 3 years and it synced right up; worked on my mom's as well and then I made a new one for the dad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not being rude, but this has nothing to do with what I said in my tip. <shrug>
sablesurfer said:
Not being rude, but this has nothing to do with what I said in my tip. <shrug>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you aren't being entirely clear on what your point is. I have no idea what you are talking about given that I know for a fact that:
A> I am usually drunk when I try roms, which usually require a full wipe and account info on 1st boot...which I usually screw up.
and most importantly,
B> That the day I got my phone I forgot my password for a good 5 minutes at radio shack and tried wrong passwords repeatedly until I got it right.
Not to mention
C> I have changed gmail accounts multiple times, even in those brief hours while I was still 100% stock.
...and I have no idea what a "google account" is otherwise. It very may well be 'a thing', but I have no idea what it is.
If I managed to evade your point, please--for the sake of the forum and your own well being--articulate it a little better.
daneurysm said:
Then you aren't being entirely clear on what your point is. I have no idea what you are talking about given that I know for a fact that:
A> I am usually drunk when I try roms, which usually require a full wipe and account info on 1st boot...which I usually screw up.
and most importantly,
B> That the day I got my phone I forgot my password for a good 5 minutes at radio shack and tried wrong passwords repeatedly until I got it right.
Not to mention
C> I have changed gmail accounts multiple times, even in those brief hours while I was still 100% stock.
...and I have no idea what a "google account" is otherwise. It very may well be 'a thing', but I have no idea what it is.
If I managed to evade your point, please--for the sake of the forum and your own well being--articulate it a little better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your Google account is basically your Gmail account. All though I do believe it is a seperat account. It also allows you to link youtube, latitude and a few other Google tools or services.
Hmmm, Home screen, menu, settings, applications, gmail and or market, then clear data, and or clear cache ... worked for me... then I had to re-enter my password and user name, ill be damned if i didn't screw it up. Not even drunk, course i didn't forget it for 10 minutes, just about 30 seconds.
BAleR said:
Your Google account is basically your Gmail account. All though I do believe it is a seperat account. It also allows you to link youtube, latitude and a few other Google tools or services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I assumed, but, you never know. Google is a little to smart to go for anything less than a unified ID. Having a handful of disparate and overlapping accounts (and their associated 'sign up process') seems like an annoying waste of time, storage and bandwidth.
Btw, I'm not trying to be a ****. If you are in fact having these issues it may be an isolated incident.
I had the same issue as the original poster. I believe what is being said is that the "google" account you enter the very first time, is the one used for your identity on the phone, and to change it requires a factory reset on the Evo.
Personally I have 3 google accounts, one is gmail and the other two are google apps. All of my contacts are under a google apps account.
Well, turns out, if you enter your gmail account not knowing the difference when you originally setup the phone, it stays stuck in there and won't let you change it without doing a full factory reset. I realized I needed to use my google apps account instead and had to factory reset to change it.
This is of course before I attempted any rooting fun, I had just came from WinMo on a Touch Diamond previously and hadn't read up on how any of that worked at the time.
Hope this helps clarify things.
Can't you just go to setup and redo your setup??
Nvm just tried nogo me =stupid
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
sablesurfer said:
Not being rude, but this has nothing to do with what I said in my tip. <shrug>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sablesurfer said:
--You MUST have a GMail account. An old Google account will not work.
--You only get ONE CHANCE at entering the correct account for your phone set up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, condiering I've had my gmail account for over 3 years and used it to set my evo up with, it's not new - it was 3 years ago but it sure wasn't new when I got my evo. Therefore, an old gmail/google account works just fine.
And, I just added me other gmail account without any problems. Gave me the options to sync mail, contacts, ect., too.
I think were missing your point here...or something.
total fail dude...
daneurysm said:
That's what I assumed, but, you never know. Google is a little to smart to go for anything less than a unified ID. Having a handful of disparate and overlapping accounts (and their associated 'sign up process') seems like an annoying waste of time, storage and bandwidth.
Btw, I'm not trying to be a ****. If you are in fact having these issues it may be an isolated incident.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you mean, in a way. I guess it just depends on the person and the what your needs are. iGoogle for instance, you can set up your own home page, you can add all kinds of different widgets like latitude, translate, local search, wiki, tv guide. You can be updated when concerts and such are appear in your town. I love latitude, I just link it to my phone, if anyone ever stole my phone I could just go to my google page on my pc and id automatically know the location and I'm pretty sure theres a free service for this same thing that adds the ability to send messages, not texts, to the phone and wipe it if you want. Pretty dang useful if you ask me. I love it, I just open mozilla and everything is there, mail, rss feeds and news, weather everything
larrybiggs said:
I had the same issue as the original poster. I believe what is being said is that the "google" account you enter the very first time, is the one used for your identity on the phone, and to change it requires a factory reset on the Evo.
Personally I have 3 google accounts, one is gmail and the other two are google apps. All of my contacts are under a google apps account.
Well, turns out, if you enter your gmail account not knowing the difference when you originally setup the phone, it stays stuck in there and won't let you change it without doing a full factory reset. I realized I needed to use my google apps account instead and had to factory reset to change it.
This is of course before I attempted any rooting fun, I had just came from WinMo on a Touch Diamond previously and hadn't read up on how any of that worked at the time.
Hope this helps clarify things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, this makes since, I guess I never noticed because I have one account. I KNOW that if you enter in an incorrect user/pass it will just promt so. then just re-enter
My son got my first HD2. What I did not know when I installed it the first time before he got it, was the fixation of the phone to the gmail-account I used at that time and only for that purpose. Intuition has its flip side too.
My son has his own gmail account, which I was not aware of, and obviously he wants to have his HD2 running his affairs on his own account (communicate with friends etc.)
Now, he has used the HD2 extensively, installed lots of apps, also some paid ones. Purging my old (installation-) account will reset the whole device to its initial state, all accounts and licences will be lost, if he understands that warning correctly.
Is there a way to change the 'ownership' with as little damage to the contents as possible, like save all contents as a backup, start with a new account identity, and restore all contents? Or will that also inevitably overwrite the new account with the old one too?
One could call the task also a migration of an android installation to a different account. BTW, it's equipped with a 16 GB card which has lots of free space left right now (looking at the backup space needs).
I am sure this has been discussed here before, but I seem to not find the right search words. Any hints, links, advice?
Would a total backup using Titanium be advisable? Or will that restore the present status including the unwanted account again?
Thanks for your help in advance. It doesn't make things simpler that my son and his HD2 are some 1.000 miles from here, studying there. but we have skype and other paths on PCs...
Cheers,
the longkeeler.
You can always use Titanium Backup to back up the apps (the paid ones, too), make a factory reset and let him set his own account and then restore the backup.
But you can never transfer the ownership of app(s) from one account to another. (For example, by using TB backup, he can use the paid apps, but he won't be able to update them, he'd need to buy them from his own account)
I'm sorry, but that is the way Android works. (which is lame)
follow-up
Clearing the primary gmail-account and thus resetting the device did not remove just that account, which kind of surprises me. Well, I don't have the HD2 in my hands, and I just hope that my son will have made the backup I advised hin to make and store it where he can reconstruct from.
Cheers,
the longkeeler.
But at least, he would have back what was there before. The nature of the paid apps is static, there are no backups to be expected. And it was not an amount of money that would kill anyone - just throwing it away should be avoided. Now, as posted a few minutes before, he was not successful to remove the undesired account. Are there any protections built in, that follow the great old MS tradition , it's not a bug, it's a feature, if not even industry standard?
it is however possible - to some extent - to "merge" google accounts.
if you do not use your gmail acc (as i understood from your first post) you can transfer quite a bit of contacts/features and stuff to your sons account and the other way round. this way he might be able to keep the paid apps (and updates) and also communicate with his friend on the dame account.
if thats any help...
Is the phone running froyo or gingerbread? If it is on Ginger then try deleting the account from sync and accounts... that's all for froyo u will need root explorer to delete a file located in the data folder.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
From accounts and sync remove the account.. I believe this only works for Ginger ..
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
You can also do it by deleting this file With root explorer . Hope this helped.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
Just use your sons email and then go to accounts and sync.turn sync off. That's basically your only hope.
Sent from my HD2 using xda premium
First: Thanks to all for your replies!
Afaik, it's the gingerbread flavor.
I have the same type of HD2 here for myself but don't want to mess that up too much - I just saw under acc and synch that my account appears there once under mail and then under google.
If I remove either of those - does it only purge the link from my device to gmail resp. all other google-accounts, or does it remove the account as a whole from google's servers? (if so, probably only from the visible surface, but that's a different story...)
I am not sure if my son sees the same image and what he did there.
So again: Does "removing" the account on the smartphone just "divorce" it from google, or does it kill it?
Thanks again for your help!
Cheers,
The Longkeeler
Nieve, thank you so much. I am not sure yet if it will work but it sounds plausible. surprising how close to the surface such an essential database is located - like the rock that merged with the Costa Concordia... So, everybody just can hope that it will become easier in future to change the primary account rights.
A different side-question: What tool did you use to add the hints to the screen shots?
Extended thought, not necessarily useful for my son's problem, but: Would it be possible to cultivate different versions of the accounts.db, renaming them according to the desired application spectrum (like, say, change the "personality" of the phone from business to leisure)?
Reset device completely
With a clean device when the touch android screen comes up...
he signs in with his account. Establishes his acct as primary
then logs in with your acct secondly or later on in order to get access to the paid apps on your account
Only way to xhange primary is a wipe of data. The primary is simply the very first acccount entered after a device reset.
Your a great mom!
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium
nieves53 said:
You can also do it by deleting this file With root explorer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nieve, thanks. After getting root explorer 2.15 I can see into the innards now too - on my phone here, there is the accounts.db of course, and two more entries, one called accounts.db-wal and the other accounts.db-shm. Look more like folders. What about those?
androidcues said:
Your a great mom!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always try to do my best, and I'll ask my wife for her opinion on this . Well, I'm just only the dad...
But your proposal sounds very reasonable and based on practice. If nieve's and your advice can be combined (purging the data base, tnen installing accs from scratch), it would be great.
accounts removed now, but no re-installation yet.
nieves53 said:
You can also do it by deleting this file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(\data\system\accounts.db) deleted - et voilà, after rebooting, no more accounts. So, step one done successfully. So, again, thanks for that!
Now came the next one, re-installing his own gmail account as a primary one. He could open the dialogue - but his entry was refused, 'sorry, username and pw don't match.' Bummer. He tried it several times, took care that the account was not opened anywhere else - no avail so far. The error message could well be misleading.
There must be a missing resp. hidden link.
Update: re-installing the prior "false" primary account worked immediately. So, the error message IS misleading. I guess there will be no other way than to completely re-initiate the whole system and then start with the other identiy. Unfortunately, the HD2 has to travel 2.000 miles for that, but it is the safest way then. My son has neither the experience nor the tools to do that himself there.
If somebody has yet another idea - please don't hesitate to let us know!
The application is call picsin, you can find it in the android market...about his account ask him to make sure his email and password are correct. I have change my accounts many times doing that process. He can maybe try login to his account thru the browser, just to make sure the email and password are right.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
SOLVED
longkeeler said:
Update: re-installing the prior "false" primary account worked immediately. So, the error message IS misleading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some times, the solution comes as a surprise. Just before my son had started his trial to rearrange the accounts yesterday, he had applied for a new login scheme with google - some double-password story. This, he had not mentioned until today, an hour ago, when he received a mail from google, giving him directions on how to handle logins in a transitional phase.
You guess it: All is well now, he has his own account as the primary one, and sounds much more relaxed than before.
Oh well...
But nevertheless: Your help was absolutely substantial in achieving this, and I hope that the bitdust will settle soon... So thanks again, I can recommend you
Cheers, and a happy rest of this weekend!
The Longkeeler, now also a bit more in weekend mood/mode.
That's good to hear! And a pleasure to help.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
Hi all. I'm looking for some advice. After 3 months with my C60 N7 16gb and constantly having to close notifications from my daughter's games, I decided to get her one of her own (she wanted a leap pad)... actually I am got 32gb C90K N7 and am giving her the 16gb.
Should I set up her own gmail/Google account or is it easier to just have another device on my account? Safer / more secure? What are the pros and con's?
I figure I will install SmartApp protector so she can't get to internet without asking, and Pin on the Play store for purchases (if she figures out how to clear cache and data to bypass/erase the Pon, she earned the game!).
She likes zoodles and has a handful of other games etc.
What else should I be looking into regarding management of content, etc? Are there any apps that I can monitor her activity from my N7? Other safety or utility things I should consider? In the event if loss, should I install some sort of remote wipe App?
From a case standpoint, I think I will get her one like mine (CrazyOnDigital rotating leatherr folio). She likes it, it is inexpensive and functional. I looked at the Naabi Bumper... Definitely more study but so bulky. I might try to find something like the portable DVD player case for it so she can Carey charger and stilts to between home and her mom's house.
Thoughts and advice are welcome.
Time to go root and unlock my N7 and play...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
1.) you can always block notifications for specific apps in 'app info' (long click on notification, it'll take you there)
2.) I honestly don't see a reason why you wouldn't make her her own account. Your account probably has credit card stored it, which she could use accidentally (you know, to feed Talking Tom ).
In play store, you can set content filtering, if you're rooted, do go ahead and install adfree (if you haven't already), so it blocks annoying adds (most of them with adult content).
There's soooo many parental apps on play store, that you should just go trough them and see which does what.
http://www.wikihow.com/Block-Porn-on-Android
here's an useful link
I don't know much about users, but can you make the second user account have less privileges? Like on Windows (admin, user) or linux (root, user)
About pros/cons of using the same account:
- she can access your data (gmail, contacts, talk...) you'd need to disable or password protect all those apps, even if you disable notifications
+ you can access her data (but it will merge with yours)
using her own account:
+ she'll use gmail eventually, might as well have it already
+ you can easily follow her location with latitude (but I wouldn't let her take tablet to school anyway, so doesn't really make a difference)
+ you can send her pretty pictures by gmail and google talk to her, if you so choose (when you're away for few days on a trip for example) - I don't think you can google talk to yourself
+ no worries with using your credit card
+ if she google talks to someone, you won't get all the notifications on your tablet as well
I think there's enough monitoring apps on play store that you can easily let her use her own account, if you trust her of course.
And an honest conversation about responsibility isn't out of place. I'm sure she will understand and also appreciate you trusting her, and she'll have something completely hers.
Of course, you can always go on play.google.com to check what apps she's installing, log in into chrome with her account to see history and bookmarks, see her gmail... You know, to check that someones not harassing here, no other reason
I asked a similar question as both daughters getting them for Xmas ,don't mind them having there own account just want any downloads from play store to request a password first and with set age restricted content in play store.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
I got my N4 a couple of days ago. It's my first foray in the Android world.
The requirements that I am hoping to meet are pretty simple:
1) I want to be able to call contacts and send text messages
2) I don't want Google tracking my contact list
3) I don't want Google tracking my location
4) I don't want Google tracking my browsing history
5) I want to be able to use the Play store to download 3rd party apps. I didn't buy an N4 to use it it like a dumbphone. Logically, the Play store shouldn't require constant access to my contacts, location or browsing history.
I am making this post to get help meeting the above requirements. Despite seeming really basic, I'm running into trouble, and I think I will need frequent help. This thread can act as a journal that hopefully other people can follow.
What I did so far is immediately flashed the N4 to AOKP, and applied the OpenPDroid patches (though I've yet to use OPD). From a blank slate start, I declined to create an account, disabled location access, etc, during the startup wizard.
Adding a contact round 1
I was able to create a local, unsynced contact.
Using the Play store
I was forced to sign up for a gmail account, which is normal. I declined to "keep this phone backed up with my Google Account". I then went in Settings > Account and disabled sync for everything, including Contacts. I also disabled background sync in the power controls.
Adding a contact round 2
I am now unable to add a contact without being forced to sync it with my BS gmail account. When I click "Add Contact" in the phone app, a dialog says "Your contact will be synced with [email protected]" and my choices are either "OK", "Add other account", or to cancel out by clicking Back.
So I'm already stuck. Once a Play account is created, I am now unable to do something as basic as adding a contact without sending it to Google. Can someone tell me how to get past this obstacle?
That's how Google makes their money! Your only options are to either start using the amazon app store only or side loading apps if you don't want Google involvement. Good luck.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Why? Like they don't have all your information already? You freely give your information to everyone when you use the internet. Congratulations. You are not that special.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Eurotrash: always in this sort of discussions there's people like you who essentially advocate shutting up and taking it. "That's how things are" is not an acceptable solution to my problem, or I would not have made this post. There IS a way around the creeping, and someone knows it. My last resort is blocking every Google service from accessing the Internet except Play. I'm asking here because I'm hoping there's a less extreme solution that other people can use.
Gotzadroid: I will hold out for a better solution. Amazon appstore will likely be limited. Sideloading is not possible because many devs don't provide APKs
I know you can get an app to block individual permissions of other apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stericson.permissions
It requires root. Not sure about the contacts and other stuff you wanted to block, im assuming you've disabled location services.
Why not try flashing like cm10 and not flashing gapps so no Google apps? Then just manually downloading the apps apks and sideload the ones you need?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
MachinTrucChose said:
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As previously mentioned, try flashing a rom without gapps
OK, try this. Make a dummy gmail account for the play store only. Get all the apps you want and then sign out of gmail. Only sign back in when you want another app. That should keep Google from syncing all your info.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Michealtbh said:
As previously mentioned, try flashing a rom without gapps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Phone app is not a part of gapps. It came on the stock ROM before I flashed gapps on it. I didn't try it before adding gapps, are you saying it will change behavior and no longer prompt me to sync when I try to add a contact?
I gotta go to sleep, I'll do more tests tomorrow evening to test this (and wait for your reply to the above question in case you misread my posts).
If the answer to the above question is yes, this would immediately beg another question: how do I install 3rd party apps from Play without flashing gapps?
gotzaDroid said:
OK, try this. Make a dummy gmail account for the play store only. Get all the apps you want and then sign out of gmail. Only sign back in when you want another app. That should keep Google from syncing all your info.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did in the OP (2nd bolded step). I created a dummy account cause Play requires it. That became my main Google account on this phone (since I declined to set up an account prior to that). That's the account Google tries to sync my contacts to when I try to add a contact.
I looked in the Gmail app, there's no way for me to sign out. All I can do is add more accounts.
A similar thread from the galaxy nexus forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1589367
However, I'd also be interested in a deeper insight on why you're trying to do this. Fear of the big brother? Or just proving a point?
We know before buying an android phone that everything is tied to that Gmail address; now you want to cut that tie but maintain full functionality. Well, that probably doesn't work. And if it at the end does, why going through all that trouble? If a different platform offers all that then..
Why you bought an android phone in the first place? Just curious
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
You can try downloading or side loading the app "contacts+" then sign out of your dummy gmail account. You can get a sim to USB hub online and plug your sim into the hub and into PC to add contacts directly to sim. I don't know if there's a way to export contacts to sim anymore unless I'm guessing developers somehow add that feature. So look into CM or another well built ROM and ask some questions.
Good luck
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
MachinTrucChose said:
The Phone app is not a part of gapps. It came on the stock ROM before I flashed gapps on it. I didn't try it before adding gapps, are you saying it will change behavior and no longer prompt me to sync when I try to add a contact?
I gotta go to sleep, I'll do more tests tomorrow evening to test this (and wait for your reply to the above question in case you misread my posts).
If the answer to the above question is yes, this would immediately beg another question: how do I install 3rd party apps from Play without flashing gapps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock rom comes with gapps already loaded.
Most custom roms come without them and they must be flashed separately. If you choose not to flash them you aren't even given an option to sign into your Google account at first boot, so there will obviously be no option to sync your contacts.
Your phone will be crippled and you'll have to find workarounds for many things. I don't think you'll be able to use Maps for example. To install apps you'll have to download and install the apks or use an alternative app market like SlideMe or Amazon
What's there to hide? They're just contacts
Sent from my Nexus 4
Google doesn't care what your Aunt Bertie's phone number is. All they use the data for is to customize ads for you, and if you're going to be seeing ads anyways they might as well be relevant to you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
It's disappointing that the thread is taking the direction of Google advocacy rather than finding a technical solution to my problem, hopefully this post answers your questions and we can stop arguing about this.
Drakkula4 said:
You can try downloading or side loading the app "contacts+" then sign out of your dummy gmail account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I sign out of my dummy gmail account?
Vangelis13 said:
A similar thread from the galaxy nexus forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1589367
However, I'd also be interested in a deeper insight on why you're trying to do this. Fear of the big brother? Or just proving a point?
We know before buying an android phone that everything is tied to that Gmail address; now you want to cut that tie but maintain full functionality. Well, that probably doesn't work. And if it at the end does, why going through all that trouble? If a different platform offers all that then..
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Nope, not full functionality. I can avoid using all gapps. The only required Google service is the Play store, which is the primary gateway to non-Google apps. I would use Email over Gmail, Navfree over Maps, etc.
The next paragraph is meant as a reply to the 5 posts essentially saying "tinfoil hat, trust Google!".
This is supposed to be an open phone, allowing the user to do what they want, compared to the big bad iOS. That's why I bought it. Now I find out Google is insisting on taking something extremely private (my social graph) even when I don't want to give it to them. I respect my friends' privacy, and I don't want an intersection of my online and offline lives being made by some 3rd party with intentions I don't trust. The insistence is starting to creep me out. You can provide convenience and still respect basic privacy, look at Mozilla with Firefox Sync: even they don't see the data you sync. I'm not even asking for that much, just respect my wish to draw the line at real-life stuff. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this is the company banning people using pseudonyms on Google+.
The most disappointing thing in all this, is that you have 5000 custom ROMs being developed, which mainly differ in pointless GUI BS like scroll animation speed. Not a single one of those projects thought to provide a way to make the phone usable without giving up extremely private data. AFAIK only 3 guys are working on privacy stuff, and even those guys' patches and apps don't protect you from the Eye of Google.
chrisrozon said:
Google doesn't care what your Aunt Bertie's phone number is. All they use the data for is to customize ads for you, and if you're going to be seeing ads anyways they might as well be relevant to you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
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What if I don't want tailored ads? Or what if I only want tailored ads by tracking the online activity I'm willing to submit to them, and I feel it should be my my right to draw a line? Many people are not comfortable seeing an intersection of online and real life activity. I am one of those people.
MachinTrucChose said:
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
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Simple question deserves simple answer, only thing I can think of, go to settings > accounts > google > tap your account email address > and uncheck the things you don't want synced with google.
Hopefully it works and you will just have a local copy of everything then.
Again just flash like cyanogen mod since you have to flash gapps separate. Then don't flash gapps and your phone will have nothing to do with google.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I travel in and out of the US a couple times a year. ATM, I have a US payment method and address, I'm in the US using a T-Mobile SIM. I can't access country-restricted apps, such as Pandora and Hulu. According to MarketHelper (or whatever it was called) I am T-Mobile US. I've called contacted Google, and they've refused support since I'm running a custom ROM (CM nightlies). Hence two questions:
Any ideas about the market issues?
How can I revert to stock and be able to come back to CM easily? I can't make a nandroid because I have 10GB of Google Music.
adriangb said:
I travel in and out of the US a couple times a year. ATM, I have a US payment method and address, I'm in the US using a T-Mobile SIM. I can't access country-restricted apps, such as Pandora and Hulu. According to MarketHelper (or whatever it was called) I am T-Mobile US. I've called contacted Google, and they've refused support since I'm running a custom ROM (CM nightlies). Hence two questions:
Any ideas about the market issues?
How can I revert to stock and be able to come back to CM easily? I can't make a nandroid because I have 10GB of Google Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try clearing the data for the market app, then reopen it and log in.
Google had me do that, and also the data for Google Play services. By logging back in, do you mean delete my Google account from sync settings and re-add it?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
adriangb said:
Google hagt do that, and also the data for Google Play services. By logging back in, do you mean delete my Google account from sync settings and re-add it?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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no. when you open the play store after deleting data, it asks you to accept terms of use. i meant that.
Yes, that I did
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Google uses a combination of the country your email address was reg in, as well as a few other things to determine what country store your app uses.
That's unfortunate, but how can I force it to reset? I don't even remember what country my email was registered in, but I'm sure in the US now and have been for the last year. I can confirm it's account related because I logged into another account and it works fine.
adriangb said:
That's unfortunate, but how can I force it to reset? I don't even remember what country my email was registered in, but I'm sure in the US now and have been for the last year. I can confirm it's account related because I logged into another account and it works fine.
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Only way is to contact google about it and tell the what is going on. They maybe be able to help you but dont hold out to hope.
Yes, they're support is pure garbage. I've been in contact with them but they're really no help.
Try going to Google Play My Account > Settings and confirm the carrier and device is correct. Next, try to install Pandora to the device. If it wont, it tell you why.
As I said previously is T Mobile US and I can't install Pandora. It seems to be an account issue because with a different account on my phone or on the website I can install Pandora
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
adriangb said:
As I said previously is T Mobile US and I can't install Pandora. It seems to be an account issue because with a different account on my phone or on the website I can install Pandora
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Try installing it from the web site with the same account that does not work on your phone. I may hint as to why it won't install.
When I had my Nexus S in Paris on SFR SIM, I was able to install SFR apps, but not update some US restricted ones, so I believe the market is tied to the SIM card, regardless of where the Google account was created. Other services, like Google Voice would depend on where the account was created (US only).
SIM, payment method, addresses are all US now.
I can't install even from the web (using my account).
With a different account I can install from my phone or web.
From the website it says: "This item cannot be installed in your device's country"
adriangb said:
As I said previously is T Mobile US and I can't install Pandora. It seems to be an account issue because with a different account on my phone or on the website I can install Pandora
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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adriangb said:
From the website it says: "This item cannot be installed in your device's country"
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Click to collapse
OK, your account still thinks you have a NON US SIM card. Power off, remove the SIM, power on and connect to WiFi. Check the web and see if the carrier clears itself. If you have market enabler installed, remove it, or try a different US carrier.
This is a bit of a stretch, but could you make a new gmail in the U.S and just use that one for the market?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
AlexWekell said:
This is a bit of a stretch, but could you make a new gmail in the U.S and just use that one for the market?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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I can confirm this works, I logged in from my work gmail and it works just fine. It seems like it would be a radical step to switch my Gmail account though. Theres gotta be a better way.
I called again, and this time they had me do something similar but slightly different (and ridiculous if you as me). I went to a paid app that WAS available to me (I randomly chose Minecraft) and I clicked buy (it was showing the wrong currency but I clicked anyhow) and then accepted the permissions, leading me to the next screen, which is a confirmation screen, in which the app will be purchased if you hit buy again but you don't, and you hit back and go back to the app. At this point you exit the Play Store and then (without force stopping it) you clear its data. You open it again, accept the terms and voilá! At least in my case this solved it, for some reason...
I must add that I removed foreign credit cards from google wallet (which according to previous conversations with them should have been a non-issue unless it was selected as default, which it never was), that I had on file but haven't used lately, so maybe that was related and that + a wipe of play store data was needed, I guess I'll never know now...