Database Users

[Q] Saving pdfs to a homescreen?

I'd like to put some PDFs on one of the homescreens on my Xoom. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot but it doesn't seem to have the capability built in. Could someone explain to me how to do this? I downloaded ES File Explorer and found the pdf in the download directory. I assume I can just cut and paste it to a directory and it will show up on a homescreen?

nonstop14 said:
I'd like to put some PDFs on one of the homepages on my Xoom. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot but it doesn't seem to have the capability built in. Could someone explain to me how to do this? I downloaded ES File Explorer and found the pdf in the download directory. I assume I can just cut and paste it to a directory and it will show up on a homepage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do the same thing. We recently bought a house and everyone always as me for pictures and the floor plan. I created a pdf that I sent around, but it's useful to have it on the xoom to show people.
I have two suggestions, both of which I use:
1. Download Astro. You can then create a direct shortcut to any file including a pdf. Go to "+" --> More --> Astro. Browse to the file you want. The location depends on how you got the pdf onto the device. Since that file doesn't change, that works.
2. Use dropbox. This is good option for pdf's that change a lot. I often read weekly publications that I get in pdf. I created a direct shortcut to a dropbox folder. When I'm using my computer, I get and store pdf's there and use it as a "read later" option. Creating the dropbox folder is also in the "more" tab.
Both work for me pretty well. hope this helps.

to answer the OP android doesn't support files on the home screen like a desktop on windows or Mac

New to smartphone, various questions

I have several questions that hopefully some of you could answer for me.
1. I tried to put some .pdf's on my phone via PC cable. I placed them under "Download" folder. But they do not appear there. Other .pdf's which I have downloaded with the phone are there, but the ones I copy there via PC do not appear up.
2. When using google maps, is it not possible to set a destination or target by using the map, and without having to actually know the address? Just like dekstop google maps "From here/To here"
3. Is it not possible to navigate by only using the GPS? It makes no sence really to require an internet connection as I have saved parts of the map in use for offline use. I tried the navigation but it wouldn't find the destination.
4. I would like to set "Tasks", but I could not find a proper way to do it. When I do it via calendar, the reminder is not a proper alarm (just a small ding or so, very easy to miss). Id like an alarm similiar to the watch alarm.
5. I've read several methods to root my phone. Which one is the easiest and "cleanest"? And a way to allow me to un-root my phone right after. Would this be a good guide: http://www.howtogeek.com/115297/how-to-root-your-android-why-you-might-want-to/
And should I unlock the bootloader?
6. Does the phone not have the stock capability to record sound? And to record a phone conversation? I come from a flip phone, and those did. Do I really need an app for that?
Thank you all.

I. Send the .pdf's to your email instead. Very easy. Or save them to your sd card.
2. To set a destination jurt long press where you want to go and a menu will pop up. From the menu you can choose route or navigation. You can then input the from address.
3. You can navigate using just the map - follow the blue line- without a data connection as long as you input and download the from and to adress before you swithch of the data connection.
4. I do not use tasks so much but the Google calendar works for me and the reminder is loud enough. I even get an email with sound as a reminder.
5. I can't help you here. I have a Note II and see no reason to root…just yet.
Hope this helps.

^Since he can't answer 5, I'll try. Firstly do NOT use a toolkit. They may be the easiest way of rooting, but if you run into issues (and trust me, if you take advantage of root you probably will at some point) a toolkit won't help you at all. Take the time to do it manually, so that when it comes to the worst you'll know how to sort your phone out. If you look in the stickied threads there's definitely a full guide somewhere (I think in the N4 General forum).

Thanks for the replies.
1. Thata is not really an options. I have some pdf's several mb's big. Nexus 4 also does not have an SD card. There must be a folder where I should place them (or any other files for that matter). I copied over my music and video files in the appropriate directories and those work fine.
2,3. Without internet, I only get "Loading address..." or "Getting driving directions" loading sign, and just stays that way. My location is found via GPS, and the map grid is saved for offline usage. When I save the map grid, does that not save all the addresses in that grid?
I have also added another question in the OP.

Messerschmitt262 said:
Thanks for the replies.
1. Thata is not really an options. I have some pdf's several mb's big. Nexus 4 also does not have an SD card. There must be a folder where I should place them (or any other files for that matter). I copied over my music and video files in the appropriate directories and those work fine.
2,3. Without internet, I only get "Loading address..." or "Getting driving directions" loading sign, and just stays that way. My location is found via GPS, and the map grid is saved for offline usage. When I save the map grid, does that not save all the addresses in that grid?
I have also added another question in the OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Do they appear on your PC ? Can you see them with a file explorer (ES File Explorer, for example) ?
2/3) To set a destination, you have to be connected to the internet, whatever you do. I think it's because Maps need internet to set the itinerary and download the part's map that will be cached on your device.
5) I think too that rooting it manually is the best solution.
6) No, it's not possible without having to install an app. If you wan to, I suggest you to install Hi-Q MP3 Recorder. The Lite version should be enough, unless you want to record 10+ minutes. I don't have a clue about recording a phone conversation.

Pickout said:
1) Do they appear on your PC ? Can you see them with a file explorer (ES File Explorer, for example) ?
2/3) To set a destination, you have to be connected to the internet, whatever you do. I think it's because Maps need internet to set the itinerary and download the part's map that will be cached on your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes they appear in my phone "Download" directory when I look at it via Windows Explorer on my PC. Maybe they need to be put in another directory and not "Download"? Like videos go into Video. And pictures into DCIM/Camera
Slightly disappointing in regards to the navigation. I guess I'm SOL if I go outside of coverage area . I mean I'l have the map and GPS location, but I'l have to manually navigate, and keep looking at my phone while driving...

When you want to open a .PDF from your phone, do you use a file explorer or a PDF viewer ?

Pickout said:
When you want to open a .PDF from your phone, do you use a file explorer or a PDF viewer ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need something that can decode and display PDFs, i.e. some sort of PDF viewer.
Sent from my Nexus 4

steviewevie said:
You need something that can decode and display PDFs, i.e. some sort of PDF reader.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but some PDF viewers require you to put the PDF files in a specific folder. For example, adobe reader will only "see" files in Download/Adobe Reader but you can change settings so that you can search your PDF through a built-in explorer.

Pickout said:
Yes but some PDF viewers require you to put the PDF files in a specific folder. For example, adobe reader will only "see" files in Download/Adobe Reader but you can change settings so that you can search your PDF through a built-in explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use a file explorer to try and open a PDF, then if you haven't set a file type association, the OS will ask you which program you want to use to open it, then you can choose Adobe Reader. It doesn't matter if it isn't in a particular folder.
Sent from my Nexus 4

steviewevie said:
If you use a file explorer to try and open a PDF, then if you haven't set a file type association, the OS will ask you which program you want to use to open it, then you can choose Adobe Reader. It doesn't matter if it isn't in a particular folder.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that's why I asked him if he was using a file explorer or a PDF viewer

PDF Viewer on the phone you mean?
On the phone, when I go to downloads (the only location I know off where I can view PDF's), apparently it uses Quickoffice to open those PDF's (the one I donwloaded). As I mentioned it does not see PDF's I put there manually via the USB cable from my PC -> Nexus 4 via Windows Explorer.
Just to make sure there isn't any confussion, I can see the PDF I put on my phone in Windows Explorer. But when I use my phone, that PDF will not show up in my "Download".
Is there another place I should put it?

So move the PDFs to a different folder and try again. All I know is I can view them using Adobe Reader in any folder

And if it still not working download adobe viewer and try with.
At last, you could download a file explorer app such as ES explorer and open your file with it, it will ask you which app do you want to open the file with
Envoyé depuis mon Nexus 4 avec Tapatalk

Messerschmitt262 said:
PDF Viewer on the phone you mean?
On the phone, when I go to downloads (the only location I know off where I can view PDF's), apparently it uses Quickoffice to open those PDF's (the one I donwloaded). As I mentioned it does not see PDF's I put there manually via the USB cable from my PC -> Nexus 4 via Windows Explorer.
Just to make sure there isn't any confussion, I can see the PDF I put on my phone in Windows Explorer. But when I use my phone, that PDF will not show up in my "Download".
Is there another place I should put it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus 4 quickoffice is just a file viewer (it doesn't even have an app icon), so you'll need to use another application to locate your files to open them in Quickoffice.
I recommend using Astro or ES. I've used both and absolutely love them.
Obligatory Sales pitch: There's also a file manager built into the Quickoffice Pro app (and you can connect cloud accounts too) - It's available for $15 here, and it supports PDF annotation for Adobe 5-9 files.

yep that was the problem. I have installed ES and now I can access my phone files just like on my computer (why wouldnt this be standard?)
I have also installed adobe reader, so I could found the .pdf file too via that app.
Thanks.
Quick side question: I have set-up an email account using the "Email" built in app. However, it changed some privacy settings (stuff like being able to change phone settings, etc) and I clicked accept. Now I would like to review them. Where would those be found? I checked all options in the "Email" app but couldn't find anything.

Messerschmitt262 said:
yep that was the problem. I have installed ES and now I can access my phone files just like on my computer (why wouldnt this be standard?)
I have also installed adobe reader, so I could found the .pdf file too via that app.
Thanks.
Quick side question: I have set-up an email account using the "Email" built in app. However, it changed some privacy settings (stuff like being able to change phone settings, etc) and I clicked accept. Now I would like to review them. Where would those be found? I checked all options in the "Email" app but couldn't find anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think (and mind you this is all my own thoughts through observation/reading news), Google is working towards a life in the "cloud", so storage on the device itself kind of defeats the purpose. there's Drive for file management and gdocs, Quickoffice for when you need Office, Google Play Music, Books, Movies, etc.
You can review app permissions under Settings>Applications>All, then select the application you'd like to see the permissions for.

Messerschmitt262 said:
I have several questions that hopefully some of you could answer for me. [...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3: Google maps uses internet to calculate the best route to your destination. While you can view your location offline, any searching does not work - in other words, the actual addresses are not stored in your phone. Only the "picture" of the map is.
4: you can download some app (any.do is awesome), or set the calendar notification sound to something longer. It will still be only a popup, but it will "ring" for longer.
6. yup, you have to find an app for that..

About navigation, as soon as your phone has calculated the route you can turn data off. As someone have said, Google Maps use data for calculating the fastest route, but afterwards only GPS is required to track your position.

I just got my N4 a few days ago and used this guide to root my phone (stupid easy to follow... even has a video if you need it)
Click HERE
Unfortunately, Android doesn't offer a free offline navigation system like Nokia did (OVI maps was great!) but there are some paid alternatives in Android.
I bought Sygic (http://www.sygic.com/en) and it allows you to download all the maps onto your phone and navigate without internet. Maps for Germany are about 700MB. If you are in the US for example, you can just d/l by State.
Hope that helps!
---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 AM ----------
wngmv said:
About navigation, as soon as your phone has calculated the route you can turn data off. As someone have said, Google Maps use data for calculating the fastest route, but afterwards only GPS is required to track your position.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't Google need internet to recalculate if you zoom in or zoom out?

"IndexService" issue solved..(Quick battery drain & endless or error index process)

"IndexService" issue solved..(Quick battery drain & endless or error index process)
"IndexService" issue cause drain your battery very very quickly... Especially, if your sd card loaded with a lot of big pdf files...
If you dont want to index your "files" go to "s search" settings through menu softkey (long press for open s search then enter menu) and uncheck files... and voila.. your pdf's and another user files not index anymore..
Actually, i really want all of my files content index by note3.. This is very very useful for my pdf library.. But for my situation; several pdf's (some of them are big textbook's, thousands of page) cause never ending indexing process and it's ruin battery life terribly..
If someone find a REAL solution beside of mine, please tell us...

Reason4444 said:
"IndexService" issue cause drain your battery very very quickly... Especially, if your sd card loaded with a lot of big pdf files...
If you dont want to index your "files" go to "s search" settings through menu softkey (long press for open s search then enter menu) and uncheck files... and voila.. your pdf's and another user files not index anymore..
Actually, i really want all of my files content index by note3.. This is very very useful for my pdf library.. But for my situation; several pdf's (some of them are big textbook's, thousands of page) cause never ending indexing process and it's ruin battery life terribly..
If someone find a REAL solution beside of mine, please tell us...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an easy solution. Create a folder for your pdfs, drop a .nomedia file in the root of that folder, and put all of your pdfs you dont want indexed in there.

I found that the indexservice process is taking more cpu and time when I have more number of pdf files i my memory card.
So, right now either you can put less number of pdf files on your device to avoid the lag or just wait till the indexing completes.
After the indexing completes, the device works as wonderfully as it was working before inserting my memory card.
Hope I helped...Cheer!!!

Or you can just kill it in settings/apps/active...
It shuts up untill you reboot.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk

I really hope samsung pushes out an update about it. Even after indexing is done whenever I try to do something quickly it seems it will FC because of the indexer. can't really play any games on it as well because of it.

ShadowLea said:
Or you can just kill it in settings/apps/active...
It shuts up untill you reboot.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wat you mean, i don't have root, wat i need to kill ?

WandersonGD said:
Wat you mean, i don't have root, wat i need to kill ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have root either. Just go to settings > general > application manager > running, tap .com.samsung.android.strokesearch:service. (down near the bottom) Hit 'Stop' and then 'yes'.
Now it stays away until you reboot, at which point you need to do this again. Bit tedious, but it's quicker than rooting.
Screenshot attached.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk

Easy way to root ant fix this issue
You can fix this issue very easily.
1. Root your phone in under 1 minute at towelroot.com
2. download a freezing app (I paid for a really good one, $6 for titanium backup pro)
3. freeze the offending service.
I didn't know how to do any of these things an hour ago. A quick google question for any you need to learn will give you easy answers.
towelroot is insanely easy. be sure your settings allow non play store apps to be installed; go to towelroot.com; click on the red symbol thing to download the apk; run the apk and you are rooted. done.
I have most recent OS and updates as of the date of this post, sprint Note 3 with 4.4.2 and cnc5 baseband/build number

NOT SOLVEDSamsung Galaxy Tab Pro battery still drains with yesterday's KK update
Reason4444 said:
"IndexService" issue cause drain your battery very very quickly... Especially, if your sd card loaded with a lot of big pdf files...
If you dont want to index your "files" go to "s search" settings through menu softkey (long press for open s search then enter menu) and uncheck files... and voila.. your pdf's and another user files not index anymore..
Actually, i really want all of my files content index by note3.. This is very very useful for my pdf library.. But for my situation; several pdf's (some of them are big textbook's, thousands of page) cause never ending indexing process and it's ruin battery life terribly..
If someone find a REAL solution beside of mine, please tell us...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by 'files' and 's search'. Do you mean that you have to uncheck each .pdf file in some way? What if we have thousands of them?
Or do you mean something else?
Someone else suggested putting all the .pdf files in a separate subdirectory and adding a .nomedia file. This hides ALL the .pdf files from every app that might search for them including the ones you use to read .pdf files.
We called Samsung this morning. Three levels, no help. They did NOT even understand the problem. "Do a factory reset." Did that, major nuisance, especially losing all the bookmarks in the .pdf files. No solution, it just started indexing again. It says it will take 5 hours to index and there are only 4 hours of battery left. If you plug it into the charger the Galaxy Tab shuts down after half an hour.
I was thinking of replacing my BLU phone (which has serious Play Store/storage problems) with a Samsung, but now I'm not so sure.

Bev999 said:
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean by 'files' and 's search'. Do you mean that you have to uncheck each .pdf file in some way? What if we have thousands of them?
Or do you mean something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lomg press the menu softkey to bring up S Finder. Hit the menu softkey again, go to settings > Select Search Category. Uncheck everything. That's it.
Someone else suggested putting all the .pdf files in a separate subdirectory and adding a .nomedia file. This hides ALL the .pdf files from every app that might search for them including the ones you use to read .pdf files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've suggested that in several boards. It's what works for me. Frankly it's best to put one in every directory that you don't actively require the mediafiles from. (actively being ringtones and music.)
So any folder with documents, books, comics, navigation maps, magazines, films... You can launch all from the file explorers. (the maps don't need to be seen at all by mediascanners.) nomedia files apply to subdirectories as well, so one in each directory will suffice. You can copy one from the Android folder.
I've got one folder with 30GB worth of PDF files.
I do occasionally get an indexservice wakelock, but that's always because it hangs on a corrupt file, not the pdfs.
We called Samsung this morning. Three levels, no help. They did NOT even understand the problem. "Do a factory reset." Did that, major nuisance, especially losing all the bookmarks in the .pdf files. No solution, it just started indexing again. It says it will take 5 hours to index and there are only 4 hours of battery left. If you plug it into the charger the Galaxy Tab shuts down after half an hour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory resets don't solve these things. Customer support employees are hired for their affinity with service, not their technical and product knowledge. They usually don't know much at all.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2

ShadowLea said:
Lomg press the menu softkey to bring up S Finder. Hit the menu softkey again, go to settings > Select Search Category. Uncheck everything. That's it.
I've suggested that in several boards. It's what works for me. Frankly it's best to put one in every directory that you don't actively require the mediafiles from. (actively being ringtones and music.)
So any folder with documents, books, comics, navigation maps, magazines, films... You can launch all from the file explorers. (the maps don't need to be seen at all by mediascanners.) nomedia files apply to subdirectories as well, so one in each directory will suffice. You can copy one from the Android folder.
I've got one folder with 30GB worth of PDF files.
I do occasionally get an indexservice wakelock, but that's always because it hangs on a corrupt file, not the pdfs.
Factory resets don't solve these things. Customer support employees are hired for their affinity with service, not their technical and product knowledge. They usually don't know much at all.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro SM-T520 running android 4.4.2 just updated today. We also have a 12.2 Note, and I assumed things were similar. Maybe not. He just followed your instructions. Indexing is still running in the background. It won't stop. I'm reluctant to reboot, but will if it's necessary. Is it?
I don't understand how the .nomedia thing works for you and not for us. He uses ES File Explorer and EBookDroid and neither could see the files in the subdirectory containing the .nomedia file.
I would have assumed that if you persist you can find someone in the 'help' department who at least understands the problem. Apparently not.
This is extremely discouraging

Bev999 said:
We have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro SM-T520 running android 4.4.2 just updated today. We also have a 12.2 Note, and I assumed things were similar. Maybe not. He just followed your instructions. Indexing is still running in the background. It won't stop. I'm reluctant to reboot, but will if it's necessary. Is it?
I don't understand how the .nomedia thing works for you and not for us. He uses ES File Explorer and EBookDroid and neither could see the files in the subdirectory containing the .nomedia file.
I would have assumed that if you persist you can find someone in the 'help' department who at least understands the problem. Apparently not.
This is extremely discouraging
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got a NotePro 12.2 too. Strange how it doesn't work on yours...
Is ES File Explorer not seeing the .nomedia files or is the folder suddenly empty?
Did he reboot after placing the files and changing the settings? Indexingservice will always run for a few minutes after a reboot.
Alright, have him hook the sdcard to a pc (preferably with a cardreader) and let explorer search it for 0kb files. It depends on your system language, in english you can search for 'size:empty'. You can also click the advanced search options and select size.
Any file it finds that isn't a nomedia file or a playlist, delete (or move to the pc.)
Then do the same with the tablet itself. (this will take a while, mtp is agonisingly slow.)
Surely at some point this must begin to make sense.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2

ShadowLea said:
Lomg press the menu softkey to bring up S Finder. Hit the menu softkey again, go to settings > Select Search Category. Uncheck everything. That's it.
I've suggested that in several boards. It's what works for me. Frankly it's best to put one in every directory that you don't actively require the mediafiles from. (actively being ringtones and music.)
So any folder with documents, books, comics, navigation maps, magazines, films... You can launch all from the file explorers. (the maps don't need to be seen at all by mediascanners.) nomedia files apply to subdirectories as well, so one in each directory will suffice. You can copy one from the Android folder.
I've got one folder with 30GB worth of PDF files.
I do occasionally get an indexservice wakelock, but that's always because it hangs on a corrupt file, not the pdfs.
Factory resets don't solve these things. Customer support employees are hired for their affinity with service, not their technical and product knowledge. They usually don't know much at all.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ShadowLea said:
I've got a NotePro 12.2 too. Strange how it doesn't work on yours...
Is ES File Explorer not seeing the .nomedia files or is the folder suddenly empty?
Did he reboot after placing the files and changing the settings? Indexingservice will always run for a few minutes after a reboot.
Alright, have him hook the sdcard to a pc (preferably with a cardreader) and let explorer search it for 0kb files. It depends on your system language, in english you can search for 'size:empty'. You can also click the advanced search options and select size.
Any file it finds that isn't a nomedia file or a playlist, delete (or move to the pc.)
Then do the same with the tablet itself. (this will take a while, mtp is agonisingly slow.)
Surely at some point this must begin to make sense.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 12.2 Note hasn't been updated yet. Has yours? Fear and trepidation...
There were no 0-lenth files when he read the card on the computer. Sizes of the files seemed not-abnormal and he spot checked a few, which were OK. BTW, we're using linux, not windows.
Possible misunderstanding: Previously he created a subdirectory called .nomedia and put all the pdf files in it. The subdirectory itself was invisible to ES file explorer etc.. He's now putting all the pdf and epub files in /sdcard1/pdf and adding a 0-length file called .nomedia to the subdirectory.
The index service is running and the damn thing is warming up. He's plugging it into the charger and going to bed (he keeps odd hours.) More whenever.
Google doesn't seem to be willing to offer much help unless you own a Nexus -- they just tell you to contact your manufacturer. Given that they sell android to the manufacturers, presumably at a profit, this seems at the very least cheesy and certainly not in keeping with the "Do no evil" mantra. How can the manufacturers possibly be expected to cope with the inner workings of how the OS itself operates?
Skynet baby steps...

Bev999 said:
The 12.2 Note hasn't been updated yet. Has yours? Fear and trepidation...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Still on P905XXUANC3/P905XXUANA7/P905DBTANC3. (It's the LTE edition) I don't update a device unless the update improves something.
There were no 0-lenth files when he read the card on the computer. Sizes of the files seemed not-abnormal and he spot checked a few, which were OK. BTW, we're using linux, not windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. I don't know the search string for Linux, sadly. But if the entire card was free of them, at least that's not the cause. (It usually is).
Possible misunderstanding: Previously he created a subdirectory called .nomedia and put all the pdf files in it. The subdirectory itself was invisible to ES file explorer etc.. He's now putting all the pdf and epub files in /sdcard1/pdf and adding a 0-length file called .nomedia to the subdirectory.
The index service is running and the damn thing is warming up. He's plugging it into the charger and going to bed (he keeps odd hours.) More whenever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. Folders with a . as the first symbol are hidden folders. They're still scanned by indexingservice, just not shown. (ES has an option in settings > Display to enable them) I usually just copy the .nomedia file from SDcard/Android and past it in the folder where I need it.
Basically it should be Sdcard(or sdcard1)/pdf, with in it the .nomedia file followed by all the pdfs. You can sort the pdf's into folders inside /pdf, because the nomedia file in /pdf excludes the folders in it as well.
Google doesn't seem to be willing to offer much help unless you own a Nexus -- they just tell you to contact your manufacturer. Given that they sell android to the manufacturers, presumably at a profit, this seems at the very least cheesy and certainly not in keeping with the "Do no evil" mantra. How can the manufacturers possibly be expected to cope with the inner workings of how the OS itself operates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue doesn't exist on a Nexus because they don't have MicroSD slots. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and the others add the MicroSD slot and support themselves, and thus Google says is it their problem to solve. Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way.
Skynet baby steps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always thought that was EA Games...

ShadowLea said:
Nope. Still on P905XXUANC3/P905XXUANA7/P905DBTANC3. (It's the LTE edition) I don't update a device unless the update improves something.
Ah. I don't know the search string for Linux, sadly. But if the entire card was free of them, at least that's not the cause. (It usually is).
Ah. Folders with a . as the first symbol are hidden folders. They're still scanned by indexingservice, just not shown. (ES has an option in settings > Display to enable them) I usually just copy the .nomedia file from SDcard/Android and past it in the folder where I need it.
Basically it should be Sdcard(or sdcard1)/pdf, with in it the .nomedia file followed by all the pdfs. You can sort the pdf's into folders inside /pdf, because the nomedia file in /pdf excludes the folders in it as well.
The issue doesn't exist on a Nexus because they don't have MicroSD slots. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and the others add the MicroSD slot and support themselves, and thus Google says is it their problem to solve. Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way.
I always thought that was EA Games...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another kernel update -- same one, but from the Samsung guy at Best Buy. The sfind thing is consuming as much battery as the screen. No way to stop it. Samsung apparently doesn't give a ****. Not happy here. One more trip across the street to see if the Samsung guy can locate some internal Samsung person who may be able to help. Yeah, right...

I just cleared cache with help of Titanium backup and problem was solved.
I have to mention I am rooted.

Bev999 said:
Another kernel update -- same one, but from the Samsung guy at Best Buy. The sfind thing is consuming as much battery as the screen. No way to stop it. Samsung apparently doesn't give a ****. Not happy here. One more trip across the street to see if the Samsung guy can locate some internal Samsung person who may be able to help. Yeah, right...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm.. You can try to go to settings > Applications > All > S Finder and force stop, clear data and cache; perhaps that has an effect. Also, delete any search widget.
It's so much not that Samsung doesn't care. It's more that the service employees are all monumental idiots. :silly:

ShadowLea said:
Nope. Still on P905XXUANC3/P905XXUANA7/P905DBTANC3. (It's the LTE edition) I don't update a device unless the update improves something.
Ah. I don't know the search string for Linux, sadly. But if the entire card was free of them, at least that's not the cause. (It usually is).
Ah. Folders with a . as the first symbol are hidden folders. They're still scanned by indexingservice, just not shown. (ES has an option in settings > Display to enable them) I usually just copy the .nomedia file from SDcard/Android and past it in the folder where I need it.
Basically it should be Sdcard(or sdcard1)/pdf, with in it the .nomedia file followed by all the pdfs. You can sort the pdf's into folders inside /pdf, because the nomedia file in /pdf excludes the folders in it as well.
The issue doesn't exist on a Nexus because they don't have MicroSD slots. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and the others add the MicroSD slot and support themselves, and thus Google says is it their problem to solve. Makes sense, in a twisted sort of way.
I always thought that was EA Games...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ShadowLea said:
Hm.. You can try to go to settings > Applications > All > S Finder and force stop, clear data and cache; perhaps that has an effect. Also, delete any search widget.
It's so much not that Samsung doesn't care. It's more that the service employees are all monumental idiots. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BTDT, except he doesn't want to clear data/cache on the off-chance that it will delete his laboriously-recreated bookmarks in the books he's reading. It would be nice if apps would tell you exactly what they're going to delete/clear/empty.
I had a vague hope that the Samsung guy would perhaps know somebody in Samsung engineering, thereby bypassing the useless helpdroids.
http://futuremaza.com/download/91853/microsoft-tech-support-1235
Choose your size. It's a keeper.

Clearing Data/Cache on S Finder affects only the data gathered by S Finder. S Finder is nothing more than a search app. So it only clears the indexed search data.
The bookmarks made in the books he is reading are stored in the data of the reader app he is using or the files themselves. S Finder can't touch those.
I always prefer this one

I have a Note 4 and was having the same issue. The culprit in my case was the SD Card. I first used a Samsung Class 10, 64GB. "Index" was killing my battery. I formatted the card inside the phone, but it was no use. Then I exchanged the card for Sandisk Ultra 64GB, which I believe is in the same Class. Magically, "INedex" issue stopped and then I got very good battery Life! Result is: Samsung Card was not compatible with Samsung phone... Who can understand these things happenning..?!

Kit Kat 4.4 and external SD cards

I have read and I like the new restrictions on "external SD card" use. It will prevent a lot of apps from leaving crapola all over your device.
It does not restrict your use of data etc. It just keeps you organized. If you want to uninstall an app and still keep its data, you can simply move the data to a new folder.

mangurian said:
I have read and I like the new restrictions on "external SD card" use. It will prevent a lot of apps from leaving crapola all over your device.
It does not restrict your use of data etc. It just keeps you organized. If you want to uninstall an app and still keep its data, you can simply move the data to a new folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be stock and unrooted....Kit Kat is a major pain in the rear to root users..

jauger said:
You must be stock and unrooted....Kit Kat is a major pain in the rear to root users..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True - I only root my devices when they are out-dated.
I don't think the 8013 has reached that point yet.
I am still happy with its performance.

But what I am understanding is apps are corralled to their own folders. This implies to me that some I rely on will cease to work. Example:
I use folder sync to keep lecture notes synced between my 10.1 and S4. By my read of KitKat, folder sync will be prohibited from writing to the lecture notes folder.
What about photos? Different apps to adjust photos depending on what I want to do.
And what about ES File Explorer. Won't it become useless?
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk

jauger said:
You must be stock and unrooted....Kit Kat is a major pain in the rear to root users..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I may be asking the obvious, but in what way is KitKat a pain for root users?

starbuckk said:
But what I am understanding is apps are corralled to their own folders. This implies to me that some I rely on will cease to work. Example:
I use folder sync to keep lecture notes synced between my 10.1 and S4. By my read of KitKat, folder sync will be prohibited from writing to the lecture notes folder.
What about photos? Different apps to adjust photos depending on what I want to do.
And what about ES File Explorer. Won't it become useless?
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We don't have all the answers, but I'd bet dollars to donuts there will, at least, be work-arounds" for any on these problems.

mangurian said:
We don't have all the answers, but I'd bet dollars to donuts there will, at least, be work-arounds" for any on these problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There aren't. I've had KitKat since weeks after release (S4 GPe). I've been in touch with many developers and made them aware of the issue before it went mainstream. Bottom line, here's the limitation in the simplest of terms.
-An app can read any file on the MicroSD Card.
-An app can only modify contents within a self contained subfolder
So, file managers won't work if stock and unrooted (read only, no writing). FolderSync doesn't work. ES doesn't work (it will tell you that it created/deleted/modified the folder, but then when you refresh, the change never happened).
A good example of how this works would be with a bare bones gallery application. If you store your photos in a random folder within the SD card, the Gallery app can view them. However, if you try to delete a picture, it will only remove from the gallery and remain on the SD card. After a device reboot, it will reappear in the gallery (this also happens with Google Photos and the stock Gallery app).
Another way to do this would be for the gallery app to copy all photos to the gallery subfolder and ignore photos outside of this folder. And if you remove the app? Photos are gone (except what was at the original location). But, this just causes duplication issues.
Lastly, applications can be given permission to read/write to VERY specific ContentProviders and folders. So eventually, you'll have a shared folder called "Pictures" that any gallery application can modify as needed. However, this function is, again, for very specific usage and still prevents file managing apps from doing what they're intended to do.

jaykresge said:
There aren't. I've had KitKat since weeks after release (S4 GPe). I've been in touch with many developers and made them aware of the issue before it went mainstream. Bottom line, here's the limitation in the simplest of terms.
-An app can read any file on the MicroSD Card.
-An app can only modify contents within a self contained subfolder
So, file managers won't work if stock and unrooted (read only, no writing). FolderSync doesn't work. ES doesn't work (it will tell you that it created/deleted/modified the folder, but then when you refresh, the change never happened).
A good example of how this works would be with a bare bones gallery application. If you store your photos in a random folder within the SD card, the Gallery app can view them. However, if you try to delete a picture, it will only remove from the gallery and remain on the SD card. After a device reboot, it will reappear in the gallery (this also happens with Google Photos and the stock Gallery app).
Another way to do this would be for the gallery app to copy all photos to the gallery subfolder and ignore photos outside of this folder. And if you remove the app? Photos are gone (except what was at the original location). But, this just causes duplication issues.
Lastly, applications can be given permission to read/write to VERY specific ContentProviders and folders. So eventually, you'll have a shared folder called "Pictures" that any gallery application can modify as needed. However, this function is, again, for very specific usage and still prevents file managing apps from doing what they're intended to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like the android team need to add some sort of "firewall" implementation, for apps users WANT their old ability back and still provide their users with this security for the majority of their other apps, it doesnt have to be all or nothing, .......make the most secured option as default, for basic users, while giving the power users the option to "fine tune" it, i.e. the "firewall" analogy

jaykresge said:
There aren't. I've had KitKat since weeks after release (S4 GPe). I've been in touch with many developers and made them aware of the issue before it went mainstream. Bottom line, here's the limitation in the simplest of terms.
-An app can read any file on the MicroSD Card.
-An app can only modify contents within a self contained subfolder
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be clear, if I write an app and want to write (not modify) to an external SD card I must write to the self contained folder.
Is that correct?

mangurian said:
I have read and I like the new restrictions on "external SD card" use. It will prevent a lot of apps from leaving crapola all over your device.
It does not restrict your use of data etc. It just keeps you organized. If you want to uninstall an app and still keep its data, you can simply move the data to a new folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see how you think it doesn't restrict a user's data but keeps the card organised, when I have all my data (a LOT of work PDFs and docs, plus some photos), all nicely filed away and synchronised with my NAS, and other tablets; and now I cannot do this. I cannot organise my content at all (actually I am struggling even to put it on the SD card, except by taking it out out plugging it into a USB adapter into my PC). Until now, I have never had any apps leave crapola on my SD card. I used to be able to save lecture recordings direct to a nice "recordings" file on the SD card. Now it has to put it somewhere obscure (android/data/.somthingrandomthatisapaintofind).

It seems this works on some apps and not on others. For example foldersync doesn't seem to be able to write to the external sd card anymore, nor does X-plore, however, Es file Explorer seems to be fine about it, and happily writes files to the sdcard?! So if ES can do it, why can't the others?

jenacadabra said:
I don't see how you think it doesn't restrict a user's data but keeps the card organised, when I have all my data (a LOT of work PDFs and docs, plus some photos), all nicely filed away and synchronised with my NAS, and other tablets; and now I cannot do this. I cannot organise my content at all (actually I am struggling even to put it on the SD card, except by taking it out out plugging it into a USB adapter into my PC). Until now, I have never had any apps leave crapola on my SD card. I used to be able to save lecture recordings direct to a nice "recordings" file on the SD card. Now it has to put it somewhere obscure (android/data/.somthingrandomthatisapaintofind).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on kitkat for over month now and I don't know what is big buzz about. I did not notice any different behavior from my external card. I can read and write whatever I want using pc explorer. Es works fine. Stock my files is fine too. So can somebody explain problem litte more please?
Type from KitKat bar.

norbarb said:
I'm on kitkat for over month now and I don't know what is big buzz about. I did not notice any different behavior from my external card. I can read and write whatever I want using pc explorer. Es works fine. Stock my files is fine too. So can somebody explain problem litte more please?
Type from KitKat bar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see - you are just using the USB cable I assume. The functionality I have lost is to:
a) wirelessly synchronise multiple pdf/document files in multiple folders and multiple subfolders, whether edited on the Note or on PC (or both).
b) Used a file management app to organise files & folders on my home network between my PC and external SD card. It was even able to wirelessly copy my work direct from the NAS.
None of the apps I used stored any files on my SD card and because they have taken away my access to my SD card I cannot sync my files properly. I realise I could just plug the cable in, but that is not practicable when I am editing 100s of documents in 100s of different subfolders a day - an automatic sync is fantastic. Android is strongly geared towards the "leisure" side of the market and I am going to have to take another look at Windows tablets if they don't fix this (except I would miss the S Pen!)

The_mitch said:
It seems this works on some apps and not on others. For example foldersync doesn't seem to be able to write to the external sd card anymore, nor does X-plore, however, Es file Explorer seems to be fine about it, and happily writes files to the sdcard?! So if ES can do it, why can't the others?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What device are you using that can write to SD using ES? I have the Galaxy S4 GPe (i9505G) and ES cannot do anything with the SD Card.

Have you updated ES? I heard they upated to fix it.
As I understand there is something called storage access framework that is supposed to be the replacement for direct file access.
I haven't seen kitkat. FolderSync is my biggest concern.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk

jaykresge said:
What device are you using that can write to SD using ES? I have the Galaxy S4 GPe (i9505G) and ES cannot do anything with the SD Card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on a Samsung galaxy note 3, with kitkat 4.4.2 and ES file Explorer 3.1.1

Yes, thanks to a post somewhere on XDA I am now using ES file manager, which as you say, will work with the ExtSD on Kitkat (though I still prefer Astro myself).
I still can't sync my content though which is the bigger problem. I used to use SyncMe. A fantastically easy to set up App that would seamlessly sync content across multiple devices (still works fine on my Note 8). I can't find anything to replace this at present.
Sent from my GT-N5100 using xda app-developers app

The_mitch said:
I'm on a Samsung galaxy note 3, with kitkat 4.4.2 and ES file Explorer 3.1.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ROM are you using? Are you on stock 4.4.2 OTA without root?

jaykresge said:
What ROM are you using? Are you on stock 4.4.2 OTA without root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, stock unrooted Samsung kitkat 4.2.2

The_mitch said:
Yes, stock unrooted Samsung kitkat 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my device, ES 3.1.1 allows me to create a folder but I cannot edit or delete the folder. I cannot create, edit, or delete files. If I delete folders, they will initially disappear, but will not actually delete. They reappear upon a refresh.

[Q] Looking for Pushbullet-like app

I'm looking for something like this: https://www.pushbullet.com/. It requires Android 4.0 or higher, so this itself won't work, but I'd love to have a one click send-to-nook app that I can use to send stuff from my laptop without a cable (especially for pdfs). I was never able to get Gapps working, so emailing myself won't do it. Anybody know of anything similar? Thanks!

Neat idea--less cumbersome than Dropbox for that purpose. How about something like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smarterdroid.wififiletransfer
Says it's compatible with my Nook--doesn't mean it will work. There seem to be a few similar. Google "wireless send file to android app"
Meanwhile, I need to look at that
Update: I tried the app and I like how it works...but: when I transferred a book into the internal My Files folder it did not show up in the Library, even after a refresh. Under the My Files tab it did appear but could not be read. So I tried a transfer to the My Files folder on the sdcard. That showed up in the Library right away. Not sure if the process can be tweaked, but it's worth looking at more closely. It may be worth noting that ES File Explorer has an ftp interface (news to me but I found it) but it's not as user-friendly as the WiFi Transfer app.

If you have a dropbox account you can use dropsync instead of the official app, it can sync entire directories so it works much like the desktop client.
However, it doesn't do direct over-the-wifi transfer, so perhaps that's not what you're looking for.

Try airdroid,not exactly one click but drag and drop
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