[Q] Google Play Books Issues - Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi Guys
Not entirly sure where this goes.
I love using Google play books as its the best close platform reader I can find.
The issue I have is that on my Note 3 when I select to download a book the size of the download is extremely large.
For example I tried to download a book which was 3mb and the total data for the appp shot up to 388mb. When I had download a slection of around 15 books the data was 7.2gb before I noticed. The downloads of boxes tend to fail alot its almost as if it fails then starts again without deleting the partial download previous.
I also noticed an issue today where the app downloaded over a gb for what I can see to be no reason, its also as it was downloading anytime it found wireless ran through the battery in around ten hours.
Has anyone came across this before and managed to get it resolved ?
Its a shame there is so many problems with it given how good a service it can be.
Cheers Guys

Related

url redirects and market stalling

I have a couple questions regarding some issues I've had so far with my G1. I've searched around and can't find anything relating to my problems but I hope I'm not the only one.
First issue is with url redirects. I've encountered this most often when I try to download podcasts using the browser. For example, when I try to download this TWiT podcast (http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/aolradio.podcast.aol.com/twit/TWiT0169Ha.mp3) directly it always errors out saying, rather blandly, "download unsuccsessfull." My workaround for this has been going to yahoo or tinyurl and removing the podtrac.com part from the url and then saving the file from the new link. Although this works for redirected urls when I can edit them, hiden redirects like (http://media.libsyn.com/media/thefutureandyou/TFAY_2008_3_26.mp3) fail everytime. If there was a perfect podcast app on or off the marketplace I wouldn't mind. Yet so far there is none that meets my satisfaction. If this is a bug with my phone, I'll be happy to replace it... but it seems more likely that it's a bug in the browser itself.
My second issue is less time consuming yet still annoying. After using the phone for at least an hour (although sometimes less, if I've used many apps) the marketplace will stall when I attempt to download anything. It will sit at "starting downloading," usually for 10-20 minutes and then actually begin downloading. I've eliminated the possibility that the market is just randomly slow, since I can instantly solve this problem by rebooting the phone and re-opening the marketplace; upon which the download starts immediately.
Alright, that's my wall of text. I would really appreciate some help or direction since I do love this phone, despite it's quirks. Hell, I wrote this on my phone. Thanks for reading.
vhodh said:
I have a couple questions regarding some issues I've had so far with my G1. I've searched around and can't find anything relating to my problems but I hope I'm not the only one.
First issue is with url redirects. I've encountered this most often when I try to download podcasts using the browser. For example, when I try to download this TWiT podcast (http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/aolradio.podcast.aol.com/twit/TWiT0169Ha.mp3) directly it always errors out saying, rather blandly, "download unsuccsessfull." My workaround for this has been going to yahoo or tinyurl and removing the podtrac.com part from the url and then saving the file from the new link. Although this works for redirected urls when I can edit them, hiden redirects like (http://media.libsyn.com/media/thefutureandyou/TFAY_2008_3_26.mp3) fail everytime. If there was a perfect podcast app on or off the marketplace I wouldn't mind. Yet so far there is none that meets my satisfaction. If this is a bug with my phone, I'll be happy to replace it... but it seems more likely that it's a bug in the browser itself.
My second issue is less time consuming yet still annoying. After using the phone for at least an hour (although sometimes less, if I've used many apps) the marketplace will stall when I attempt to download anything. It will sit at "starting downloading," usually for 10-20 minutes and then actually begin downloading. I've eliminated the possibility that the market is just randomly slow, since I can instantly solve this problem by rebooting the phone and re-opening the marketplace; upon which the download starts immediately.
Alright, that's my wall of text. I would really appreciate some help or direction since I do love this phone, despite it's quirks. Hell, I wrote this on my phone. Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, need some basics... are you using TMo? Have you made and mods to the phone or are you on RC30? etc.
thx.
--M
demontefixo said:
Hi, need some basics... are you using TMo? Have you made and mods to the phone or are you on RC30? etc.
thx.
--M
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I'm on T-Mobile using a stock ota rc30 (friend of mine didn't know what to do when he got the prompt and just upgraded >_<). Haven't messed with the phone in other ways, save for installing/removing apps on a daily basis. I am patiently waiting for a root solution for rc30, but for now I just want to remove these bugs.
One other question I'd like to throw in: any way of clearing the marketplace cache without root? I'm assuming no, but 14MB is too much and I know it's only gonna get bigger. I hope google is not just sitting around on this and sd app storage. Maybe they're waiting till January. Seems like there are one too many features they "forgot" too include.
Again, thanks for the reply.
vhodh said:
and sd app storage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SD app storage is tricky, and despite all the kids whining, it was disabled on purpose and for good reason. Depending on how well applications are signed (IIRC they aren't, or use public keys that we could easily resign), allowing them to sit on the SD card would mean that people could crack them. Google wants to allow people to commercialise their applications, but if they were easily cracked (not even require a rooted phone), they really couldn't.

New ROM for Orange customers

HTC has released a new ROM for Orange customers.
It can be found on the HTC website.
good find, now if only htc would be so kind as to give a changelog
Could anybody who has downloaded this tell us what the major differences are please. Don't want to be bothered to download it if it tries to fix a problem i haven't got - if it aint broke etc.
peterc10 said:
Could anybody who has downloaded this tell us what the major differences are please. Don't want to be bothered to download it if it tries to fix a problem i haven't got - if it aint broke etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, I want to know what changes it will make, No point doing all that hard work for a minor bug that I don't have.
Thanks.
peterc10 said:
Could anybody who has downloaded this tell us what the major differences are please. Don't want to be bothered to download it if it tries to fix a problem i haven't got - if it aint broke etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, I want to know what changes it will make, No point doing all that hard work for a minor bug that I don't have.
Thanks.
Well I've downloaded and installed the update - I'm one of those "strange" fellows who assumes that an update should just be applied as it will "update" things.
What have I found:
No real differences to anything at all. I did have a bug whereby the browser would start turning itself off randomly (both WiFi and 3G and with 1 or more tabs open & many different sites so no idea what caused it - happened both straight after a reboot and also when been left on for a few days) This no longer seems to be happening.
My main bugbear with it now is that I've found that I can't see all the programs that I used to have on the Store. I can see Twidroid free but not Twidroid Pro (which seeing as I've paid for it I'd rather like to download again!) I also can't see Space Physics - again I can see the lite version but I've paid for the full game and that's not showing anywhere.
I can see other programs that I've previously purchased & able to download (CoPilot, Retro Defence) but it's irritating in the least to not get the full versions of other programs I've paid for already.
m_memmory said:
Well I've downloaded and installed the update - I'm one of those "strange" fellows who assumes that an update should just be applied as it will "update" things.
What have I found:
No real differences to anything at all. I did have a bug whereby the browser would start turning itself off randomly (both WiFi and 3G and with 1 or more tabs open & many different sites so no idea what caused it - happened both straight after a reboot and also when been left on for a few days) This no longer seems to be happening.
My main bugbear with it now is that I've found that I can't see all the programs that I used to have on the Store. I can see Twidroid free but not Twidroid Pro (which seeing as I've paid for it I'd rather like to download again!) I also can't see Space Physics - again I can see the lite version but I've paid for the full game and that's not showing anywhere.
I can see other programs that I've previously purchased & able to download (CoPilot, Retro Defence) but it's irritating in the least to not get the full versions of other programs I've paid for already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't worry about that. It sometimes happens when a carrier releases an update. They need to 'validate' it with the big G before it gets access to protected/paid apps...
m_memmory said:
Well I've downloaded and installed the update - I'm one of those "strange" fellows who assumes that an update should just be applied as it will "update" things.
What have I found:
No real differences to anything at all. I did have a bug whereby the browser would start turning itself off randomly (both WiFi and 3G and with 1 or more tabs open & many different sites so no idea what caused it - happened both straight after a reboot and also when been left on for a few days) This no longer seems to be happening.
My main bugbear with it now is that I've found that I can't see all the programs that I used to have on the Store. I can see Twidroid free but not Twidroid Pro (which seeing as I've paid for it I'd rather like to download again!) I also can't see Space Physics - again I can see the lite version but I've paid for the full game and that's not showing anywhere.
I can see other programs that I've previously purchased & able to download (CoPilot, Retro Defence) but it's irritating in the least to not get the full versions of other programs I've paid for already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, frankly I haven't come across the bug on my browser, which goes to say, I won't need this update.
Shahin
I have just installed this and there are no real differences except they have added a 4x4 (i.e. the whole screen) People widget, and increased the size of the thumbnails on the People widget.
Tristan
Applied this update. Readme did not work. Now my headphone connection autosense is fsuked. HTC still haven't confirmed the changelog.
Hi,
I am new here and I am Hichjacking this thread, as my problem is in regards to the ROM Update on Orange.
As someone posted in this thread earlier, I do have the same issue that some of my paid apps are no longer available for me. ie Silent time, my backup pro.
I was able to get my MyBackup Pro online, however Silent time pro is not available. Is this also probably because its not approved for the new ROM update yet, although its not nearly 2 weeks old.
I can live without the other ones, but I loved Silent time Pro.
Can anyone help me and shed some light?
Markus

Android SDK working but computer now suffering (paths directory prob?)

Hello.
I've installed android SDK on my acer aspire ax1300 computer twice now & the android SDK works fine but has left my computer running horrible. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem or perhaps has a solution?
Specifically the problem i get is that when i try to open a web page at random times throughout the day i will get "windows can not display the web page" it offers a point to select diagnose problem so i do & it comes back "there does not seem to be anything wrong" It then refreshes the web page to where i was going and everything works fine. It does this maybe 10x in a day. Also i noticed that trying to view web pages takes a lot more time..i mean A LOT more & the time it takes to shut down has increased as well. I know android sdk is a huge file but i still have a ton of memory left so I know its not a memory issue or a installed issue since its working fine. My thought was maybe it was a paths directory issue but i cant find any info to support this or even why i thought this...jus do i guess,. lol.
solutions i've tried​1st) i uninstalled android sdk to see if it would do it with it uninstalled which it does not...only when android sdk is installed do i have these problems
2nd) i double checked to make sure my computer meets the requirements set forth by google which it does
3rd) i tried to look through countless forums including videos from theunlockr.com & have not came across anyone with this problem or similiar for that matter
4th) i defragmented my hard drive
5th) i disabled indexing
6th) cleared computer of unwanted files & disabled unnecessary files from within the start up menu
7th) i finally caved and came to the experts here on xda for help...please help me fix this issue or i will have to ban my hopes of having android sdk & a working computer
8th) i disabled Aero
9th) i ran avg pc tuneup including cleanup/defrag/tweaks/optimize/registry repair & registry defragment all of which did not seem to help the issue
10th) installed firefox to see if i would have the same issue...will report back after some time using to see if it helped
Thanks in advance to any help any member gives or any nudge in the right direction ?:^D​
also if i kill the process to adb.exe & java.exe i notice a huge system improvement..soo... . i then tried to visit sites that had been giving me problems & i did not seem to have those same issues. web sites seem to load much faster also signing out of yahoo is much quicker. (it would take a very long time to sign out of yahoo before..normally i would have to click sign out many times)
anyone with info/help & also wouldn't mind passing it along i would be very appreciative.
so i figured out what was causing my problem..not to sure how to fx it but i wanted to list it just incase someone else runs into the same issue i have had.
i have a cisco router which worked fine when i dont have android sdk installed but when i do i cant use the router. well i can but it gives me the problems listed above. when i unplug the router my computer runs & works just fine so i know its the router that has been giving me problems. i guess i'll look for a new router and hopefully i wont have that problem anymore.

[Q] How to install Google eBooks (Google Play Books)

I have read that it's possible to use google books on the NST (or NTG) but i can't find it in the market place. and every time i try and side load the apk i get INSTALL_FAILED_OLDER_SDK. I downloaded google play books 2.3.5 apk which is supposably built for 2.1. I thought the NST/NTG was on 2.1 (or is it 2.2?) so im curious why this doesn't work... anyone care to comment?
If i just have the wrong version please let me know the correct version to use.
You can try apktool-ing the apk and see what version it specs in AndroidManifest.xml.
You could modify the version and see if it crashes.
We're running Eclair, 2.1, API level 7 on the Nook Touch.
Any luck OP?
EDIT:
Tried this one: http://www.iapktop.com/google-play-books-2-4-3.html since it said compatible with 2.1, but I had no luck.
Then I tried this one: http://www.iapktop.com/google-books-1-4-5.html and it looks to be working! I saw my library in the window and I have it downloading one of my books now for reading to test.
EDIT2: AAaaaaand... works. Perfectly I might add. The only thing that doesn't work is the side buttons don't switch pages. I think because they are bound to PAGE_NEXT or something. Changing them to Right and Left arrow should do it.
EDIT3: Yep. A quick change to the keylayout lets me page with the right hand buttons. It does break the ability to page in the stock reading app though with those buttons. For now I'm leaving it with paging in Google books with right side buttons and paging in Nook with left side buttons. I'll probably go all in later.
What I did was edit /system/usr/keylayout/TWL4030_Keypad.kl and switch RIGHT_NEXTPAGE to DPAD_RIGHT and then switched RIGHT_PREVPAGE to DPAD_LEFT.
Hopefully that makes sense. If not I can probably make it easier for you by pulling the file itself, but I figure I'd try to "teach a man to fish."
Dynamic button remapping; getting rid of page-turn animation
(Interested lurker speaking. I don't have a NST, but a rooted Sony PRS-T1, which is similar, but running Android 2.2. Please take what I say with a grain of salt.)
The latest version of Google Play Books that does not require 3D hardware (for its carousel view and its page-turn animation) and that is available for older Android versions appears to be version 1.5.4.
I'm using that version on the PRS-T1, but was annoyed by its flickering slide animation when turning pages. If you're comfortable with the Android SDK and apktool, here's a hack I did to remove that animation:
mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187741
The problem of different Left/Right key bindings for different apps plagues the PRS-T1 as well. This led me to look for a solution to remap these buttons dynamically, depending on which app was currently running in the foreground. Here's my hack for the PRS-T1, which a semi-experienced developer could port over to the NST. I'd be happy to accept patches.
mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187054
github.com/altruizine/pgdn
(Sorry for not posting direct links – I'm not allowed to post links yet.)
altruizine said:
(Interested lurker speaking. I don't have a NST, but a rooted Sony PRS-T1, which is similar, but running Android 2.2. Please take what I say with a grain of salt.)
The latest version of Google Play Books that does not require 3D hardware (for its carousel view and it page-turn animation) and that it available for older Android versions appears to be version 1.5.4.
I'm using that version on the PRS-T1, but was annoyed by its flickering slide animation when turning pages. If you're comfortable with the Android SDK and apktool, here's a hack I did to remove that animation:
mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187741
The problem of different Left/Right key bindings for different apps plagues the PRS-T1 as well. This led me to look for a solution to remap these buttons dynamically, depending on which app was currently running in the foreground. Here's my hack for the PRS-T1, which a semi-experienced developer could port over to the NST. I'd be happy to accept patches.
mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187054
github.com/altruizine/pgdn
(Sorry for not posting direct links – I'm not allowed to post links yet.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome! I only just got this device last night so haven't got too far into hacking it, but I have plenty of other Android experience. I'll see if I can replicate.
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium
So close!
ViViDboarder said:
Then I tried this one: .iapktop.com/google-books-1-4-5 and it looks to be working! I saw my library in the window and I have it downloading one of my books now for reading to test.
EDIT2: AAaaaaand... works. Perfectly I might add. The only thing that doesn't work is the side buttons don't switch pages. I think because they are bound to PAGE_NEXT or something. Changing them to Right and Left arrow should do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for posting this!
I installed the1-4-5 apk without incident and all my books synced beautifully, including where I left off in them. I was pretty sure I was home free at this point but I've found that the actual content of the books never loads. I get the spinning loading icon off into infinity.
This is the way for all my books. Looks for all the world like it should work fine but just never loads the actual content.
I've tried a system reboot, scanning around between pages, fussing with text size/line spacing and same outcome.
I tried the 2-4-3 apk and got a parsing error when i tried to open the package.
This is so close I can taste it. Any ideas anyone?
Thank you
Update:
I found that if I toggled on "Original pages" in the book options the content would load. After I did that once I could switch back to "flowing text" and adjust as needed.
Update 2:
I still intermittently have issues with book content loading. Probably once per day the loading icon displays indefinitely. The flowing text/original pages workaround I listed before was likely a flook, I haven't been able to find a way to reliably get around this problem. It's terribly annoying.
Update 3:
I tried using the refresh option on the library view prior to loading my book this time and it popped up immediately afterward. I'll continue to experiment with this to see if it works consistently.
Update 4:
That's unreliable as well. There doesn't seem to be any good way to prompt my book to actually load the content of the book. Super annoying.
Version 1.0.16
jorgenric said:
Thank you so much for posting this!
I installed the1-4-5 apk without incident and all my books synced beautifully, including where I left off in them. I was pretty sure I was home free at this point but I've found that the actual content of the books never loads. I get the spinning loading icon off into infinity.
This is the way for all my books. Looks for all the world like it should work fine but just never loads the actual content.
I've tried a system reboot, scanning around between pages, fussing with text size/line spacing and same outcome.
I tried the 2-4-3 apk and got a parsing error when i tried to open the package.
This is so close I can taste it. Any ideas anyone?
Thank you
Update:
I found that if I toggled on "Original pages" in the book options the content would load. After I did that once I could switch back to "flowing text" and adjust as needed.
Update 2:
I still intermittently have issues with book content loading. Probably once per day the loading icon displays indefinitely. The flowing text/original pages workaround I listed before was likely a flook, I haven't been able to find a way to reliably get around this problem. It's terribly annoying.
Update 3:
I tried using the refresh option on the library view prior to loading my book this time and it popped up immediately afterward. I'll continue to experiment with this to see if it works consistently.
Update 4:
That's unreliable as well. There doesn't seem to be any good way to prompt my book to actually load the content of the book. Super annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is an older version that I found somewhere on the web. It is version 1.0.16...I installed it and it seems to work excellently so far. The bug where version 1.5.4 often never loads the book doesn't seem to be present. :cyclops:
finitary said:
Here is an older version that I found somewhere on the web. It is version 1.0.16...I installed it and it seems to work excellently so far. The bug where version 1.5.4 often never loads the book doesn't seem to be present. :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may have to give this a shot. I am frequently annoyed with this bug. Thankfully the books I'm reading actually fit perfectly on the screen when viewing the scanned versions.
Just wanted to bump and see if you're still getting good results with that version of Google Books. I haven't switched yet (started reading something on Kindle) but I'm about to start a new book on Google Play.
Seems to work!
finitary said:
Here is an older version that I found somewhere on the web. It is version 1.0.16...I installed it and it seems to work excellently so far. The bug where version 1.5.4 often never loads the book doesn't seem to be present. :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just loaded up the 1.0.16 version and the book loaded right up where as 10 minutes ago it stubbornly refused. I'm not going to get my hopes up yet but I'll try and remember to give an update after some more use. Thanks for the post!
goodereader.com has version 1.5.2 for download. Worth a try.
Success!
jorgenric said:
I just loaded up the 1.0.16 version and the book loaded right up where as 10 minutes ago it stubbornly refused. I'm not going to get my hopes up yet but I'll try and remember to give an update after some more use. Thanks for the post!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to be working consistently with this version of reader.
jorgenric said:
Seems to be working consistently with this version of reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Thanks for the update.
Finally got around to rooting my Nook Touch, as I wanted to utilize the syncing feature of Google Play Books. They now let you upload your own epub files to your library, and I have been reading mainly on my phone or Nexus 7 as a result.
Unfortunately it looks like the 1.0.16 version does not support user uploaded books. All of my purchased books appear, but none of the many I uploaded. 1.5.2 and 1.5.4 both have the book not loading issue.
Anyone have any thoughts or other versions to try? Would love to get this working.
urinsane said:
Finally got around to rooting my Nook Touch, as I wanted to utilize the syncing feature of Google Play Books. They now let you upload your own epub files to your library, and I have been reading mainly on my phone or Nexus 7 as a result.
Unfortunately it looks like the 1.0.16 version does not support user uploaded books. All of my purchased books appear, but none of the many I uploaded. 1.5.2 and 1.5.4 both have the book not loading issue.
Anyone have any thoughts or other versions to try? Would love to get this working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat. I can see my uploaded library in play but it's not loading the book. I think it has loaded the book but it's not ending the load part of the function. Just guessing.
Hope we can get this worked out.. This would help me tremendously being able to read on the N2T and sync across my computer and Nexus.
*update For some strange reason this started working for about a minute. Book I'm reading synced right to the exact page. Exited and went back in to see if it would still work and it went back to the looping circle page. It's so close I can taste it.
*update Managed to get 1.5.2 working but only in offline mode only. I've noticed the more pages the book has the slower it is to load, but it's loading none the less 9/10 times. Progress, so it is possible to get this working.
ForSquirel said:
I'm in the same boat. I can see my uploaded library in play but it's not loading the book. I think it has loaded the book but it's not ending the load part of the function. Just guessing.
Hope we can get this worked out.. This would help me tremendously being able to read on the N2T and sync across my computer and Nexus.
*update For some strange reason this started working for about a minute. Book I'm reading synced right to the exact page. Exited and went back in to see if it would still work and it went back to the looping circle page. It's so close I can taste it.
*update Managed to get 1.5.2 working but only in offline mode only. I've noticed the more pages the book has the slower it is to load, but it's loading none the less 9/10 times. Progress, so it is possible to get this working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure what version I am using now but it loaded once on my NST. However, the next time I tried loading a book it took forever to load (and I eventually closed the app). It might have to do with memory... Who knows... The funny thing is that once it has loaded the book it works like a charm. Really fast (I would say as fast as the native app). The only thing that don't work are the hardware buttons but it was quite expectable.
enekomh said:
I'm not really sure what version I am using now but it loaded once on my NST. However, the next time I tried loading a book it took forever to load (and I eventually closed the app). It might have to do with memory... Who knows... The funny thing is that once it has loaded the book it works like a charm. Really fast (I would say as fast as the native app). The only thing that don't work are the hardware buttons but it was quite expectable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any updates? Looks promising....
Here's a link to an old version that worked for me (I later uninstalled it,finding better sources for books).
nmyshkin said:
Here's a link to an old version that worked for me (I later uninstalled it,finding better sources for books).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry meant the 1.5.2 or up version. I have uploaded books on Google Play that I hope to read.
I'm also searching for this solution. I have tried the older versions, but there doesn't seem to be a solution. Best I've got is installing an old Google Drive apk, and downloading from there. Box also works, but it's Drive for me.

[Q] Precached maps: 'Error loading, tap to download'

Does anyone else get this with the Maps app? It seems they are stored for a few days to weeks, then the application or the system deletes them. Does anyone know why?
Interestingly enough, I ran into the exact same thing this morning. I'd downloaded a section of my local area a few weeks ago after wiping my 32 gigger & when trying to check directions this morning (offline), the map never filled in & I noticed the exact same message on the offline pane. Being able to store offline maps is kinda useless if the device reclaims that storage via some kind of background process.
I have this too, all the time, on my Galaxy Nexus stock 4.1.2. As far as I know, this has always happened, sooner or later, to any off-line maps I had downloaded. What could be causing this? Is there a way to repair/circumvent this bug?
Bug has been fixed!
Apparently this bug has been fixed: with the latest version of Google Maps, it doesn't happen any more. Thank you, Google!

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