Hi, a new guy here!
I recently became a happy owner of 32Gb wi-fi only N7. I’m familiar with software dev (windows developer for 20 years with some work on unix) and customization/modding/flashing process (mostly for satellite receivers). However this is my first tablet and my first Android device so I could use some help
I successfully unlocked, rooted and installed custom recovery on my N7. I would like to get to a bare bones state of the N7 and then slowly add new features/programs to it when it becomes necessary for me. So I would like to remove all non essential parts that were preinstalled on my N7.
I was under impression that I could uninstall programs using N7 UI after device gets rooted. However it seems that for majority of the apps I still only have an option to disable.
I shelled into N7 and looked around. It seems that all (majority?) of the apps are in /system/apps folder. Can I simply remove the apps and their files from that folder? Does this folder only contain user apps or does it also have system apps that are essential for N7 to function? Is there a chance to brick it by removing something (everything?) from that folder?
I searched on a forum for a list of apps that are safe to remove. I thought it would exist since it seems to be something many of us would be interested in doing. I didn’t find the list. If there is such a thing and someone could direct me there, it would be great!
Given that I can remove apps by deleting them from that folder safely, I still have a question what each app does and how important it is. Is safe to assume that any app that has a wheel with a drive belt on it as an icon in apps screen on N7 is system app and has to stay?
I have two keyboard app installed – one is Android keyboard and one is ASUS keyboard. Judging by the name 2 of these are essential since Android is the OS and ASUS is the manufacturer. But do I really need two of them?
If there is a resource/thread that discussed something similar, please let know. I look forward to learn from anyone on this forum!
_Diver said:
Hi, a new guy here!
I recently became a happy owner of 32Gb wi-fi only N7. I’m familiar with software dev (windows developer for 20 years with some work on unix) and customization/modding/flashing process (mostly for satellite receivers). However this is my first tablet and my first Android device so I could use some help
I successfully unlocked, rooted and installed custom recovery on my N7. I would like to get to a bare bones state of the N7 and then slowly add new features/programs to it when it becomes necessary for me. So I would like to remove all non essential parts that were preinstalled on my N7.
I was under impression that I could uninstall programs using N7 UI after device gets rooted. However it seems that for majority of the apps I still only have an option to disable.
I shelled into N7 and looked around. It seems that all (majority?) of the apps are in /system/apps folder. Can I simply remove the apps and their files from that folder? Does this folder only contain user apps or does it also have system apps that are essential for N7 to function? Is there a chance to brick it by removing something (everything?) from that folder?
I searched on a forum for a list of apps that are safe to remove. I thought it would exist since it seems to be something many of us would be interested in doing. I didn’t find the list. If there is such a thing and someone could direct me there, it would be great!
Given that I can remove apps by deleting them from that folder safely, I still have a question what each app does and how important it is. Is safe to assume that any app that has a wheel with a drive belt on it as an icon in apps screen on N7 is system app and has to stay?
I have two keyboard app installed – one is Android keyboard and one is ASUS keyboard. Judging by the name 2 of these are essential since Android is the OS and ASUS is the manufacturer. But do I really need two of them?
If there is a resource/thread that discussed something similar, please let know. I look forward to learn from anyone on this forum!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the energy right now to address every app one at a time, but I'll nudge you in the right direction. That should help you start tinkering.
The Nexus 7 is very popular in this community because it's intentionally more open, and less bloated, than much of the competition.
That being said, sure there are apps you could uninstall if you decide to. Some of the custom ROM's will have probably already have done this for you, but may create little unexpected quirks here and there.
The first thing you'll want to do is backing everything up thoroughly. I would use Titanium Pro (you'll see it referred to as Tibu a lot), to backup all apps and settings. Then I would use the Google Nexus 7 toolkit (found in the forums here) to do a backup, as well as make a nandroid backup.
Ok, so you're ready to tinker. Well, if you bought Titanium Pro from the app store, you've already got all you really need. First, use titanium to freeze an app you don't feel you need, and don't think is required. Re-boot, go about your daily routine, and see if all is ok. Continue on in this manner. Once you've frozen everything you're interested in, and made sure all is well, you can probably go ahead and uninstall them through Tibu. Freezing them should generally make them not start up anyways, so unless the tiny amount of space they take up is a concern, that's really all you generally need to do *.
* Ok, sometimes you have to fully uninstall things you don't want, but this should get you plenty to tinker with for now.
bladebarrier,
Thanks for your response. I understand the approach you suggested – disabling apps one at a time and then when they all disabled and device is working to my liking for a while I could uninstall them.
However, I’m somewhat frustrated with a sheer number of apps that I have out of the box and I can’t find a good description of what they do. For example:
Mobile Network Configuration
Google Partner Setup
Google Services Framework
Searching online doesn’t yield definitive answers if it’s something I need or will N7 work without them. I have google play store and google play services installed – does store app require services? Reading a bit about it doesn’t make it seem so, but I’m not 100% sure. So I was wondering if there is a list of apps that are required for N7 well being and that cannot be removed no matter what.
For example, Black Viper has an excellent example of what I’m looking for but for windows nt services: (can't post a link)
This page explain what each service is, what it does and if it’s safe to disable it depending on configuration you’re seeking – minimal set, typical, out of box of experimental. I would love to find something like that for N7 system apps
I installed CWM recovery when I rooted and as far as I can understand I does NAND backups. I plan on moving the backup file from the device to my desktop and keeping it there for safety reason.
The Tibu process that you described, as far as I understand (and I might be wrong here) is basically equivalent of disabling the apps using native N7 setting app, rebooting, using it for a while and then removing .apk and .odex (or simply app_name.*) files from system/apps folder. Tibu just makes it easier. Did I get that right?
And it’s still removing one app/widget at the time. I’d like to clean it out completely first and start from that point. So Tibu will probably not help me there. So my main Q is still out there – can I brick it by removing everything from system/app? Are there only user apps there or essential system apps as well? With CWM back up file on hand will I be able to recover if my experiment goes bad?
> * Ok, sometimes you have to fully uninstall things you don't want, but this should get you plenty to tinker with for now.
One of the reasons I want to have them removed is to clean up the list of apps I have on N7. Right now I have 5 pages of apps and I have little idea what they do and if I need them – I had Korean keyboard installed for example.
As I mentioned I’m a newb in this area, so maybe my approach is a bit dumb, so please be patient with me
_Diver said:
bladebarrier,
Thanks for your response. I understand the approach you suggested – disabling apps one at a time and then when they all disabled and device is working to my liking for a while I could uninstall them.
However, I’m somewhat frustrated with a sheer number of apps that I have out of the box and I can’t find a good description of what they do. For example:
Mobile Network Configuration
Google Partner Setup
Google Services Framework
Searching online doesn’t yield definitive answers if it’s something I need or will N7 work without them. I have google play store and google play services installed – does store app require services? Reading a bit about it doesn’t make it seem so, but I’m not 100% sure. So I was wondering if there is a list of apps that are required for N7 well being and that cannot be removed no matter what.
For example, Black Viper has an excellent example of what I’m looking for but for windows nt services: (can't post a link)
This page explain what each service is, what it does and if it’s safe to disable it depending on configuration you’re seeking – minimal set, typical, out of box of experimental. I would love to find something like that for N7 system apps
I installed CWM recovery when I rooted and as far as I can understand I does NAND backups. I plan on moving the backup file from the device to my desktop and keeping it there for safety reason.
The Tibu process that you described, as far as I understand (and I might be wrong here) is basically equivalent of disabling the apps using native N7 setting app, rebooting, using it for a while and then removing .apk and .odex (or simply app_name.*) files from system/apps folder. Tibu just makes it easier. Did I get that right?
And it’s still removing one app/widget at the time. I’d like to clean it out completely first and start from that point. So Tibu will probably not help me there. So my main Q is still out there – can I brick it by removing everything from system/app? Are there only user apps there or essential system apps as well? With CWM back up file on hand will I be able to recover if my experiment goes bad?
> * Ok, sometimes you have to fully uninstall things you don't want, but this should get you plenty to tinker with for now.
One of the reasons I want to have them removed is to clean up the list of apps I have on N7. Right now I have 5 pages of apps and I have little idea what they do and if I need them – I had Korean keyboard installed for example.
As I mentioned I’m a newb in this area, so maybe my approach is a bit dumb, so please be patient with me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Removing Google framework services is a big no-no. To be honest, the easiest way to accomplish what you want is installing a custom ROM like CyanogenMod, especially since you've done all the prep work for such a thing.
Once you install any official CM build it is as close to app-less as you can get on a modular OS like this.
littleemp said:
Removing Google framework services is a big no-no. To be honest, the easiest way to accomplish what you want is installing a custom ROM like CyanogenMod, especially since you've done all the prep work for such a thing.
Once you install any official CM build it is as close to app-less as you can get on a modular OS like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's what i suspected! i thought that google framework would be something essential, but there is not much easily available information there to arrive at that conclusion
since i'm new to this, i thought i should stay away from any rom flashing until i get a bit more familiar with a device, terminology and stuff like that. i'm looking at the "[ROM] CyanogenMod 10.1 [OFFICIAL]" thread and i'm not sure about half of the terms - GAPPS, PSA, Nightlies i do know what ROM is, I do know what kernel is, virtual machine, etc. But it's applied to the platform that I have little experience with, so it makes me a little bit uneasy
_Diver said:
bladebarrier,
Thanks for your response. I understand the approach you suggested – disabling apps one at a time and then when they all disabled and device is working to my liking for a while I could uninstall them.
However, I’m somewhat frustrated with a sheer number of apps that I have out of the box and I can’t find a good description of what they do. For example:
Mobile Network Configuration
Google Partner Setup
Google Services Framework
Searching online doesn’t yield definitive answers if it’s something I need or will N7 work without them. I have google play store and google play services installed – does store app require services? Reading a bit about it doesn’t make it seem so, but I’m not 100% sure. So I was wondering if there is a list of apps that are required for N7 well being and that cannot be removed no matter what.
For example, Black Viper has an excellent example of what I’m looking for but for windows nt services: (can't post a link)
This page explain what each service is, what it does and if it’s safe to disable it depending on configuration you’re seeking – minimal set, typical, out of box of experimental. I would love to find something like that for N7 system apps
I installed CWM recovery when I rooted and as far as I can understand I does NAND backups. I plan on moving the backup file from the device to my desktop and keeping it there for safety reason.
The Tibu process that you described, as far as I understand (and I might be wrong here) is basically equivalent of disabling the apps using native N7 setting app, rebooting, using it for a while and then removing .apk and .odex (or simply app_name.*) files from system/apps folder. Tibu just makes it easier. Did I get that right?
And it’s still removing one app/widget at the time. I’d like to clean it out completely first and start from that point. So Tibu will probably not help me there. So my main Q is still out there – can I brick it by removing everything from system/app? Are there only user apps there or essential system apps as well? With CWM back up file on hand will I be able to recover if my experiment goes bad?
> * Ok, sometimes you have to fully uninstall things you don't want, but this should get you plenty to tinker with for now.
One of the reasons I want to have them removed is to clean up the list of apps I have on N7. Right now I have 5 pages of apps and I have little idea what they do and if I need them – I had Korean keyboard installed for example.
As I mentioned I’m a newb in this area, so maybe my approach is a bit dumb, so please be patient with me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tibu requires root access, in order to perform what we're discussing. I'm relatively new to JB, but I can't imagine any stock settings replicating its capabilities.
As far as a whole bunch of apps being in your list, that's sort of the way Android works. Think of it like "superfetch", or whatever that term was in Windows Vista. Basically, two things happen when you boot. Android looks at a list of apps that are designed to start on boot, and also apps that it expects you may want to run in the future. Both of these are designed to make the device run smoother overall, and it will kill apps if extra ram is required and they are not in use. Certain Android apps require themselves to run at all times. Some of these are apps like Tasker (if you're using tasker profiles), some of these are system apps that make the device function, some of these are apps that maintain widgets or background monitoring (weather apps, gmail, calendar).
Now, there are two ways to go about sorting what is bloat, and what is there because Android decided to load it. You can install an app called Autostarts, that will give an insight into apps that start up when certain criteria are met. You can also use it to stop those apps from queuing up at those trigger points. This is another root required app, and while I purchased it long ago, may have a free version as well. It's time consuming to use, and not perfect, which is why Tibu is better for flat out locking down unwanted apps.
Back to my initial thoughts though, you will see apps in your system list that you haven't touched since boot, because Android tries to anticipate your needs. People used to use "task killers" to close the apps, and came to realize that unless one is causing a real problem, it's just going to go back into the cached app list again anyways, thus reducing battery life when it has to load it over and over again. "Task killer" is a dirty word around XDA, unless you're using it to close an app that doesn't just go into the background like a good little app should.
Basically, you're going to start playing whack-a-mole if you want your list to remain as small as possible, at all times, and yet still actually use the device for anything interesting. You can reduce it, via various methods, and if this were a device from say "insert-name" brand, and was loaded with bloat apps, by all means you should clean those out. However, I think you'll find that while google does install things that aren't needed, or even used by everyone, it's mostly not a big issue.
Check out Better Battery Stats, in the XDA forums. It's an app that shows a pretty good picture of what is actually going on when you're not looking, and can provide data on how to improve your performance. It's probably a better way to start delving into what processes are actually being used, and which ones are just basically harmless. You'll also learn a good bit about how Android works from the Dev's explanations of many of the processes.
---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:32 PM ----------
_Diver said:
that's what i suspected! i thought that google framework would be something essential, but there is not much easily available information there to arrive at that conclusion
since i'm new to this, i thought i should stay away from any rom flashing until i get a bit more familiar with a device, terminology and stuff like that. i'm looking at the "[ROM] CyanogenMod 10.1 [OFFICIAL]" thread and i'm not sure about half of the terms - GAPPS, PSA, Nightlies i do know what ROM is, I do know what kernel is, virtual machine, etc. But it's applied to the platform that I have little experience with, so it makes me a little bit uneasy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure whichever ROM you use, if you decide to, supports your HSPA+ model. There is a separate development section in the Nexus 7 forums, for those of us that have the HSPA+ version. We are the minority, as the Nexus 7 was initially released as a wifi only tablet.
bladebarrier said:
Tibu requires root access, in order to perform what we're discussing. I'm relatively new to JB, but I can't imagine any stock settings replicating its capabilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i do have SU privileges, so what i was talking about was disabling an app thru N7 setting screen and then when i deem the app ok to remove, going to adb shell and removing the actual file.
i just did this:
mount -o remount rw /system
rm iWnnIME_Kbd_White.apk
rm iWnnIME.apk
and it removed the japanese keyboard. however when i go back to app screen under settings, i still see it but now it has a grey icon with a SD symbols in the corner. so it appears it recognizes that the app is gone, but it's still referenced in the list. i pushed the files back using NRT and it all back to the way it was. so looks like my idea of cleaning the list by removing the apk might not fly.
and now I wonder how Tibu uninstalls the apps.
bladebarrier said:
People used to use "task killers" to close the apps, and came to realize that unless one is causing a real problem, it's just going to go back into the cached app list again anyways, thus reducing battery life when it has to load it over and over again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand the notion of apps being in the cache and being removed when more RAM is needed, however the purist in me just doesn't want the junk apps to be there in first place However there is a lot of validity to these of your words:
bladebarrier said:
Basically, you're going to start playing whack-a-mole if you want your list to remain as small as possible, at all times, and yet still actually use the device for anything interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My wife got Kindle Fire HD recently and she's been using it happily. While I was thinking why would anyone want a closed up system (well, more closed up system then Nexus), she's been using it and I've been frustrated with my N7 so i might just let it go and enjoy the japanese and korean keyboards anyway
bladebarrier said:
Make sure whichever ROM you use, if you decide to, supports your HSPA+ model.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm wifi only
ngshniq every
i think i found what i was after: http wiki.cyanogenmod.org/wiki/barebones (url modified since i still can't post urls). this wiki page has the list of app with a short description and if it's safe to remove. it also has additional information that explains why i still saw the reference to the app in the list when apk file was deleted:
looks like i need to pay attention to 2 additional files:
/data/system/packages.xml
/data/system/packages.list
i bet I would find a reference to the apps in these and i would need to remove it in order to have the app disappear from the app list. i'll play around a bit more and report back
One thing, could you explain your reasoning behind wanting to delete everything but the essentials? Do you have a particular goal in mind or is it because of your windows background? Because if so, you should know that android operates very differently when compared to windows, and such, the requirements to keep your device working in tip top shape vary greatly.
In my opinion, with your current limited knowledge of each process/app inner workings, what you're trying to do surefire way to break something beyond repair and needing to use a factory image to get back to zero. A custom ROM will be much safer and yield the exact same results that you're looking for. (Eventually, once you understand what each thing does, then this manual approach could satisfy your needs)
Note: GApps are the basic Google apps to flash on top of the barebones system. Gmail, Play store, and the framework.
Nightlies are experimental builds compiled nightly by a bot with the latest CyanogenMod code available.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
My goal was to simplify my approach to N7 by removing anything that I don’t need now and slowly adding all necessary components as I get familiar with it. But it seems at this point that this approach is a bit more complicated as thought it would be.
So I think I would leave it alone for now and revisit this later
_Diver said:
My goal was to simplify my approach to N7 by removing anything that I don’t need now and slowly adding all necessary components as I get familiar with it. But it seems at this point that this approach is a bit more complicated as thought it would be.
So I think I would leave it alone for now and revisit this later
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what you've done manually, you're clearly far ahead of a new user when it comes to understanding linux/unix.
If you want to lock down parts of what google implements, purely to keep it minimalistic, I would agree with the above poster. Go for one of the popular ROM options that are available, like CM, and work your way backwards. The Nexus 7 only has as much bloat as you allow it to have via the settings. This is another reason why Better Battery Stats is an excellent way to make sure your device isn't draining battery, yet isn't locked down. The other day I noticed an app that kept fetching my position, even though the case was closed (magnetic sleep mode). It turned out I forgot to disable the tracking in google maps (why it was defaulted to ON, I have no idea). BBS showed me what was running during the sleep phase, and I fixed it when I woke up the next morning after wondering why my battery dropped.
The Kindle Fire is a great option, because it doesn't require any of this fussing about. My woman loves hers. LOVES IT. Personally, I like to tinker a bit, and I'm too invested in Android apps to not have access to the play store. The Nexus 7, is for people like what you find here. We like to tinker, and make everything custom. At the same time, you could spend all day trying to figure out why EntriesRefresh_wakelock is your highest partial wakelock count, at 60seconds per 7 hours, or you can find that you just went 7 hours and only used 6% of the battery, even though you've been connected to wifi, texting, emailing, and checking the weather and news, the whole time. Not bad, honestly.
The biggest investment you can do for your Nexus, is probably getting a case that magnetically puts it to rest when you close it. After that, learn about the settings that drain battery in the background. Then, get Tasker and play around that (it's like programming, without the need to learn the code). After that, go to a custom ROM, or dig out Tibu, and basically start customizing which apps you will use. If that doesn't pass the time long enough, you can literally make your own ROM and put together exactly what you want. Whether the performance will be that much better or not, and whether you'll spend most of your day trying to look for coding errors, is up to you. I don't have the patience to code, but you're a coder, so what is broccoli to me, may be bacon to you.
Using gbooks_10_16.apk I can search and get a book list, but nothing happens when I click a book. The basket/cart and pay apparatus is missing. Does anyone know how I can fix this?
I've also tried gb152.apk, but this doesn't seem to work at all.
I rooted with Nook Manager and then ran NTGAppsAttack (both v.050). NTGAppsAttack went fine until I clicked on Market only to find there were no apps at all anywhere. I left the Nook near my wifi, with wireless on, for hours and finally What's App appeared. I'd have preferred something simpler, but installed it anyway and then, having doubts, uninstalled via the Apps Drawer. I then upgraded the Market and installed SearchMarket, which just brings up the search keyboard. However, it finds apps, thpough only free ones, and downloads them. The Market still shows only What's App, though something else appeared briefly. There was no Books app in the Apps Drawer, so I downloaded the above versions.
caromcm said:
Using gbooks_10_16.apk I can search and get a book list, but nothing happens when I click a book. The basket/cart and pay apparatus is missing. Does anyone know how I can fix this?
I've also tried gb152.apk, but this doesn't seem to work at all.
I rooted with Nook Manager and then ran NTGAppsAttack (both v.050). NTGAppsAttack went fine until I clicked on Market only to find there were no apps at all anywhere. I left the Nook near my wifi, with wireless on, for hours and finally What's App appeared. I'd have preferred something simpler, but installed it anyway and then, having doubts, uninstalled via the Apps Drawer. I then upgraded the Market and installed SearchMarket, which just brings up the search keyboard. However, it finds apps, thpough only free ones, and downloads them. The Market still shows only What's App, though something else appeared briefly. There was no Books app in the Apps Drawer, so I downloaded the above versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So just to be sure, you are using the NST?
You will see very few/no apps via the Market app. Sometimes the category list will dredge up an app or two (free), but you need SearchMarket to find anything. I think you are right about only free apps. It may be that the old apps cannot negotiate the security transactions for paid apps.
And on that topic, the non-function of the store in Gbooks is your least problem. Have you noticed that it doesn't upsync?! I and others have done a pretty thorough investigation of the various versions that will run on the NST.. The version you mention has a functioning reader but can't upsync. I think up to 1.3.5 the reader still works (going from memory here...) but no upsync. The oldest version that will currently sync is maybe 1.5.2, but only if you can get the book to actually display, which is more miss than hit.
I played with Gbooks for a long time, even though I've never used it. I don't think it's doable without a serious rewrite of the source.
If you haven't already, you'll need to update the certificates on your nook as described in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=65344931
Some older versions of Google Books will work, but maybe not all of the features. I have Books version 1.2.2 and can download purchased books from my library, although I purchased them on other devices. You can't purchase books on the old version of the Market or the books app since our nooks don't have Google Play Services, but you should be able to download books purchased on other devices (but same account.
You won't find many compatible apps in the Market at this point, and purchased apps have to be downloaded to other devices and then side loaded to the nook (assuming they're compatible). Some older working versions of apps can be found here on XDA.
cjpicci said:
If you haven't already, you'll need to update the certificates on your nook as described in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=65344931
Some older versions of Google Books will work, but maybe not all of the features. I have Books version 1.2.2 and can download purchased books from my library, although I purchased them on other devices. You can't purchase books on the old version of the Market or the books app since our nooks don't have Google Play Services, but you should be able to download books purchased on other devices (but same account.
You won't find many compatible apps in the Market at this point, and purchased apps have to be downloaded to other devices and then side loaded to the nook (assuming they're compatible). Some older working versions of apps can be found here on XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does your version upsync? If so can you post a copy of the apk?
nmyshkin said:
So just to be sure, you are using the NST?
You will see very few/no apps via the Market app. Sometimes the category list will dredge up an app or two (free), but you need SearchMarket to find anything. I think you are right about only free apps. It may be that the old apps cannot negotiate the security transactions for paid apps.
And on that topic, the non-function of the store in Gbooks is your least problem. Have you noticed that it doesn't upsync?! I and others have done a pretty thorough investigation of the various versions that will run on the NST.. The version you mention has a functioning reader but can't upsync. I think up to 1.3.5 the reader still works (going from memory here...) but no upsync. The oldest version that will currently sync is maybe 1.5.2, but only if you can get the book to actually display, which is more miss than hit.
I played with Gbooks for a long time, even though I've never used it. I don't think it's doable without a serious rewrite of the source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm using the NST. I haven't looked at syncing because as I understand it this is just a question of convenience when reading on multiple devices, which is not my aim. I just want to get books onto the Nook. Many thanks.
cjpicci said:
If you haven't already, you'll need to update the certificates on your nook as described in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=65344931
Some older versions of Google Books will work, but maybe not all of the features. I have Books version 1.2.2 and can download purchased books from my library, although I purchased them on other devices. You can't purchase books on the old version of the Market or the books app since our nooks don't have Google Play Services, but you should be able to download books purchased on other devices (but same account.
You won't find many compatible apps in the Market at this point, and purchased apps have to be downloaded to other devices and then side loaded to the nook (assuming they're compatible). Some older working versions of apps can be found here on XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks. This is very interesting, but I'll have to wrap a wet towel round my head before going back to the thread you suggest! Too late at night now.
nmyshkin said:
Does your version upsync? If so can you post a copy of the apk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems to upsync last read pages, roughly anyway since the formatting varies for different devices. Since this old version doesn't support anything like notes or highlights, I'm not sure what else it could sync.
What's the best/most practical way to share files on xda? While I've been lurking for quite some time, I only created an account fairly recently.
cjpicci said:
It seems to upsync last read pages, roughly anyway since the formatting varies for different devices. Since this old version doesn't support anything like notes or highlights, I'm not sure what else it could sync.
What's the best/most practical way to share files on xda? While I've been lurking for quite some time, I only created an account fairly recently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can attach the apk file using the options below as you compose your reply or if you're not able to do that yet you can provide a link to any safe place where you can store a copy (Dropbox, etc.) so that people can access the file.
This is sort of amazing. I've never run into a version number like that and am really curious to see what it can do. Casual reading and syncing are all I would care about.
nmyshkin said:
You can attach the apk file using the options below as you compose your reply or if you're not able to do that yet you can provide a link to any safe place where you can store a copy (Dropbox, etc.) so that people can access the file.
This is sort of amazing. I've never run into a version number like that and am really curious to see what it can do. Casual reading and syncing are all I would care about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've solved my problem now. I've been trying to download books from Google, first to my NookST and then to my laptop. But I'm running 32-bit Linux on my laptop and Google, like Adobe, seems determined to exclude Linux from the world of ebooks. So I downloaded to my Android phone and was quite surprised when the book also appeared on my Nook. I was offered the option of syncing, but decided not to be too ambitious in case it caused problems with the rather old Nook software.
It may have helped that I did all the NTGAppsAttack process on my Nook (I didn't want to go to the laptop because of the Linux problem). After I typed in my phone number I first tried to confirm on the phone and, when that didn't work, typed in the confirm number on my Nook. So perhaps the 2 devices finally got quite firmly linked.
I'll have a go at attaching the Google Books version I'm using, gbooks_10_16.apk.
I got it from another post on this forum. The reader works well but doesn't have a search facility.
nmyshkin said:
You can attach the apk file using the options below as you compose your reply or if you're not able to do that yet you can provide a link to any safe place where you can store a copy (Dropbox, etc.) so that people can access the file.
This is sort of amazing. I've never run into a version number like that and am really curious to see what it can do. Casual reading and syncing are all I would care about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the md5 for the attached file generated by Android File Verifier:
bde6462cde86e0521d0b78270e11adb4
I think I probably got this apk when it was posted a long time ago, but I can't remember for sure. I just let Lookout scan it again and it came up "safe", for whatever that's worth.
cjpicci said:
Here's the md5 for the attached file generated by Android File Verifier:
bde6462cde86e0521d0b78270e11adb4
I think I probably got this apk when it was posted a long time ago, but I can't remember for sure. I just let Lookout scan it again and it came up "safe", for whatever that's worth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well done!! People have been searching for a version of GBooks that would sync for years! I can confirm that this works with free books from Google as well as user-uploaded books. I don't have any books purchased from Google so could not check that.
As with other versions, it helps to have a hardware key assigned to "menu" in order to access things like font size, etc., while reading (I use a long-press of the lower right button).
This is really a great discovery. I'll have to update the various other threads with a pointer to your post.
nmyshkin said:
Well done!! People have been searching for a version of GBooks that would sync for years! I can confirm that this works with free books from Google as well as user-uploaded books. I don't have any books purchased from Google so could not check that.
As with other versions, it helps to have a hardware key assigned to "menu" in order to access things like font size, etc., while reading (I use a long-press of the lower right button).
This is really a great discovery. I'll have to update the various other threads with a pointer to your post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad it's working for you too! I can't remember for sure, but I think this version might've been recommended by someone else before. I'll have to look through my old bookmarks...
nmyshkin said:
Well done!! People have been searching for a version of GBooks that would sync for years! I can confirm that this works with free books from Google as well as user-uploaded books. I don't have any books purchased from Google so could not check that.
As with other versions, it helps to have a hardware key assigned to "menu" in order to access things like font size, etc., while reading (I use a long-press of the lower right button).
This is really a great discovery. I'll have to update the various other threads with a pointer to your post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the info, guys. Second time you've steered me in the right direction, nmyshkin. NB Attaching the apk file was difficult because the process was incredibly slow (and not even a whirligig). Lots of notices about scripts that had stalled. I'm running Linux Mint 17 (Cinnamon) 32-bit; browser is Firefox.