Database Users

[Q] what are the advantages and disadvantages of rooting and are there any risks?

Could somebody please tell me what the advantages and disadvantages of rooting the flipside are, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, are there any risks??
Will I be able to take of all of these ATT apps?
Will I be able to move my apps from the phones memory to the SD card?
Can the phone be unrooted?
Will all of my apps still work?
What is the best route to root? I have the z4root.
I am much indebted to anyone who will answer these questions. Thanks.

z4root will work fine, it's nice an easy to use. Rooting won't give you an easy way to move apps to the sd card, but you can remove the AT&T (and other system) apps. You can either do it by hand, or with any number of apps on the market. I prefer titanium backup, personally. All of your existing apps will work, there's no change there.
The only real disadvantage is that you'll have the power to screw up your phone. You can potentially screw up bad enough that you'll need to reflash the stock .sbf file. Generally, this takes some real screwing around, but just thought I'd point it out.

Thank u for your thourough answer. What do you mean by screw it up. How could I do that and how do i avoid it. Are you saying by virtue of the fact that i'm rooting that i'll screw it up, or it's something that i may do afterwards that may do it? Thanks.
also, are there any other advantages to rooting other than taking off the apps?

The act of rooting itself shouldn't screw anything up, but having root means you could possibly do something later that would. Generally, you'd have to be messing with stuff you have no business messing with. With root, you can remount the system directory as read/write, and then end up deleting or modifying a file that won't let the phone boot, which means you'd need to reflash. Stay away from the command line if you don't know what you're doing, and don't grant root access to apps you don't trust, and you're reasonably safe.
Other than removing system apps, like the AT&T garbage, you can also backup and restore apps and their data, which is great for if you need to reflash, if you switch phones, etc. There's not a TON of stuff that requires root, but honestly, removing the AT&T junk is definitely a good reason to root, the phone feels much faster after scrapping a lot of the blur and AT&T stuff.

I'm assuming then that any android/att/Motorola updates will not be problem either? BTW, do you if and when Motorola will bupdating the flipside to 2.2? Thanks.

There shouldn't be any problem updating with an official update if/when we get one, but you'll need to re-root and remove the AT&T stuff again. There's no word on when we'll get 2.2, but I'd assume we'll get it at some point.

Ok. I just rooted! Yeah, it worked! But i cannot figue out how to delete the att bloatware. I go into the apps manager and click on one of the att apps, and there is still no option to uninstall; only to clear the cache. Also, I downloaded the titanium and I cannot figure out how to do it from there either. Plus, I still had to sideload the titanium which i tbought that i would not have to do once i rooted.

mordechai said:
Plus, I still had to sideload the titanium which i tbought that i would not have to do once i rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to enable Unknown Sources before you can install non-Market apps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=867637
This is also an example of how you can mess up your phone by having root access.

That is part of the problem that i do not have that option in two.one. that is why i had to sideload all of those programs. are you saying that i screwed up my phone. i tried clicking on the link but this googlw ad comes up and i cant get past it.

Ok, i got through to the link. But the guy seems pretty shaky as to whether you should follow his instructions. Is this legit or what?

Maybe one of you guys can help. I'm new to alot of this but my last droid x was rooted and it was great I used z4root worked perfectly. But now I have a new X and a z4root apk. On my laptop, now what? Last rooted X, I was fortunate enough to catch z4root on the market, like a day before they updated. HELP!!!!!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

There are instructions in another post in this forum on how to enable Non-Market Apps, also known as Unknown Sources. With Titanium Backup, make sure that you grant it root permissions when it asks, and that it says something like this on the overview:
Root access: OK (BusyBox 1.17.2 from system)
HyperShell (FAST!): YES
Fast/Auto app install: Yes (using HyperShell)
SQLite: YES (SQLite 3.7.2 included)
Then just click on Backup/Restore at the top, and you'll get a list of all your apps. If you don't have backup/restore at the top, your sd card isn't mounted on the phone, unplug your usb cable and hit Menu > More > Reload application.
From Backup/Restore, you get a huge list of all the apps on your phone. Just scroll down to the AT&T stuff, tap them, and click uninstall in the top-right corner. If you're not sure if you want to uninstall something, because it might belong to something important, click Freeze instead. Freezing will stop the app from running, and stop it from showing up in your tray, but you can easily unfreeze it to restore it if it turns out it was important.
Here's the list of stuff I have frozen/uninstalled:
AdService 1.0
all of the "AT&T" apps
all of the "com.motorola" apps
Data Manager and Data Manager Service
Help Center
Home (I use ADWLauncher, don't remove this if you don't already have an alternative launcher installed)
MediaSync
Mobile Video
all of the "MotoBlur" apps
My Uploads
Phone Portal
Quick Contact
Social Messaging, Social Messaging Service, Social Networking, and Social Status
Sticky Note
Video Editor Lite
Vlingo Voice
Weather 2.1
WHERE
Work Contacts
Mobile Banking
Magic Smoke Wallpapers
Kodak Perfect Touch
AT&T Address Book
Quickoffice
YPmobile
As for enabling unknown sources, it's a bit of a pain, you'll need to be comfortable with a command line to do replace the files, and comfortable with a hex editor if you want to edit your own instead of reusing someone else's files. I managed to screw up my phone in the process and had to completely reflash and start over, it wasn't fun.
His instructions do work, but his .sh file doesn't work, you'll need to paste the commands one by one into your command prompt. I preferred to edit my own files, so I wouldn't have the same market ID, and that's just slightly more complex. I can help you through it either way though, just make a post over in that thread if you're having problems.
bubba90744 said:
Maybe one of you guys can help. I'm new to alot of this but my last droid x was rooted and it was great I used z4root worked perfectly. But now I have a new X and a z4root apk. On my laptop, now what? Last rooted X, I was fortunate enough to catch z4root on the market, like a day before they updated. HELP!!!!!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need to get z4root installed on your phone, it should be pretty straightforward. The Droid X shouldn't be blocking non-market apps, so just download it from your phone and run the .apk to install.

So do I hook my phone up to my laptop, and put the apk. on my sd?
Or download the apk. directly to my phone from the site?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

I found the link, but the directions are too complicated for my novice understanding of technology. It looks like I am stuck. I don't want to try what he's saying and take any chances. Are there any other alternatives? Or do you have any other suggestions as to how to make the most of the space that I do have with the att bloatware, because I am constantly running out of room. It is a strange phenomenon that I don't understand, that when I turn on the phone it will have around 40mb to play with, and after a few hours it is down to 16 and then 10, and then before I know it, the phone is telling me that my memory is full. So then I reset and it's back to ~40 again. Do you have an explanation? Thanks.

[Q] VM USA Intercept Clean no junk apps?

I have switched jobs and ended up with a VM Samsung Intercept I am growing to like it but I hate the bloatware other then rooting it is there anyway to uninstall the junk I will never use and keep the other junk from running at start up every single time?
At a fresh boot I have 52 Megs after running advanced task killer and stopping the bloatware I have 62
Amazon MP3 Never used it never will use it it runs at start up every single time I reboot the phone and I have to go in and kill it (Makes me want to never use Amazon again)
MAPS I have turned off all location bases services but everytime I reboot the phone that dang maps loads again (I Hate it)
Market I use it to download apps and games but I don't need it running every single time I reboot
Voice Dailer never use it doubt I ever will
SSA (not sure what it is)

Hello,
I have the same problems as you do. Download an app called startup cleaner from the marketplace. There you can have it kill the apps you don't want at startup. It's the closest way to getting rid of them without rooting your phone.

Everyone asks this, it's not unique to one phone
These are system apps and are in a system directory that is write and delete protected. Think of root as admin on a computer it grants you special privileges like write and delete.
You lack the permissions necessary without root. As for the answer to you question I think you knew it when you posted and after this should most defiantly know the correct answer is often the most obvious.
When I was new to android I was worried too, but don't worry. Just find a "stock rom" and if you need to ever send the device in you will be able to flash the stock images on to the built in flash memory. It's like any writable memory you can always write over it with original information if you have source for the original info.

Hi I don't have a Samsung Intercept but I know that any rooted phone can remove bloatware using the app, Titanium Backup. You need to be rooted in order for app to work, and it is free.
Eric

Yeah you have to root your phone before you can remove system apps. I suggest anyone root there phone, you can make it like 100 times better. Go over to sdx-developers.com and look around in the intercept section for how to root your phone!
Sent from my SPH-M910 using Tapatalk

Very simple
Rooting this phone is quite simple - using only help and posts from xda I was able to root my intercept, remove the annoying bloatware (which really makes the system run great) and use my phone as a full infrastructure mode Wi-Fi hotspot for my android tablet.
Don't waste your time with startup cleaners and task killers - just head over to the dev section and read the guide and root your phone - then install Titanium Backup from the market - you can use it to remove factory installed apps but still keep a backup of them - you will need to restore them if VM ever pushes out another OTA update (which I doubt; I don't see us getting gingerbread on this device)
PM me if you need help rooting your Intercept. You need a data sync cable, a windows PC, and a little bit of time to get it going.

How do you install and use Google Play?

I rooted my nook today and no matter what I try, using Opera Mini, I cannot get any google apps to install. I also cant figure out how to add a device to google apps. Since the Market app never works for anyone this seems to be the only way to install anything but there are no forums mentioning how to install it. I would appreciate some assistance. Thanks.

no one here knows the answer to this? i'm shocked no replies yet.

download gapps.zip and flash it.
Sent from my MT11i using XDA
Just hit thanks if I helped.

Guyman2,
Depending on the rooting method you used, there is way to install gapps, which includes market (google play - they are compatible in use, nothing being left). Check it on the proper post here in the development forum!

Earayil said:
download gapps.zip and flash it.
Sent from my MT11i using XDA
Just hit thanks if I helped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Touchnooter. What do you mean by "flash it"?

Guyman2 said:
I used Touchnooter. What do you mean by "flash it"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Similar to how you flash the rom. Check the forums you will get the answer. Sorry I coudnt give the link. My data plan is slow.
Sent from my MT11i using XDA

To more succinctly state the problem:
How can you get APKs out of Google Play without loading your personal device with a load of junk from Google?
I've got Google Maps on my Nook right now and every time I turn my back it's trying to do something (when not running).

Renate,
Gotta live with that. That's the price of having market (gmail always on the background, etc), but it helps the system runs a little bit better (apps upgrade!).
Guyman,
Look on the thread related to touchnooter, and probably there will be an option to add gapps to your system. Usually the 1st post show you all the options.

Have the same problem - is there a way to install market only?

What I'm going to do is install on my phone, extract it from the phone, then load onto the Nook and delete what's left over! Madness, I know.
A nicer way for me would be to install into a virtual machine and do that. Anyone know if that's possible? Possibly even with Android-x86??
I don't like market in this sense. It's a problem with all Android devices as far as I can see. Market is a bit of a problem in this regard.

I'm not sure about the problem here, but, I can confirm that, I rooted my NST with Touchnooter and market is working fine, I downloaded several apps from market and, I also installed some apps trough Google Play Store from my PC directly to the NST.

For me Market search didn't work after following MinimalTouch so I had to use the SearchMarket app from Appbrain. After this now I can search and install anything but still can't click the notifcations, OperaMini crashes back to the ADW desktop, same for Browser too after clicking a link in Google.
edit:
for Renate re: Maps out of control. Yes, I noticed too that it comes out of the background and wastes battery. 2 ideas: 1) Freeze it when not in use. You can use a Widget from Titanium or AppQuarantine for quicker launch 2) use something 3rd party
I also suggest using a different account for the Nook to any other Android devices you have to keep things separate and clear since the NST is not recognised by Play.

For a bare-bones root with an appstore, tinynoot ought to work.
I cobbled it together for the glowlight but all the parts are from the established NST environment - clockwork, su, busybox, adw, button savior, nook touch and nook color tools.
I include the Amazon appstore, which of course is also an app that likes to be always on, but none of the gapps because the framework for the glowlight stuff hasn't been looked at yet.
The install scripts are based on minimal nooter, which is CWR based file and directory creation.
I didn't include a modded uRamdisk because I find that adb wireless is enough on its own to let me use wifi adb (dont' recall if I've used usb ADB but I suspect it would work, in assocation with nook color tools) - I can shell in via ADB and just need to type su to get superuser.
Downloads and longwinded instructions are up at
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1650593

Renate NST said:
To more succinctly state the problem:
How can you get APKs out of Google Play without loading your personal device with a load of junk from Google?
I've got Google Maps on my Nook right now and every time I turn my back it's trying to do something (when not running).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could format and use one of my minimal zips instead of the full ones, they had only the neccesary apps and libs for Gmail (manual sync) and "Market" to work correctly, nothing more, nothing less, no maps, etc.
Now everything is a bit outdated, as I said, I'll work on this again and update the zips etc.

Phone Hacked with Spyware Remotely ?

Hi,
My brother has been told by an associate, that he has hacked his phone and can track and hear everything he does and did it remotely.
Also said the App is undetectable.
His phone is a rooted Note 3 and his wife has a non rooted Galaxy S5.
Now, I have told him there is no way for for somebody to remotely install any app on your phone even if it is rooted, unless it is already compromised and or unless they have your Google account and password, which i am not 100% sure that would allow you to install anything either.
So my question is, if he flashes an original rom and creates a new Google account, can he feel safe that his phone can't have malicious apps installed with out his knowledge ?
I would assume a factory reset wouldn't be enough to get rid of an app installed as a system app ?
Is there any programs he could install to check for malicious apps.
I think my brother is just being overly paranoid and this guy is a ****
Help greatly appreciated.
Hopefully this is the right thread / board, if not please move to the correct thread please mods.

JaGuR said:
Hi,
My brother has been told by an associate, that he has hacked his phone and can track and hear everything he does and did it remotely.
Also said the App is undetectable.
His phone is a rooted Note 3 and his wife has a non rooted Galaxy S5.
Now, I have told him there is no way for for somebody to remotely install any app on your phone even if it is rooted, unless it is already compromised and or unless they have your Google account and password, which i am not 100% sure that would allow you to install anything either.
So my question is, if he flashes an original rom and creates a new Google account, can he feel safe that his phone can't have malicious apps installed with out his knowledge ?
I would assume a factory reset wouldn't be enough to get rid of an app installed as a system app ?
Is there any programs he could install to check for malicious apps.
I think my brother is just being overly paranoid and this guy is a ****
Help greatly appreciated.
Hopefully this is the right thread / board, if not please move to the correct thread please mods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say, scan with an antivirus like avast and see what can come up, and to your question, if he flashes the stock rom, everything which has been installed as a system app will get removed, also if your phone is rooted , avast has a function which is called firewall, in that you can control the internet connectivity of all the user/system app. I use it to block internet access to systems which in my view do not need any connectivity to run. Its very easy to do also. ask him to change his goole password and also user 2 factor authentication on google.

Sounds like someone's been watching a bit too much Person of Interest...
Do such 'apps' exist? Yes. Are they publicly available? Hell no.

I dont think theres a software like that in public. Thats a lot of money to be earned "IF" ever and theres laws to break.
Just do a factory reset from recovery or a better solution is to upgrade your firmware to the newest build from samfirmware

Factory reset won't delete system apps.
The least you can do is flash stock ROM using Odin to fulfill your brother's OCD.

Thanks guys, will put my mind at rest and hopefully his.

JaGuR said:
1- if he flashes an original rom and creates a new Google account, can he feel safe that his phone can't have malicious apps installed with out his knowledge ?
2- I would assume a factory reset wouldn't be enough to get rid of an app installed as a system app ?
3- Is there any programs he could install to check for malicious apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1- Yes. And no need to create a new account, just change the password of the current account.
2- Yes, in some (rare) cases.
3- I'm not sure. You can try some antivirus apps or security apps on the Play Store. But in general, you can check yourself by finding apps that have the following permissions: READ SMS + RECORD AUDIO + FULL INTERNET ACCESS... Try to eliminate well-known safe apps, plus some experiences and some helps from the other, you can identify these malicious apps.

APP/APK Updater

Hi
Like Google Play, is there an updater that updates app from APKmirror or others automatic?

There are but I would suggest aurora which uses Google play without an account

Forgot to mention, it can also be apps that are not on Google Play.
Ex for me is: Disney+, have to find it on apkmirror (or others), has disappeared from my Google Play....
Ofcourse other apps also, that is not on google play.

Disney + is still on Google play Maybe not for your country or something but aurora uses anonymity to show you everything on the Play store

Something happens after a reset of my Shield. So can't find it anymore.
I will try aurora, tried it now on my phone, looks great.
New to this, so 1 question: Is it possible to make update and install. Now I had to hit install/upgrade for each of the apps?
And maybe run in the background and update apps?

With root yes that will auto update

Thanks for the answer.
Haven't read or tried that in years. Maybe I'll check for the Shield, my phone is brand new so I'll have to think about that.
Is it still the hassel of USB, program and much code on the laptop, if I could ask?

Now it's just using a modified boot file. An oversimplified explanation is to just enable oem unlock, reset to factory settings, extract the boot file, magisk modifies it, put it back in the phone and boom you're rooted

Thanks, will try to find the howto for my Shield and maybe my phone.