Sound Issues - Conflict Found but not Solved [Closed] - OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Questions & Answers

I'll leave this up but not really sure any of this is helpful to most people. Skip to the last post for the closest I got to a resolution. Basically, my phone was losing sound and mic ever since Live Caption was introduced to Device Personalization Services.
Does anyone have the OTA or Boot.img for 10.0.36? I would like to use the bootloader MSM tool for that release as that was probably the last stable ROM without sound and mic issues on my phone. I see the link is still up (but crossed out) in the 'unlock bootloader' thread but when I scan the boot.img with my antivirus, it tells me it "scanned two files, no threats found". Why would that boot.img be scanning as two files when all the other boots I have only scan as one? Sounds malicious to me. Can someone please please please hook me up with that boot? My phone has been down for over a month. The sound issues are what eventually forced me to try root on this one. I've been successfully rooted on 10.0.39 and 11.01.3 over and over again in the passed couple of weeks. However, after a fresh install, sound and mic is back and life is beautiful and then 2 minutes later, google does whatever it does in the background and I lose it again. I've been battling this since last summer but I think 10.0.36 is far enough back before google updates fracked my phone. Thank you.

For anyone following/interested, (seems like the TMO McLaren family is rather small) 10.0.36 didn't on it's own solve the issue either. It was a little bit lighter on the preinstalled apps though so I suppose that made it slightly easier to work with. I have the RoM stable with working audio and mic offline and it seems to be holding. I'm gonna drop in the SIM and let the Google have access to daggon internet again.
The main change that got this stable was making sure none of the Google apps had access to the "modify system settings" permission that is enabled by default for ALL of the Google apps. If even one of them has that permission it seems it will unlock the gate for it it's buddies. It's kinda hard to observe changes made through settings when the Google just keeps changing them back to whatever the heck it feels like in the background. I'm so disgusted with that company's overly intrusive practices right now. It already knows what route I take to work, what time I get off, what my appoints will be two weeks from now, my interests, who my friends and family are, what porn I like, and if I was constipated or not this morning...like leave me the heck alone and let me chose my own phone settings.
I know I could have just uninstalled/disabled most of the Gapps through ADB and/or checking some of the custom RoMs out there but I felt it was important to learn what was happening to be better prepared in the future and hopefully help someone else who may be having a seemingly rare conflict/issue between one or more Google apps and their device.
I'd be happy to answer any questions or provide more details in the event I'm not alone. I really think I just got unlucky and was sent a refurb replacement that went though some sloppy Quality Control after the previous owner returned it and I'm guessing possibly shouldn't have been released back into the wild.

Ok I'm not so sure the Google is to blame. There may be some kind of conflict with the Google causing my sound and mic to crash but after extensive reading through the threads, I'm convinced that the root of the problem may be with my Persist and no matter what I do, the problem comes back.
I have my persist backed up but the problem is, after I cracked the screen of my original 5G Mclaren, they sent me a refurb. It was maybe corrupted before I got it but the issue is what led me back here only to find out that a lot has changed in almost 10 years. I understand that the Persist partition is unique to my phone but is there no way to repair it?
I'm guessing if I go to a custom ROM, I would just bring my problem with me to that one? I'm pretty tenacious.... maybe if I had a good one I could compare the two for anything pertaining to sound? I could really use a hand here. I know it's not a hardware issue. I actually had this thing running nice offline for a whole day (sound and mic working perfectly). I did that by disallowing most google apps to modify system settings and changed the permissions on a couple and disabled the ones I don't use. Then I dropped in my Sim, connected to wi-fi...all was still good. Made a phone call to a friend and we could hear each other perfectly. Then I plugged in to PC to remove a minor amount of bloat and the darn thing rebooted with Android 11 installed...I was so mad.
I guess I could try again with the same approach and somehow stop the OTAs...even a nudge in the best direction to do that would be super appreciated.
Edit: for what it's worth, I went to 10.0.36 (on both partitions) when I made those adjustments that got it working. The same adjustments did not work when it updated me to 11 and there's tons more apps it seems. I did not use the reserve images fix to get OTAs so I was hoping I just wouldn't be updated but I was and felt completely defeated by the Google. I'd go back further if I could but I'm not exactly sure how I can do that at this point and keep the bootloader unlocked without a ton more research and only have so much time. I tried manually flashing all the images for 10.0.13 or .16 I believe from posted files and instructions way back in the threads...There were no errors in the process and I did it through fastbootd but that attempt would only boot into fastboot afterwards. At the end of the day I'm just an old Jarhead working outside on the railroad. I barely even touch computers anymore.

So here I am back on 10.0.36 again. Initial boot offline produced sounds again for about 2 minutes before they disappeared again.
Resetting system settings was a no go so I started with usual and uninstalled any apps that it would allow me to uninstall through settings.
To sum up all of the small changes and many reboots, I disabled all of the unhidden/non-system Google apps except for Play Services and GBoard but I did swap that out for Simple Keyboard (installed from internal storage). Before disabling them I revoked their rights to modify system settings as well as display over other apps.
I left T-Mobile enabled but denied it's rights to modify system apps.
I took all of the background data permissions away (probably isn't related to the sound issue but just didn't thing disabled apps should have that option checked anyway) from the Google apps. After rebooting most of those like Duo, Calender, Pay, Maps, etc but not the Google App itself all had the permissions for background data again, presumably because I did not deny Google Play Services access to change system settings. I can't be sure it was play services doing that though because I didn't turn that permission off for all apps (mostly system).
Android Auto is disabled. I denied Mic for the T-Mobile app. There's a couple other ones I disallowed to display over other apps and modify system settings and I also cleared cache for all of the apps I made changes to.
Sounds (system, ringtones, etc. are now holding fine and it's been over an hour. Mic was confirmed by installing a recorder app from storage.
I'm not sure about anything but this once again seems to suggest that my hardware (at least the actual speakers and mic) is fine and that maybe if I get on a custom rom with minimal Google interference, I have a shot at using this darn thing. Haven't read that section as extensively as the rest of the sections though because better understanding of stock is always better before jumping into the experimental. I do hope there's one I can use that doesn't bring my apparent conflict with the Google with it.
In the meantime, I guess I need to worry about a reboot that initiates Android 11 (if I take it off airplane mode) because to date, I haven't figured out what, if any changes, I can do in settings to get my sound and mic back if it updates to the newest OTA flavor.
I took one suggestion so far I saw in the thread about creating a payload_metadata.bin with no permissions....sounds plausible. There was an alternative suggestion through magisk but I'd have to open the internet flood gate again for that. So far I only let internet down long enough to let magisk install with the latest update because installing it as a zip through a booted TWRP (latest) doesn't install it fully until I let it have internet access and I left it open long enough to get a couple modules, one being the one that allows the editing of build props in case there's a suggested change I see that can be made to audio that is causing my conflict. That of course was long enough for the system to at least download Android 11 somewhere on my device.
I'm really not sure if there's a hardware difference with my device or something with the Persist (just a guess) that comes back no matter what fresh start with whatever stock RoM I choose to use with the Unbrick Tool but there's obviously something different about this device or I wouldn't be seemingly the only one with this issue.
I guess at this point I'll search for the best way to stop the OTA from installing and look into the best custom RoM option for myself because as tenacious as I am, I just don't have the luxury of the time it would take for the deeper understanding necessary to do this alone. I've done so much reading just for the reward of having a phone that can at least make a phone call lol.
Edit: Oh yeah XGoogle enrollment is disabled too.
EDIT: IF I REMOVE "ALLOW TO MODIFY SYSTEM SETTINGS" PERMISSION FROM TOO MANY OF THE GOOGLE APPS, NOT INCLUDING PLAY SERVICES, MY DEVICE WILL FACTORY RESET ITSELF. USING THE PHONE WITH SIM AND WIFI BUT WITHOUT EVER SIGNING INTO ANY GOOGLE SERVICES CAUSES A FACTORY RESET ALSO. THIS IS USUALLY INITIATED BY LETTING THE PHONE SIT IDLE FOR TOO LONG BUT MAKING A PHONE CALL SEEMS TO MAKE IT CRASH AROUND 5 MINUES FROM CONNECTION TO THE CALL.

Marines don't retreat but we do strategically withdraw and the Google has me surrounded on all sides with no aid from the allies at XDA.
The phone shut itself down and upon reboot I had no sound again and of course the Google apps were all patting each other on the back for all the permissions they changed back on their own....lol like my $900 gave me ownership to any part of this trash. Doesn't look like, during a quick browse, that any of the custom RoMs come without GApps or mention this MicroG stuff I saw a couple videos on. Are they any pay phone booths left?
Semper Fi

Ok I'm trying more things still lol. Again, I got this phone as refurb replacement to my original and the original worked great. It looks like I have two apps associated with Dolby.
They are:
com.dolby.daxervice (user app)
com.oneplus.sound.tuner (system app)
Neither one of those can be disabled (through settings I mean) and com.oneplus.sound.tuner doesn't even have any permissions requested and is greyed out from enabling any permissions. That doesn't seem right to me. In Sounds and Vibrations from the settings menu, Dolby Atmos does not specifically say it's for external devices but maybe...
Indeed, I just connected a set of earbuds and now it's been granted permissions and I have the option to deny or allow. Now it seems a little less likely my device's conflict with the Google originates there but I suppose that since I haven't tried earbuds or anything since using the unbrick tools and rooting, that my conflict persists but shouldn't. I'll clear cache and Dalvik once again and hope for the best. I could also try disabling/uninstalling those two through ADB Shell as another test option. I'm running out of ideas though there's also an equalizer app that gets used in place of com.oneplus.sound.tuner over in the 7T section. Dolby Atmos Equaliser 7T (HD1903) (no root needed) I could try that also. (Edit: This is not for Android 11). I really want to resolve this before trying a Custom RoM. Of course there's a chance one of those might fix my conflict or maybe I'd just bring it with me also and I'd feel more hopeless at that point.
Edit: I guess I should mention that I did let it update to Android 11. Strange how people early on in the threads couldn't get it and even going back to 10.0.36 my device was more than happy to reboot with 11 literally while I was still plugged in with ADB enabled after uninstalling some bloat I felt was very conservative. I'm still using the stock recovery and only booting into TWRP to use Dalvik. It was my bad assumption to think that stock recovery was doing that when clearing cache these days. Sure beats a clean install just to get temporary sound back and honestly it seems to hold a little longer than is has been when I do that.
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I'm officially done with this. It looks like last year when Device Personalization Services was updated with Live Caption or whatever, it caused a conflict with my phone. Removing microphone permissions for Device Personalization Services in conjunction with uninstalling updates for the Google App (Velvet) and clearing cache will bring my sound back after a reboot in Android 11. Even with DON'T Auto Update Apps checked in the Playstore, the Playstore will update Google Apps the next time the Playstore updates itself. If the Playstore is already updated when I uninstall updates for the Google App, the Playstore, on next reboot, will just roll back it's own update so it can update the other Google Apps and then update itself again. (Sounds crazy but it happens over and over again) If I disable the Playstore, it won't auto update anymore but after an hour or so the phone will shut down on it's own at some point, take a really long time to reboot and when it does it has some default wallpaper, that's not even selectable in Customization, and then sound and mic is gone again. At that point, clearing cache for the the Google App (microphone permissions still removed for Device Personalization Services still denied) and rebooting again will bring sound and mic back once more. If I disable the Google App or change permissions the phone doesn't like, without ever signing into Google or the Playstore, the phone will most likely factory reset itself and I'm back to the beginning. I'm done. I'm gonna try Lineage or something and hope for the best. Though I didn't receive any direct help or guidance, I still appreciate everyone who posted for this device before me as it was still helpful nonetheless.

Related

Wow, removing bloatware = WAY BETTER BATTERY LIFE!

After rooting my phone and using titanium backup (per erichss's suggestion) from the market to remove apps I'll never use, the battery life on my phone is better than anything I've ever experienced.
Yesterday I took it off the charger at around 10-11, then went to a food and wine festival in DC and took pictures and video and basically just used the phone a lot. Last night before bed (past 12) when I hooked it up to the charger, it said the phone was at 70%! I know it's only like 12 hours of use, but still, I DO notice a difference in the rate at which it goes down.
When I first got the phone, I would be getting the low battery warning around the time I got home from work after about 10 hours of being on, AND sitting at my desk for 8 hours in airplane mode since there's no service.
I don't know what exactly it was that I removed that had the biggest impact, but I did notice that when I went to settings>applications>running services I saw a lot of stuff I didn't even want. The 3g mobile hotspot app had a service running for instance, so did skype. Maybe the stock apps that had services running in the background are the ones that drain the most.
I haven't rooted my phone yet, but just from using various task killers I have noticed that there is a lot of crap running on this phone.
At first I didn't really give it much thought, but one day I checked my phone after it had been sitting on my desk for 3 hours off the charger and the battery read 70%. That was with the phone idle, black screen, doing nothing with it for 3 hours.
I need to get around to rooting it so I don't have to try and kill tasks every 15 minutes.
To make matters worse, it seems a lot of the bloatware randomly starts up too, even after you have terminated the process.
astraelraen said:
I haven't rooted my phone yet, but just from using various task killers I have noticed that there is a lot of crap running on this phone.
At first I didn't really give it much thought, but one day I checked my phone after it had been sitting on my desk for 3 hours off the charger and the battery read 70%. That was with the phone idle, black screen, doing nothing with it for 3 hours.
I need to get around to rooting it so I don't have to try and kill tasks every 15 minutes.
To make matters worse, it seems a lot of the bloatware randomly starts up too, even after you have terminated the process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's exactly right. These apps will start up and services will run in the background. That my verizon app had a data usage service I think. Voice commands (something I NEVER will use) had it's own service running as well before I removed it.
Rooting is fairly easy. The hardest part is setting up adb, but really all you need to do is add it's location to your system's path variable and when you open up cmd.exe you'll be able to simply run commands off of it.
Here's a good rooting guide for the fascinate http://www.droidforums.net/forum/sa...ent/79811-newbie-guide-rooting-fascinate.html
Good luck. Let me know if any apps stand out as being a major culprit.
could you formulate a list of what you removed?
dopepope said:
could you formulate a list of what you removed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree here. I definitely need to remove more stuff. the RAM footprint is incredibly high out of the box.
is there a list going of confirmed bloatware/trialware that can be uninstalled by titanium, that won't brick the phone?
Or maybe a batch file that will get rid of them and our them back if needed..
Sounds easy enough.. Need that comprehensive list and locations of said files.. Need replacement files as I already used angels rom...
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
well for example, there's a utility generated by the community for the Storm 1 called "Shrink-A-OS". This utility was what got me through two years of the storm 1. uninstalling all unnecessary languages, files, folders, startup items, etc etc - all by checking boxes. VZ utilities uninstalled with ease, even...
I'm on board so far with this Fascinate. the out of box experience has been DREADFUL, and in all honesty, the storm 1 did everything out of the box but entertainment. this phone is the exact opposite so far. I had to have gmail, to connect to the marketplace, to download an app.... to then get comcast mail. bluetooth barely works. GPS is spotty. there's trialware (hello CityID, go away), bloatware (hello verizon everything) and it needs a lot of work.
but I'm confident that when 2.2 hits, we'll be all set to go. when the first 5.0 OS was out for the bold, people were immediately porting what would work over to the storm 1. I'm surprised there aren't 2.2 builds for this phone already...
Sorry guys, I should have documented everything I took out.
Just look at what services are running in the background, and ask yourself which one of those apps you really won't use. For me, it obviously was something that had an impact on battery life :/
Speaking of which, I uninstalled my visual voicemail app, but now the button in the dialer that goes to it crashes the dialer whenever I press it. Can someone post this vvm apk?
chronster said:
Sorry guys, I should have documented everything I took out.
Just look at what services are running in the background, and ask yourself which one of those apps you really won't use. For me, it obviously was something that had an impact on battery life :/
Speaking of which, I uninstalled my visual voicemail app, but now the button in the dialer that goes to it crashes the dialer whenever I press it. Can someone post this vvm apk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chronster I also have the problem with VM button crashing my dialer due to the super clean ROM, did you find this APK?
Protonus said:
Chronster I also have the problem with VM button crashing my dialer due to the super clean ROM, did you find this APK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah here you go, just move these 4 files in this zip to system/app
These can be safely removed:
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Please note that I do not use any built in social networking or verizon sync, only google. I also replaced the TouchWiz launcher with ADW in the /system/app folder prior to removing TouchWiz.
Don't pull anything if you don't know what it does, or at least dont yell if your phone borks.
I've had no issues with these being done away with.
Does freezing apps in Titanium Backup provide the same effect as deleting them from the phone?
chronster said:
yeah here you go, just move these 4 files in this zip to system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I found I had the same files from a stock fascinate dump, so I tired them first. I have the same problem with my files and yours (look to be identical) - after copying all 4 into the \system\app folder, about 30 seconds later the phone locks up bad. Screen goes black, and pressing the buttons at the bottom light them up and they stay on, can't power off or get anything on the screen. Pulling battery and rebooting has the phone stay on the "Verizon" screen for like 30 seconds, and then it does the same thing/locks up....
Had to restore a Clockwork/ROM Manager backup to get the phone to work again.. Tried with just the VVMService files instead of all 4 and had the same result.
I also while I was running the stock ROM, had this exact same reaction trying to copy in the Clock APK/ODEX files... had to wipe the phone to get it to work again.
Any other ideas how to load these in? Just running the APK's say it can't install. Do they need to be "baked" into the CleanROM?
tonyb81 said:
Does freezing apps in Titanium Backup provide the same effect as deleting them from the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, minus the fact that they don't save you any space.
Protonus said:
Actually I found I had the same files from a stock fascinate dump, so I tired them first. I have the same problem with my files and yours (look to be identical) - after copying all 4 into the \system\app folder, about 30 seconds later the phone locks up bad. Screen goes black, and pressing the buttons at the bottom light them up and they stay on, can't power off or get anything on the screen. Pulling battery and rebooting has the phone stay on the "Verizon" screen for like 30 seconds, and then it does the same thing/locks up....
Had to restore a Clockwork/ROM Manager backup to get the phone to work again.. Tried with just the VVMService files instead of all 4 and had the same result.
I also while I was running the stock ROM, had this exact same reaction trying to copy in the Clock APK/ODEX files... had to wipe the phone to get it to work again.
Any other ideas how to load these in? Just running the APK's say it can't install. Do they need to be "baked" into the CleanROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my God I'm so sorry! I had no idea it would have that reaction.
I moved them back into that folder and it was all done for me. Voicemail worked fine.
Let me ask you (I'm new) would doing a factory reset from the settings menu be the same as restoring the stock rom and all it's apps?
Daswolven said:
These can be safely removed:
Please note that I do not use any built in social networking or verizon sync, only google. I also replaced the TouchWiz launcher with ADW in the /system/app folder prior to removing TouchWiz.
Don't pull anything if you don't know what it does, or at least dont yell if your phone borks.
I've had no issues with these being done away with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info! Could you do us one more favor and set the view to details, then order by filesize? That way if people are trying to save space, they can see the biggest files to remove...
chronster said:
Let me ask you (I'm new) would doing a factory reset from the settings menu be the same as restoring the stock rom and all it's apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Nothing can touch androids /system partition (unless you root) & a factory reset depends on that fact.
A factory reset basically wipes everything that is user accessible, but /system ISN'T, so if you deleted files out of that, they're gone unless you Odin or made a Nandroid.
tjhart85 said:
No. Nothing can touch androids /system partition (unless you root) & a factory reset depends on that fact.
A factory reset basically wipes everything that is user accessible, but /system ISN'T, so if you deleted files out of that, they're gone unless you Odin or made a Nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What would happen if I took the system/app folder from a fascinate system dump, and just moved everything back in?
See, with WM, stock apps and stuff were in the rom, so if you did a factory reset, you got all the apps too. I'm surprised Android isn't like this.
Well crap, the ea28 update has made it much harder to remove bloatware.
I THINK* I've rooted my phone with the DL09 method, because Superuser grants root explorer rights when before it would crash, but the bloatware can't be moved because it says it's read only!
Anyone get around this yet?
chronster said:
I THINK* I've rooted my phone with the DL09 method, because Superuser grants root explorer rights when before it would crash, but the bloatware can't be moved because it says it's read only!
Anyone get around this yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you got to mount the system/app folder as RW, this can be done very easily with Root Explorer

Straaange things happened this morning

Seeing as though there's no more BajaROM thread, I'll post this is in the general Q&A section. Of course, while I am running BajaROM, I can't be sure that the ROM had anything to do with it.
Something weird definitely happened to my phone last night... at exactly 2:28am, it would seem.
When I woke up this morning, my live background changed to a different static background, my normal keyboard (thumb keyboard) was replaced by the samsung one, my clock widget was frozen at 2:28, the battery level read 87% (after charging all night), and hasn't changed all morning, even after an hour commute of phone calls and media play... tasker had inexplicably turned off... and I'm still finding odd things.
I restarted my phone, and my clock is more current now, but my clock widget and the statusbar clock are a minute apart for a portion of every minute (like they're offset by <60sec) Tasker still didn't turn on like it should have, until I started the app to spark it... as if it was the first time I installed it. (It does the same thing when I restore the app through Titanium Backup on a new ROM install)
I checked to make sure I still have root by starting Titanium Backup... I have root, but titanium backup says it's the free version now... when I normally have the Donate (Pro) version. I had to reinstall it from the Google Play store
I have a few nightly backup/refresh items scheduled in Titanium Backup at 2am and 2:30am... so I wonder if something went wrong.
If anyone has experienced similar issues, leave a comment.
Thanks!
DrPhant0m said:
Seeing as though there's no more BajaROM thread, I'll post this is in the general Q&A section. Of course, while I am running BajaROM, I can't be sure that the ROM had anything to do with it.
Something weird definitely happened to my phone last night... at exactly 2:28am, it would seem.
When I woke up this morning, my live background changed to a different static background, my normal keyboard (thumb keyboard) was replaced by the samsung one, my clock widget was frozen at 2:28, the battery level read 87% (after charging all night), and hasn't changed all morning, even after an hour commute of phone calls and media play... tasker had inexplicably turned off... and I'm still finding odd things.
I restarted my phone, and my clock is more current now, but my clock widget and the statusbar clock are a minute apart for a portion of every minute (like they're offset by <60sec) Tasker still didn't turn on like it should have, until I started the app to spark it... as if it was the first time I installed it. (It does the same thing when I restore the app through Titanium Backup on a new ROM install)
I checked to make sure I still have root by starting Titanium Backup... I have root, but titanium backup says it's the free version now... when I normally have the Donate (Pro) version. I had to reinstall it from the Google Play store
I have a few nightly backup/refresh items scheduled in Titanium Backup at 2am and 2:30am... so I wonder if something went wrong.
If anyone has experienced similar issues, leave a comment.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This won't help you understand what's going on but for what it's worth I'm running Baja 16.1 and it's just fine. I don't use any exposed or wanam modules. Think that might be the culprit? That is if you run any..
TheAfroSamurai said:
This won't help you understand what's going on but for what it's worth I'm running Baja 16.1 and it's just fine. I don't use any exposed or wanam modules. Think that might be the culprit? That is if you run any..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do run some (several) xposed mods and wanam/gravity box mods, and have been for quite some time on several devices. A string of bizarre events like that hasn't happened though.
It is strange, though, that I did install XToast just last night. This is an xposed mod that gives you more control over the toast messages received under different circumstances. Could be the culprit... not sure. I think I'll disable it and go back to BurntToast, a mod that does similar stuff.
Maybe switching from one to the other borked something?
Thanks for the input.
I also experienced some weird behaviour. I do suspect Titanium tp cause the problems, but I'm not yet 100% sure...
Not all of my issues are completely the same as yours, but still similar.
First of all, my device is a Galaxy S3 mini, CM11 installed, rooted, XPosed installed with several modules (but no Gravity or Wanam). All partitions are in ext4, external SDcard is in exFAT.
(1) root: During startup, Titanium asks an awful lot of times for boot access. Sometimes it does for 50-100 times. In the end, devices will still be rooted but startup takes a long time.
(2) startup: As mentioned: takes really long. With EVERY reboot, I get the "Android is upgrading..." message for about a minute.
This issue is solved by clearing all .odex-files with Lucky Patcher.
(3) Keyboard. I used Google Keyboard as my standard keyboard, but a while after installing/flashing (10 minutes to an hour) Google Keyboard uninstalls spontaneously (without interaction). This happened with all Keyboard versions I tried, in system and in data. And with or without it checked as primary keyboard in language & input settings. (because of those issues I switch to SwiftKey)
(4) Background: Background (custom wallpaper) disappears after a crash, and instead I get a static generic Android wallpaper. Also, every time I try to set my wallpaper back, device instantly reboots. (soft reboot which crashes and goes into a full reboot)
(5) Clock freeze: I've had those clock freezes a few times, but months ago. I think in my case it was due to some bad code in the ROM, not Titanium.
(6) Root: Even though in SuperSU settings I asked to remember autorisation, and automatically grant access, but after every boot, I had to grant permission to all apps using root access over and over again.
In order to try to solve my problems, I changed a few things.
- Google Now Launcher + XGelSettings instead of Nova Launcher. This didn't solve any of these problems, but I do like GNL more now
- I'm using Titanium Backup 6.1.5.4 stead of latest version, installed as a data app.
- I'm using SuperSU 1.98 instead of latest version, flashed as a system app.
- I'm using an older ROM version (CM M5 instead of CM M9/latest)
Most of my issues are gone now. I didn't check for (3) anymore.
armadiljo said:
I also experienced some weird behaviour. I do suspect Titanium tp cause the problems, but I'm not yet 100% sure...
Not all of my issues are completely the same as yours, but still similar.
First of all, my device is a Galaxy S3 mini, CM11 installed, rooted, XPosed installed with several modules (but no Gravity or Wanam). All partitions are in ext4, external SDcard is in exFAT.
(1) root: During startup, Titanium asks an awful lot of times for boot access. Sometimes it does for 50-100 times. In the end, devices will still be rooted but startup takes a long time.
(2) startup: As mentioned: takes really long. With EVERY reboot, I get the "Android is upgrading..." message for about a minute.
This issue is solved by clearing all .odex-files with Lucky Patcher.
(3) Keyboard. I used Google Keyboard as my standard keyboard, but a while after installing/flashing (10 minutes to an hour) Google Keyboard uninstalls spontaneously (without interaction). This happened with all Keyboard versions I tried, in system and in data. And with or without it checked as primary keyboard in language & input settings. (because of those issues I switch to SwiftKey)
(4) Background: Background (custom wallpaper) disappears after a crash, and instead I get a static generic Android wallpaper. Also, every time I try to set my wallpaper back, device instantly reboots. (soft reboot which crashes and goes into a full reboot)
(5) Clock freeze: I've had those clock freezes a few times, but months ago. I think in my case it was due to some bad code in the ROM, not Titanium.
(6) Root: Even though in SuperSU settings I asked to remember autorisation, and automatically grant access, but after every boot, I had to grant permission to all apps using root access over and over again.
In order to try to solve my problems, I changed a few things.
- Google Now Launcher + XGelSettings instead of Nova Launcher. This didn't solve any of these problems, but I do like GNL more now
- I'm using Titanium Backup 6.1.5.4 stead of latest version, installed as a data app.
- I'm using SuperSU 1.98 instead of latest version, flashed as a system app.
- I'm using an older ROM version (CM M5 instead of CM M9/latest)
Most of my issues are gone now. I didn't check for (3) anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the information. I kind of suspect that Titanium Backup had something to do with my problems, as well, since it happened right around the time that a scheduled action was to take place. I think that TB was still in the middle of the previous operation at 2am when it tried to start the next one at 2:30. This has never caused a problem before, but maybe it was at the wrong place at the wrong time, as odd as that may sound.
Your problems seem to be a more constant hassle. Especially the parts about granting SU access several times. I'm leaning toward the fact that your external SD card might interfere a little. External memory is handled a lot differently in kitkat builds, which CM11 is. In newer custom ROMs, there are attempts made to "fix" it... but in your case, maybe it was counter-intuitive.
The issue is that, to paraphrase... Kit-Kat imposes a lot of data access restrictions on external media. So... if you create a file in one app... you can't modify that file in another. That's a bastardization of the whole thing, I'm sure... so look up the particulars from someone more qualified than I. haha
If I were you (and I had a few hours to burn)... I'd back up everything on your external card and your internal memory (a good idea in any case),
clear EVERYTHING and reinstall the latest versions of everything without the external card in your phone. See if you still have issues. If you don't, then the card might be a problem. Then, wipe the card and put it back in your phone, and let your phone reformat it. At that point, copy your backed-up card data to your external card in whatever way is best to keep KitKat from messing it all up again.
Luckily, I don't have issues with my external card, except for the fact that, say, if I want to put a picture of my son as my wallpaper or notification shade background... if I pick a file from the card, it won't load after I restart my phone. For stuff like this... make sure that you put the pic ON YOUR PHONE STORAGE. Consider it like this... you wouldn't have a lot of luck if your PC's desktop background or screensaver ran from the CD drive, as opposed to your hard drive.
@DrPhant0m
I already went to that process of backing up, wiping and so on. Actually, I already did it twice.
The first time, I cleaned my device, installed latest versions of everything, went through the restoring process. But most of my mentioned issues still existed.
The second time, I cleaned my device again, did about exactly what you mentioned, but I restored some older versions of the ROM, SuperSU and Titanium Backup Pro. And right now, my issues are gone!
Actually, I didn't realise there are so many KitKat-related issues with SD. Maybe my pictures indeed are/where stored on a faulty SD. But it's reformatted now, and it works. And I actually don't know if that picture is stored internally or externally, I selected the picture with/by Google Photo. No idea how it handles is
I'm not saying Titanium certainly will be the bad guy, but I'm quite sure it plays it's part in it. Other issues are caused by the custom ROM. In the last few months, developers of that ROM don't give a **** about solving issues, and introduce one new feature after the other, most of them still highly experimental. Maybe that's another problem I can't control at all
I have found that Titanium always deletes my custom wallpaper and replaces it with the Samsung default every time I do a backup. It also changes my keyboard (normally Hacker's Keyboard) back to Samsung keyboard. It started doing this several updates ago.
Verizon Note 3, 4.4.2, NC4, stock rooted
Titanium Free 6.1.5.6
Michele31415 said:
I have found that Titanium always deletes my custom wallpaper and replaces it with the Samsung default every time I do a backup. It also changes my keyboard (normally Hacker's Keyboard) back to Samsung keyboard. It started doing this several updates ago.
Verizon Note 3, 4.4.2, NC4, stock rooted
Titanium Free 6.1.5.6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every time you do a backup it does this? That's bizarre. Or, do you mean when you restore a backup? I want to say to update to the paid version and see if it fixes it, and if not... request a refund.
What info do you back up when this happens? I could see restoring a backup working against you. For instance, if you restore your keyboard and maybe even some language/input system files... it might default back to the standard keyboard because your confirmation to use a 3rd party keyboard (which could theoretically log all of your keystrokes) is no longer valid.
The background thing is a different story. When Titanium Backup works well... when I restore all of my "MUST HAVE" stuff after a new ROM install... it will restore my live wallpaper, too. There are often times that TB will NOT "work well" and the widgets and wallpaper (among other things) aren't restored properly... not to mention the fact that I can not get my bluetooth pairings and known wifi networks to restore, whether I use snapshot or XML.
DrPhant0m said:
Every time you do a backup it does this? That's bizarre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It is.
DrPhant0m said:
Or, do you mean when you restore a backup? I want to say to update to the paid version and see if it fixes it, and if not... request a refund..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't mean upon restoration. I mean I take a full backup (user apps + system apps), go off for a cup of coffee, come back, see that it completed OK, exit TI, and then I see that my background is back to the Samsung default and it I open something that needs keyboard, the keyboard is also back to Samsung default. I guess it was never enough of a bother for me to go to the trouble of buying it and then complaining. I figure that for free, I can put up with a minor annoyance.
DrPhant0m said:
What info do you back up when this happens? I could see restoring a backup working against you. For instance, if you restore your keyboard and maybe even some language/input system files... it might default back to the standard keyboard because your confirmation to use a 3rd party keyboard (which could theoretically log all of your keystrokes) is no longer valid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see where you're thinking, but it happens right after *doing* the backup. I haven't even had the need to do a full restore yet, so I don't know what that would do.
DrPhant0m said:
The background thing is a different story. When Titanium Backup works well... when I restore all of my "MUST HAVE" stuff after a new ROM install... it will restore my live wallpaper, too. There are often times that TB will NOT "work well" and the widgets and wallpaper (among other things) aren't restored properly... not to mention the fact that I can not get my bluetooth pairings and known wifi networks to restore, whether I use snapshot or XML.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's very odd, that's for sure.

Not receiving OTA?

Rcv'd back from S-off service June 9.
Root-happy app uninstalling since.
Old firmware.
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I think I broke it.
Thoughts? Ideas?
Forgive me.
I thought folks were on 1.30.xxx or even higher by now.
And my battery life is pathetic.
And i keep getting notifications about having connected to my home network without ever leaving the house, I get good signal clear to my car.
Many things to love about HTC 10. A number of things... not so much.
I don't understand your problem. Looks like your phone has the most recent Verizon OTA already.
I swear, I thought I read that a 1.30.xxx was available.
You're right, it appears I have the latest from Verizon.
I thought the newer versions I must have imagined (or maybe other carriers released) would solve all my stock HTC 10 woes.
I sincerely apologize to the forum for my version oversight. I expected to have another OTA by now, restoring my confidence in my flagship phone's ability to function as one would expect.
Don't go by software version numbers for OTA's; the numbers are for internal control, not external tracking. Currently the Verizon 10 is on 1.19.605.22. The 605 means Verizon (Spring is 651). The Unlocked and I believe possibly the Sprint versions are at 1.80 or something. As a sometimes software and hardware tester for HTC I can assure you, the numbers don't mean anything. I see issues with my later test builds that I never see on my retail handset, and the OTA's don't come down until the carriers have approved them, long after HTC is done building and testing.
hgoldner said:
Don't go by software version numbers for OTA's; the numbers are for internal control, not external tracking.
...
As a sometimes software and hardware tester for HTC I can assure you, the numbers don't mean anything.
...
the OTA's don't come down until the carriers have approved them, long after HTC is done building and testing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your advisement.
Why am I not surprised that carriers drag their feet to push valuable updates while urgently putting more bloatware and spyware on my phone...
pidzero said:
I appreciate your advisement.
Why am I not surprised that carriers drag their feet to push valuable updates while urgently putting more bloatware and spyware on my phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every Verizon 10 owner, whether rooted or not, should go into Settings--> App Manager and DISABLE DTIgnite. It's nothing but a bloatware engine. Disable it, remove whatever bloatware you can (or disable it) and you will be rid of it. I disable: Verizon Cloud; Verizon Navigation; CallerID and DTIgnite. I confess, I prefer Messages+ over the default messaging app.
hgoldner said:
Every Verizon 10 owner, whether rooted or not, should go into Settings--> App Manager and DISABLE DTIgnite. It's nothing but a bloatware engine. Disable it, remove whatever bloatware you can (or disable it) and you will be rid of it. I disable: Verizon Cloud; Verizon Navigation; CallerID and DTIgnite. I confess, I prefer Messages+ over the default messaging app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already annihilated DTIgnite in every way I could find. Man, it was stubborn! I've disabled all Verizon apps except "My Verizon Mobile", instead stripping it of every permission.
I use Signal as my default messaging app, as recommended by Edward Snowden himself! lol
I literally ripped out every bit of software I don't use/need. The default mail app, Zoe, NFL Mobile, Visual Voicemail, all the Amazon apps, the list goes on. Battery has been so poor, however, I thought maybe I broke it.
I unplugged 40 minutes ago and i went from 100% to 94% in that time.
Any idea what app populates /data/system/dropbox ? i found files there logging practically all usage. i have since emptied the folder and changed its permissions so that "system" user no longer had access.
adding that my remedy seems to have worked, and no weird errors have presented themselves
pidzero said:
Already annihilated DTIgnite in every way I could find. Man, it was stubborn! I've disabled all Verizon apps except "My Verizon Mobile", instead stripping it of every permission.
I use Signal as my default messaging app, as recommended by Edward Snowden himself! lol
I literally ripped out every bit of software I don't use/need. The default mail app, Zoe, NFL Mobile, Visual Voicemail, all the Amazon apps, the list goes on. Battery has been so poor, however, I thought maybe I broke it.
I unplugged 40 minutes ago and i went from 100% to 94% in that time.
Any idea what app populates /data/system/dropbox ? i found files there logging practically all usage. i have since emptied the folder and changed its permissions so that "system" user no longer had access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'd like to actually use the phone, so I don't go quite so far. Zoe I keep active, My Verizon I keep to monitor data usage, Visual Voicemail is now free and actually useful; Amazon apps are definite battery sucks but can be tamed. I didn't to into the way you can fix permissions using App Manager....that was not the point of the earlier post. I'm relatively content with my battery life, but I also run a custom kernel.
hgoldner said:
I'm relatively content with my battery life, but I also run a custom kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know you could have a custom kernel on stock ROM.
I'm patiently waiting for CM13. A thread was created to promote its development http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3410009
pidzero said:
I didn't know you could have a custom kernel on stock ROM.
I'm patiently waiting for CM13. A thread was created to promote its development http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3410009
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, why not? If you're bootloader unlocked and rooted, go for it. Elemental X 0.6 is the last version for the current retail firmware. The later version(s), I think it's up to 0.9, are for the 1.8x base. I wouldn't run it on Verizon until post whenever the OTA drops.
hgoldner said:
Sure, why not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I lack a proper education of how the software actually works at that level in a *nix-like environment, especially Android.
I have intermediate experience with *nix. I've set up DHCP servers and Apache servers, SMB servers and proxy servers. I use CLI or GUI, on x86, x64, and RPi (arm). Rarely, if ever, have I required modifying the kernel of an installation. Not since compiling Gentoo completely from source 10 years ago.
I would benefit from a "for dummies" video when it comes to the many aspects of low-level Android customization.
pidzero said:
I lack a proper education of how the software actually works at that level in a *nix-like environment, especially Android.
I have intermediate experience with *nix. I've set up DHCP servers and Apache servers, SMB servers and proxy servers. I use CLI or GUI, on x86, x64, and RPi (arm). Rarely, if ever, have I required modifying the kernel of an installation. Not since compiling Gentoo completely from source 10 years ago.
I would benefit from a "for dummies" video when it comes to the many aspects of low-level Android customization.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there are plenty of threads on XDA for that. Bottom line is that once the devices are unlockable, some developers like to cook ROMs, others like to do kernels, still others focus on recoveries. If you stick around long enough, you recognize developers who move from device to device the same way users will through time. The developer of Elemental X kernel, @flar2 is a long-time kernel developer who has done solid work in the past, so I have absolute faith in running his kernels on my handset. The Elite kernel developer, @buckmarble, is also a great kernel developer.
I wouldn't presume to write or code myself. The most I ever do is put things in or take them out of custom ROMs before flashing, but lately I have stuck with stock ROMs until devices are "end of life," (which is why I'm running a custom ROM on my One Max, and will soon probably have to flash a custom ROM to my Nexus 7 FHD). And now that you can run Xposed without modifying system, I can do many of the mods that custom ROMs do.
Well, that was easy.
Elemental X 0.06 has been installed.
I'll report back on battery in a little bit.
changing kernels had no effect on the battery drain. still discharging just as quickly.

RR - Nougat - n5110 beta test

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Resurrection Remix 5.8.2​
Samsung Note 8.0 n5110
Beta 6 - RR-N-v5.8.2-20170307-n5110-Official.zip​
You've been waiting for it and I must say have all been exceptionally patient.
I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on an n5110 ONLY build of 5.8.2.
I would like a few n5110 volunteers to help beta test for a week or so <NO ETA's>
Plan being to get the current dev build updated with the February security patches when they hit with a view to that being release # 1.
It would be advantageous if you've used RGIB's CM14.1 / LOS.
The current n5110 build is pretty good, about the same quality as Roberto's great CM14.1/LOS.
There are a few minor known issues that are shared with Roberto's rom. Oh and full OMS7 implemented to support Substratum. So themes yay! Plus Pixel launcher.
I'm a bit hesitant to suggest it as a 'daily driver' yet, but it's damn close. I definitely need the viewpoint of a few more eyes to call that one...
So PM me if you want included in the beta group. You would need to setup an AndroidFileHost account and follow buff99.
n5100 and n5120 users... I'm a bit more hesitant this time to make blind builds, so will take my time. If I can find a couple of users of each to work with me pre-testing any builds before release then I'll be a bit keener..
I definitely do not want to release builds with major broken functionality this time.
There will be no more 5.74 builds, it is officially dead.
Thanks and regards to @rgib !
5.8.2 changelog
Current features
Known issues so far / FAQs
During Gapps setup
- The storage option with three stacked drive icons has no explanation text. Inherited from LOS rom.
- Just after entering google account name when restoring apps from google, graphic for next screen button corrupts, also on next page. No other obvious problems. Inherited from LOS rom.
- At end of Gapps setup an error message about MTP host crash occurs. No other obvious problems. Inherited from LOS rom.
General use
- With a substratum theme applied (S.i.X), the root authorisation toast displays too small. This means tick box for always apply cannot be selected. You need to go to advanced Privacy Guard and force Allowed to always have root on your app. Needs tested on other themes. Could be theme issue or Substratum issue with our dpi. Works fine without a theme applied.
- Screen wipes can be a bit flickery sometimes. Inherited from LOS rom. Noticed first use of camera can be flickery but calms down..
- Sometimes you see a line of corruption on left of screen when scrolling if you look really hard.
- I have seen a couple of non-repeatable instances of black screen flashes. An obscure graphics issue or my tablet going bad, not sure (game Unkilled when screen flashes red due to collision, GPS status when calibrating compass).
- Camera pictures (as of beta 3) - camera app allows pictures to be taken with front; allows change to rear and take pictures. THEN swapping back to front will disconnect camera
- Camera video (as of beta 3) - just selecting video will cause camera app to disconnect.
- Open Camera does record video if needed, possibly other 3rd party apps.
- Occasional toast stating MTP has crashed, but file transfer vis MTP not affected. Inherited from LOS.
- USBOTG doesn't appear to work yet.
General FAQs and comments.
- Substratum needs to be installed from Playstore, in case you wonder why it's not there. It's an option.
- Adaway and Kernel Adiutor are no longer included in rom.
- Doze has been working well since Beta 2. It minimises battery usage when tablet is NOT being used.
- Lockscreen current display was fixed in beta 2.
- Netflix playback works from beta 3.
- Use GPS Status to properly test GPS and re-calibrate sensors if needed. Disable wifi and bluetooth scanning in rom settings for accurate results!
If you want to send me a full set of logs for a bug, I recommend using Syslog.
Screenshots
Some screenshots with the S.i.X substratum theme applied, backgrounds from Tapet.
reminder: no more than 10 images in line per thread..
more than 10 images per thread is a disaster...
Nice ROM no problems so far everything works great
@Buff99 So far for day 1 of testing everything went smooth as far as flashing goes, I used pico gapps which flashed with no issues. As far as the usual apps I normally use so far are running good but I did notice I lag to the system itself I didn't change as far as any mods I'm using it as is, on a couple of games I notice some frame drops that I didn't have on 6.0.1 it's only day 1 so I wanna let it settle in before I give you a final report. As a whole, though this Rom is awesome other than those couple of issues the battery so far isn't bad at all as well. Great job @Buff99 thanks again for letting test this awesome Rom.
Also is there an option for folders on the pixel launcher? Or should I use Nova? I have Nova Prime. I also don't see an option to add extra desktop pages as well. I wanted to test as is, but I really like my Nova setup. Thanks again for advice or help you give us.
bigphil75 said:
@Buff99 So far for day 1 of testing everything went smooth as far as flashing goes, I used pico gapps which flashed with no issues. As far as the usual apps I normally use so far are running good but I did notice I lag to the system itself I didn't change as far as any mods I'm using it as is, on a couple of games I notice some frame drops that I didn't have on 6.0.1 it's only day 1 so I wanna let it settle in before I give you a final report. As a whole, though this Rom is awesome other than those couple of issues the battery so far isn't bad at all as well. Great job @Buff99 thanks again for letting test this awesome Rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's some great feedback Phil, thanks.
I wish I could find the link where I read it but Nougat, even more so than before, optimises more as it goes on-the-fly and apps will get quicker the more you use them.
Doze looks like it is working now on next version, so much better battery life when in standby, though I may have slightly broken the compass...
bigphil75 said:
Also is there an option for folders on the pixel launcher? Or should I use Nova? I have Nova Prime. I also don't see an option to add extra desktop pages as well. I wanted to test as is, but I really like my Nova setup. Thanks again for advice or help you give us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pixel launcher doesn't have folders or more pages I'm afraid.
I always used to use nova, or more recently new adw2, but I am not missing them and am quite enjoying the basic-ness of pixel and the sliding up and down to open the drawer..
Oh and should have said replacing launcher and using nova is all good and part of normal usage patterns
cheers
Buff99 said:
Pixel launcher doesn't have folders or more pages I'm afraid.
I always used to use nova, or more recently new adw2, but I am not missing them and am quite enjoying the basic-ness of pixel and the sliding up and down to open the drawer..
Oh and should have said replacing launcher and using nova is all good and part of normal usage patterns
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, I set up Nova & so far I'm loving my tablet all over again lol! I like the cleanliness of Pixel too! Don't get me wrong, but there's something about Nova that I just have to use it lol! So far from what you've said about ver 2 can't wait that build is complete lol! I'm just grateful I have the opportunity to help out. Good night my friend.
Beta 2 is now in download folder RR-N-v5.8.1-20170208-n5110-Official.zip
- lockscreen charging current fixed (shows actual mAmps now)
- Doze seems to now get deep sleep whereas it didn't before
- Tried to fix compass, seems to be in general correct direction but too sensitive (not sure how this compares with LOS rom)
@Buff99 Just wanted to let you know I'll have a report for you in the morning really busy at work. Didn't want you to think I forgot lol! Thanks, bud. So far though really nice especially Doze!
Not that I really believe it....​
Buff99 said:
Beta 2 is now in download folder RR-N-v5.8.1-20170208-n5110-Official.zip
- lockscreen charging current fixed (shows actual mAmps now)
- Doze seems to now get deep sleep whereas it didn't before
- Tried to fix compass, seems to be in general correct direction but too sensitive (not sure how this compares with LOS rom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I'd love to help with this beta too... I am however using LOS version and can report that the compass seems to work great there, I've tested using google maps, not sure if it's the best way...
would you mind if I join the beta? I've got n5110!
Thank you and keep up the good work!!:highfive::good:
So far so good, with exception of Netflix that is not working. Error 0013. Great job :good:
Buff99 said:
Not that I really believe it....​View attachment 4036018
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW!!!!
josean99 said:
So far so good, with exception of Netflix that is not working. Error 0013. Great job :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed for beta 3. Which may escape the test facility later tonight.... LOS security patches have not been released yet.
Anyone tried built in camera? Video seemed to crash for me.
Really interested to hear whether video chat and 3rd party camera apps work OK?
Buff99 said:
Fixed for beta 3. Which may escape the test facility later tonight.... LOS security patches have not been released yet.
Anyone tried built in camera? Video seemed to crash for me.
Really interested to hear whether video chat and 3rd party camera apps work OK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My camera works and every camera app Ive used works .. Chainfire su works .. Facebook works .. Substatum themes work .. MX player works ..
ES File Explorer works .. SD maid works .. Adaway works .. Boeffla kernel and app works .. Nova launcher prime works.. TED, Showbox, Vines , Crackle and Youtube works ..
Video has a audio lag a lot still .. Chrome stalls sometimes mostly on this page .. lol .. very nice rom
Encryption Unsuccessful.
Hey, @Buff99 I was just about to give you a full report when I went to use my tablet this morning, I had a full-screen warning about encryption unsuccessful & that if I wanted to use my tablet I had to perform a factory reset. So I just went into recovery to do a full wipe 3x & flash everything again. So in the middle of me trying to select the beta v2 my sd card was corrupt as well. SO I had to format the card put everything on it & tried to flash. After all that it still gave me the same warning again! So I had to Odin the original firmware did the whole root process with Odin, then I was able to go back to recovery & flash beta v2 & success lol! The things we go through to be up to date lol! So let me finish my tablet & as soon as I finish setting up my tablet I'll give you a full report bud ok?
jollyjesus said:
My camera works and every camera app Ive used works .. Chainfire su works .. Facebook works .. Substatum themes work .. MX player works ..
ES File Explorer works .. SD maid works .. Adaway works .. Boeffla kernel and app works .. Nova launcher prime works.. TED, Showbox, Vines , Crackle and Youtube works ..
Video has a audio lag a lot still .. Chrome stalls sometimes mostly on this page .. lol .. very nice rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Codecs had a re-working to fix netflix, so should be returned to same state RGIB left them in cm13 / RR-M roms.
bigphil75 said:
Hey, @Buff99 I was just about to give you a full report when I went to use my tablet this morning, I had a full-screen warning about encryption unsuccessful & that if I wanted to use my tablet I had to perform a factory reset. So I just went into recovery to do a full wipe 3x & flash everything again. So in the middle of me trying to select the beta v2 my sd card was corrupt as well. SO I had to format the card put everything on it & tried to flash. After all that it still gave me the same warning again! So I had to Odin the original firmware did the whole root process with Odin, then I was able to go back to recovery & flash beta v2 & success lol! The things we go through to be up to date lol! So let me finish my tablet & as soon as I finish setting up my tablet I'll give you a full report bud ok?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Woah that's just bad luck on top of bad luck. I've not heard of encryption kicking in like that and it's a bit concerning.
So TWRP said the SD card was corrupt? Try formatting on a pc to see if it concurs.. A corrupt SD card might explain the encryption failing, but not why it started in the first place. I've seen corrupt SD cards fly under the radar. With me I usually hear mp3 files start to sound weird with clicks of digi-noise.

Does this phones' UI have ads? Do stock apps ask for unwanted permission?

Hello!
I just wanted to know if this phones' software have ads anywhere in the UI? If yes, is there an option to opt-out?
Secondly, I've heard Xiaomi phones are notorious for having stock apps that ask for unwanted permission to function (eg: calculator wanting to access contacts etc.), is this one a victim of that?
Also does the stock os has an option to disable gesture based navigation and use on-screen navigation bar instead?
Finally, does it come with 3rd party keyboard(like swiftkey etc.) out of the box, or how is the built-in one in terms of privacy? Was it known for data gathering in the past?
If you have the device in hand, please do check these things and let me know. Are there anything else that I should be aware of, like known issues? I am not planning to flash custom roms or modify deeply.
Thanks in advance.
@n1troV I have been using my M3 for more than one month, I hope that I have answered all your questions.
1. ads anywhere in the UI?
Yes, in all Xiaomi system apps, you have to go through the settings in each of them and choose to trun off "Recommendations", to disable ads for each app.
2. unwanted permission
The calculator in MIUI does not require any permissions, in the settings, the Storage permission is listed, but denied, the calculator can still be used without the permission. There are a lot of pre-installed Google apps. The dialer, messages, and contacts apps are also from Google.
(Edit: The Taiwanese version uses the original MIUI dialer app and messages app)
3. option to disable gesture based navigation
Yes, it can be changed in the settings, please see the screenshot below.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
4. 3rd party keyboard
Yes, it came with Gboard pre-installed, you can install a different keyboard, if you do not want to use it. By default, Gboard sends analytics data back to Google, but that can be disabled in the settings.
I am using the stock MIUI ROM, and the fingerprint unlocking was very slow when I got the phone, but after getting two system updates, now the unlocking speed is faster.
If possible, I suggest that you can use Szaki/XiaomiADBFastbootTools (can be downloaded from GItHub) to debloat the phone with adb, to remove some unwanted system apps like MSA , WMService, Analytics, Chrome and other Google apps.
I used the phone for navigation several times, and the GNSS accuracy is about 4m, it is usually enough, but sometimes if another road is too close, the maps app thinks I am on the other road.
By default, VoWiFi is not enabled on this phone, but it can be enabled by disabling carrier check, using the code *#*#869434#*#* in the dialer.
If privacy is important to you, you can use a private DNS service like AdGuard DNS or NextDNS to block unwanted connections.
The phone is not perfect, but it is still a good phone for its price. If you want to have more RAM and an ultra-wide-angle camera, you can take a look at Redmi 9T, it has almost the same hardware, but it's better, and its price is the same as or similiar to M3's price, depending on which country you are in.
You can ask me if you have any other questions about the phone.
Thank you very much! You've answered pretty much all of questions I had and then some. I was unaware of the sluggish fingerprint sensor and inaccurate GPS, neither of which are dealbreakers to me, personally.
I've considered 9T too, I actually dig the design language of that one abit more than M3 and there's a slight bump in performance too. It's significantly more expensive compared to the m3 where I live though.
By the way, have you tested read/write performance of the ufs storage on the m3? If you have some free time, please do run passmarks' disk benchmark utility and share some screenshots along with the storage capacity.
Moreover, are there any noticeable lags/frame drops in the UI, delays in app opening? I am not expecting ~$150 phone to perform like ~$1000 flagships but I'd like to know what the general user experience is like.
And thanks for the tips on secure DNS. I was thinking of implementing pihole for network-wide ad-blocking, will look into private DNS services too.
Thanks again for taking your time to write a well-detailed reply, cheers!
@n1troV It takes about 2 seconds for the phone to open an app, I have tested with different apps. I think it's acceptable for the price.
My previous phone had SD625 chip, and M3 has SD662 chip, after changing to M3, I feel that M3 is a lot faster.
There is one thing I forgot to mention, this phone has dual speakers, but when I tried it the bottom speaker is a lilltle louder than the top speaker, I think when I watched review videos of M3, someone also mentioned this problem.
I will test the storage speed tomorrow when I have time.
n1troV said:
If you have some free time, please do run passmarks' disk benchmark utility and share some screenshots along with the storage capacity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Below is a screenshot of passmark.
(Edit: The phone has 4GB of RAM, but passmark only shows 3GB)
I have the 128GB version, so the storage is UFS 2.2, the SD card I use is Kingston Canvas Select Plus 32GB.
I also have another screenshot of the CIT mode, it shows the hardware information of the phone.
To show you what it feels like to open apps and to scroll through Google Play on the phone, I have recorded a video using the built-in screen recorder, it is in the attached zip file.
Thank you! The ufs storage performance was abit underwhelming though. Have you had an emmc 5.1 based phones in the past? I suppose those chips perform about the same in benchmarks. In fact, having ufs based storage is one of the main reasons I've considered m3 hoping it would help sustain good overall ui performance/snappiness although that does not seem to be the case here.
As for the muffled earpiece speaker; I guess i can pass on that since even higher end phones suffer from the same issue likely due to the fact that there isn't much space in phones with edge-to edge displays and camera hardware to fit a better speaker.
Does this phone support streaming off of popular platforms? There used to be a requirement of some codecs or something along those lines to support drm enabled streaming out of the box iirc, can this one do?
Lastly; if you're in the market for sub $200 phone and m3 and 9t are not your options, what would be your next best pick? Just curious.
@n1troV Previously, I had used two different Redmi phones, both with emmc storage, and they have Snapdragon 435 and Snapdragon 625 chips.
After start using my M3, when I transfered files from my laptop to the M3 using a USB cable, it still took a long time, the speed of transfering files from PC does not feel any faster than my previous phones that have emmc storage. I think this is because the phone only has a USB 2.0 port.
The phone supports Widevine L1 DRM certification, so it can play DRM content at the maximum quality.
I have not played any DRM content on it, but the "DRM Info" app shows that the security level is L1.
I already got used to XIaomi's MIUI, since I used two Redmi phones previously, I would only choose a phone that is made by Xiaomi, this is why I bought the M3.
Before I bought the M3, I had thought about buying other phones that are made by Xiaomi, including Redmi Note 8T (It is not sold in where I live), Redmi Note 9 Pro (It supports NFC, but it is too expensive), and Redmi 9.
When I decided to buy a new phone, because the Redmi phone I was using (Redmi 6 Pro) had GPS issues, last year, I went to XIaomi's website again, and saw that there was a new phone called POCO M3, and I compared its specs with Redmi 9.The specs of M3 are a better than Redmi 9's, except that the CPU of Redmi 9 has better performance, and Redmi 9 has a wide-angle camera. So I decided to buy the M3, since I don't take photos often, and I don't play mobile games.
After using the M3, I feel that the side-mounted fingerprint sensor is a lot more convenient than the rear-mounted fingerprint sensors that my previous phones have, with the side-mounted fingerprint sensor, it's easy to unlock the phone even when it is on the table.
Excellent! I'm relatively new to the world of android phones and almost everybody here is pushing big-name-brand phones despite them having worse specs purely for the brand recognition (I suppose?) I've come to conclusion that M3 offers good value/performance for the price you're paying, not without its fair share of shortcomings though. That's to be expected, I guess.
Thanks for saving me lot of time not having to search answers for each questions I had. It certainly helped getting answers directly from an owner of the mighty M3.
That usb 2.0 bottleneck situation is understandable though. There are $1k devices on the other side of the pond still utilizing usb2 protocol, so yeah.
I mostly agree with your argument on fingerprint sensor placement except I personally prefer rear-mounted sensors mostly due to the fact that those got large surface area to work with and tends to be more accurate and quick. Usually your index finger sits there so its only natural to unlock the device as you pick it. Only downside is not able to unlock when device is on table.
Side mounted sensors on the other hand solve that issue but depending on the placement, it might be hard to reach specially on big phones. Having a hole cut on the side of the frame shouldn't help in terms of structural rigidity either. Eitherway I'd pick any capasitive implementation over gimmicky in-display sensor in a heartbeat.
@n1troV I just remembered that I could also do a read/write speed test on my old phone (Redmi 4X), it has LPDDR3 RAM and emmc 5.1 storage, the screenshot below shows the test results of Redmi 4X.
(POCO M3 has LPDDR4X RAM)
Since you have not used Xiaomi phones before, I think you need to know that Mi and Redmi phones have the original MIUI launcher, and the MIUI launcher does not have an app drawer, but POCO phones only have the POCO launcher, it has an app drawer, and cannot be disabled.
I have tried to install the MIUI launcher on my M3, but it could not be installed, so the only ways to install MIUI launcher on POCO phones are installing a custom ROM, or root/installing a magisk module.
Hmm it turns out ufs based storage is still significantly faster, at least on the reads.
You brought up an interesting point on the launcher, does M3 use swipe up gesture to launch app drawer or it has an option to have that dedicated grid style icon?
I don't dig the stock icons/ui elements on the above mentioned phones though. As long as a 3rd party launcher can be installed with unread counts reliably shown without random crashes, it should be fine.
I've had friends who used Mi phones in the past that I got to have some hands on time with (can't recall the exact model names), most of them were either android go/one devices though. Miui based phones were from 2016-17 so I'm sure alot has changed since then.
EDIT:
I might consider flashing custom rom as my last resort option, specially if I found stock apps constantly phoning home. Preferably a privacy focused rom (graphene/lineage?) with bare essential apps and 3rd party store (aurora?) minus the google stuff. That is only if services like realtime notifications are unaffected. Also there's a steep learning curve as I've not done any of this before
@n1troV The POCO launcher uses the swipe up gesture to open the app drawer, if you do not want to have an app drawer, there is a 3rd party launcher called Lawndesk, it can be installed and used on M3, and it can show unread counts after giving it the notification access permission.
Other 3rd party launchers can also be installed on the phone, but almost all of them have app drawers.
I had unlocked the bootloader of the phone and installed Magisk on it before, but it was difficult to update the phone with Magisk installed, so I reinstalled stock MIUI ROM and relocked the bootloader with Mi flash tool.
I am currently using NextDNS on the phone, because it is customizable, below is a screenshot showing blocked connections to Xiaomi. I have disabled all analytics options in the M3's system settings, I have also removed (debloated) all system apps that are related to analytics or system ads, but the phone still 'phones home'.
I still prefer using the stock ROM and POCO launcher, at least I have blocked those connections with NextDNS.
cbw said:
if you do not want to have an app drawer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey that's not what I mean. Remember before the swipe up gesture was a thing, there used to be an icon on the bottom row of the home screen that opened app drawer on tap? I was wondering if such option is present on M3 to use drawer icon instead of swipe up.
cbw said:
I have disabled all analytics options in the M3's system settings, I have also removed (debloated) all system apps that are related to analytics or system ads, but the phone still 'phones home'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, this is the kind of stuff that bothers me. You went through all the trouble navigating deep in system settings and opting out, yet it does sh!t like this in the background. In the screenshot you've attached, you seem to have narrowed down results to the requests made to domains that contain "mi" in it. Who knows what else its pinging
It's impractical for average user to go through each and every request phone is making as there is probably hundreds if not thousands of them. I really do believe that if you opted out of something it should not be pinging servers over the web period. Privacy is becoming a bigger and bigger problem every day yet most people ignore it entirely. I doubt average user would know or care about such sketchy behaviors of their "personal" devices.
tl:dr Probably not the best for privacy, at least not out of the box.
n1troV said:
there used to be an icon on the bottom row of the home screen that opened app drawer on tap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
POCO launcher does not have that option, but there is a small arrow that can be clicked to open the app drawer.
I have found a 3rd party launcher called Apex Launcher, it still has the old Android icon for opening the app drawer, but I think the old version (3.3.3) of it is better than the current version.
n1troV said:
you seem to have narrowed down results to the requests made to domains that contain "mi" in it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had to do it, because I also use other apps, and browse websites, so if I didn't do it, it would show a lot of domains, including the ones used by other apps and websites.
For browsing websites on the phone, I suggest that you can install an extension called ublock origin, but most mobile browsers don't support extensions. Kiwi Browser and Firefox Android (There is also a fork called Iceraven, it supports more extensions compared to Firefox) support extensions, so you can install extensions on them for privacy.
n1troV said:
Who knows what else its pinging
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just restarted the phone, cleared the log in NextDNS, and stopped using the phone for 25 minutes, I have only opened NextDNS's website with Kiwi Browser, below is a screenshot of NextDNS's log.
Thanks for the update on stock launcher and possible third party options.
cbw said:
I also use other apps, and browse websites, so if I didn't do it, it would show a lot of domains, including the ones used by other apps and websites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that. Embedded trackers within apps is whole another story. I was more concerned about OS telemetry that cannot be disabled. There is no guarantee that the phone is pinging domains only have "mi" in it.
cbw said:
I suggest that you can install an extension called ublock origin, but most mobile browsers don't support extensions. Kiwi Browser and Firefox Android (There is also a fork called Iceraven, it supports more extensions compared to Firefox) support extensions, so you can install extensions on them for privacy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also aware that the mobile firefox has somewhat limited extension support. However adding more and more extensions doesn't exactly help with browser fingerprinting. In fact it makes matters worse as you stand out more compared to the "default" ff installations. uBo is my go to addon for adblocking on computers, will definitely have that on phone as well.
cbw said:
I have just restarted the phone, cleared the log in NextDNS, and stopped using the phone for 25 minutes, I have only opened NextDNS's website with Kiwi Browser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose you're logged into google account and has sync enabled? I mean still its imperfect way to track ALL the requests phone is making specially when its on standby, and for such small period of time. Unless its connected to pi-hole or some sort of firewall/nw analyzer all the time, there's no way you can tell whats going on
n1troV said:
I suppose you're logged into google account and has sync enabled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have enabled sync for my Google account. With DNS, I could not find a better way to track the requests, because DNS cannot tell which requests are coming from a specific app.
I have installed AdGuard to filter requests on my phone (with local VPN method), and I will post screenshots of blocked requests later.
These are the blocked requests.
Xiaomi Cloud (and Cloud Backup), Xiaomi Service Framework, and System Apps Updater can be uninstalled using Szaki/XiaomiADBFastbootTools.
It is possible to use Android Debug Bridge (adb) to uninstall Google Play Services, but I do not know if it is safe to do it.
After searching online about uninstalling the Mi Account app, I found this.
https://gist.github.com/Biswa96/81fe477079fa5279f7cfd7b98d5519c7
Do not uninstall com.xiaomi.account if you've already logged in MI account.
You will get "This device is locked" message and won't be able to unlock it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks for saving the day, again! I'm so glad the first person to reply to my thread happens to be somewhat privacy conscious.
cbw said:
I could not find a better way to track the requests, because DNS cannot tell which requests are coming from a specific app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly! Unfortunately same thing applies for network activity monitors. Pi-hole seem to have a decent dashboard, probably 3rd party hardware firewalls too.
cbw said:
uninstalling the Mi Account app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not planning to log into any third party services. Probably not even google on setup wizard.
I was wondering, is there a way to sandbox apps in android? As in you could isolate app data from one another and have full control over each app as to whether it's getting access to internet/gps and whatnot. I heard Shelter does this, not sure how that works exactly.
Unrelated to privacy: does the stock launcher has option to "lock homescreen grid"?
n1troV said:
Shelter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will cause bootloop in MIUI.
I also saw this in Shelter's description.
Some vendor / custom ROMs may have a broken implementation that may cause crashes and even bricking of your device. One such example is MIUI from Xiaomi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I want to test apps without installing them on my phone, I use a virtual machine app called "VMOS Pro", it works well on my M3, but it sends analytics data to several servers, and there is no option to disable that.
By the way, POCO launcher also sends data to two different severs, "api.accelerator.intl.miui.com" and "api.ad.intl.xiaomi.com", so you might want to avoid using it, POCO launcher can be uninstalled using adb or XiaomiADBFastbootTools.
n1troV said:
does the stock launcher has option to "lock homescreen grid"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.

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