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Back in Eclair, all market apps are stored in their original apk files in system/app, so it's relatively easy to retrieve those apk files.
However, after upgrading to Froyo, the apps are stored in a different format, and in various different locations.
I am not trying to distribute apk files illegally, but if I want to theme an application, I will need to get a copy of the original apk file. (Like the transparent theme for LaunchPro widgets). (Metamorph doesn't work for market apps).
So my question is, how can this be done on a froyo platform?
Download android mate, find the app you want, then long press on app and press details.
It will tell you all the info about it including its location
~Webstar1
That solves the mystery. Many thanks.
I've spent the last 4 hours trying to theme Pandora but I haven't been successful so far. Original I started with the already themed version that came with my ROM and tried to add to it. I created new play, pause, etc. images and changed some background images. All images are the same dimensions as the original ones.
Previously I haven't had any problems adding my own personal touches to apps, framework, or what have you to my phone. I usually just change apk to zip, unzip and change whatever images I need. Then I rezip using the store setting and change the zip back to apk. I tried this first with Pandora and it wouldn't work. I pushed the apk to my phone but it wouldn't install. I tried to install it manually from the sdcard but not love there either. It would do the whole process then tell me 'Application not installed' at the end.
So next I tried using APKTool to decompile the apk. I replaced the images with my custom images then built the apk via APKTool. Tried to install it again and it still wouldn't work.
As a last ditch effort, I tried to theme the current version of Pandora on the market with my images but that didn't work. I've tried using SignAPK but no cigar. No matter what I do, I can't get my version to install.
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
Problem Solved!!!
I tried doing an adb install and ending up getting 'install parse failed no certificates' error. I must of broke the original signature by editing the apk. I've never had that happen before though. I couldn't resign the apk via SignAPK because there was a conflict of signatures.
Found this thread and was able to resign the apk.
I'm looking for a way to replace the system apps with their AOSP counter part.
E.g. dialer, email, contacts etc.
Does someone know if it's possible for all apps or are their any problems to be expected?
And second question, is there probably a flash able zip for this?
I'd be curious to know as well. Coming from a Nexus device I hate Sony's attempts to "improve" the basic apps like dialer and messaging. They all look like they were designed in 1998.
That should be possible....
Nebucatnetzer said:
I'm looking for a way to replace the system apps with their AOSP counter part.
E.g. dialer, email, contacts etc.
Does someone know if it's possible for all apps or are their any problems to be expected?
And second question, is there probably a flash able zip for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think at the moment there is no available zip. You need CWM for your idea - do you have your phone rooted ?
If so there should be a possiblity to create such a flashable zip , that erase the not needed apps and install the new apps...
If your phone is not rooted maybe a batch file could do the trick via ADB for you - in a first step it should block the not wanted apps and in a second step it should install the new apps.
So you need the Names of the packages / apps that should be erased and before that, you should find the AOSP-Apps that run on the Z3C.
pipspeak said:
I'd be curious to know as well. Coming from a Nexus device I hate Sony's attempts to "improve" the basic apps like dialer and messaging. They all look like they were designed in 1998.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My favorites are
Textra for messaging
Quickpic for album
MX Player for Videos
Rhonin86 said:
I think at the moment there is no available zip. You need CWM for your idea - do you have your phone rooted ?
If so there should be a possiblity to create such a flashable zip , that erase the not needed apps and install the new apps...
If your phone is not rooted maybe a batch file could do the trick via ADB for you - in a first step it should block the not wanted apps and in a second step it should install the new apps.
So you need the Names of the packages / apps that should be erased and before that, you should find the AOSP-Apps that run on the Z3C.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it's rooted.
I would be happy too, to replace the dialer & contact apps with AOSP ones.
Regarding messaging, i'm using this one : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.slvn.mms
Collecting of required information
Hi folx,
in this post i try to get all required information to replace the not wanted SONY stuff by the desired stuff mostly AOSP.
Your phone should be rooted and CWM should be installed.
Then we have to build a fitting flashable zip file.
But to succeed we fist need to test if the wanted apps will work on our phone. (i will test for example: Dialer from CM11)
If these Apps work, then we should have a deeper look on the creating of such a flashable.zip file. I have found a lot of howtos in the web. But to be sure we should backup those SONY-Apps
Here are 2 links i would use:
http://www.android-hilfe.de/root-hacking-modding-fuer-lenovo-ideapad-a1/268272-how-cwm-update-zips-erstellen.html german
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1721680 english here at XDA
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2764533 this can also be useful
The updater - script within this zip-file could be adjusted to our needs. Deleting the not wanted Sony.apps from /system /app and replace them with the wanted Apps. If i find the time i could provide such a file - but i can't test it.
The simple Trick:
But you could do it more simple - you just need a root explorer (i prefer ES File Explorer). Go to the above mentioned folder /system/app or system/private. There you should find the not wanted apps. Just copy them in a backup folder on your sdcard, delete the sony apk in the system - partition, copy your desired apk in the folder, where you have deleted the Sony-apk, give the right permissions and then reboot.
If the new app fails - just delete it in the same manner as described above and copy the backupped app in the corresponding folder and check the permissions again. - reboot.
I would really appreciate posting your results and if there are any further questions.... do not hesitate - we are all here to learn and get our phone better
Cheers
Rhonin
I probably have time to test this on the weekend.
I'll let you know how it goes.
I copied over Contacts, Contacts Prvovider and the Dialer apks.
However I couldn't get them to work.
Neither the Contacts nor the Dialer app showed up in the app drawer.
Email didn't work either.
Deskclock works fine. I'd love dialler to work...
very good friends. some tutorial to install "RRO Layer Theme" in my Motorola Nexus 6 has installed Android 6.0 stock rom. My device is root.. Thanks in advance
Create /system/overlays folder (all lower case)
Download Layers Manager from Play
Download any Layers theme from play.
Open the theme from app drawer and follow instructions.
Ultimately, all layers manager does is take the individual apk themes (packged up in the apk you install from play) and put them in /system/overlays. So in theory, you could open the apk from play store with a zip / archive application and extract all the apk's inside it and put them there. Set permissions and reboot.
To add to the above, you may also need to do a couple other things if you haven't already.
I am pretty sure Layers Manager requires Busybox, so you may need to install that. The app may inform you if it needs it or not.
If you are indeed on 100% stock you may need to free up some space on your system partition. Marshmallow takes up a lot of space on the partition, which can make it impossible to install a theme since it installs to /system/overlays.
I am wondering if someone can make a flashable zip to remove all AOSP apps like phone, contacts, calendar, calculator, mail etc. All this apps are old dinosaurs apps and I am replacing them every time when I flash ROM. Also same thing with Music FX or DSP Manager. Because I am using Viper4Android I have to remove them before I flash Viper.
I have no skill come to that but will be nice if someone can create flashable zip or aroma installer which will remove all of that. Anyone?
"...old dinosaur apps..."
That still work. But I understand where you're coming from. With Google now updating most apps included in AOSP through the Play Store now the versions still in AOSP no longer get updated. What are you replacing these apps with, and is it a flashable zip you're using or a manual install?
simunovic said:
I am wondering if someone can make a flashable zip to remove all AOSP apps like phone, contacts, calendar, calculator, mail etc. All this apps are old dinosaurs apps and I am replacing them every time when I flash ROM. Also same thing with Music FX or DSP Manager. Because I am using Viper4Android I have to remove them before I flash Viper.
I have no skill come to that but will be nice if someone can create flashable zip or aroma installer which will remove all of that. Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install "Stock" or "Super" OpenGapps, it automatically replaces them I believe.
MrBrady said:
If you install "Stock" or "Super" OpenGapps, it automatically replaces them I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, also with aroma open gapps I can simply replace anything I need. But, there is a catch. All this apps when they get updated in Google Play they stay where they are and new copy is installed like a duplicate. So you can uninstall update and get back to old version. That part I don't like. Why on Earth I need old app?
While apps installed from Google Play when they get updated they will be simply replaced. That is the reason why I would like to create aroma installer to remove all this apps from the system. Then I choose pico apps and everything else grab from Play Store.
I believe that make sense, right?
simunovic said:
Yes, also with aroma open gapps I can simply replace anything I need. But, there is a catch. All this apps when they get updated in Google Play they stay where they are and new copy is installed like a duplicate. So you can uninstall update and get back to old version. That part I don't like. Why on Earth I need old app?
While apps installed from Google Play when they get updated they will be simply replaced. That is the reason why I would like to create aroma installer to remove all this apps from the system. Then I choose pico apps and everything else grab from Play Store.
I believe that make sense, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There appear to be duplicates because the original GAPPS package installed the AOSP version as a System App. When the app gets updated from the Play Store, the update is installed as a User App. So when you re-install/dirty install with the Stock or AROMA package, it does remove the System version, but not the Updated/User Version.
The only way around this that I know of is to not let apps update or install the desired GAPPS package from the very beginning.
There are also flashable mods that remove GAPPS, like this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/themes-apps/script-google-apps-debloater-t3446118. It works on the Nexus 6 as well, although it doesn't remove 100% of what it says it does. It's been hit-and-miss for me, but does work for the major debloat (international keyboards).
MrBrady said:
There appear to be duplicates because the original GAPPS package installed the AOSP version as a System App. When the app gets updated from the Play Store, the update is installed as a User App. So when you re-install/dirty install with the Stock or AROMA package, it does remove the System version, but not the Updated/User Version.
The only way around this that I know of is to not let apps update or install the desired GAPPS package from the very beginning.
There are also flashable mods that remove GAPPS, like this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/themes-apps/script-google-apps-debloater-t3446118. It works on the Nexus 6 as well, although it doesn't remove 100% of what it says it does. It's been hit-and-miss for me, but does work for the major debloat (international keyboards).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dirty flashing instead of updating core apps is just to much to play for me. I don't have that time anymore ;(
I like to keep it simple is possible.
That script is very similar to what I am trying to do. I need same thing but with AOSP core apps plus music fx and dsp manager to be included also. That way my way of flashing will look like: flash ROM, remove AOSP core apps, flash pico open apps, flash viper, supersu... done
Now all I need to do download the rest from G play. Updating will not make any duplicates. All is clean, lean and fast
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
"...old dinosaur apps..."
That still work. But I understand where you're coming from. With Google now updating most apps included in AOSP through the Play Store now the versions still in AOSP no longer get updated. What are you replacing these apps with, and is it a flashable zip you're using or a manual install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am updating them with original Google versions from G Play.
If you really want to do this, the best way is by doing, because it's unlikely anyone is going to do it for you. Download a flashable zip from the forums, unzip it, extract the updater-script from the META-INF folder and open it. See what the script does, and then try making your changes to that script. Each app you want to delete will be on its own line in the script, and each will use either of the following commands.
Code:
delete("system/app/folder/apk");
delete_recursive("system/app/folder");
In the above, folder is the app's folder, and apk refers to the app itself. The first removes individual files. The second removes entire folders.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
If you really want to do this, the best way is by doing, because it's unlikely anyone is going to do it for you. Download a flashable zip from the forums, unzip it, extract the updater-script from the META-INF folder and open it. See what the script does, and then try making your changes to that script. Each app you want to delete will be on its own line in the script, and each will use either of the following commands.
Code:
delete("system/app/folder/apk");
delete_recursive("system/app/folder");
In the above, folder is the app's folder, and apk refers to the app itself. The first removes individual files. The second removes entire folders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. I will give it a try. Not my thing but seems simple enough
Emilius said:
I am wondering if someone can make a flashable zip to remove all AOSP apps like phone, contacts, calendar, calculator, mail etc. All this apps are old dinosaurs apps and I am replacing them every time when I flash ROM. Also same thing with Music FX or DSP Manager. Because I am using Viper4Android I have to remove them before I flash Viper.
I have no skill come to that but will be nice if someone can create flashable zip or aroma installer which will remove all of that. Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can boot into OS before removing them, then you can just root your device then get a file manager that you can give root access before going into the filesystem and just deleting the apps from there.