Related
Say I download an *.apk file from some site or I get one from a friend, could it potentially harm my phone, cost me money etc.? Basically what I'm wondering is, when I install an app it generally says what the app has/wants access to, is this "warning" coded by the programmer to tell the user what it's accessing or is it determined automatically by built in functions? I don't want to install and app that has access to stuff that I'm not aware of.
Regards,
B
Edit: On a second note. Say I do download some harmful application, would uninstalling it solve the problem or could there be remaining harmful files still at work? The whole Android OS is sorta worrying me...bad experiences with Windows is making me cautious.
if you can think of it
there can always be a chance of happening
yes, a malicious hacker could do something like that
yes, a pissed programmer might including something like that into their apps to stop people from sharing their apps without buying it
yes, the apk might be legit but might have been corrupted some how
yes, you might be able to uninstall if lucky
but worse case scenario if i were a malicious hacker i wouldn't code a way to uninstall the app, instead i'll probably code a way to lock the user out of all access forcing you to Flash the phone from scratch
You didn't really answer my one major question, or maybe you did but I didn't understand. Are the services that the app is able to access programmed or are they determined by a function?
Well when installing I've resorted to checking a few things:
1) Make sure the app that I've downloaded is the same size as the one in the market (for equivalent versions...obviously)
2) Compare the system permissions when installing with those found at www.androlib.com
This way seems pretty safe to me. If the size is the same and the permissions are the same...you can be quite (not 100%) certain that they are legit/the same.
Ok heres the deal. Apps have 2 types of access.
1. Standard permissions
So if u don't do adb-install (where u dont see an app's permissions), then market / copy to sdcard and install from there u'll see the permission screen. An app cannot do something w/o permissions. If an uninstaller is askin for email permissions u know somethings wrong.
2. Root
Most dangerous. An app will ask u for 0 standard android api permissions. But when u run it, u will be asked for a superuser allow/deny request. From their its up to you. An app could do anything behind the scenes from tht point.
So read reviews/ user comments before trying root apps. Standard apps, just look over the permissions thts all.
FYI : The permissions are read by android, they're not user defined. Any permissions will always show up when installing it using the native package manager.
To be honest I wouldn't advise downloading an .apk from a non-trusted source. If its on the market, you're near certainly ok, and if its from a trusted developer (say from these boards, or some other similar dev portal) then again, you are likely to be ok. In the second case, you are unlikely to be getting a finished app if you get a straight apk from boards, because when they are finished or at least solid, they go to the app store anyway, so harm in that case is more likely to be of the force close variety rather than bricked variety.
Outside of that, I can't see why you would get an apk from a friend rather than downloading it yourself, simply because that way it makes certain you get a clean, non-corrupted version. If apps don't show up in the market for you, its mostly because your device can't run them, in which case, again, force close.
Uninstalling it is possibly too late. All smartphones suffer this issue though.
As mentioned, if you get the files from market though, you are likely to be safe..
Also, not all melicious programs are obvious..
Daneshm90 said:
Ok heres the deal. Apps have 2 types of access.
1. Standard permissions
So if u don't do adb-install (where u dont see an app's permissions), then market / copy to sdcard and install from there u'll see the permission screen. An app cannot do something w/o permissions. If an uninstaller is askin for email permissions u know somethings wrong.
2. Root
Most dangerous. An app will ask u for 0 standard android api permissions. But when u run it, u will be asked for a superuser allow/deny request. From their its up to you. An app could do anything behind the scenes from tht point.
So read reviews/ user comments before trying root apps. Standard apps, just look over the permissions thts all.
FYI : The permissions are read by android, they're not user defined. Any permissions will always show up when installing it using the native package manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you.
Btw, just because security on App store says an app can do stuff like make phone calls etc, doesn't mean it's malicious.
A few people were misled by an article that stated that apps with such extreme permissions were malicious, but it's untrue. It isn't always the case, but if an app uses functionality you don't believe it should, it's possible it is dodgy
andrewluecke said:
Btw, just because security on App store says an app can do stuff like make phone calls etc, doesn't mean it's malicious.
A few people were misled by an article that stated that apps with such extreme permissions were malicious, but it's untrue. It isn't always the case, but if an app uses functionality you don't believe it should, it's possible it is dodgy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aye, I know. Thanks for the advice. I've actually been comparing any app I download off the internet to the actual ones on the market (size and permissions).
Hi everyone im a noob member to the site but have read some interesting threads before membership but as usual joining when i have a problem that needs some of your help
I have had a .apk file download to my htc desire running 2.2.2. I was browsing pics of the fake kind when it started downloading. i did see some letters and numbers before the file ext. It is not an official .apk that im sure off. I have searched for it on my phone but cannot find it to delete .
can anyone help please
After hooking up htc to my pc by usb lead, I have managed to locate the file by searching. It was in the download folder, I deleted it via the pc and then did a factory reset on htc.
Would this get rid of it safely
Not only am I a newbie, but I am also a timid newbie. I am reluctant to mess around with the stock software, and OS that came with my gTab. Most of the great apps, and advice on this site requires you to either flash the tablet, or root the device, etc. I am WAY too chicken to try this. I would love to be able to get to the usual Market as I can on my phone. I would also like to use Swype. Is there any way to "open" up the tablet to these without "major" surgery? I think a list of apps that can be manually installed would be helpful to inexperienced "chickens" like me. Or any add ons, that might improve our new baby would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Search is a wonderful thing, everyone should try it...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=858136
Warning, if you stick stock you may end up returning it
Flashing a room is not difficult if you read/search/research.
copc said:
Search is a wonderful thing, everyone should try it...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=858136
Warning, if you stick stock you may end up returning it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't be ridiculous, it is fine with a few tweaks.
Flashing a room is not difficult if you read/search/research.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is like buying a brand new car, and then replacing the engine. Fine for some, but really not necessary.
Reggie777: I am going to apply the newest update to my stock g-tablet. This usually wipes out all user changes, including installed apps. I will actually follow my own post about doing the changes. I can't remember everything!
wasserkapf said:
Don't be ridiculous, it is fine with a few tweaks.
That is like buying a brand new car, and then replacing the engine. Fine for some, but really not necessary.
Reggie777: I am going to apply the newest update to my stock g-tablet. This usually wipes out all user changes, including installed apps. I will actually follow my own post about doing the changes. I can't remember everything!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny I had to pull nothing out of my gtab? LOL
Why would I pull the Tegra out just to flash a rom?
PS there is a reason that thread was on page 3 as there are fewer that are not flashing roms.
Plus the original point was that the "SEARCH" was a wonderful thing.
wasserkapf said:
Reggie777: I am going to apply the newest update to my stock g-tablet. This usually wipes out all user changes, including installed apps. I will actually follow my own post about doing the changes. I can't remember everything!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did the 1.0.1-3053 update, and it appears all previous changes remained. I did have to re-root it with the z4root app. Those complaining of problems after this update seem to be running a customized ROM. You won't have these problems unless you flash a customized ROM.
wasserkapf said:
Don't be ridiculous, it is fine with a few tweaks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This whole argument is ridiculous. Not a single rom has done a single thing to the underlying "Stock" structure. They are all based from the original "Stock" stuff. The only thing they do is either add or subtract from the original base software.
There is no magic here. If you buy a new car and put shiny new wheels on it you have done the same thing. The car still has the stock engine, and basic structure. If you bought a house that was painted pink and didn't like how it looked you might paint it. Same house, just a new look.
So, your stock with tweaks is essentially the same as my stock with tweaks. I just choose to install the majority of the tweaks at one time with a simple rom update. You do yours one by one..
I don't care what anyone does with there tablet as long as you don't use it to start World War III. But the my mods are better than your mods argument is kind of silly.
Do whatever makes you happy. All I can say is that pretty much no matter what you do it can be put back to original in about 5 minutes. Boot loops, hangs, funky looking screens.. All part of the learning process. Some people seem to be more prone to it. Most of the issues I see people have come from them getting in a big hurry, not thoroughly reading the instructions given with almost every mod, and then flashing away. Slow down, read, and understand what you are doing and it will all typically go just fine.
Sprdtyf350 said:
This whole argument is ridiculous. Not a single rom has done a single thing to the underlying "Stock" structure. They are all based from the original "Stock" stuff. The only thing they do is either add or subtract from the original base software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true.
Some of the mods are based on the zpad image, a completely different image than the g-tablet. My only objection is people saying flashing custom ROMS is a must. That is nonsense, and I will say so every time I see someone post that.
The more updates that ViewSonic put out, it seems the fewer "tweaks" that will be needed.
Can we keep the trolling to World of Warcraft?
There are minor to major changes that can be done ROM wise. What is important IMHO is to give choices to someone that is just starting.
I have the impression the op would like TnTLite version vs Vega or Cyanogen or even ZPad.
I did start like you... almost happy with stock. But the more basic things I needed I noticed the original TnT wasn't good enough. I have changed to TnTLite myself and couldn't be happier.
Just check that thread. Its one stop and change.
Good luck
Bingo! Choice is king, if you don't like the choice you choose go back to stock. But atleast show all your choices, we are not all wanting the same build, hence we are not talking IPADS.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I gather that rooting the gTab is not such a big deal after all? I had started with the impression that rooting and flashing the rom were similar, and equally "dangerous". I DID find the thread that copc referred me to after my starting this thread. We all have to start somewhere as newbies. Thanks too to Wasserkapf for his help.
Rooting will still allow you to get all VS updates. Same with doing the Market install.
Flashing a ROM can be scary, especially if you have lots of stuff on your tablet. I found that investing in Titanium Backup (requires root) was a great idea. I do a full backup every time I flash my ROM and restore apps and data afterwards; I have never lost data nor settings.
If you decide to flash TnT Lite or VEGAn (which is coming along nicely and really brings the tablet to life IMO), there are not only many posts but many friendly folks who are here to help you out.
I am very happy with my G Tablet and this community has been immeasurably helpful in making it so useful.
-=Sent from my ViewSonic G Tablet (VEGAn) using Tapatalk=-
Reggie777 said:
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I gather that rooting the gTab is not such a big deal after all? I had started with the impression that rooting and flashing the rom were similar, and equally "dangerous". I DID find the thread that copc referred me to after my starting this thread. We all have to start somewhere as newbies. Thanks too to Wasserkapf for his help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly we all start as newbies, and it's places like this that are great help.
Good News, everyone. I used z4root, and was able to root my gTab. I also was able to install Launcher Pro, so that now when I turn it on, I get the option of going to the old familiar Android layout as on my Droid. Thanks for the encouragement from you'all. The sky did not fall. Yeah!
I do have some questions, though.
1. If I accidentally load in the TapnTap home screen, I cannot get back to the launcher pro. I cannot find it on the tablet to run it. I can find the apk and it offers to install it again. So, can anyone tell me where it is hidden?
2. I downloaded the vendors apk in an attempt to get the old android market place as on my phone. But it will not install. I am sure I am doing something wrong.
3. There are some icons to the right, the web, messages, and the phone. Is there a way to remove the ones that do not work? Only the web works. I understand that the phone would not, and even the messages. But how can I remove them?
Again, thanks for the moral support and encouragement. I still find the structure of the tablet confusing. Internal SD, external SD, root, etc. Anyone out there with the technical know how could make quite a few dollars by writing a book explaining the wonders, procedures, and pitfalls of our new tablet.
Reggie777 said:
Good News, everyone. I used z4root, and was able to root my gTab. I also was able to install Launcher Pro, so that now when I turn it on, I get the option of going to the old familiar Android layout as on my Droid. Thanks for the encouragement from you'all. The sky did not fall. Yeah!
I do have some questions, though.
1. If I accidentally load in the TapnTap home screen, I cannot get back to the launcher pro. I cannot find it on the tablet to run it. I can find the apk and it offers to install it again. So, can anyone tell me where it is hidden?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my tablet, just hitting the Home icon in the upper-right corner will do that. It is the second one from the top, on the bezel of the screen.
2. I downloaded the vendors apk in an attempt to get the old android market place as on my phone. But it will not install. I am sure I am doing something wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the second thing on my list of tweaks. You need to download and install several files. Please follow the instructions:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=827209
3. There are some icons to the right, the web, messages, and the phone. Is there a way to remove the ones that do not work? Only the web works. I understand that the phone would not, and even the messages. But how can I remove them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to drop a different icon, from the main screen 'Desktop' on top of it, essentially replacing it. To get different icons on the main screen, open the app drawer, and tap and hold an icon. To remove it from the main screen, tap and hold, and move it to the trash can on the right.
I got as far as downloading the zip file, unzipping it. But I am not sure what "mount as R/W" means. I am also not up on the structure of the storage of the Gtablet, and my computer sees .android_secure, Android, Backgrounds, backups, DCIM, download, and Lost.Dir. As a result, I am not sure where to copy the new files to. I moved the unzipped file to the download folder on the tablet. But I am not sure where to go from here. Being a newbie bites.
Reggie777 said:
I got as far as downloading the zip file, unzipping it. But I am not sure what "mount as R/W" means. I am also not up on the structure of the storage of the Gtablet, and my computer sees .android_secure, Android, Backgrounds, backups, DCIM, download, and Lost.Dir. As a result, I am not sure where to copy the new files to. I moved the unzipped file to the download folder on the tablet. But I am not sure where to go from here. Being a newbie bites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that the instructions were as clear as anyone could make them.
3. Using AndRootFile or any other file manager that supports root access, mount as R/W, and copy the contents of G Tablet\permissions to System\etc\permissions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means to use a file manager that supports root browsing. The stock one doesn't, so you will need to install one. The link in the original post will get you the AndRootFile app, that should work. I purchased RootExplorer from the Android Market, so that is what I use. It has a "Mount R/W" button at the top, and I assume AndRootFile has something similar.
Oh, and root is to Unix/Linux/Android that Administrator is to Windows. You need root permissions to make system changes.
Once you have mounted it in R/W mode, copy the files to the folders that it says to. When done, don't forget to re-mount it in R/O mode before exiting.
My bad. I had used z4root to do the rooting. I'll try it with the one you suggested. Thanks.
Actually z4root should work for rooting the tablet. But it isn't a file browser with root access. That is where the other apps come into play.
OK. Here is my adventure so far. I got AndRootFile, and installed it. It is now working. But when I try to copy a file to another location, it does not want to copy the file. features.xml is an example of one that it shows the check box for copying, but when I get to the destination, there is nothing to paste. Frustrating. I also tried Rootexplorer, and have the same result. Now it looks as if the other new file in the new permissions folder copies, since it says it exists and do I want to overwrite. I said yes. But the second file, features does not show up even after I try to paste it. The good news is that I am figuring out the structure of the Beast, and so can move around much easier with AndRootFile, and RootExplorer. Thanks for your ongoing patience, and support.
It doesn't sound as if you are first mounting the file system in R/W (Read/Write) mode. And when finished, make sure you mount it back into R/O (Read/Only) mode before exiting.
I haven't seen any threads after reading through hundreds of threads about icon packs bettercut virtual desktop you name it still no flashable zips for icons??? Is this even possible I don't understand why it's so hard, themes have icons that work for the app drawer...The only way to change the icon is to decompile it and reinstall it without the right digital signature??? Is there a thread about this? I understand that adw has themes you can make which will switch your app drawer icons but thats not what I'm talking about...
Pneuma1985 said:
I haven't seen any threads after reading through hundreds of threads about icon packs bettercut virtual desktop you name it still no flashable zips for icons??? Is this even possible I don't understand why it's so hard, themes have icons that work for the app drawer...The only way to change the icon is to decompile it and reinstall it without the right digital signature??? Is there a thread about this? I understand that adw has themes you can make which will switch your app drawer icons but thats not what I'm talking about...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what you're asking, right?
- Is it possible to create a flashable .zip (flashed from Recovery) that deletes icon.png from all installed applications, switching them out with alternatives provided in the flashable .zip?
It's possible, I guess. It could be done with the general applications that come with most ROMs. Keeping in mind that this is for one specific device, i.e the HTC Desire. But beyond that it'd be pretty hard to create a .zip that does the job. Again: Possible but, hard. I think we'll see other ways of switching out icons rather than a flashable .zip. I'm thinking an application of some sort.
Well I've looked into that to only thing i've been able to come up with is adwex... Now how do they do it? Is it b/c your using that launcher so it can basically display whatever app drawer icon it wants? with the theme...How do themes for roms do it?
Pneuma1985 said:
Well I've looked into that to only thing i've been able to come up with is adwex... Now how do they do it? Is it b/c your using that launcher so it can basically display whatever app drawer icon it wants? with the theme...How do themes for roms do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea how to theme ADW. Never used it.
ROMs come with standard applications. When people create themes for those ROMs they tend to theme the applications that come with it.
So complicated thought androids were made to be hacked whats goin on here...Guess its a lost cause!
Well, like you said, it's waiting to be done, these devices seem made for tweaking and hacking, so if you you really want it, try to figure it out!
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Oh I desperately want it I just dont have the coding capabilities to do it lol otherwise believe me I would!
Pneuma1985 said:
So complicated thought androids were made to be hacked whats goin on here...Guess its a lost cause!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You want to make a script that:
- Deletes icon.png from an .apk
- Removes and re-signs the .apk
That's a big goddamn pile of code right there!
This is not iPhone and if you're that fond of changing the app drawer icons you can do it manually, with each application, which is a *****. This seems very important to you so I urge you to actually do some reading and start this process yourself. We're a big community and we all contribute to make Android awesome. Just because there's no easy solution to mass changing icons doesn't mean it's a low-end operating system that can't be hacked. We've done more with Android than you could ever do with any other OS!
Icon-Pack-Changers came to Windows 7 just a brief time ago. That OS has been out for ages now. Have patience enough and wait for someone to make a breakthrough or do something about it yourself. Thinking it's a lost cause helps nothing.
Ok icon pack changer did not recently come to windows 7 they have been out since win7beta. Windows in itself is a completely different file system how it works is completely different and how to exploit its files is completely different. And lots of people love to hack windows because for the most part its a complete piece of garbage and its really easy to hack. I personally found a way to change system icons when I was still on beta and doing a pack change was as simple as hooking the code! You being a deviantart member you should know that icon packs for windows and the software to change them has been out forever on deviantart over a year now at least.
Ok back to the original post...
yes my basic point in posting this was... is anyone currently trying to solve this icon problem that anyone knows about? I understand that getting around this seems to be mind boggling. I was thinking about in a different way is there any way we could possibly do a digital injection of the icon file???? Sort of like how you can do digital injections of files in windows changing the code by injecting the file???Not sure if this would work but I guess the only way to test it is try it!
Pneuma1985 said:
Ok icon pack changer did not recently come to windows 7 they have been out since win7beta. Windows in itself is a completely different file system how it works is completely different and how to exploit its files is completely different. And lots of people love to hack windows because for the most part its a complete piece of garbage and its really easy to hack. I personally found a way to change system icons when I was still on beta and doing a pack change was as simple as hooking the code! You being a deviantart member you should know that icon packs for windows and the software to change them has been out forever on deviantart over a year now at least.
Ok back to the original post...
yes my basic point in posting this was... is anyone currently trying to solve this icon problem that anyone knows about? I understand that getting around this seems to be mind boggling. I was thinking about in a different way is there any way we could possibly do a digital injection of the icon file???? Sort of like how you can do digital injections of files in windows changing the code by injecting the file???Not sure if this would work but I guess the only way to test it is try it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You actually used more space to tell that the bet... The point is that icon pack changers wasn't even shed light on until some while ago. If you disagree then you're a Windows 7 God and all hail thy great knowledge of teh operating systemzzzzz.
No. All installed applications are signed digtially. If you break/remove the signature you're gonna have to re-sign it. There exists an application for this or you could base your script on APKManager. You cannot simply do a digital injection of an icon file unless you're running some sort of home replacement that caches the icons or something similar.
If you would have focused on the Android part of my comment and not the Windows 7 part you might have got that already.
Well seeing as I was looking at it from a windows user standpoint and not and android coders standpoint and seeing as I'm not an android coder and I just know a little bit about the android file system and a lot about the windows os. an injection doesnt break the digital signature at all ive already tested this on an apk file it's how winrar works when you open an apk replace a file and it still works the reason it works is b/c the file is still signed and your injecting a file into the apk! If that works why wouldnt an injection tool work.
Pneuma1985 said:
Well seeing as I was looking at it from a windows user standpoint and not and android coders standpoint and seeing as I'm not an android coder and I just know a little bit about the android file system and a lot about the windows os. an injection doesnt break the digital signature at all ive already tested this on an apk file it's how winrar works when you open an apk replace a file and it still works the reason it works is b/c the file is still signed and your injecting a file into the apk! If that works why wouldnt an injection tool work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it works; Awesome. Share the wealth.
There have been other threads about winrar and its abilities to mod files in an apk thats nothing new ive seen several threads about it and your totally getting off topic man taking it away from the initial point of my post which was to see if anyone knew about a current project to mod app drawer icons. I never said I've been successful at changing an icon for the most part b/c there usually indexed files thus when you go to change them and open the file it changes to much from gimp to photoshop. My question has anyone else actually been able to change them on any level? I've seen others mod apk files with a number of different tools. Not necessarily image files b/c you break the signature on that end thats why i brought up injection and its possibilities... If I had been successful you think I'd be posting this NO ID BE POSTING HEY I FIGURED IT ALL OUT!!!!!!!Got you nay saying me
Injection tools do work I have injected files into digitally signed game files on an xbox and not changed the digital signature so saying that injection doesnt work is a load of crap! I was trying to think about it outside the box thats all and you really wouldnt know unless you tested it in the same environment! And seeing as I don't know how apk signatures work thats why I brought it up.
Pneuma1985 said:
There have been other threads about winrar and its abilities to mod files in an apk thats nothing new ive seen several threads about it and your totally getting off topic man taking it away from the initial point of my post which was to see if anyone knew about a current project to mod app drawer icons. I never said I've been successful at changing an icon for the most part b/c there usually indexed files thus when you go to change them and open the file it changes to much from gimp to photoshop. My question has anyone else actually been able to change them on any level? I've seen others mod apk files with a number of different tools. Not necessarily image files b/c you break the signature on that end thats why i brought up injection and its possibilities... If I had been successful you think I'd be posting this NO ID BE POSTING HEY I FIGURED IT ALL OUT!!!!!!!Got you nay saying me
Injection tools do work I have injected files into digitally signed game files on an xbox and not changed the digital signature so saying that injection doesnt work is a load of crap! I was trying to think about it outside the box thats all and you really wouldnt know unless you tested it in the same environment! And seeing as I don't know how apk signatures work thats why I brought it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you change anything in an .apk the signature is removed.
When the signature is removed the mod becomes temporary
The next time you reboot or anything like that the .apk will be "corrupt" or unusable.
If you modify an .apk with WinRaR you still remove the signature.
EDIT: Unless the .apks are all installed to /system.
But if they're installed to /data they'll be corrupt.
- Mod app drawer icons? .. That's not what I got from the OP and I even asked you what you meant and you nodded saying what I understood from your post was right .. Gah ..
Yeah I want to be able to mod app drawer icons lol thats what I was talking about Now I know that adw has themes but most of them look pretty crappy and rom themes do change them and there is the apk tool posted on xda main page that resigns files without the same signature. What about a work around to take the signature out of the file and reapplying it how big is the encryption on the signature?
Oh and another question are the adw themes just an overlay of the file how does that work?
I may just try to edit a adw theme if I can get a good template using apktool just resign it without the same signature adding my own icons in would that work?
Pneuma1985 said:
Yeah I want to be able to mod app drawer icons lol thats what I was talking about Now I know that adw has themes but most of them look pretty crappy and rom themes do change them and there is the apk tool posted on xda main page that resigns files without the same signature. What about a work around to take the signature out of the file and reapplying it how big is the encryption on the signature?
Oh and another question are the adw themes just an overlay of the file how does that work?
I may just try to edit a adw theme if I can get a good template using apktool just resign it without the same signature adding my own icons in would that work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure. I just don't know of any tool that can modify an .apk without removing and re-signing it.
Haven't checked out anything regarding ADW, so I can't be much help. But dissecting a theme might be a good idea.
Yeah I tried that I resigned the file right and installed the apk now the apk works just fine after multiple reboots it's just it didnt change the file lol.. Even when i go back in and open the apk the file is changed just doesnt appear on my screen to be changed even after removing the data of the theme??? Cant understand it really. I know the file doesnt have the same signature I checked it.
here is the thread about apk tool http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=640592
Pneuma1985 said:
Yeah I tried that I resigned the file right and installed the apk now the apk works just fine after multiple reboots it's just it didnt change the file lol.. Even when i go back in and open the apk the file is changed just doesnt appear on my screen to be changed even after removing the data of the theme??? Cant understand it really. I know the file doesnt have the same signature I checked it.
here is the thread about apk tool http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=640592
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Your icon.png didn't change? Are you sure you changed the correct one?
- Double check in /data that you don't have multiple .apks (Might be one of them is name apkname-1.apk).
No i just checked it and I'm positive it's the same file theres only so many pngs that are hdpi so it's basically like just look and find it in the res file no other similar images...And I even went to the extend of naming the apk something different so I would know it's installing the proper apk and still nothing on the image end has changed? And its basically pretty simple I'm trying to change the phone apk icon in the theme just as a tester hasnt worked thus far? phone apk still works even after resign but again nothing has changed. An after thought but another thing that would be cool is being able to edit .9 images without going to the ends of the earth or so it seems lol. And I notice people metamorphing which also seems to solve the problem of signed files? Just need more metamorphs
I have to admit that I've been playing around with this idea as well. I don't have any serious coding experience so I've been taking apart adw themes and theme engine themes for CM7. They manage to change app drawer icons without taking apart the apk and resigning.
It's possible to take a theme engine theme and just replace the icons you want (keeping the correct file name of course) before resigning but from what I've seen it will only make a difference to the icons included in the theme which are usually just gapps etc.
Only low tech workaround I can think of is modifying a theme that changes a lot of icons or editing one of the xml files so that you can add your own icons to the package. I'm not sure which file in an apk does this and I know very little about editing them in general so I gave up there. But from seeing iPhone themes it is a bit disappointing that for such a locked down system it's really easy to theme their icons. My rage about it keeps me up at night.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
For a project I am having to lock down some Verizon Galaxy Tabs for a hospital. They want the Verizon 3g Hotspot removed as it really just needs to go.
It's not listed for install/uninstall, there's no entry for it looking via qtADB. We have root access and can remove anything, but I do not know what file it is - I'm going to have to start renaming and there're TONs of files there...
Any help much appreciated.
mildlydisturbed said:
For a project I am having to lock down some Verizon Galaxy Tabs for a hospital. They want the Verizon 3g Hotspot removed as it really just needs to go.
It's not listed for install/uninstall, there's no entry for it looking via qtADB. We have root access and can remove anything, but I do not know what file it is - I'm going to have to start renaming and there're TONs of files there...
Any help much appreciated.
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https://market.android.com/details?id=com.danesh.system.app.remover&feature=search_result
Danesh's System App Remover. I think there is a free version floating around XDA. You will have to root(z4root or super one click) the Tab to remove the apps, but you can un-root after and they will stay removed.
Versii2 said:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.danesh.system.app.remover&feature=search_result
Danesh's System App Remover. I think there is a free version floating around XDA. You will have to root(z4root or super one click) the Tab to remove the apps, but you can un-root after and they will stay removed.
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Click to collapse
Does it display the name of the apks it's removing? As it stands we're doing this from a script - removing the mounds of garbage that ships with them. If it's at all possible, we have to be able to "rm /system/app/junkapp.apk" as opposed to installing software (we removed the market at step 1) and then uninstalling it.
I know it may sound silly, but we're dealing with 93 Galaxy Tabs tomorrow and 170 next week. I've got a batch file, a script, all sorts of things to drop the time down to 1 click... 230 more operations that a human has to be involved in are going to end up being several hours of time.
ok, so no answers on that... I found that renaming /system/bin/dnsmasq to anything else disables the functionality
I saw a couple of people post about it here on XDA and on OnePlus Forums. I wanted to do this myself too for a while and finally got my hands to getting around to work on it.
I enjoy seeing a new wallpaper every hour or so, it does drain battery, but for me it is very aesthetically pleasing. However, I have not seen anyone be able to put a live wallpaper on the lock screen.
Yes, there is the option of getting CM and lock screen widgets, but I like the stock OS feel and it works fine IMO. After some digging around I finally got an idea on how to do it, but it still doesn't work or works in small parts.
(almost working) Guide for getting Live Wallpaper on Lock Screen : (I'll be using Muzei as the example but I'm sure it will work for other ones too)
1. The first thing to do is find the location of where the app stores the images. For Muzei it's in /sdcard/android/data/net.nurik.roman.muzei/cache/artcache/ . I am using the reddit plugin so there's an extra directory there. The files for Muzei are actually not saved as .jpgs, but if you convert them you can get the original image.
*From this point on I tried automating the process with tasker but it has had mixed results so I'll do it step by step manually.
2. You want to copy over the image from the directory where they are saved to /data/system/users/0/ . (you need explorer with root permission to do so). Inside this folder there are 4 important files. Namely "wallpaper" "keyguard_wallpaper" "wallpaper_info.xml" "keyguard_wallpaper_info.xml" The wallpaper file is the one on your home screen and the lock screen wallpaper is the keyguard.
3. Delete "keyguard_wallpaper_info.xml". Delete "keyguard_wallpaper". Next, rename the image to "keyguard_wallpaper" and save it just as is without any extension. Change the permissions to 707 (-rwx---rwx) and change owners to system. Reboot and voila you changed the wallpaper.
With an automated program like tasker this process should be automatic. Once a new wallpaper is updated it shows up in the directory and triggers the process. You delete the old keyguard_wallpaper. Move the new image to the directory and rename it. Delete it from the original wallpaper directory. Change permissions and it should work. However, it does not. even if you do it manually, the lock screen resets to the stock OP Never Settle lock screen. This is where I need help. I don't know why it resets, and where could I possibly find the file that is doing this? I pretty much debloated the phone even removing oneplus stuff but there still seems to be something on a deeper level. If you know how to fix this it would be great if you could share as I hope to help some people. Any feedback on layout of the post, on using tasker, and on anything else is much appreciated.
Cheers.