Flashing Carrier (VZW) ROM to Unlocked S8 (SM-G950U1) - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S8 Questions & Answers

I guess most people buy unlocked phones to avoid bloatware, and I'm fine giving up most forcibly installed time wasters, but I am desperately missing Visual Voicemail notifications on my "carrier-free" phone, so would accept the bloat to have that feature. I just don't know if installing a VZW ROM would solve that problem. Is that even possible?

Here is the guide for switching. I'd suggest trying it out and if it doesn't work then just switch back. https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817

Thanks!

Just thought I throw this in...there are so many other options to Verizon Visual Voice Mail. Just 2 that I've tried and really like. YouMail and Visual Voicemail Plus. Both are less per month than VVM and have way more features. I'd give that a try. Oh an both are on the Google Play Store. Hope this helps.

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Experia Z and Visual Voicemail - AT&T Users

Ok, figured I would get this out there for AT&T users in the US. You can download the AT&T visual voice app from the market no problem. Getting things set up with AT&T may be alittle more tricky. I was coming from an iphone and everything needed to be changed in the account but because the Z is an UNLOCKED/UNKNOWN device on AT&T's end, the visual voicemail package is not available. All that was available was the standard VM. I had the AT&T rep look up my previous devices and they were able to tell the system that I have another device. Now the device needs to be a 3g/4g LTE device that offers visual VM. This allowed them to ad the visual VM and as soon as they did, the app started working and allowed the app to retrieve the info from AT&T's network and thus allowing the AT&T visual VM to work. I now have my VVM back and what's great is the AT&T VVM allows you to send the VM thru email, MMS, etc etc... good stuff... Hope this helps fellow AT&T peeps out there with the Z.
Can you post the apk that you download? I can't even download if it's not an offical AT&T phone.
Always use Google Voice app for visual voicemail then you never have to worry about dealing with AT&T again on this issue. You can check your voicemail from anywhere anytime and from any machine.
randy_c said:
Can you post the apk that you download? I can't even download if it's not an offical AT&T phone.
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Click to collapse
Really? I did a search on the android market for "visual voicemail" and it was the 1st choice. I was surprised because in the past, even with official AT&T phones, this would not always come up and if I tried to search the android market from the phone's browser, it would load it in the market and say "not compatable device" but this time it came right up and allowed me to install from the market. If you don't find it in there, google AT&T visual voicemail and you will find the APK. It may be an older one so I'm not sure if it will work.

[Q] Google Now Hotword

So I just got a Moto X. Out of the box, Google Now hotword detection ("Ok Google") worked perfectly both in Google Now and in the Google Now launcher that I sideloaded. Then, hotword detection randomly turned off. If I uninstall and reinstall updates to the Google Search app, hotword is temporarily fixed, but it won't last more than a day until it turns off again. This happens whether or not Motorola's own Touchless Controls are enabled or disabled.
It seems like some other app is causing it to turn off since a third-party hotword detection app wouldn't work, either, but I've hardly installed any apps since I just got it.
Also, I've already tried the most common suggestions such as ensuring that my voice input language is English (US) and making sure than no Accessibility options are enabled.
Any help to get back hotword detection would be greatly appreciated!
The newest Google search update broke hotword. The only way to keep it working for now is to uninstall the update and not install it again until possibly the next update.
Do you know what the latest version of Google Search is that still supports hotwords so I can grab an apk? When I revert back to the factory version of Google Search, it breaks the Google Now Launcher.
Also, any idea why hotwords would work for a while and then randomly stop. This has happened several times, all while I've had the same version of Search.
Uninstall back to 3.1. Make your changes then install 3.2, this is where Hotword Detection is still there but not selectable and Ok Google works. Now install 3.3, Hotword is no longer there but Ok Google still works. Don't install 3.4, you loose both.
Worked for me twice, I accidentally hit Update All and got 3.4 back, had to start over. I've been back on 3.3 for a week or so and Ok Google still works.
I uninstalled to 3.1 (factory version), and did get hotword back, but I couldn't use the Google Now Launcher. Installed 3.2 and still had hotword, but still not Google Now Launcher. Finally, I installed 3.3, I still had hotword, and the Google Now Launcher worked. But a few hours later, hotword got disabled again.
It doesn't seem like the problem is tied to a version. I've gotten hotword to work with 3.4, but it becomes disabled after a little while of use.
micahmo said:
I uninstalled to 3.1 (factory version), and did get hotword back, but I couldn't use the Google Now Launcher. Installed 3.2 and still had hotword, but still not Google Now Launcher. Finally, I installed 3.3, I still had hotword, and the Google Now Launcher worked. But a few hours later, hotword got disabled again.
It doesn't seem like the problem is tied to a version. I've gotten hotword to work with 3.4, but it becomes disabled after a little while of use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In previous versions of Google search, you could say "Okay Google" instead of "Okay Google Now" to activate the hotword when you had the Google app open? I just recently bought the phone and it came already with the newest version of Google Now installed.
I don't think you've ever been able to say "Ok Google Now" as a hotword to activate voice search in the Google app. "Ok Google Now" is Motorola's keyword for its Touchless Controls. Touchless Controls have always worked for me, but when I'm in the Google app (or in the Google Now launcher that I sideloaded), I prefer to use Google's own hotword, "Ok Google" to activate voice search.
Out of the box, my phone also came with the latest version of Google Now installed, and hotword worked out of the box, but for some reason it became disabled. Any time I uninstall and reinstall Google Search (or even clear data), hotword is restored temporarily, but then becomes disabled again after a while.
Did you leave Touchless Control untrained? I didn't disable it but it is untrained at the moment. My phone is a Developers Edition, unlocked and rooted, if that helps any.
I was able to use the Google Now Launcher on 3.2, maybe it is the version of the Launcher? Mine is 1.0.16.1154249 and I did side load it. I haven't
had any trouble with the hotword detection reverting to off as long as I say on 3.3.
Various threads in different forums say different things about this to being a Chrome problem to a Google Search problem to Motorola disabling it
on purpose so the it doesn't interfere with Touchless Control. I guess I'll have to see what happens when Search 3.5 comes out.
At the moment, I don't have a car so the parking feature doesn't have a relevance for me but setting a timer would be kind of useful.
If is is an accident, it would be nice it it were fixed quickly. If it is on purpose, I really wish someone would re evaluate the policy of not allowing a
function on a device that I purchased and would like to make the decision for my self. Just my opinion.
I do hope you find your solution. I came from a Galaxy Nexus and I have been really liking this phone so far as it is as close to the stock that the
GNex was.
SoloDB said:
Did you leave Touchless Control untrained? I didn't disable it but it is untrained at the moment. My phone is a Developers Edition, unlocked and rooted, if that helps any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I did train Touchless Control. I could try disabling it and then re-enabling it without training it, but I don't see how that would fix anything. I actually like using Touchless Control for when the phone is out of my reach (which is exactly what it's for), but it's kinda slow and doesn't always respond. Ideally, I'd like to use both Touchless Controls and Google's hotword.
My phone is the unlocked T-Mobile version and unrooted. I don't know if that makes a difference.
I was able to use the Google Now Launcher on 3.2, maybe it is the version of the Launcher? Mine is 1.0.16.1154249 and I did side load it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My launcher version is 1.0.9.1039417, but I grabbed an APK of the same version you have and it still didn't work with Google Search 3.2.
Anyway, maybe an update to Google Search or Touchless Controls will fix it eventually.
According to Moto, the disabled this as it conflicts with Touchless Controls. I think that's BS, but whatever.
I was having a conversation with my fiancé earlier and Google Now popped up when I said "Ok, you" in conversation. I appreciated Google's sentiment.
Sent from my Moto X
natezire71 said:
According to Moto, the disabled this as it conflicts with Touchless Controls.
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Click to collapse
TBH, this is the most likely explanation, since, no matter what version of Search I use, hotword works for a little while and then gets disabled. I even installed a third-party hotword-listening app, and it was disabled immediately. Really hope Moto rethinks this.
micahmo said:
TBH, this is the most likely explanation, since, no matter what version of Search I use, hotword works for a little while and then gets disabled. I even installed a third-party hotword-listening app, and it was disabled immediately. Really hope Moto rethinks this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've raised this issue multiple times over on the Motorola Forums. The Forum Manager there told me that's what Motorola told him. It's unfortunate.
natezire71 said:
I've raised this issue multiple times over on the Motorola Forums. The Forum Manager there told me that's what Motorola told him. It's unfortunate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounded like he was going to bring it up and submit a report on the issue, using the conversation in the Motorola forums as a basis. It'd be nice if that led to hotword being re-enabled but who knows. Sounds like some software update is on the way, at least for t-mobile; maybe that will help. Wishful thinking...
Maybe 4.4.3 but who knows.
Google Now Hotword
If your phone is rooted, I think I have a solution for you. It's been working on my phone for about a day now. I don't think I have enough posts in to do any links, but if you go to Droid Life and read the article under "Google Makes “Ok Google” System-wide Hotword Detection Official" the is a link in the comments to a utility called UnLeashTheGoogle. Follow the instructions to get the Google Now stuff working. There is an added step however, look for hotword_blacklisted_devices and change the XT1060 to anything else, I used XT1000. I also went as far as disabling the Touchless Control app so that it wouldn't interfere with the Google Now functions.
All of you that use Touchless Control, great, it is a neat feature, but I prefer to use a more Nexus like feel. To each his own.
SoloDB, that would be a great solution if I were rooted. It's almost tempting enough, although I don't feel like wiping my device at this point.
It's sad that even with the rollout of Google Now's always listening feature, it's still disabled on the Moto X. And it's obviously intentional since the device is blacklisted.
micahmo said:
SoloDB, that would be a great solution if I were rooted. It's almost tempting enough, although I don't feel like wiping my device at this point.
It's sad that even with the rollout of Google Now's always listening feature, it's still disabled on the Moto X. And it's obviously intentional since the device is blacklisted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root using pie via the moto x toolkit without wiping anything. I just did this the other day, but I deleted everything from the blacklist section.
The only issue I'm having now is always listening via Bluetooth in my car (2013 Honda crz hands free link non-nav). It worked flawlessly with my galaxy nexus.
Yes, unfortunately you have to have root. The utility needs root and before I found UnleashTheGoogle I edited the Google Search app pref file to
alter the blacklist which got Ok Google working in the first place, I needed root for that as well being the folder is in the System area. The utility
got everything enabled as well.
I know there are security issues having a rooted phone, but I learned in the Galaxy Nexus days how valuable it is to have a bit more control of
the phone to do the kind of stuff you'd like to do other than what Verizon and, in the case of the Moto X, the manufacturer would "prefer" you to do. The Developers Edition of
Moto X really has made the transition away from the old Galaxy Nexus really easy.
I wish I could root but my work email policies check for that.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
txaggies07 said:
I wish I could root but my work email policies check for that.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would this help? http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.phantasm.xposed.gfesecuritypatcher

4.4.2 stock ROM - google now/search

I gave my Dad this phone and he likes it well enough, but he's seen me do the "Ok Google" on my phone and would like that functionality. He's not interested in rooting or anything advanced, but it seems TouchWiz from Samsung is pretty obstinate about allowing other launchers to work without rooting as I'm learning. The question I have is, would it be possible for him to have "Ok Google" on this phone without rooting? Has anyone gotten this to work? When I attempt to launch the Google Now app, it tells me to go into Settings and Clear Defaults for TouchWiz, but that doesn't seem to change the end result of it not working. From Googling, it appears that one needs to also install the Google Search APK, but I'm confused which version I should get for this 4.4.2. It's from AT&T. Any/all help would be most appreciated.

Any Stock Apps Removed By Sprint?

I'm planning on getting the Note 8 this weekend from Sprint, but I want to know before I make the dive if Sprint has removed any stock apps from the Note 8? I got the LG V20 last year to replace my Note 7 and Sprint had removed stock apps like the gallery, music app, email app, etc to force us to use the Google apps.
I've been searching around Google and other threads here but I haven't found anything about this so far.
The only thing I've noticed they have removed is the Caller ID and Spam Protection that is offered by Samsung.

Question T-Mobile Visual Voicemail App

Hey guys! I know it's gonna sound like a real noob question but here goes:
Why does T-Mobile not allow us to use the stock visual voicemail app for our phones?
I have an unlocked S21 ULTRA. I was also test driving a Pixel 6 Pro recently and I was able to use the stock Google phone integrated visual voicemail app.
The moment I switched back to my S21 ULTRA the little dialog box advised it needed to update sim data and poof - there went the Samsung stock visual voicemail apk. Just gone, disabled, deleted or hidden. Is there a setting to allow for that? Or are we pretty much stuck using their **** software?

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