Database Info

Alternate method to installing Market content

In case there's somebody around here wondering, I'm starting a thread to show you how to download FREE apps if you don't have market access. Any FREE app you can find online in .apk form is yours. Please note you DO NOT need ROOT ACCESS to follow these steps, but I recommend it anyways, so use that nifty search bar and try it out.
Note: This is a method only for installing FREE APPS that are already free. Some people complain of not having the market app, others have market crash issues. This method is only to be used as an alternate to the Market if you do not have market access.
What you'll need:
Method of data transfer between phone and computer (USB Cord, MicroSD adapter, etc)
ASTRO File Manager- Found in the Android Market for free.
Level of Difficulty: 2/10
Procedure:
Step 1: Download ASTRO File Manager
This is self-explanatory. Go into your market and search for: ASTRO
Look for the result that reads: ASTRO File Manager
Download the app, it's free.
Step 2: Connect phone/SD to computer
Either plug in your phone and select mount, or plug your MicroSD into an adapter. Once your computer recognizes the SD card, move to step 3.
Step 3: Create free apps folder
Create a new file folder on your SD card in the top directory (meaning on the SD card and not in any other file folder). Name it Free Apps or similar.
Step 4: Download your .apk files
Search the internet for your desired applications. XDA forums and iPmart are great places to start. Once you find your application, download it and drag it to your Free Apps folder on your SD card.
Step 5: Unmount phone
This doesn't need explaining.
Step 6: Run ASTRO
Once your phone is unmounted and ready, run ASTRO File Manager. Once the application loads, it will list all the folders on your SD card. Navigate to your Free Apps folder, and select it. Once open, find your application you wish to install. It may list it twice, one with the logo and the other with a little settings logo, click the one that has the actual application logo.
Step 7: Installation
A menu will popup with two choices: Explore or App Manager. Select App Manager. It will come up with a new window, and beneath the application logo will be a button that says install. It will bring up the familiar installing are you sure screen, click yes and install it. Once it finishes, click done. Now you can install more or run your application.
That's it, enjoy your apps.

Hmm... I don't see any piracy. There are a lot of "Free" apps online. Android is Open Source. Now if he was talking about downloading paid apps for free... then we have a problem.
This is just a thread showing how to install free apps... which there are billion of online.

jUgGsY said:
If you actually went to the website listed.. Its a website that offers FREE PAID android apps.. Is that not piracy?
EDIT : Besides... Why would you use this method of installing free apps? The market offers free apps..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First site is this one and the other one, I didn't see any paid apps offered for free....looks like a china site from what I could see.....
The market isn't the only place to get free apps. Most of the ones I have were gotten right here....

chfields said:
First site is this one and the other one, I didn't see any paid apps offered for free....looks like a china site from what I could see.....
The market isn't the only place to get free apps. Most of the ones I have were gotten right here....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously dude you need to stop...one of the sites he mentioned has warez in it. For instance here are a few PAID apps...
Solo v1.21
Advanced Task Killer PRO v1.7.6
SetCPU for Root Users v1.5.3a
Should I go on or should I let you continue making yourself look foolish??

MyDroidHax said:
We dont support wares here kid. So please GTFO these forums with your ****ING ****! people work hard to make these apps so people like us can enjoy them. And they spent hours on making the apps and your here to rip them off really?
Now If you would kindly like to support the free apps for being free and the paid apps for being PAID!!!
Then you shall do this for the "goodies" aka Free apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to watch your language. This is your first and last warning.
As far as "piracy" is involved... I don't see any here. Just because the guy says there's a way for you to go throw yourself off a cliff, doesn't mean you're gonna go do it, right ?
He's offering a solution on how to install freely available .apk's. How you get them and If YOU choose to go download them, that's your problem.
Now let's play nice...

VinceOB, MyDroidHax, and Juggsy, you all really need to calm down. I may not have worded it correctly, but I fixed it. The reason I posted this was because a ROM I installed for whatever reason didn't have the market app, so I had no market access. There are a wide array of free apps on both sites, yes there are a few paid on iPmart, but iPmart is still one of the best overall sources for free apps as well. Seriously, i didn't plan on awaking to controversy.

Re: Alternate method to installing Free Apps with Root Access for N00bs
VinceOB, MyDroidHax, and Juggsy, you all really need to calm down. I may not have worded it correctly, but I fixed it. The reason I posted this was because a ROM I installed for whatever reason didn't have the market app, so I had no market access. There are a wide array of free apps on both sites, yes there are a few paid on iPmart, but iPmart is still one of the best overall sources for free apps as well. Seriously, i didn't plan on awaking to controversy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries man. I was just trying to save you the trouble of getting your thread deleted. The way it was worded before, seemed to ME like a method to install PAID apps from alternate sources.
I apologize, and thanks for your contribution.
-------------------------------------
Sent from my HERO200

MyDroidHax said:
Na bro. Not uncalled for at all. He can -Blam- off.
See what I did thar?
And I have no respect for some one that comes in here and tells me what to do right off. He could have came in here and said something like, "please dont be cussing, it is against the forum rules(which its not) and blah blah blah" BUT he didn't so ALL my respect that could have gone toward that guy is all gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you asked for it. Telling a moderator to *** off is definitely uncalled for, even if I use "Windows Mobil"
p.s. Don't forget that XDA is still 90% windows mobile. It's where its roots are. You should respect that.

oh snap eng any chance you jumping to android

Did MyDroidHax get banned? If so, that warrants a big EL OH EL.
Edit: Oh, and LONG LIVE ANDROID!!!

NRGZ28 said:
Well, you asked for it. Telling a moderator to *** off is definitely uncalled for, even if I use "Windows Mobil"
p.s. Don't forget that XDA is still 90% windows mobile. It's where its roots are. You should respect that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't see him drop the f bomb on u. He might have meant it that way but that would be putting words in his mouth.
Sometimes I wonder what the qualifications are to become a mod are. So far I believe the first three qualifications are ego, power hungry, and favoritizm.
Care to elaborate on the extensive and rigorous interviews and testing that took place to acquired ur higher status.
BTW win Mobil is only around cause its backed by Microsoft. Doesn't mean it's a great OS. Just that the backers have deep pockets and wont let it die.

ok, I don't like or condone the way this thread has gone. Instead of discussing the topic of free apps, its all about calling people names and slagging each other off.
@cbarlan - The f word was never mentioned by either MyDroidHax or
NRGZ28. One used "-Blam-" the other "***". It was actually you which first referred to the f-word.
But none of this matters. What matters is your respect for fellow xda users as per rule #2 below.....which by they way does mention no cursing which MyDroidHax blatantly flaunted.
2. Be polite and respect your fellow xda-dev user.
There is no need for cursing, flaming, racism or personal attacks. There are a lot of different nationalities on this forum all with different cultures, this means that no matter what you're like, you'll have to adjust to people that are most definitely not like you. For this reason we'd like to ask you to refrain from discussions about religion or politics, we do not wish to limit your right to free speech, but we have noticed these topics tend to get heated and might be best discussed in a different environment. It will gain you a lot of respect if you help to keep the peace. It's disrespectful and therefore not permitted to create Alias Member names in an attempt to deceive others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So can I remind all to be respectful. Consider this first and last warning
p.s. I have cleaned thread up a bit as well, so hopefully it will stay on topic

Fallen Spartan said:
ok, I don't like or condone the way this thread has gone. Instead of discussing the topic of free apps, its all about calling people names and slagging each other off.
@cbarlan - The f word was never mentioned by either MyDroidHax or
NRGZ28. One used "-Blam-" the other "***". It was actually you which first referred to the f-word.
But none of this matters. What matters is your respect for fellow xda users as per rule #2 below.....which by they way does mention no cursing which MyDroidHax blatantly flaunted.
So can I remind all to be respectful. Consider this first and last warning
p.s. I have cleaned thread up a bit as well, so hopefully it will stay on topic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please remind nrgz28 who is a moderator of the rule u posted. I believe he was very rude in emplementing his harsh warnings instead of being polite and respectful. U can be stern and respectful at same time. And for future reference when someone uses stars inplace of a word it is usually vulgar. Also no need to threaten with this is ur first and last warning. Remember rule u referenced and be polite as well. I'd be willing to write up a wiki on how to use ur manners and be respectful as I've had to reach my six year old. Kinda the same thing

Thank you to the mods for the cleanup work. MyDroidHax initially used F***ING, and then edited it. I read the post almost immediately.
Anyways, I updated the post, and I wrote it at 1AM here today, so I was tired. Sorry for misconceptions guys. Like I said, I had market issues, so I found this way to help me and felt I'd share.
Yes you can get paid apps, but it doesn't mean you should or are going to. This is just a workaround to a normal situation, use it how you will.
Also, you guys really shouldn't rip on the mods. The rules clearly stated that you can't do what MyDroidHax did, and so he was told he can't. So? That's how it works, he won't do it again if he doesn't want to get banned.
On a related note, this can also be used to install apps that are not in the market but are available online, such as betas hosted online, custom apps, etc. If you're rooted, you should have "install non-market apps" checked, but if it's not it will take you to the screen where you check it during this process.

I am 98% sure this doesn't require root access. The file manager I know doesn't, and on the Hero (since we have not been neutered like ATT phones) we can install apps from outside sources. So that option is freely available.
What here requries root access?
Not giving you heck, just trying to make the post more informational.

Kcarpenter said:
I am 98% sure this doesn't require root access. The file manager I know doesn't, and on the Hero (since we have not been neutered like ATT phones) we can install apps from outside sources. So that option is freely available.
What here requries root access?
Not giving you heck, just trying to make the post more informational.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually wasn't sure, decided to play it safe. Thanks for the update. I'll fix the post.
UPDATE: Post is fixed.

OtisFeelgood said:
Did MyDroidHax get banned? If so, that warrants a big EL OH EL.
Edit: Oh, and LONG LIVE ANDROID!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahaha, agreed. that was an awesome thread to read

[Q] Is there any way to remove deleted paid apps from the market download list?

Hello,
I recently did some house (phone) cleaning and dumped a few no longer used apps I had purchased form the market.
I see that while they are no longer installed on the phone, they continue to stay listed in the market download section listed as purchased. Is this normal or is something wrong with the way my phone is working?
If this is normal, is there any way to remove them or at least shift them all to the bottom of the list?
Thanks,
Scott
Using a rooted Droid2 deodexed running the latest 2.3.2
BTW - I've checked the other threads I found on this but never saw a clear answer. Besides, they were old (2009) unless I missed a more resent one.

bump bump bump

I believe its not possible.

this is perfectly normal and actually allows you to reinstall them at any time since well, you paid for them.
There is no way to remove them also from that list, you could ask google support about this they'll be your best bet.
I don't really see a use for this however, if you don't want them installed, then don't.

I am pretty sure I have seen such option in some tool. Unfortunately cannot remember. I will post of I find it

redikx said:
I am pretty sure I have seen such option in some tool. Unfortunately cannot remember. I will post of I find it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ehh some apps you may not want others to know you have...
when they show up in paid apps it kind of defeats the purpose because they show up there...

You can ask the developer to refund your purchase...

[Q] cracked by ChelpuS

Hi guys, noob here. I have an awkard situation and dont know how to go about it. I keep getting a "cracked by ChelpuS" message on the bottom of my Tab (Samsung) constantly and i cant find a program running in the background that i dont know about that could cause this. Ive had superuser installed for quite a while and have never had this message before. Im starting to worry that i might have downloaded some type of spyware or that my phone is being monitored by this chelpus guy or his app. First time for me and dont know what to do.
Thnx in advance
ivput this in general hacking section since i dont know where to begin with this type of question. I have searched and have found no one with the same situation. Agian thnx in
advance.

chelpus is a hacker that hack paid apps from market and make it usable for free,maybe some of your apps are paid app that cracked by him
Sent from my LT18i

remove lucky patcher or do the hard reset for your tab

Or basically uninstall any app you have downloaded somewhere else than market.
Sent from LT18i @ Xda Premium

stillteachin said:
Hi guys, noob here. I have an awkard situation and dont know how to go about it. I keep getting a "cracked by ChelpuS" message on the bottom of my Tab (Samsung) constantly and i cant find a program running in the background that i dont know about that could cause this. Ive had superuser installed for quite a while and have never had this message before. Im starting to worry that i might have downloaded some type of spyware or that my phone is being monitored by this chelpus guy or his app. First time for me and dont know what to do.
Thnx in advance
ivput this in general hacking section since i dont know where to begin with this type of question. I have searched and have found no one with the same situation. Agian thnx in
advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It means you are running pirated software, potentially with malware.
You know some of us feed our families 99cents at a time right?

jcase said:
It means you are running pirated software, potentially with malware.
You know some of us feed our families 99cents at a time right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relax. Before you try to make him feel guilty, he may not have known it was a paid app and just dl'd the apk. Maybe the app was incompatible or not showing in the market so he couldn't dl it legitimately.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

lucky patcher, titanium backup activator, or even a hacked titanium backup that is a pro version is causing the prompt.
chelpus is a cracker from Russia, who cracks apps, and i dont think its a spyware,
if u r rooted, use rom toolbox to find startup apps, then dissable any market/3rd party apps from startup.
well, i am not 100%sure, but it may due to cracked tb.( tb usually runs in bootup, or else any activator like lucky patcher/ tb activator etc. they run in startup, jus uninstall or remove from startup. u will be ok.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium

Apps not allowed on root?

Recently tried installing 9 innings baseball and upon startup of the app it prompted me that "Device is Rooted, Please try again when Unrooted". First, is this legal? Second, is there a way to get around this? Third, How does this app even detect my root?
I'd love to play this game as I heard good things about it!
Thanks in Advance!

fadac said:
Recently tried installing 9 innings baseball and upon startup of the app it prompted me that "Device is Rooted, Please try again when Unrooted". First, is this legal? Second, is there a way to get around this? Third, How does this app even detect my root?
I'd love to play this game as I heard good things about it!
Thanks in Advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
been looking for a good baseball app - but I guess I cannot use it now. found this forum though - might have better luck there:
http://global.com2us.com/forum/showthread.php?p=424792

Why would it not be legal? Note, this is the not the same question as whether or not it's the right thing to do. They can stop anyone they want from playing, it's their right. Apps typically block root when they used some type of shared scoring or leaderboard system that is susceptible to client-side hacking. It's a cheap workaround to prevent rooted players from playing rather than having to actually make their app secure.
As for how, a quick Google search turned up this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1101380/determine-if-running-on-a-rooted-device
That's a very simplistic way to check, and even it would be difficult to hide from. I've no doubt companies that are doing this as an anti-hacking measure are doing things more complex than this.

Yea I did a google search too and nothing seemed to help. I tried the temp unroot but that doesn't work. Was wondering if the XDA community knew some better way as I didn't find anything on the forums.
Legality side of it, Yea I suppose your right. But it's like saying I can't install WinAMP on Windows because I changed some registry files. Companies should defiantly not use rooting as an "anti-hacking" tool against their app. Either way they got a bad review because of it, hopefully they will take it into consideration and fix it.
It's the first time I've ever heard of an app not allowed because of root, is that a common thing?

Not really common, per se, but I've heard of it on a couple of other games. It's almost universally games that are susceptible to some type of client side hacking. There are some other apps that will do more specific things, like block you if you try to run an ad blocker, but very few will outright stop you for only rooting.

fadac said:
Yea I did a google search too and nothing seemed to help. I tried the temp unroot but that doesn't work. Was wondering if the XDA community knew some better way as I didn't find anything on the forums.
Legality side of it, Yea I suppose your right. But it's like saying I can't install WinAMP on Windows because I changed some registry files. Companies should defiantly not use rooting as an "anti-hacking" tool against their app. Either way they got a bad review because of it, hopefully they will take it into consideration and fix it.
It's the first time I've ever heard of an app not allowed because of root, is that a common thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
User SuperSU then click enable root . The game will run after that .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium

AgentFour20 said:
User SuperSU then click enable root . The game will run after that .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey it WORKED!
What I had to do:
1) Installed SuperSU
2) Went to Settings>Apps>Manage Apps>All and Force Stopped Superuser
3) Opened SuperSU, Settings, and unchecked Enable Superuser.
This app must use the 3rd method listed on shrike1978's link where it checks for su binary. Thankfully because the other two checking methods would be impossible to get around without unrooting. (I'm sure it's not impossible, but more work than I care to do)
Thanks for the help AgentFour20

No problem . Just hit the thanks button , that would be greatly
appreciated .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium

antivirus software for the S8?

Evening all,
Just a quick question, do any of you use anti virus software for your phones? If so which one?
Running

Your finger works as a great anti virus, here's how to use it, when you download that modded candycrush.apk file from cheatersRus.com and you're asked if you want to install this apk file, select NO. There no virus, 100% guaranteed to work.

peachpuff said:
Your finger works as a great anti virus, here's how to use it, when you download that modded candycrush.apk file from cheatersRus.com and you're asked if you want to install this apk file, select NO. There no virus, 100% guaranteed to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
So true...
Antivirus apps on a phone are so unnecessary and ends up hurting your experience with your device instead of improving your experience.
Just a bit of common sense goes a LONG way folks...

I don't. I used to run 360 for ram clears and storage cleans, specifically the little widget was nice, antivirus was there but meh. Now that you can use stock ram/storage cleaner + it has a widget. So goodbye 360 for me.
That said, I don't really download any apks unless they are listed here on xda.

peachpuff said:
Your finger works as a great anti virus, here's how to use it, when you download that modded candycrush.apk file from cheatersRus.com and you're asked if you want to install this apk file, select NO. There no virus, 100% guaranteed to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amen, brother, amen. I get so many friends of mine asking me "why is my phone so slow" and I look at it and they've got 9billion games and 4000 tabs open and facebook messenger (anyone running facebook deserves what they get, sorry, i consider facebook stupid to begin with but honestly, no, YOU DON'T HAVE TO OVERSHARE THAT YOU WENT POOP FIVE MINUTES AGO And, NO, your baby IS really ugly, stop posting so many damn pictures of it). I just happily go ahead and delete about 80-90% of the crap they put on their devices and voila, they're "amazed" that it's "faster" no, it's just not as bloated.

peachpuff said:
Your finger works as a great anti virus, here's how to use it, when you download that modded candycrush.apk file from cheatersRus.com and you're asked if you want to install this apk file, select NO. There no virus, 100% guaranteed to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok ?
I don't download anything unless it's in the play store or here.
I only asked as I was fiddling with the settings on my phone and one of the options for anti virus.
Running

Currently, I'm using Bitdefender and Disconnect Pro.

Disconnect Pro should suffice just fine. Not really an antivirus, but it will prevent ads from popping up (probably the best ad block I can think of without root).

Go to device maintenance, security, and accept the notification that appears.
Intel Security will now actively secure your device. (No need for any AV from the playstore.)
Now, you can use AdHell or DisconnectPro to enable system-wide ad-blocking using the Knox firewall without root. This should avoid most crapware.
Do not download/install anything that prompts you to enable installation from Unknown Sources.
You're now secure.

Skander1998 said:
Go to device maintenance, security, and accept the notification that appears.
Intel Security will now actively secure your device. (No need for any AV from the playstore.)
Now, you can use AdHell or DisconnectPro to enable system-wide ad-blocking using the Knox firewall without root. This should avoid most crapware.
Do not download/install anything that prompts you to enable installation from Unknown Sources.
You're now secure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once Intel Security is enabled, is there any way to disable it again?
Did not find an option for that..
Thanks & best regards!
Michael

peachpuff said:
Your finger works as a great anti virus, here's how to use it, when you download that modded candycrush.apk file from cheatersRus.com and you're asked if you want to install this apk file, select NO. There no virus, 100% guaranteed to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you didn't know some malware/viruses are on play store that isn't detected by Google. Can't remember if it was recently but 2 million handsets where infected because of apps on play store especially the dodgy ones

pheeos said:
Once Intel Security is enabled, is there any way to disable it again?
Did not find an option for that..
Thanks & best regards!
Michael
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did not try this, but this may work.
Go to settings -> apps -> click the 3 dot menu and click show system apps -> click Device Maintenance.
Clear the data of the device maintenance app.

underdog_656 said:
If you didn't know some malware/viruses are on play store that isn't detected by Google. Can't remember if it was recently but 2 million handsets where infected because of apps on play store especially the dodgy ones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And since google didn't catch it what makes you think some av software will?

underdog_656 said:
If you didn't know some malware/viruses are on play store that isn't detected by Google. Can't remember if it was recently but 2 million handsets where infected because of apps on play store especially the dodgy ones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm REALLY confused, you even write, "especially the dodgy ones" yet, WHY would you download the "dodgy" ones? WHY?
It's sort of like, "Don't stick your hand in the woodchipper" You come running a half-hour later and have no hand screaming, "I stuck my hand in the wood chipper". Well, yeah.

peachpuff said:
And since google didn't catch it what makes you think some av software will?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's better than nothing. There might be a possibility for the anti virus.
---------- Post added at 08:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:27 AM ----------
sanjsrik said:
I'm REALLY confused, you even write, "especially the dodgy ones" yet, WHY would you download the "dodgy" ones? WHY?
It's sort of like, "Don't stick your hand in the woodchipper" You come running a half-hour later and have no hand screaming, "I stuck my hand in the wood chipper". Well, yeah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many people download them if you didn't know. E.g game guides.... that's fine that you don't download these but there are people who do.

underdog_656 said:
It's better than nothing. There might be a possibility for the anti virus.
---------- Post added at 08:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:27 AM ----------
Many people download them if you didn't know. E.g game guides.... that's fine that you don't download these but there are people who do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, if they're downloading from sketchy sites, they deserve what they get. No one should complain if they KNOW better and do worse.

sanjsrik said:
Honestly, if they're downloading from sketchy sites, they deserve what they get. No one should complain if they KNOW better and do worse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
M8 we are talking about play store not websites. What's wrong with you people, good for you that you know what sketchy websites are but other people don't e.g older people. Then what's the point of having a antivirus on computer if only you would visit Facebook and not any sketchy websites. So yeah hopefully this shows how stup** ur comment is. I agree with you people should be able you know and website but as I said before they don't...

underdog_656 said:
M8 we are talking about play store not websites. What's wrong with you people, good for you that you know what sketchy websites are but other people don't e.g older people. Then what's the point of having a antivirus on computer if only you would visit Facebook and not any sketchy websites. So yeah hopefully this shows how stup** ur comment is. I agree with you people should be able you know and website but as I said before they don't...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, when you start name-calling, the discussion ends.

sanjsrik said:
Sorry, when you start name-calling, the discussion ends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't call you nothing I said ur comment is....
Bruhhhh

Anti virus apps on mobile systems are useless and pointless. They will never detecty anything on android as the malware on android is not made like PC software nor does it act like it.
The biggest cause for slow devices I find are people being lazy and having tons of folders on their home screen with tons of apps in them. Doing this will slow your system down. Also filling more then 50% device storage will also slow the device down.