Related
It seems that whenever I do a search for apps that others find useful, Twitter and Facebook are all the rage.
Seriously, there are "Top Ten Apps" lists out there that will have two or three different Twitter apps listed on them. It drives me insane because I don't care about Twitter and I don't find it productive in the least (just a personal preference matter, no offense to you tweet-aholics out there).
I would like to know social networks and twitter aside, which apps do you find most useful or productive?
Advanced Task killer (name says all)
Astro (explorer that allows you to browse SD card and install apps)
aTrackDog (allows to check new app versions)
Call logs backup & restore/SMS Backup & restore/APN Backup & restore (names says all)
CoPilot Live (payed GPS)
Meridian (Media player with subtitle support)
Shazam (app that "listens" the song and identify it)
Uninstaller (app to uninstall apps)
Zedge (to search for nice wallpapers)
Doubletwist (media player with PC version that allows to sync libraries)
GPS test (to check for satellites in view)
AppBrain App Market and Fast web installer (market alternative that allows to install straight from the webpage)
Games:
Angry birds
Frozen bubble
Jewls
These are my must have every time i try a new rom.
DeuXGod said:
Advanced Task killer (name says all)
Astro (explorer that allows you to browse SD card and install apps)
aTrackDog (allows to check new app versions)
Call logs backup & restore/SMS Backup & restore/APN Backup & restore (names says all)
CoPilot Live (payed GPS)
Meridian (Media player with subtitle support)
Shazam (app that "listens" the song and identify it)
Uninstaller (app to uninstall apps)
Zedge (to search for nice wallpapers)
Doubletwist (media player with PC version that allows to sync libraries)
GPS test (to check for satellites in view)
AppBrain App Market and Fast web installer (market alternative that allows to install straight from the webpage)
Games:
Angry birds
Frozen bubble
Jewls
These are my must have every time i try a new rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, there are a few on here I will have to check out. Thanks for not mentioning Twitter or Facebook apps!
My list includes:
- Maps BRUT (Turns maps / naviation into a full car GPS unit)
- Missed Reminders (Does what it says)
- MeContacts (nicer app for placing favourite 'instant dial' widget')
- Double Twist (Mentioned above)
- Pocket Auctions Ebay
- Slideit Soft Keyboard / Swype
- Time Clock Time Traking by Spotlight 6 (Used for tracking work time for clients)
- Dolphin Browser
- Shazam (Mentioned before)
- Robo Defense (Fun game)
- Executive Assistant. (Summary of sms's, emails, missed calls, etc as a widget)
- Flashlight (Name says it all)
- Weatherbug
- Springpad. (Online notes that sync with phone and vise versa)
- Starfield Active Wallpaper (coz I'm a geek ;-)
- The Weather Channel
Here's my current list - 113 market apps, not a single "social" one among them.
http://www.appbrain.com/user/nawoa
Note the absence of a task killer, since I wasn't dropped on my head as a child.
All those, plus the standard Cyanogenmod and Google Apps stuff and a couple that aren't available through the market, like Swype. Thank goodness for DT-A2SD!
Thank you. I bought my phone today & I'm downloading some apps from your link.
Glad to be of service! What kind of phone did you get?
More than anything else, make sure to install Juice Defender. It does simple, completely transparent background power management that should've been built into the OS from the beginning, imho.
Example, if your screen's off, what are the chances you need your power-hungry data connection going? Why not shut it off for 14 minutes out of every 15, and then keep it running until it's no longer being used? Instantly your battery life is greatly extended during times when your phone's in standby.
Or, how about doing the same thing, only keeping it off most of the time a certain application, like a video player, is in the foreground?
Makes sense, right?
No, I'm not affiliated with its developer
-----
HTC Desire (SLCD) S-OFF / Cyanogenmod
nawoa said:
Glad to be of service! What kind of phone did you get?
More than anything else, make sure to install Juice Defender. It does simple, completely transparent background power management that should've been built into the OS from the beginning, imho.
Example, if your screen's off, what are the chances you need your power-hungry data connection going? Why not shut it off for 14 minutes out of every 15, and then keep it running until it's no longer being used? Instantly your battery life is greatly extended during times when your phone's in standby.
Or, how about doing the same thing, only keeping it off most of the time a certain application, like a video player, is in the foreground?
Makes sense, right?
No, I'm not affiliated with its developer
-----
HTC Desire (SLCD) S-OFF / Cyanogenmod
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a SE Xperia X8. By the way, do ypu mange roms ? Can you take a look at my post about the Xperia X8 ?
( forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=816819 )
Guys here is the list of Applications I am using, please help me out bu cutting the list as much as possible by recommending replacements, one replacement for multiple apps, what apps are redundant (essentially two apps doing the same thing). Please help m out.
Throw any questions at me such as why u r using this, or whatever:
Information
Animated Weather Widget&Clock
AG Indian Newspapers
FeedR News Reader
Finance
First Aid
Google Goggles
iTriage Mobile Health
Layar Reality Browser
Palmary Weather Pro
Pulse News Reader
Scoreboard
TV Show Favs
Wikitude World Browser
Navigation
3D Compass Pro (AR Compass)
Compass
Google Sky Map
Google Maps
My Tracks
SpeedView Pro
Utils
3G Watchdog
AdFree Android
AppBrain App Market
AudioManager Pro
Barcode Scanner
Better Terminal Emulator Pro
BusyBox
Swype
Smart Keyboard
Clockr Evolution (donate)
Dialer One
DroidStats
Extended Controls
Handcent SMS
Lookout Mobile Security
MetaMorph
Mr. Number Call Block
Quick Boot
Quick System Info PRO
Rings Extended
SetCPU for Root Users
System Info Widget
Vlingo: Words to Action
Voice Search
Youlu Address Book
Management
AndroZip Pro File Manager
ASTRO Bluetooth Module
ASTRO File Manager
ASTRO File Mgr Pro (key)
ES File Explorer
Root Explorer (File Manager)
AppControl Full version
Autostarts
Quick Uninstaller (Appmanager)
Titanium Backup ? root
Titanium Backup PRO Key ? root
ROM Manager
ROM Manager (Premium)
Interface
BetterCut
LauncherPro Plus
Desktop Visualizer
HomeSmack
Folder Organizer
Power Strip: Multitasking Dock
WidgetLocker Lockscreen
Tools
Bubble
Celeste SE
drocap2 for root users
Google Search
Instant Heart Rate
Linpack for Android
Metal Detector
Quadrant Standard Edition
Speedtest.net Speed Test
T-Counter
Where's My Droid Donate
Tasker
Bluetooth File Transfer
Office
Dictionary.com
Documents To Go 3.0 Main App
DocumentsToGo Full Version Key
Google Translate
handyCalc Calculator
Note Everything
Note Everything Pro Add-On
Periodic Table PeriodicPad
PrinterShare™ Droid Print
PrinterShare™ Premium Key
Unit Converter ConvertPad
VuDroid
Multimedia
Camera360 Ultimate
Flash Player 10.1
Image Shrink
JustPictures!
Photaf 3D Panorama Pro
PicSay Pro Photo Editor
Ringdroid
RockPlayer Universal
TapeMachine
Official XBMC Remote
Vignette
YouTube
YouTube: TubeMate
Organizer
Alarm Clock PlusV2(NoAds)
Astrid Power Pack
Astrid Task/Todo List
Class Buddy Pro
DaysUntil Widget
Pure Grid calendar widget
UltraChron Stopwatch & Timer
World Clock
Social
Facebook for Android
Gmail
Nimbuzz Call & Chat for FREE
Pure messenger widget
Skype
Tapatalk Forum App (Pro)
TweetDeck
Networking
AndroStream
Barnacle Wifi Tether
ByteTornado Downloader
Dolphin Browser™ HD
Dropbox
Fast Web Installer
IP Webcam
Lookator
Swarm Torrent Client
Torrent-fu
Unified Remote
URLy the URL sharer
Webkey (ROOT REQUIRED)
WebSharing File/Media Sync
Sorry but are you jokeing you have loads of the same type of apps. Close the thred.
Sent from my Pulse Mini using Tapatalk
No I am not jokeing and I know I have some apps of the same kind and that is why I am asking the members which one they thing I should keep and which one I should remove.
Do the brave thing and delete everything. You'll soon realise what you need.
Seriously, I stopped reading the list when I saw, like, 5 news readers. Keep Pulse (or your favorite if it's not pulse), and delete the rest. Delete any news apps, and find the address to its RSS feed. Add those feeds to whatever reader you kept, and you've already eliminated at least 5 redundant apps.
Use the same strategy for everything else. You should be able to tell when two apps are doing the same thing. Just pick your favorite and delete the rest.
Edit: Are you kidding me? 5 or 6 file managers. I would stick with Root Explorer or SU and delete the rest.
I'm gonna leave it at that, because that is way too many apps. Good luck streamlining.
Looks like a list of downloaded warez, and you're just trying to figure out which ones to use.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
AAAH! MY EYES THEY BURN! dude litterally. what are you tryin to do go app crazy? CM6.1 has it's own file manager that works great (once the full version comes out i'll be happy) as for all the double apps get rid of em. literally why so many apps. only keep the ones you will use not the ones that will sit and collect fragmentation (hahaha fragmentation kinda like dust is to objects).
vetvito said:
Looks like a list of downloaded warez, and you're just trying to figure out which ones to use.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking the same thing when I saw both Root Explorer and SU on the list, not to mention all the other duplicate-function paid apps.
@OP: You should listen to the dude who said to delete everything and start from scratch. And with no wares this time.
mohitgarg said:
Guys here is the list of Applications I am using, please help me out bu cutting the list as much as possible by recommending replacements, one replacement for multiple apps, what apps are redundant (essentially two apps doing the same thing). Please help m out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have all of these apps installed and running on your phone?
Sounds like you would have some performance issues with these apps, narrow the list.
Do a Google search for the "app" name + "Android review". When I am looking to accomplish a certain task, I Google that on some review site. This will narrow your scope.
I have not, I repeat I have not downloaded these apps from waez or as a package but spent time on appbrain and install each and EVRY app I listed and tried them, th initial liost was 500+ apps, I have narrowed to 200 apps, I just wanted to know which ones people think are the ones worth keeping, the reason I have shortlisted these are because I like the functionality and Ui, however it could happen that some function is available in app x and also in appy but I don't know yet (not played enough), but people on the forum are able to point that out.
Most of the apps listed are highly rated and popular.
I have updated the list by cutting down on some apps.
i will give reason for each app, once i find some time.
That's defo a warez list lol.
You wouldn't have listed all the free version and paid versions if not.
No way you'd have paid for all those apps without trying them.
Made me lol in rl.
Use whichever you feel more comfy using.
Good luck
edit... quick Google search I just found your current list in a wares torrent. In the same order.... Lol
*Sent from XDA on my Wildfire*
And for every app group (be it warez or not), there is not simply an app that beats them all. It all depends upon your interests and personal preferences, and no one but you can decide what is the app out of a group that fits you most. So please stop asking others to do a work you only can do yourself.
mizch said:
And for every app group (be it warez or not), there is not simply an app that beats them all. It all depends upon your interests and personal preferences, and no one but you can decide what is the app out of a group that fits you most. So please stop asking others to do a work you only can do yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i fully agree with that!
HOARDER!!!!! Wahhh i need moar warez....oh noes i need moar appz naO!!!!!!!
Killkill kill this thread ban the op and take away his poor phone.
vision
I have actually been felt very offended by the fact that members feel that I am using from torrent or warez. As proof here is the list on appbrain:
appbrain .com / user / mohitgarg / need-to-test-install
appbrain .com / user / mohitgarg / faved
And mr leetvtr, eff off, i could find the apps u use in a torrent too.
If I wanted to keep them and be a horder I would not have listed them, the whole purpose was to get input from people about what they feel about an app and if they would discourage the use of a particular app for some particular reason.
I actually did try all of them for less than 22 hours (paid) as I wanted to try and then get a refund, thus didn not have enough time to play with them, but these r the ones i liked in terms of first impression. I actually have tried many more (paid too) apps but did not like them and thus needed your help, what a friendly society, really!
Cut down to one newsreader. For social apps, I'd use Facebook, TweetCaster, GoChat, and Tapatalk.
This combination provides the best coverage of features with the smallest footprint on your phone.
I would also go with Winamp for music, and YXPlayer for movies, since they each offer the best quality and broadest compatibility of their respective media types. I'd also cut down to just Astro and Root Explorer for file managers. While Astro may seem redundant, it's been beneficial to me to have a "pedestrian" file manager, and I also find Astro's zip manager more reliable. Only keep the Google Apps you are actually going to use. I can almost guarantee Google Sky and Goggles will just end up collecting dust in your app tray. The majority of the apps you have listed are pretty specific in purpose. If you aren't using then, and aren't sure if you need them, back then up with AppMonster and uninstall them. You'll always have then to reinstall from your SD if you every want to try then again. That's about all the advice I've got.
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Thanks for the constructive criticism, higly appreciated.
I have updated the list, need more suggestions.
So forum, what are your top 10 apps? Here is mine:
1. Wapedia, best wiki app ever
2. Adw launcher
3. Springpad
4. Chrome to phone
5. Facebook
6. Xda, obviously
7. Daily horoscope
8. Root explorer
9. Pulse news reader
10. Pandora
This is mine.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
1. GO Launcher/LauncherPro
2. Engadget
3. XDA
4. POWERAMP
5. Beautiiful Widgets
6. WordFeud
7. GO SMS
8. Google Books
9. Tank Hero
10. AK Notepad
Mine are pretty simple. Still haven't figured out how to root.
1. Root Explorer
2. SetCPU
3. Terminal Emulator
4. Astro
5. K-9
6. Docs to Go
7. Gameloft
8. Angry Birds
9. Google Maps
10. google talk
In no particular order:
1. AK Notes
2. Root Explorer
3. ADB Wireless
4. Beautiful Widgets
5. Minimalistic Text
6. Widgetsoid
7. Google Reader
8. Tapatalk
9. Agenda Widget
10. Angry Birds
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
Tasker
Subsonic
ADW EX Launcher
Tapatalk
Handcent SMS
Wikidroid (far better than Wapedia, IMO)
Kindle
VLC Remote
Google Reader
Mint
Root Explorer
ADWex
Titanium Backup
Custom themed market
XDA
AdFree
Dolphin Browser
Ringdroid
Superuser
Voice Search
There's mine
Good ones
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
hansmrtn said:
Good ones
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I saw nobody had listed superuser yet, and that's just not right
These are not in order, but they are the apps I use most frequently...
1) Tweetdeck
2) Root Explorer
3) XDA
4) NoLED
5) LauncherPro
6) Beautiful Widgets
7) Widgetsoid
8) Folder Organiser
9) File Manager
10) Handscent SMS
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I won't list any root apps, as they're not my 'favorite', I use them because I have to .
1. LauncherPro Plus
2. ChompSMS
3. Beautiful Widgets
4. Copilot Live
5. Folder Organizer
6. Nesoid
7. Snesoid
8. PlayerPro
9. Swiftkey keyboard
10. xda
Google maps
Google reader
Group me
Tweetdeck
Facebook
Appbrain
Pandora
Astrid
Financisto
SMS pop up
Sent from my Nexus S
hmm... my list is 377 apps long....
all those are my TOP used, else they wouldn't be installed in the phone.
however if i must choose... (in no special order)
Titanium Backup
CoPilot 8
Fancy Widgets
WeatherEye
Alarm Clock PlusV2
LauncherPRO
AppBrain
Gmail
AudioManager
Handcent SMS
AdFree
ixMAT
ShootMe
Android System Info
Note Everything
a whole bunch of ON/OFF toggles widgets
Package Buddy
Remote Desktop
SSH
VNC
... oh oops! i went over 10 already, and i didn't even mention all (yes all of them) the browsers
those are just a few that i use on daily basis
Not including live wallpapers or apps that require rooting or that are preinstalled, ordered by a complex secret algorithm involving frequency of use, personal importance, the barometric pressure in my room at the time of install, and dummy variables derived from the precise time of most recent use and the balance of power in the United States House of Representatives:
1. BuzzBox News (BuzzBox, Inc.)
- I have pretty much abandoned other news readers, mobile or otherwise, for this app. I use it pretty much every time I use my phone. Good widgets, and the dark theme is easy on the eyes and my phone battery. The interface itself is stubbornly a bit rough around the edges, but there are too many good things about it not to forgive its minor flaws. Note: enable automatic full text download in the options. It's been in "beta" forever, but it works very well and there's really no reason not to.
2. PDX Transit Finder (Ryan Roemmich)
- Ignore this if you don't use TriMet (Portland, OR's public transit system). If you do, though, highly recommended. The UI is about as good as Windows 3.1, and looks about as fancy as DOS, and it really only does one thing: fetch arrival times, but this actually works to its advantage in a perverse way, because its rival app updates about as frequently as this one (read: pretty sure both are no longer in development), and since it includes a lot more features, it has a lot more inaccuracies. PDX Transit Finder: the best argument for mediocrity in the app store. If you live in Portland and ride on public transit.
3. Flash Player 10.1 (Adobe Systems)
- Not much explanation needed here. Adult Swim video on my phone? Yes, please.
4. Root Explorer (Speed Software)
- Yes, you can use it without root privileges, and it is wonderful. With root, it's even better. You need something like this, since the Nexus S doesn't really have an onboard file manager to speak of, and Root Explorer is one of the best.
5. WiFi OnOff (CurveFish)
- WiFi on, WiFi off. In a 1x1 widget. Much easier than going into the Settings, and a lot more compact than the control panel widget that comes with the phone. Great for when you want your phone to find WiFi networks on its own when you mean to use them, but not kill itself and make you want to kill yourself looking for them constantly when you're on the move.
6. ADWLauncher EX (AnderWeb)
- Yes, I do like it. A lot. No, I haven't tried LauncherPro. No, I won't try it just for the sake of comparison. Don't you have anything more important to do? Despite the fact that using Android automatically subjects you to the opinion of everyone who is aware that launcher options exist, choice is sweet. ADW was the first I tried off-stock, and I've never wanted to change. AnderWeb is also possibly the most responsive developer I've ever dealt with, so if you have an issue, let him know and he'll either fix it or tell you why he can't. That alone goes a long way to customer satisfaction.
7. SoundHound (SoundHound Inc.)
- Music recognition that works reliably in pretty much any setting. It's that song on the radio I hear once every two years and want to add to my collection, but I can't figure out what it is! Not anymore. I would make out with this app if I could.
8. Screen Filter (haxor industry)
- Sure it's not perfect. The whole display red-shifts and gets uneven, and sometimes it will decide to close itself for no apparent reason, but it's pretty darn well-crafted and reliable when you think about what it's actually doing. Finally, I can use my phone in a dark room and not feel like I'm forcing my eyes to stare at a 25-watt incandescent light bulb. Happiness.
9. doubleTwist (doubleTwist)
- This app is a royal pain in the ass, especially since I know what it's like to have an iPod. But even though it will not sync some files and fail to explain itself if it doesn't like your folder structure, or any of your tags start with something other than a letter or a number, or somebody looked at it wrong, it is still, sadly, the best all-in-one media solution I'm aware of. Music, video, and podcasts. Delicious. It's like... an orange-flavored Tootsie Roll Pop. Sure, the outside is kinda gross, but just think about the delicious filling and you'll figure out a way to tolerate it. Or just smash it open.
10. ColorNote Notepad (Notes)
- The UI could use a couple slight refinements, but it works very well for the basic app it is. The list feature is great for grocery shopping, too. Just one more opportunity to banish paper from your life.
My apps are mostly fun apps:
MusicJunk
Mabilo Ringtones
mp3tagger
hyper jump
Tapatalk Pro
Winamp
Nasioc
Fxcamera
Facebook
Directv (love it)
These are in no particular order:
1. Facebook
2. GO Launcher
3. GO SMS
4. Engadget
5. PowerAMP
6. TeslaLED
7. Google Maps
8. LinkedIn
9. Pandora
10. XDA
This is what this thread is all about! Discovering and sharing new and favorite apps. I have already found some that you guys have posted and fallen in love with!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Here are 10 of my top apps in a specific order (alphabetical I think)
1. Business Calendar Beta
2. Chrome to phone
3. Dialer One
4. Listen
5. Our Groceries
6. QR Droid
7. SiMi Folder
8. SMS Backup+
9. SwiFTP
10. WhatsApp
MistaJae said:
These are not in order, but they are the apps I use most frequently...
1) Tweetdeck
2) Root Explorer
3) XDA
4) NoLED
5) LauncherPro
6) Beautiful Widgets
7) Widgetsoid
8) Folder Organiser
9) File Manager
10) Handscent SMS
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NoLED.... omg. thank you. didnt know this existed
No particular order:
1. Soccer Livescores
2. Beautiful Widgets
3. WinAmp
4. Angry Birds
5. Memo Pad (.apk from the LG Optimus)
6. Astro
7. Swype
8. Google Maps/Latitude
9. WordFeud
10. Navigation
Well i open this thread cuz this forum is pretty much dead so the intent of this topic is to share useful applications so lets begin.
The first application that I will recommend is:
Floating stickies
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...lbml1cy5tb2hhbW1hZC5mbG9hdGluZy5zdGlja2llcyJd
This app its great, its like having "post it" (yeah that pieces of paper with glu and diferent colors) on your android, give it a try, very nice if u want to take a note fast.
Puffin Web Browser
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDEsImNvbS5jbG91ZG1vc2EucHVmZmluRnJlZSJd
A nice browser, it has Flash player support and works great.
Hide it Pro
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5zbWFydGFudWouaGlkZWl0cHJvIl0.
A cool app for hiding things, like pics, videos, appas, docs etc .. on the app dock the aplication is called "Audio Manager" just open it, long press on the logo and the real app opens, very nice app.
This are some apps u can share your apps to i will upload more later. :good:
AirDroid
You can connect to your phone from your computer direct from browser when in the same network. A lot of tools to manage your phone, like upload files from computer to phone, download files (include apk) to computer, view and reply SMS from computer and send a command to phone open something. Great for me. And yet in beta, the 2, what will possibly access by internet.
OpenSignal
Find the tower from your carrier (with a compass), reset your network signal when not responding (no more airplane mode on/airplane mode off).
Myscript Calculator
Let's you draw equations and other calculus giving you the answer. No more time loss trying to find symbols to complete any equation or formula.
Sorry my english...
Sent from my XT890 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 01:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:09 AM ----------
Another one what i forgot:
Prey
Track your lost/stolen device, giving you the location and instant photo from it in periodic reports.
Sent from my XT890 using xda app-developers app
Cerberus
The best app to search your lost device..
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus
Disk Usage
DiskUsage provides a way to find files and directories on storage card which consume a lot of space.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.diskusage&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5nb29nbGUuYW5kcm9pZC5kaXNrdXNhZ2UiXQ..
Autorun Mananger
In advanced mode you gain control over all the system-wide events and enable-disable application starts. This is the ultimate solution to control what you want to be started, but you also can break apps, so this feature is only for experienced users with rooted devices.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rs.autorun&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5ycy5hdXRvcnVuIl0.
Battery Widget Monitor
To log about your battery stats...
Camera 360
Camera with many effects
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vStudio.Android.Camera360&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDMsInZTdHVkaW8uQW5kcm9pZC5DYW1lcmEzNjAiXQ..
Directory Bind
To move my games to external1.
Toolkit
To kill apps
Function Inspector
To use in college
Smart TV Remore
To control my smart TV.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adi.remote.phone
Rings digital weather clock -for the lovers of Circles widget, but addicts to another launcher (in my case Launcher8).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...lkZ2V0cy5idWJibGVkaWdpdGFsd2VhdGhlcmNsb2NrIl0.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5seC5sYXVuY2hlcjgiXQ..
Presenting.. the Next Best Thing to Root for the U.S. Samsung Galaxy S7 T-mobile edition (model SM-G930T that is)
As of 6/7/16, no root is publicly available. I purchased my S7 on 5/26/16 and decided to keep it despite the lack of root. This is my story.
INTRO
So the ol' Galaxy Note II up and died on me a couple weekends back, and I blew 40 bucks on a new battery before I realized it was gone gone gone. Queue new phone shopping, the hip glasses-toting dudes at T-mobile swayed me to an S7. I didn't want something as big as my last phone and forget using a bumper case with that curved-screen edge (an acquaintance of mine quotes: "The only thing that ****ing screen is good for is when I'm high as hell and want to read the clock without lifting my head". He dropped his and shattered it.), so I went with the plain ol' S7. Well, now I know why the salesguy got real quiet when the first thing I told him I would do was 'root the phone'. Being a programmer, I was pretty bummed and unhappy about owning a device that I am purposely locked out of Administrating.. but the return fee was $50, and I really liked what the S7 brought to the table.
Goes without saying, I was ready to pay for the rootable HTC-10 (my local store didn't even carry it, the salesman said they were 'test-marketing it' at a couple other stores across town) or the LG monstrosity (I haven't liked this company since the spying TV debacle, tho once upon a time they made good and cheap TVs), but I hated how much bigger the devices were and that svelte S7 really impressed me otherwise. Samsung really does make the 'iPhone of Androids'.
So, I decided to stick with the S7, and un-screw it pretty much as best as I could. And, because all I read was mostly a lot of 'is the root out yets', I thought it would be cool to share.
ABOUT THE S7
Not too terribly much has changed in the android linux filesystem since the last time I seriously delved into it. Got a vague idea where most of what is what, but I also recognize that the Path to Rooting is two: Utilizing a bootloader to actually flash the chip, or Piggybacking on some existing Administrative-privileged software in the otherwise 'closed' environment. Samsung shipped the U.S. T-mobile S7's (mine is SM-G930T) with a locked bootloader to make it nigh-impossible to root via flashing. Get to it, ya chip-hackers.
However, it is a universal law of the internet that someone out there will find an operable software workaround, and this is usually some 13-year-old kid from Finland, or at least it was in the case where I found drivers for a Voodoo 3 card during the advent of Windows XP. God bless the internet will provide, and in this case that gentle soul is none other than a man by the appropriate name of OSPolice.
PACKAGE DISABLER PRO - THE 99 CENT APP
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro&hl=en
This little gem of an app I purchased for $0.99 off the play store. This is the key to enjoying the disabling features of Root access and the key to un-screwing the T-mobile Galaxy S7. What this app does is essentially co-opt the Administrative access that Samsung Knox (the 'security' software) uses and allows you to disable any and all packages on the phone. When you first activate it you will have to accept an agreement tied to Samsung Knox (don't worry, this in no way causes anything to 'phone home' as far as I can tell).
I would recommend the very first thing you do is go to the settings and add a password to the app, that way nobody else can get in, because this can seriously **** with your phone's software, if you disable the wrong package the phone will not boot up properly and you will need to reinstall. There is an option to Disable All Bloatware based on automatic picks from the application but this can screw up some phones and you will miss a lot of crap, so DO NOT AUTO-DISABLE.
There is also another important reason you should manually disable these. Clicking on a package from the main app brings up a screen where you have several options (the auto-google feature is quite helpful to researching various processes). There is also an important little button that says 'Clear Data', erasing the temporary package data. Due to info I found on another forum, which I am too lazy to dig up here and now, there is an important process to disabling with Package Disabler Pro:
THE DISABLING PROCESS
1. If the package is not enabled, enable it.
2. While the package IS ENABLED, click Clear Data.
3. DISABLE the package with the Disable button.
4. Click CLEAR DATA a second time.
5. On to the next one...
It appears there may be some data that is not erased when the package is disabled. In any case, this fixed all of the problems I had disabling earlier without using the Clear Data button. This is important to stop certain packages from utilizing an outside process to re-enable themselves.
Below I am listing all of the processes that I disabled. Your list might be different; before I did this I updated the phone's system software from T-mobile's servers (as of 5/25), and I don't plan to auto-update again until I root or have to reload everything.
Also, please keep in mind I turned off a few features with this method, you will have to ADJUST YOUR PACKAGES ACCORDINGLY or know what to re-enable from the below list. I turned off all wi-fi calling (don't like 'weird' internet connections), all NFC and payment such as the Samsung pay chip (nothing I want/need enabled right now). I kept Bluetooth connectivity on since I pair the phone with my car for and it's more or less an 'established' form of protocol, neverless if I didn't use it I would deactivate it as well. Security Over All is my philosophy.
THE SINGLE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD is being unable to 'browse' for a background when choosing a new one for the lock screen. I kept the lock screen with a stock dark blue and had already set my live wallpaper (play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dkeesto.holographlw&hl=en if you are curious, Digital Hive by the unsurpassed Cypher Cove). So set your backgrounds before disabling all these, or try and figure out which disabled package screws this up, though I tried re-enabling anything with 'wallpaper' in it to no avail.
I also disabled a lot of the Google services, I check my gmail online, phone apps seem so hideously insecure to my mind, and I don't want to use any drive or cloud backup services AT ALL. Go with an all-encrypted service or backup your data yourself, and I don't trust any non-rooted backup apps. If you use the Gmail app or etc, simply don't disable it.
A LIST OF PACKAGES I DISABLED (remember to Clear Data, then Disable, then Clear Data a second time!):
AASAservice
Access cloud
AllShare FileShare Service
Amazon
ANT + DUT
ANT HAL Service
ANT Radio Service
ANT+ Plugins Service
AutoPreconfig
Basic Daydreams
BBCAgent
BeaconManager
Beaming Service
Briefing (**** you)
Calculator
Calendar
Camera test
Carmode Stub
ChocoEUKor
Color Adjustment
com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks
com.android.sharedstoragebackup
com.android.wallpapercropper
com.facebook.appmanager
com.facebook.system
com.samsung.android.app.watchmanagerstub
com.samsung.android.sm.devicesecurity
com.samsung.dcmservice
com.samsung.enhanceservice
com.samsung.faceservice
com.samsung.hs20provider
com.samsung.ipservice
com.samsung.storyservice
com.sec.android.app.minimode.res
com.sec.android.app.wfdbroker
com.sec.bcservice
com.tmobile.pr.adapt
Context Service
Control TV
CoolEUKor
Device Unlock
DeviceTest
Dictionary
EasyOneHand
EasySetup
Email
Enhanced features
eSE UCS Plugin
Facebook
Favorite Contacts
Filter Installer
Filter Manager
Filter Provider
Foundation
Galaxy Apps
Galaxy Essentials Widget
Gallery (I use an app called QuickPic, don't disable if you use the regular Gallery)
Game Launcher
Game Tools
GamepadService
GameService
Gear VR Service
Gear VR SetupWizardStub
Gear VR Shelf
Gmail (You might not want to disable, but for security's sake you should and use your browser)
Google App
Google Backup Transport
Google Calendar Sync
Google Contacts Sync
Google One Time Init
Google Partner Setup
Google Play Movies & TV
Good Play Music
Hancom Office Editor
Hangouts
Health Service (this auto-health reading stuff is kind of scary)
Help
Highlight video player
IMS Settings
ImsLogger+
IntelligenceService2
Interaction control
Internet (have a secondary browser in place, I initially used Chrome)
IPsec Service
Kies Application BnR
KNOX
KnoxAppsUpdateAgent
Live wallpaper picker
Lookout
Magnifier
Market Feedback Agent
MDMApp
Memo
Message service
Messages (I use an app called Textra, it is pleasant, don't disable if you use this for text messages)
MmsService (I have had no trouble sending/receiving MMS text with this disabled)
Mobile tracker
My Files
My interests
My Places
Nearby Service
Nfc Service
NSDSWebApp
Personal Data Management
Photo Editor
Photo Screensavers
Photos
Print Spooler (might be necessary for phone-to-printer if you're into that)
Private Mode Service
Quick connect
Remote Controls
RoseEUKor
S Finder
S Health
S Voice App
Safety assistance
Safety information
Samsung account
Samsung ApexService
Samsung Billing
Samsung Content Agent
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Gear
Samsung keyboard (HAVE ANOTHER KEYBOARD INSTALLED [I use Hacker's Keyboard] OR DO NOT DISABLE THIS)
Samsung Location DSK
Samsung Milk Music
Samsung MirrorLink 1.1
Samsung Pay Stub
Samsung Payment Framework
Samsung Push Service
Samsung setup wizard
Samsung text-to-speech engine
Samsung+
SamsungDLPService
SapaMonitor
Screen Mirroring
Security policy updates
SecurityLogAgent
Settings Receiver
ShootingModeProvider
Simple Sharing
SLLibrary
Slow and fast-motion video player and editor
Smart Manager
Smart Manager Provider
SmartCallProvider
SmartcardManager
SmartcardService
SmartFaceService
SmartManager Clean DSK
SnsImageCache
Software update
Software Update
Sound detectors
Sound picker
T-Mobile
T-Mobil Name ID
T-Mobile TV
Theme store
Themes
TouchWiz easy home
TouchWiz home
Trim
Universal switch
UrgentFWUpdateNfc
UrgentFWUpdateTSP
Video collage
Video Editor Lite
Video Player (Stock, don't disable if you use, I use an app called VLC that plays damn near anything)
Virtual tour
Visual Voicemail
Visual Voicemail
Voice Assistant
Voice service
Voice wake-up
WallpaperCompression
Weather
Weather
Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct share
Wi-Fi Calling Settings
withTV
And that's it! Boy, wasn't that a lot of clicking clear data and all that junk! But it is worth it!
A FEW OTHER FEATURES I DON'T USE
Fingerprints.. never tested with this. I fail to see the usefulness of a fingerprint compared to a password in your head, and it's a whole lot easier to duplicate the former and scan someone's phone (call it the 'law gets in' password). So some of these might have disabled fingerprint functionality.
Voice-assistance.. again, the possibility of my phone recording me without me knowing is kind of scary. There's a lot of Samsung S-voice crap built in, I had this sort of thing on my last phone and never had the need for it.
Always-On Screen - It displays the time, had it on for a couple days and it worked just fine, but ultimately a battery eater, and the config options are real limited. I ended up turning this off.
The Samsung TouchWiz Launcher - As soon as I got all my packages disabled, I ditched this one. You can use anything you like, but personally I found a new home with NovaLauncher.
The Camera I tried to keep as whole as possible, I set it as the 'double-home-button-click-to-open', which was default behavior, and I really like it this way - double-click and you have a camera, and it works regardless of locked screen. They've really improved the camera software, I can double-click and start recording and that's just the way I like to use a phone. Now if there were only a way to compress, encrypt, and auto-transmit those movies immediately after recording...
DEVELOPER OPTIONS
Settings -> About device -> Click on 'Build Version' a bunch of times. If you're reading these forums you should probably know how to activate this.
Some cool settings, the only one I toggle is USB debugging.. for ease of file transfer on a PC thru USB cable, something which ALL modern phones suck ass at. It almost makes me want to program a simple universal file transfer software suite.
WHAT I WISH I STILL HAD
Encrypted Backup Solutions/State Backups: TitaniumBackup & Nandroid are the ****. Man do I miss having root access.
Customized Pull-down Notification Screen: I hate that first row of settings buttons. I will probably have to pony up the 5 bucks to NovaLauncher to see if they can make those go away.
One-touch Reboot app - Not getting this one until root Administrative access. I'll have to live without until then.
Otherwise, I have been pretty conveniently able to live without Root on this phone, and I hope this guide can make you happy, too!
SOME APP SUGGESTIONS - USEFUL
I've peppered the above with some apps I really like, here are some more:
Firefox - My favorite browser. I keep a copy of chrome for emergencies. 'Noscript' and 'Phony' are must-have extensions. Still looking for a good page-to-pdf extractor.
Orbot/Orfox - Best TOR/browser combo.
Rocket Player - FANTASTIC music app that I ponied up the money to unlock (mostly to play FLACs). Near-perfect, and a relief because Winamp **** the bed when it came to Android.
DuckDuckGo - I use this to replace the Google search bar widget. Doesn't work the same (click to open) but works quickly.
ZDBox - I use this exclusively for the 5x2 'control' widget on my home page. One-touch turnon/offs (or some options send you to the settings screen) for the following: WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Mobile Network, Airplane Mode, TaskKiller, disable Screen Rotate, Brightness, Applock (you specify) and Flashlight (my default light, big screwy button but I'm used to it now).
ZDCal - From the makers of ZDBox, a free calendar that displays as a strip in the notification bar and also places a date at the top of the screen. Be careful, the first time I set it up I blindly clicked a couple pages and set up a period calendar that promptly notified me when I was beginning ovulation (I am a man).
SOME APP SUGGESTIONS - GAMES
Stellar Solitaire - The best Solitaire app ever. Tons of games, demos, beautiful for a phone screen.
Cliffy Run - A rager game my awesome friend made that is totally and amazingly simple and has some great graphics.
Neko Atsume - A stupid japanese cat simulator that I can't stop checking.
Source - A free 'pipes' puzzle game. I'm at 1 hr 2 mins on insane level. Great for killing time in the DMV.
SOME APP SUGGESTIONS - PROGRAMMER/NERD
OS Monitor - Process/Connection task-manager
JuiceSSH - My terminal app of choice.
Blowtorch Beta - My MUD app of choice. Told ya I nerd.
AndFTP - My FTP/SSHFTP app of choice.
AndroZip - My compression app, and, surprisingly, file manager of choice.
Fing - 1st of the 2 best wireless discovery apps ever.
Wifi Analyzer - 2nd of the 2 best wireless discovery apps ever.
Usemon - Resource Analyzer. Has a cool option for the notification screen, and measures both frequency and % use graphs when many progs do one or the other.
Cargo Decoder - If you want to read what exactly is in the tanker truck you are driving behind and how badly a spill will **** up your day.
Maverick - For all your GPS/compass/accelerometer needs.
FINALE
Please feel free to add anything to the above! I am pleased that I got my phone to do most of the things I wanted without a root. That being said, as soon as it is possible I will be jumping on that train. If you have any suggestions, please contribute! And thanks for reading!
I never understood the reasons why people get so hung up on "debloating." There was a time where I was one of those people, rooted and debloated every phone I had, etc. One thing I found out, they all, without fail, performed worse than stock, and battery life took a significant hit. It seems counter-intuitive, but I am not the only person to have experienced this. There was a time when phone hardware was weak and the Samsung or HTC, or whatver UI was bloated, but these days are gone. By all means spend the money and time to "debloat" this phone if it makes you happy that you did something, or stuck it to Samsung/T-Mobile, or whatever. Alternatively, instead of letting your phone run your life, use it as it is out of the box and focus your energy on something that actually matters. If I were able to get root on this phone, all I would do is install an ad blocker. Everything else on this phone is excellent.
Good stuff. Package disabler pro really helps...I plan to check out some of the apps you mentioned.
I tried using it, but found it disabled more than I wanted. A bunch of apps and processes went missing and things didn't work. I know you can do individual apps I think, I only tried the default settings. Didn't like it. It's Not like having root or Titanium backup. I uninstalled it. Things worked again. Just my experience, but everyone else, enjoy!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using XDA-Developers mobile app
Adguard is really good for blocking ads. You have to pay a yearly fee for it to block ads in apps though.
If you want to back up apps and data, Helium can do that.
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA-Developers mobile app
We already have a thread in this section for debloating the S7E here:
S7 Edge debloat list
Please search before posting and don't start duplicate threads.
THREAD CLOSED