Related
Hello all. This is my first post on this forum. I have checked the rules first, but apologise in advance if I commit any "faux pas" with this thread...
Anyhow, I have just bought myself an HTC Touch HD, and having implemented a few tweaks already, I am quite satisfied so far. I should probably add that this is my first Pocket PC, having gone from only "normal" phones, my former being a Sony Ericsson K610i.
However, one thing that I have not yet managed to sort out, is how to get the best Gmail experience on my new device. On my old phone, I used Gmail's own mobile Java app. I was thinking about installing that on my HTC Touch HD as well, but then I came across a lot of forum and blog posts that claim the app to be virtually useless on a Windows Mobile device.
Of course, there is the obvious option of setting up an IMAP account on my phone, but two things make me hesitant on this:
1: I don't really like how Gmail behaves when you enable IMAP connections, i.e. sent e-mails are stored in a separate "IMAP Sent" folder, and such things. (I know this is nitpicking, but still... )
2: I think I read somewhere online that the e-mail client in TouchFlo 3d requires a wifi data connection to work. If that is the case, then it's really useless for me, since the whole idea is to make it possible for me to check/write e-mails when I'm on a train or bus. Can anyone confirm if this limitation really exists?
Finally, does anyone know if there is any work being done by Google and/or Microsoft to create a proper Gmail application for Windows Mobile?
Have you tried the mobile browser version of Gmail?
WizardN00b said:
Have you tried the mobile browser version of Gmail?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mean the application that's described HERE, then yes. That's the app that I used on my old phone, that I have read will not work very well on a Windows Mobile device.
just goto gmail.com in opera. works fine for me
gmail's own app works quite well on my touch pro and also for the HD when i had one...just gotta see if you can live with the true vga version, which makes things small, or find one of the versions on here that support vga
I use mobipush.com to push my gmail account. You don't need wifi for email. Gmail (google) is supposed to be making it easier to access (but who knows)
I will not do anything with this, or publish how. But you can be assured the "warez" guys from that one site will figure this out within a day or so as well...
As most of you will know I am a software developer by trade, with some commercial offerings from my company.
And then there was Marketplace. For commercial devs, something nice to have. But if you have followed the news, the piracy protection for commercial developers is not much to speak of. See this document http://download.microsoft.com/downl...tplace for Mobile Anti-Piracy White Paper.pdf.
I will refrain from quoting the obvious mistakes in this document, if you give this thing a read, you will notice them soon enough. What it all comes down to is that there is no copy protection, not even at the advanced level, at least if they implement it in the way I interpret from reading that document.
So today I started up Marketplace and it worked. Hurrah. The current level of protection is making sure the CAB files are deleted upon install - which is obviously not a way to protect anything - but even this, I thought, should easily be circumventable.
Now, because I wanted to see how fast it could be done, I went with a hunch instead of doing any investigation. And that hunch worked like charm. It took me less than five minutes to circumvent this "protection", and get the ability to save the CABs the MarketPlace app downloads to a different folder. As the CAB file is the same for every downloader, you could just give this CAB you payed for out to all your friends.
Obviously I will not disclose the method, because that would be working against other commercial developers, and ultimately myself. It's just to let you know how ridiculously easy it is, and to give fair warning to those looking to sell apps on the Marketplace.
So, the moral of the story is... WTF MICROSOFT?
I know firsthand there is no such thing as perfect copy protection, but this is just plain ridiculous.
What we really need is for apps to be able to use our own copy protection schemes... you know, like the good web-based app stores out there.
EDIT: l3v5y has also succeeded in doing something similar, and it seems the WMPowerUser admin also found another easy way to do it... Yay, and it ain't even out yet!
Not even 12 hours after launch...that's pretty quick
Oh noes.... that's not good!
Imagine Microsoft reads this and decides to offset tomorrow's Marketplace launch...
Or even worse, Microsoft launches the Marketplace but developers decide not to submit their apps because they're concerned that their apps get pirated.
Thats what happens when devices aren't locked down.
That sounds bad, but it's really no different to how things are today. Perhaps there are some apps that have more security than either nothing or a serial key, but none that I use have anything more sophisticated.
Even as a developer myself, I'd easily take this over some DRMfest.
So, if I'm reading this correctly, when you buy something from marketplace it's not tied into your username with a password like most apps? Instead, you just buy it and it installs the app, but doesn't give you a cab? Yeah, I don't think it's that hard to work around that and get a cab for yourself. Some of the cheaper apps at Handango are like that. Can you re-download an app onto a new device or if you have to hard reset, and is it free or do you need to buy download protection like form Handango?
Good, copy protection pisses me off, all it does is piss of the genuine users. We have to deal with codes and activation to be legit, while people getting it free, just click here and there, copy a code here and huzah.
Copy protection doesnt work, someone will always find a way around it. Unless its linked to a windows live profile/xbox live profile. Which I can see probably happening when they bring out Zune on mobile phones, which sounds like it might be sooner rather than later!
I did something like this earlier... MS haven't quite got security done yet, though my guess is the iPhone is no better...
I'm really surprised by the lack of any drm; what's the point of signing in w/ one's Windows Live account? The easiest thing to do is to associate valid applications w/ one's Window's Live account. That's what itunes does for music at least (I don't know about apps as I don't have an iphone/ipod touch). Of course, what would happen is that an internet connection of some form is needed when the application is first installed, which could become inconvenient.
The truth of the matter is that the percentage or ratio of people who would bother to do this is pretty small. Most WinMo usersbarely even know how to setup e-mail not to mention install a cab file.
Most of the people in this forum already know how and where to get cracked apps or warez if they wanted too. I don't see this so called "flaw" as being an issue to MS or developers.
Must admit that I find it a bit worrying that your not able to make a backup of the applications you buy by taking a copy of the cab file somewhere safe.
After having sent back 4 HTC phones (two different models) in the last 10 months, and having an SD die on me I'd really like to know that I have a backup of anything I've paid for.
Can anyone confirm if its possible to reinstall something you've paid for through the Marketplace app if it gets removed from your phone, or you get another phone? ie if you log into Marketplace with the same Lice ID does it show apps that you've bought but which aren't on the phone your connected with?
If I look at an app that I have installed through Marketplace there is no install button anymore and Marketplace tells me that it is installed... so no obvious way to get the application back...
Not enough free apps on the UK store for me to mess about with really (have installed Shazam trial but don't want to risk uninstaling it just to see what happens).
-FM
fatmonk said:
Must admit that I find it a bit worrying that your not able to make a backup of the applications you buy by taking a copy of the cab file somewhere safe.
After having sent back 4 HTC phones (two different models) in the last 10 months, and having an SD die on me I'd really like to know that I have a backup of anything I've paid for.
Can anyone confirm if its possible to reinstall something you've paid for through the Marketplace app if it gets removed from your phone, or you get another phone? ie if you log into Marketplace with the same Lice ID does it show apps that you've bought but which aren't on the phone your connected with?
If I look at an app that I have installed through Marketplace there is no install button anymore and Marketplace tells me that it is installed... so no obvious way to get the application back...
Not enough free apps on the UK store for me to mess about with really (have installed Shazam trial but don't want to risk uninstaling it just to see what happens).
-FM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
looks like it keeps track of all apps you purchased.
ow well, I guess it's a matter of time when there will be sites that point to all the cabs available on upload sites and stuff. Just like those sites exists for iphone/ipod (appulo.us for example)
I guess that's what happens when people see that there a lot of apps available on other country stores..
what do you think...
double post
thedicemaster said:
looks like it keeps track of all apps you purchased.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi dicemaster,
How did you try this? Uninstalling and reinstalling on the same phone or another phone? Or the same phone after a hard reboot / content erase?
I'm just interested to know from what state you can get back to your purchased applicationsand whether is purely your windows live id that connects you to your purchases or if there is some device specific stuff checked as well.
Cheers,
FM
Is there anything to stop Software Authors implementing (or continuing to use) their normal Serial number protection systems?
Looking at the Market Place, there are obviously some of the Big Names we all know and love, and I don't see why they would remove protection systems they have in place already, unless it was a MarketPlace requirement.
Personally, I can't say I'm at all impressed with the MarketPlace implementation - it heralds back to the early days of PocketPC. Maybe they're going for lowest common denominator hardware support, but frankly even the relatively poor Android marketplace on Hero is massively better. And the Appstore even more so. And I think Cydia tops most of them!
Let's hope that the MarketPlace at least drives prices down.
V
I am assuming it's more difficult then just going to \Windows\AppMgr\Install folder while the installer is running and copy the CAB file to another location. This is how I get the CAB files from PC only installers.
I personally use SKTracker a lot. I take a snapshot before, and then during the install and see what has changed. That generally tells me right where any install files/CABs are that I need to grab.
vijay555 said:
Is there anything to stop Software Authors implementing (or continuing to use) their normal Serial number protection systems?
Looking at the Market Place, there are obviously some of the Big Names we all know and love, and I don't see why they would remove protection systems they have in place already, unless it was a MarketPlace requirement.
Personally, I can't say I'm at all impressed with the MarketPlace implementation - it heralds back to the early days of PocketPC. Maybe they're going for lowest common denominator hardware support, but frankly even the relatively poor Android marketplace on Hero is massively better. And the Appstore even more so. And I think Cydia tops most of them!
Let's hope that the MarketPlace at least drives prices down.
V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft does not support your own serial systems. There is no information you can compare runtime vs purchases either, so you can't roll your own. Well ok, you DO actually have device ID information you could use, but that way purchasers can only run the application on the phone they actually bought it on. It is not clear how 're-download' information will be transmitted. If that also transmits a device id, then it is possible to roll your own, though it would be pretty nasty.
zim2323 said:
I am assuming it's more difficult then just going to \Windows\AppMgr\Install folder while the installer is running and copy the CAB file to another location. This is how I get the CAB files from PC only installers.
I personally use SKTracker a lot. I take a snapshot before, and then during the install and see what has changed. That generally tells me right where any install files/CABs are that I need to grab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync on your PC, you'll probably find an archive of many things that you installed over active sync.
SK Tools is a good way to re-pack any installed programs into cabs. I would guess that it works with programs from Market Place.
good find bud..i sent it to engadget for ya
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/dev-finds-windows-marketplace-drm-severely-lacking-easily-circu/
Was looking through Yahoo today and found an article where someone had their computer stolen and was able to take pictures of the thief through an app.
The name of the app is called Hidden. It's for a Mac.
My question is this. Is there an app like that for PC users and Android phones?
If so, what is this app called?
If there is no such app, definately a chance to make tons of money if one of you dev's want to jump on that. throw me a bone when you make your first million .
Ran accross this article just now, relized you all had to read this. It appears HTC ****** up hard.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...e-numbers-gps-sms-emails-addresses-much-more/
Scary stuff.
I'm so damn tired of all companies taking the liberty to just monitor our lifes just how they like, no matter if its google, microsoft, facebook, apple or HTC. What anoyys even more is how we passivly is forced into accepting it, and just shrudd our shoulders about it. Reading this, I wish I was smart enough to strike back somehow.
The article says "Some Sensations" I'd like to know what that means
Good find.
Pikabat said:
The article says "Some Sensations" I'd like to know what that means
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try running the app...
errr ok this is scary though. i wanna ask what's htcLaputa.apk is?
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium
The offending app is HtcLogger.apk and I've only seen it in the newer ROMs - I automatically removed it before this story broke as it didn't sound useful. End of the day you just have to be careful when you install new apps (e.g. direct from trusted sources)
I really wouldn't worry too much about it, typical media hype
EddyOS said:
The offending app is HtcLogger.apk and I've only seen it in the newer ROMs - I automatically removed it before this story broke as it didn't sound useful. End of the day you just have to be careful when you install new apps (e.g. direct from trusted sources)
I really wouldn't worry too much about it, typical media hype
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the example of how we/some of us just go used to this kind of things and started to accept things we never would have a few years back.
How exactly do you determine whats a trusted source? Obviously weve already had a bunch of malwares entering the market.
I use apps only from the company in question. 'Facebook for Android' from Facebook, 'Twitter' from Twitter, etc...only use about 20 apps all in anyway so I don't think I'm at risk
I'm not saying what's been found out isn't bad - it is - I just don't really care. People are far too paranoid these days
EddyOS said:
I use apps only from the company in question. 'Facebook for Android' from Facebook, 'Twitter' from Twitter, etc...only use about 20 apps all in anyway so I don't think I'm at risk
I'm not saying what's been found out isn't bad - it is - I just don't really care. People are far too paranoid these days
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not using so much apps either, on the other hand I want to be able to try some "fun" app from androidmarket without fearing theft og my personal information.
Its not about paranoia to me, I couldnt care less about wheter or not some random dude can read my sms. But Im rather angry about the companies doing just as they like, mainly to direct commercials and ads conected to your personality. Did you know facebook, after their latest update, now saves a certain cookie after your logout and sends all urls you visit with your browser back to their server..?
Well, now Im going offtopic in my own thread.
Id like to see HTC comment on this atleast.
Again, if Facebook care if I open a YouTube video every now and then then that's up to them - I'm not interesting!!
Would be nice to see what HTC say but I'm not going to hold my breath!
Im starting to loose faith in htc
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
I tried to run the app, seems like my Sensation is not affected (Dutch one, that is)
so, in order to gain any kind of advantage, those apps need to know this vulnerability exists, am i right? just deleted that apk file, along with some other ones.
As the Android Police blog appears to have melted, here's Aunty's take on it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15149588
Oh noes naughty people can access:
The list of user accounts, including email addresses (but apparently not usernames or passwords)
A log of recent GPS locations (so you can be stalked!!!!)
Phone numbers taken from recent call logs (so people you call can be stalked!!!)
SMS data, including recent numbers and encoded messages (meh if they want to read "Park 123 543" be my guest)
HTC's response:
"HTC takes our customers' security very seriously, and we are working to investigate this claim as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.
"We will provide an update as soon as we're able to determine the accuracy of the claim and what steps, if any, need to be taken."
EddyOS said:
The offending app is HtcLogger.apk and I've only seen it in the newer ROMs - I automatically removed it before this story broke as it didn't sound useful. End of the day you just have to be careful when you install new apps (e.g. direct from trusted sources)
I really wouldn't worry too much about it, typical media hype
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to tell if the offending app (Htclogger.apk) is on your phone without rooting?
jggonzalez said:
Is there a way to tell if the offending app (Htclogger.apk) is on your phone without rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember it appears you are absolutely fine unless you install an app which is written to access the log files.
As Androidpolice says, the info could be used to clone your device, not only read some of your contacts. Now of course, you are fine as long as you do not install any malicious app, but I would even feel uncomfortable knowing that HTC can read ANY activity from my device at ANY point in time WITHOUT asking for my permission (or even after I denied that permission as shown in the video). The VNC thingie would also bug me cuz it is an app without any apparent use for the user and it does not serve a specific purpose - its just there until "someone" needs it. Now of course HTC wants to improve on user feedback and pulling it is much more convenient than asking for it, but if they want my opinion and see what I'm using they should at least ask me for it. That said, let's hope HTC addresses this problem in the very near future and does clarify why those apps are there and what purpose they serve. I will run the test app again after the next OTA for sure.
kwiggington said:
Im starting to loose faith in htc
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think HTC is the problem.
I believe the problem is Google.
Ever go to the Google Android market place and see what they want to run in the background before they let you in?
I don't go near the place.
majesensei said:
As Androidpolice says, the info could be used to clone your device, not only read some of your contacts. Now of course, you are fine as long as you do not install any malicious app, but I would even feel uncomfortable knowing that HTC can read ANY activity from my device at ANY point in time WITHOUT asking for my permission (or even after I denied that permission as shown in the video).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're misssing the point.
The phone has this feature so that should you enable "Tell HTC" it can then send the info to HTC, if you don't enable that it just sits on your phone as a system log.
xaccers said:
You're misssing the point.
The phone has this feature so that should you enable "Tell HTC" it can then send the info to HTC, if you don't enable that it just sits on your phone as a system log.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, and I agree that this is not a scary thing for itself. I am not a fan of conspiracy theories, but think about a combination of things: The log is created and sits there. There is a VNC client embedded deeply in your system by your manufacturer for no reason, which gives access to your device from a remote location. I am from Germany and used to a debate about data preservation (which is illegal, in Germany), but there are other countries that have a much broader "grey-zone" for these kind of things. I wonder where those Sensations with the HtcLogger.apk are ([email protected]?). We are all running the same Android build (as long as we don't root our phones), some are affected, others aren't. I just find it weird, and I doubt that some rogue dev at HTC programmed these apk's just for the fun of it.
this has happened before on my hd7 and i would hard reset it, and now its happened to my titan, my at&t wireless account app has disappeared after i updated it from the marketplace, it does not show up in my hub list, yet when I go to the market to reinstall it all it does is say "share" meaning that i already have it installed but it isnt visible for me to access.
does anyone know how to bring back this ghost application to my hub list?
I have a similar problem on my Mozart too, I installed a .XAP game (please don't stake me), but it didn't appear anywhere on my phone. Now it's taking up space and the marketplace says I already have it installed on my device. I also tried redeploying the .xap. It installs and everything's fine, but I still can't find it anywhere.
Oh em gee I found my app, it was renamed myAT&T , no longer under the As but under the Ms durrrr!
Sent from my TITAN X310e using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
I'm still having the problem, can't find them anywhere.
You know, I'd be way more inclined to help you if you'd just bothered to actually pay for the game. Piracy is pretty much a forbidden subject here on XDA, and you're not going to get much respect if you come here asking for help with it.
I'd bother paying for the games if I actually could you know, but since there's no Zune Marketplace in my country I can't. Piracy isn't the reason I'm coming here for help. It's just a .xap problem that could be from an application from any source.
I thought you said you were able to check the marketplace, and it said it was already installed? I know there used to be countries where WP7 was available but Marketplace wasn't, but I thought that got fixed with Mango.
Argh.. I'll give you the benefit of a doubt and hope you're more legit than you sound ("don't stake me"? Really?). Check the Xbox Live app, otherwise known as the Games hub. I keep mine pinned to my Start screen for easy access.
I can use the marketplace, just when it comes to billing for my UK account it requires a UK credit card and I don't have a thing like that. Virtual credit cards and etc. don't work. Anyways. It's nowhere to be found in the games hub or the applications. If I try to download the trial it gets halfway and says 'Attention required' with error code 8103010d, which, according to Microsoft's forums hasn't been resolved yet. I don't want to have it as much as I want to delete it right now.