Hey
The first (Android) smartphone with camera that can really compete with the digital cameras and no section for it?
Modding it would be great
Altek A14 Leo
Altek Leo Section
regarding the serious problems the Altek Leo has, as no google apps, not even market, no rooting published, no adobe flash, firefox will not install and so on,
a section would be useful for the distessed owners of this camera phone which
is more a fumble phone than a smart phone. Its advantages are a very good lens, an outstanding CCD chip, a xenon flash and professional camera software.
True, is buggy
I bought one actually and despite it being pretty buggy, I just absolutely love the camera.
Definitely needs some software love though:
1) Interface is pretty sluggish and 2.1 isn't helping, the latest android performance improvements would be nice.
2) Touch-screen is strangely inaccurate. Swype was a must for me.
3) Battery life is pretty bad (not certain how much a newer Android would help, but any amount of powersaving fixes would help).
4) Buttons/widgets to lock the screen (e.g. Extended Controls) don't work.
5) The camera button doesn't open the camera when the phone is locked (debatable I guess, but imo, the camera button should just open the camera, period).
6) Default alarm clock doesn't ring randomly.
7) Not to mention apps randomly crashing, strange animation bugs in the Album viewer, no google apps, terrible GPS, etc.
But despite those, I've managed to work my way round them and am in love with it.
Alex
I have one of these and I do like the quirkyness .
I would love to improve the experience by modding.
Quirkyness fits well
To continue the list (more than enough for a forum)
- Backups by Titanium, AVG or Nandroid do not work because i have no idea
how to root the Altek Leo.
- WLAN range is still very short and does not always an automatic reconnect.
- I could not manage to make any browser play flash files, but the moboplayer
plays flv files well.
- Apps like soundhound say the microphone is blocked.
About half of the apps i need are not available because they will not install
or they are exclusively available over google market and getting them from
file hosters seems a bit risky to me. Most of this problems seem to be caused
by the small software space of 120 MB for files and 83 MB for running
applications.
But i will keep the Altek Leo and use it because the camera prooved itself
as outstanding among mobile phones.
- I use the application stores Applanet, Amazone Appstore, Handango,
SlideMe SAM and the tools Memory Booster Lite, Android Tweak.
Does anyone discovered any other useful helpers for this half of an
ANDROID device ?
"We do not need any adobe flash, we have got a real xenon flash."
Where To Buy
Does anyone know where to pick up/order one of these units?
Here To Buy
Search at Ebay, you will need a Paypal account.
I bought mine from Wifigadget.
Eason of Yupitek provides International Customer Service,
have a look at the facebook pinwall.
Thanks for the tips! Really like Memory Booster and Swype.
If you're on a mac, the "missing sync" from markspace is well worth the buy - particularly given that there does not seem to be a way to add a Google account under accounts and sync - it's missing on my altek leo! Anyone elses too?
Also recommend "Lookout" if you're worried about virus from no easy way to get apks other than file sharing sites.
Despite the quirks, very happy with this all-in-one device - music player + phone + camera - 3 down to 1! Fantastic!
Vignette
Sidenote, 'Vignette' is the perfect app for this device.
It doesn't fix any of the quirkiness, but it's a photo manipulation tool which complements the fantastic camera perfectly.
You can take your pics and then touch them up making the phone a studio for all things photography.
You can purchase it from the AndAppStore.
By poor battery life, how many days do you get out of it?
root and market
Has anyone tried the Gingerbreak exploit? I heard it might work on older devices. Also, if you don't trust file sharing sites and want stuff from the market. You could try running an emulator and installing the Market on that, then sideloading the APKs. I haven't tried it myself yet, but it seems there are a lot of people doing this. Here's one HOWTO which is specific to Mac but I think it's prety much the same or at least you should be able to use the same system image. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1387830/how-to-install-android-market-app-on-the-emulator there are lots of other links if you google "android market emulator" I don't have the Leo yet because they're sold out in Taiwan, but I've got mine on order. I'm most interested whether the google apps work at all if they're sideloaded. I've just sort of bricked my older Cyanogen device. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Oh, here's a Windows specific link - http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/10004/accessing-android-market-from-android-sdk/
and be careful with Gingerbreak!
There's also UniversalAndRoot to try http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=747598
and SuperOneClick http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682
Poor battery-life
@rocky7st
It depends on usage. Light usage is ok. Any sort of medium/heavy usage won't get you through the day.
I bought it from an ebay seller which sent me 2 batteries which was helpful:
cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230614421067
It's is useful since it allows me to occasionally geek out with the camera, playing with apps or using the GPS (i.e. 2 hours straight) and and it'll completely run out of juice by late afternoon.
I usually wait till I get home to recharge it on those occasions, but it's been very useful to be able to switch to the backup battery if I'm out and about and I really need to use the phone.
@everyone_else
On the topic of side-loading apps, my gf has an Android phone with a market on it, so I use the "Astro" file manager which allows you to "Backup" the apks, and then I transfer them to my phone via email.
I've been unable to get my device to show up with adb, so not far enough to try SuperOneClick.
UniversalAndRoot says something like "unable to root"
Z4Root says "running root exploit" and does not progress..
That's bad news but good to know at the same time. Hopefully there will be a method soon. Still waiting on mine but I unbricked my older one. Seems to be an almost total lack of hands-on reviews (outside of a trade show) so I thought someone might be interested in this one. Also, I emailed the author to see whether and how he installed the Market app.
http://120x160.com/old-entries/216-hardware-review-altek-leo-a14-camera-phone
Cheers for the reply jackflap. Do you guys know anything about the Android 2.2 upgrade, I've heard Altek is meant to be releasing it next month.
Okay, I got SuperOneClick working so I have root. ADB worked in windows after installing the Altek software.
ADB in linux still cannot find the phone..
So I tried installing various vending.apk files but keep getting MISSING SHARED LIBRARY or out of date SDK.
@daktak I've been trying to develop for the Leo but have not been able to get ADB to work in windows. Where did you obtain the Altek software?
Hi All,
I am a complete noob here and non technical.
Recently bought an altek leo with the sole purpose of loading an app called Passport Photo Plus and using the device to create passport photopgraphs and to send by Bluetooth to a compatible printer.
We have been doing this on other android smartphones but wanted to use the altek due to its camera features.
It appears that our desired app is ony avaiable on Market.
Being non -technical we have tried and failed to find a way to install this app on our leo.
I'm sure there may be other apps available but we specifically want this one due to it's features.
Does anybody know if this can be done, and if so how? Can anybody point me in the right direction (in easy to understand non tech terms please!)
Would happily pay a small fee for succesful step by step instructions (not sure if I can post that here, if not please ignore / mods pls delete).
Many thanks in advance.
Hello all!
Over the past few months, I've noticed a few quirks that came with the ics os on the tablet (Camera freezing, usb drama, ect.); So I rooted it, and loaded cyanogen 9.1. The only problem now is that I enjoyed the stock samsung media player better than apollo or any of the other music apps out there. I've tried to load the .apk and system files, but it fails to install every time.
Any information why or why not this is possible is greatly appreciated.
(If it matters, its the GT-P5113, but I doubt that has anything to do with it)
Akamaru890 said:
Hello all!
Over the past few months, I've noticed a few quirks that came with the ics os on the tablet (Camera freezing, usb drama, ect.); So I rooted it, and loaded cyanogen 9.1. The only problem now is that I enjoyed the stock samsung media player better than apollo or any of the other music apps out there. I've tried to load the .apk and system files, but it fails to install every time.
Any information why or why not this is possible is greatly appreciated.
(If it matters, its the GT-P5113, but I doubt that has anything to do with it)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock rom and the CM rom have different framework.
The stock apps tend to need custom libs added to the ROM in order to run the apps. This is done on purpose to specifically prevent you from doing what you're trying to do, which is take Samsung's apps and put them on another device. (I know it's the same device, but it's no longer a Samsung device for all intents and purposes.) They didn't do this to stop you from using their apps on custom ROMs so as much as to stop you from taking their apps and putting them on say an HTC device. Their apps only work on stock Samsung ROM's so you hav eto buy a Samsung device in order to use their apps that you want. All phones and tablets with custom version of Android are set up like this, with the exception of the Google Nexus devices that are bone stock Android.
Apps from stock roms can be ported sometimes, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of developer know how to figure our how to port the libs and make them compatible with the customer ROM. It's not as simple and just copying files.
In other words, get used to a different media player. You're not ever going to see the stock one on a CM rom.
Thta said, you don't have to use the one that came with CM either. There are like 9 billion media players on the Play Store. Try a bunch out. You may find one you like even better than the stock Samsung one.
Hello,
I've had my S4 for a little over a year and have been pretty happy with it. I came from using an iPhone for a few years before. With the upgrade in Kit Kat and not being able to easily access folders has been very frustrating and I wanted more control on my phone (turn on/off GPS for example and other things Tasker is blocked from doing). My understanding is that rooting would fix those issues. However I'm a little scared as how to proceed.
Here are some of my questions/concerns:
Will I get better performance from my phone (assuming I have all the same sort of settings)?
Are there apps that will not work on a rooted phone?
Which is an appropriate ROM to choose? (Stock Android, CyanogenMod, etc.)
Is there a way to backup an entire image (data and everything) of what I have now on my Samsung so I can restore it if I really mess up. I am thinking this would be similar in Windows, where I can make a disk image to be able to restore the entire OS and all the data.
What is the best way to reload apps I currently use (and have paid for) back onto the rooted device? Do I just make a list on paper and then go one-by-one and re-install them?
Will rooting effect my access to the Google Play Store?
How badly can I brick my phone? Can I get it to a point that it is completely restoreable? That is assuming I didn't do anything outside of following instructions and didn't connect it to my car battery
Will I be able to access my S4 like a drive or is that a hardware issue?
Is TouchWiz really that lousy?
Fortunately there is a lot of information out there, but it is overwhelming. Besides this site, are there other ones you recommend reading?
Thank you for the help.
I have had a galaxy s4 verizon for a long time. I am rooted Anne ruining on hyperdrive rom. I am just plain sick and tired of the way touch wiz looks is just so dull. And yes I've downloaded stuff from the play store it's just all a load of crap. I saw that one of my buddies has an lg g3 and I enjoyed the experience I had with it. I loved his messaging app in particular and some of his other stock apps I'd there any way to get his lg stock apps to wotk for me. And can have the same features such as his pops up over his screen and he can quick reply. Maybe there is an easier way to do this. Also the phone app I would like to replace if possible.
This question has been asked and answered before: the stock apps from an LG phone are very likely specialized for the LG phone and its stock ROM. You can find the installation files for the applications you're looking to add (APK files) on a variety of websites, like APK4FUN or Aptoide. If your friend knows how, s/he can copy the APK from the LG and email it to you to install on your GS4. Regardless, they likely won't even install, and if they do, I can almost assure you that they will crash.
For example, I was transitioning from an LG G3 to a Samsung GS5 last year and copied the amazing stock LG QuickRemote app to my new Galaxy (a G900V). It managed to install, but crashed every time I tried to run it.
So, you can try to install and run LG stock apps on Samsung phones, but you'll likely fail. Hope that helps!
Good day!
I recently upgraded my phone, and I want to hold onto my old device and use it as a media player, mainly for listening to podcasts. The phone is an HTC One M8 from Verizon.
I have been searching the forums and I believe I'm ready to root the device and install a custom ROM. I mainly want to get rid of the Verizon/HTC bloatware and strip the phone down to just what's needed to play podcasts and perhaps audiobooks from the library and such. I will do all of this over WiFi. Basically, I'm wanting an Android version of the iPod Touch.
My question is, how do I search for a ROM that doesn't treat the device as a phone? I've tried searching for the term "media", but that gets me way more than I need, with all kinds of bells and whistles for turning the phone into a multimedia device.
Thank you very much for your time, and for creating this newbie-friendly forum. I really appreciate all the work that xda does.
Hi !
Your request looks kinda unique here on xda , basically the developers are focused on improving and expanding the device`s functionality rather than reducing and eliminating it
I can say that there is no rom closer to your request but what you can do is some modifications by yourself
- block all radios by turning on the airplane mode
- remove the google account
- from settings/apps you can disable any unwanted application and re-enable it at anytime
Alternatively you can root the device and install Titanium backup which helps you to go deeply and freeze more apps or to flash an AOSP rom for your device and along with minimal gapps to reduce the bloatware , also using Titanium Backup
https://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/orig-development
Good luck !