[Q] Why are Android stocks tied to the system? - General Questions and Answers

I was just wondering, why if you delete certain stock apps (Or Bloatware for that matter), they cause FCs or instability in general? Are they tied into the OS somehow?
If somebody can explain this, (In layman
s terms, I'm still learning things about Android) I'd be very thankful.

Bloatware can be removed when you root your device through the explorer. But you can download custom roms with an unlocked bootloader which usually have no bloatware those are two ways of getting rid of the carrier crap. Your choice.

It's also dependent on your device & what type of rom you're running. There should be a list of safe to remove apps for your device/rom.
If you're iffy of something, try freezing it first with Titanium Backup. If all goes well then you can uninstall it.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Thanks for your quick reply, but what I meant was why is it that if you delete a stock apps (Like DriveSmart from Samsung)
HC13 said:
well if u delete driver smart. every time you go to settings and select driver smart you will get a force close... also with wifi calling. and startup setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it messes with the system.
EDIT: Figured it was worth mentioning that I don't own an Android device yet (But it'll either be the Epic 4G or the Sidekick 4G [I lurk in the latter's forum]), so I'm trying soak up as much info as I can receive.
So when I get either device [Even though hands on experience always trumps reading things off forums] I won't waste time figuring things out.
EDIT #2: And thanks plainjane, missed your post somehow.

Related

Bricked my phone, got it fixed. Now I'm scared to root.

Long story short: I messed up with flashing a custom rom. But gladly, I got my phone fixed. Now, I wanna root again but I'm scared of rom flashing. I just wanna do the basic benefits of rooting like deleting stock aps and other things.
So what other 'rooting benefits' can I obtain without rom flashing? Or without having the risk of bricking my phone? The rooting process is kinda simple for me since I can use the z4root app.
Help? Anyone?
reyesryanmjaube said:
Long story short: I messed up with flashing a custom rom. But gladly, I got my phone fixed. Now, I wanna root again but I'm scared of rom flashing. I just wanna do the basic benefits of rooting like deleting stock aps and other things.
So what other 'rooting benefits' can I obtain without rom flashing? Or without having the risk of bricking my phone? The rooting process is kinda simple for me since I can use the z4root app.
Help? Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can obtain lot of goodies, like install applications not coming from the market, i guess, edit system files, remove non needed system applications, do a lot of things, be sure when you flash a rom to have a fully charged battery, its really hard to brick it.
mmmmm ????
depending what phone you have?? Rooting is safe enough, you can "unroot" just as easy! I definitely recommend z4root If you flash another ROM be sure to do lots of research next time!!! If you experience any problems, dont forget google can be your best friend! You can count on the fact you wont be the only one having the same problem
I have LG p500. Basically, I'm now scared of anything that involves CMD. I can install non market apps like the ones from here. So yeah, after Z4root. what now?
These phones are great for bricking, because a lot of times they're easy to fix. Try out themes, custom roms, custom kernels, it's all available to you now.
Can you guide me a bit? Please
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Oh! I read this thread in the news section. If i understand it correctly it will allow me to uninstall preset apps without cmd?
Nalthos said:
I recently bought a Droid 2 Global and decided to get my feet wet with android development. To familiarize myself with the platform I wrote a simple utility for managing the bloat that came pre-installed on my phone. I thought there might be other people who would get some use out of this so I am posting it here. You will need to be rooted and have busybox installed to use this application. If you used z4root to root your phone then you should have everything you need.
The application is pretty simple. When you start it you are presented with a list of the Bloat that the application recognizes. Each item in the list has a checkbox that indicates whether it is enabled or not. To disable bloat you just uncheck the boxes next to what you don't want and then press the Apply button that appears at the bottom of the screen. You can save what you have disabled as a profile by pressing the options button and then choosing Save Profile. This is convenient because you are going to need to turn all of this bloat back on if you want to receive updates. If you have saved a profile and a new update becomes available you can launch Bloat Manager, press the options button, choose Enable All and then click Apply to get your phone ready for the update. After the update installs you can launch Bloat Manager, press the options button, choose Load Profile and then click Apply to turn the bloat back off.
The following applications can be toggled on or off using Bloat Manager:
Amazon MP3 /system/app/amazonmp3_1_8_14_signed_zipaligned_Signed_2010-09-09_15-23-51.apk
Blockbuster /system/app/Blockbuster.apk
City ID /system/app/CityID.apk
Friend Feed /system/app/FriendFeed.apk
Kindle /system/app/Kindle-1_0_2-OEM-SingleSign_Signed_2010-09-20_17-31-57.apk
My Net /system/app/Mynet.apk
My Verizon /system/app/MyVerizon.apk
News Widget /system/app/NewsWidget.apk
Performance Manager /system/app/PerformanceManager.apk
Skype /system/app/Skype_mobile.live.apk
Social Messaging /system/app/SocialMessaging.apk
Social Share /system/app/SocialShare.apk
VZNavigator /system/app/vnav_6.1.0.160_Droid2Global_rel_PROD_signed.apk
Visual Voice Mail /system/app/Vvm.apk
Weather Widget /system/app/WeatherWidget.apk
World Clock Widget /system/app/WorldClockWidget.apk
When you disable an application using Bloat Manager it simply renames it to .bak. When you re-enable an application it is renamed back to .apk.
Bloat Manager remounts your /system partition as writable in order to make changes to applications. I came up with this list based on what other people have had success with removing, but I have not personally turned off everything on the list. Changing things in your system partition is always dangerous so please be careful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Lol, rooting is so easy a baby could do it. OneClickRoot FTW.
reyesryanmjaube said:
Long story short: I messed up with flashing a custom rom. But gladly, I got my phone fixed. Now, I wanna root again but I'm scared of rom flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing, yo.
Sent from my weak Wildfire, can't wait to trade in for HD2, also, not afraid to root.
So yeah aside from this feature, what else can I do without. Using cmd?
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Iinstead of asking and waiting for responses, search on the forum or read a sticky or something to expand your knowledge if you aren't comfortable with cmd you probably shouldn't be messing with root privileges. And bricked phones are dead phones, you can only recover from a brick by replacing hardware
xxmonsterx said:
Iinstead of asking and waiting for responses, search on the forum or read a sticky or something to expand your knowledge if you aren't comfortable with cmd you probably shouldn't be messing with root privileges. And bricked phones are dead phones, you can only recover from a brick by replacing hardware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Since you put it that way.
But there's just too much. You cant blame me for being like this. I bricked my phone and they replaced the mother board (for free) and I am worried to do this again. I tried learning, I failed. And I don't like to be a wannabe developer of some sort, I just want to maximize my phone to it's potential and do what most people do.
You can say that I haven't exerted too much effort. In that case, maybe you're not the person I should me asking help from. Sorry, I was hurt.
reyesryanmjaube said:
So yeah aside from this feature, what else can I do without. Using cmd?
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CMD (command shell in windows,mac or linux) is only used when you change ROMs or unlock the bootloader (the program that loads the ROM) apps and themes have nothing to do with it, you will read ADB a lot which is basically a way to access the whole device remotely, most of this you do on the handset itself. Root is a term the same as apples jailbreak, which gives you complete access to everything (most is protected bloatware (apps) that network providers don't want you to delete, there is also a percentage of protection stopping you messing up bits that bricking your phone! Bricking doesn't mean screen wont work, force closes or not booting...it means DEAD! If see something cool that you fancy doing, research a little first and if you don't know what it is or means...DONT DO IT! Its that simple root is what you make it, it opens a lot of options but there's no rush to get to the end, the you learn doing little bits, the quicker you'll be confident flashing ROMs and maybe even developing your own customisations
reyesryanmjaube said:
Wow. Since you put it that way.
But there's just too much. You cant blame me for being like this. I bricked my phone and they replaced the mother board (for free) and I am worried to do this again. I tried learning, I failed. And I don't like to be a wannabe developer of some sort, I just want to maximize my phone to it's potential and do what most people do.
You can say that I haven't exerted too much effort. In that case, maybe you're not the person I should me asking help from. Sorry, I was hurt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to maximize your phone's full potential you have to deal with thoses things, e.g.: joy 845 comes with the stock rom, which is slow and contains many things not needed, thus you have to flash another rom, better, faster etc...so yeah you have to be a wannabe in the end if you want to do what you want.
Check out Youtube how-to vids on rooting. Some are invaluable, especially the longer ones. Most of these guys take you step by step in detail.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Need ADB? Im using windows?

edit: Sorry, i forgot to hit the "yes this is a question" box
So, im trying to root my new Thunderbolt so i can make it verMYzon.
Anyways, cheesy things aside, while using the thread at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=996616 it says "Note, ADB required."
What really does that mean and where can i get it for my Windows 7 / Thunderbolt combo?
The only root method i know is the ancient forms of one click with original cm and a G1
Try download android sdk ;-)
**DamianGTO ultimate kernel v1.3 * 600Hz * 346MB RAM * OC/UV * 1280MHZ**
Thanks! You helped out a bit!
Now im setting up everything and following the guides...but, All i really want root for is to get rid of the MASSIVE amount of bloat and make backups.
And of course later, get rid or change this unpersonalizable "personalize" button...
Superthrust said:
Thanks! You helped out a bit!
Now im setting up everything and following the guides...but, All i really want root for is to get rid of the MASSIVE amount of bloat and make backups.
And of course later, get rid or change this unpersonalizable "personalize" button...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
root is another story what device do you own? adb can indeed remove bloatware but your device need to be rooted to work
nicandris said:
root is another story what device do you own? adb can indeed remove bloatware but your device need to be rooted to work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im using the Thunderbolt. I got it rooted last night, but due to a defective unit or something, my phone wouldn't accept my transferred number from Tmobile to Verizon. I now have a new phone and will not be rerooting. Maybe i did something wrong? kept saying "phone could not be authenticated at this time..." when i tried calling someone.
But also, all md5 sums were correct. I just wanna get rid of these stupid games i wont use, and maybe a cool looking rom. but my top priority is CHANGE THIS STUPID PERSONALIZE BUTTON to something useful...Like quick access to camera.
Actually...if someone could help me just change it to a quick access to camera INSTEAD of "personalize" using the stock rom, that would be great...
Superthrust said:
Im using the Thunderbolt. I got it rooted last night, but due to a defective unit or something, my phone wouldn't accept my transferred number from Tmobile to Verizon. I now have a new phone and will not be rerooting. Maybe i did something wrong? kept saying "phone could not be authenticated at this time..." when i tried calling someone.
But also, all md5 sums were correct. I just wanna get rid of these stupid games i wont use, and maybe a cool looking rom. but my top priority is CHANGE THIS STUPID PERSONALIZE BUTTON to something useful...Like quick access to camera.
Actually...if someone could help me just change it to a quick access to camera INSTEAD of "personalize" using the stock rom, that would be great...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to brew yourself a cup of coffee -- or an ocean for that matter. You see, the Thunderbolt comes with a signature check to make sure that you are running HTC's key. So custom ROMs might take awhile
I could be, of course, saying this like an idiot; I haven't read my feeds in the past week and I'm too exhausted to check. It's a possibility that this has changed. I will delete my post if someone proves me right.
You know, i liked your response. I understand what youre getting at, but i mean, if there is a mod i can attach to the STOCK rom just to repurpose the personalize button, i'd love to try testing it.
Plus...I might have a lead on the sig check key...if anyone looks closely...its surprisingly similar to one we've seen before of a terribad phone...but due to an issue, i need to reinstall a "better" SDK or something to help test since my new laptop don't like linux
Superthrust said:
You know, i liked your response. I understand what youre getting at, but i mean, if there is a mod i can attach to the STOCK rom just to repurpose the personalize button, i'd love to try testing it.
Plus...I might have a lead on the sig check key...if anyone looks closely...its surprisingly similar to one we've seen before of a terribad phone...but due to an issue, i need to reinstall a "better" SDK or something to help test since my new laptop don't like linux
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try going to Settings > Applications > Quick Launch you might find something there
I dont see quick launch under Applications...
Settings>Applications>"Unknown Sources, Manage Applications, Running Services, Development, Fast Boot"

Delete stock app

Can you delete the stock browser after root and not have any problems
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
It should be perfectly safe to remove the stock browser. Unlike IE on Windows for example, nothing in Android actually relies on the native browser code. All applications wishing to transfer to your browser go where you tell them to.
I imagine you may have some funky issues later down the line.
The truth is
gamachan said:
I imagine you may have some funky issues later down the line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I don't wanna be mean, but I am gonna say this is false. I have had G1, N1, and now G2x i have removed alot of things from my phones and even my latest the G2x. And even though you shouldn't have any problems with removing system apps remember now that your root you should make sure to back-up your phone, because you could mess with some setting or god knows what and be stuck in a bootloop.Also, instead of actually uninstalling apps you could always freeze them to make receiving ota updates easier(Cause gingerbread is right around the corner)
P.S. didn't realize you have a G2x too! beware of removing the my t-mobile and my device apps because they might throw you into this weird force close free for all.

Bloatware Remover (Desktop Application)

Okay, so here is a small application I designed out of fun. Just install it on your desktop and run it, and it will give you the option to remove some bloatware from your phone. This is not 100% full proof. There are bound to be some errors with version numbers and all. Also, this will only work with the new gingerbread 4.22 base, because of the change in names of the stock apps.
Remember, your phone will need to be rooted, and connected via adb for this to work.
This is the first time I'm developing something so don't attack me if it doesn't work lol.
As with anything, I'm not responsible to anything that happens to your phone. ( Though the worst that probably can happen is that the application doesn't get removed.
Attached is the application in a zip folder.
Windows Only
sorry Linux users, maybe next time.
If you have any problems installing, go and download Microsoft Netframework.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e5ad0459-cbcc-4b4f-97b6-fb17111cf544
Cool ill try this out and report back. Nice work
Okay cool, thanks
hopefully it's at least %100 fool proof.
Can you define what you call "bloatware" as well? I consider all Sense ROMs to be bloatware, will this app remove it and flash an AOSP ROM? -- point being is everyone defines bloatware differently. Maybe in future versions you can have checkboxes on what the app removes allowing the user to have choice.
Thanks.
Lol, yeah hopefully.
I was defining bloatware as applications that are loaded onto the phone by the carrier. So basically, almost anything Sprint related.
maybe give the users options on what they want to remove?
yeah I have included a few apps for the user's choice to remove, but I understand what you're saying. I'll definitely expand on that.
Good luck with this. I'm sure there is a need for this software, so I hope you keep it up and mature it into something useful to the XDA hordes.

[Q] A 'non phone' ROM?

Evening folks, as phones such as my trusty HTC Sensation come to the end of their useful lives, to be replaced by other newer phones, I was wondering if there was such a thing as a 'non phone' ROM I could flash which would remove the calling, texting etc functions and allow it to be used as a 'ipod touch' (for want of a better description). I would be quite happy putting a dummy SIM card into the phone and simply not allowing it to touch the network but I would be happier with the calling etc functions removed from the phone, especially as I'm hoping to give it to my kids to play with.
Any advice? Does such a thing exist? I had a quick google and couldnt really see anything too relevant. Happy to be corrected on that though!
Haven't seen a ROM like that here..
I'm not sure why you want those features removed, but if you want that your kids don't use them, you can set up a password lock on those apps.
I don't think there's any such ROM. But why you insisting on no network feature. Just don't insert the SIM and it will work.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e
Oh, I know I could stop it like that but just was wondering if there was a 'lighter' ROM without the phone aspects.
bowser4 said:
Oh, I know I could stop it like that but just was wondering if there was a 'lighter' ROM without the phone aspects.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or then maybe Link2SD can freeze the apps, so they won't be shown in appdrawer.
bowser4 said:
Oh, I know I could stop it like that but just was wondering if there was a 'lighter' ROM without the phone aspects.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can remove those by using certain apps that can do it. I think titanium backup has this functionality. However, as these apps are not heavy, simply hiding them will do the work.
Edit: Just remembered, on most ROMs. the phone and messaging apps have other apps that depend on them, so removing them completely might cause issues. Hiding them from the drawer (possible on many AOSP based launchers and some Sense ROMs built-in) would be the simplest way to "remove" the apps.
astar26 said:
You can remove those by using certain apps that can do it. I think titanium backup has this functionality. However, as these apps are not heavy, simply hiding them will do the work.
Edit: Just remembered, on most ROMs. the phone and messaging apps have other apps that depend on them, so removing them completely might cause issues. Hiding them from the drawer (possible on many AOSP based launchers and some Sense ROMs built-in) would be the simplest way to "remove" the apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that, I'll go ahead and hide them. Appreciate the info folks, many thanks.

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