Database Info

Noob concerned about privacy

I logged into my google account on the web I use for my phone and I was shocked to see the information Google collected about my use of the device. It collected phone numbers from my contacts, even the pictures I asigned to them, calendar appointments...I can understand there are Market applications I downloaded, but come on, contacts and appointments? Is this phone not mine? Which applications do this and how can I prevent it from happening? I thought I don't have sync on....

xperiaforme said:
I logged into my google account on the web I use for my phone and I was shocked to see the information Google collected about my use of the device. It collected phone numbers from my contacts, even the pictures I asigned to them, calendar appointments...I can understand there are Market applications I downloaded, but come on, contacts and appointments? Is this phone not mine? Which applications do this and how can I prevent it from happening? I thought I don't have sync on....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
What ROM are you using?
On mike1986 's latest,he has removed the HTC LOGGERS and various other Spyware apps which HTC have installed.
Worth checking out.
See my sig
Also ROM CLEANER
This will remove the spyware from any ROM when you install it.

I did not put any other rom on the phone because I don't know how. I'm afraid that rom cleaner may be a little bit out of my abilities. I don't quite understand what is going on with this whole data collection even...

That's the Google backup, it syncs everything to you account
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium

EddyOS said:
That's the Google backup, it syncs everything to you account
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see! I found it in apps. Google Backup Transport. There is also Google Clanedar Sync and Google Contacts sync. Darn! I guess it's not safe to remove these applications with root uninstaller?

Just untick the sync options in Settings if you're that bothered. I actually like having it so all my contacts can be moved between Android devices that I sync to my account

EddyOS said:
Just untick the sync options in Settings if you're that bothered. I actually like having it so all my contacts can be moved between Android devices that I sync to my account
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But I do have them unticked and it STILL happens.

xperiaforme said:
But I do have them unticked and it STILL happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything that was already sync'd before you unchecked the box will remain there...you can safely delete them from your online Google account. Have you never read or heard that this is one of the advantages/core features of android?
But don't call tech support or cry when you have to either replace or master reset your phone and lose all your stuff.
I have a whole closet full of android devices and I love the fact that I can grab my 2-1/2 year old G1 and log into it and instantly be reminded of my appointment that afternoon without having to worry about anything.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium

I had sync OFF since I bought the device about a month ago, and it STILL happens, I know this becuase it also synced my NEWEST contatcs (two that I added just this week) and appoinments, so this is not me being that dumb lol. I have all my contacts on my sim card, that is where I want them and I don't need google to collect them for me.

Try altering the settings from your google account online. Like go into google calendar from a computer, and don't let it sync to anything. Likewise with contacts.
Sent from my HTC Sensation

Not to be rude, but it strikes me how many people are like this, just because some random fool found out how to read out location data from a iPhail they fear every possible logging feature, unless your a cd printing piratebay connected child molester, nobody will look at your logs, calm down.
And its google, you can just configure you dont want it, either in initial setup (first boot) or in the settings as mentioned above.

Thing is, though, as soon as you sign into your Gmail account when setting up the phone it's automatically syncs the contacts. You could turn off sync, delete them from the phone and online and then it shouldn't sync up again but if that doesn't work I don't think you can get around it. How you can still have numbers on a SIM is beyond me - I prefer all contact details under 1 entry personally

lol so using google for sensitive-info emails is ok, but some contacts and calender items are taboo?

backing up

when i'm signed into HTC Sense, are my contacts automatically synced to HTC sense? If not, how can I back them up using my gmail or google?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

You should have a google account to use the phone....so...turn on sync and go into settings>accounts and sync and make sure its syncing your contacts....log in on a PC to gmail and check there to double check.....
It's a tablet dammit! Not a BIG phone....

you can just export your contacts to your sd. its better that way, its crazy syncd with gmail and now, in my gmail account, there are 4x the contacts I have. contacts multiplied. i don't know why. @[email protected] and its gonna be sad to have 2k of contacts jump in to your phone

I've always sync'd to gmail/google since my my first android phone in '09 (G1), never had duplicate contacts and never had to do a backup/restore.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium

vitusdoom said:
you can just export your contacts to your sd. its better that way, its crazy syncd with gmail and now, in my gmail account, there are 4x the contacts I have. contacts multiplied. i don't know why. @[email protected] and its gonna be sad to have 2k of contacts jump in to your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the same problem. Pls tell me how to export my contacts from my sd card and exporting meaning copying it to my pc?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

ok I'll give that a try
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

jhobert said:
I'm having the same problem. Pls tell me how to export my contacts from my sd card and exporting meaning copying it to my pc?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used sync with MS exchange- works good, but yet have troubles add Skype contacts into exchange.

There is no problem with syncing to Google. Only you must never, really never, restore contacts from a backup. You should only use Google Contacts or a backup, never both. When you restore a backup, you will get duplicates. Been there, with only a small number of contacts luckily, and besides this, never had a problem.
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium

The_Worst said:
There is no problem with syncing to Google. Only you must never, really never, restore contacts from a backup. You should only use Google Contacts or a backup, never both. When you restore a backup, you will get duplicates. Been there, with only a small number of contacts luckily, and besides this, never had a problem.
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed! I have T-Mobile, and the first thing I do when I get a new phone, after signing into my Google account, is uncheck the damn T-Mobile backup in Accounts & Sync. Of course, once you root, you can say goodbye to that, but in the meantime...
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

TOMWALK said:
Agreed! I have T-Mobile, and the first thing I do when I get a new phone, after signing into my Google account, is uncheck the damn T-Mobile backup in Accounts & Sync. Of course, once you root, you can say goodbye to that, but in the meantime...
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So thats why. lol. before I was using the contacts in my google account as I was using a different phone. now as i am just exporting/importing my contacts from sd card.
So to export your contacts to your sd card, just go to "contacts" and go to options, you should see a "import/export" contacts. just select the export to SD card. then, give it a name and save. to import your contacts, just go to contacts and select "import from sd(or external - forgot the name)"

vitusdoom said:
So thats why. lol. before I was using the contacts in my google account as I was using a different phone. now as i am just exporting/importing my contacts from sd card.
So to export your contacts to your sd card, just go to "contacts" and go to options, you should see a "import/export" contacts. just select the export to SD card. then, give it a name and save. to import your contacts, just go to contacts and select "import from sd(or external - forgot the name)"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait. Are *all* of your contacts already in Google contacts (on the web in Gmail, not on your phone)? If they are, there is no need to backup your contacts prior to flashing a new ROM, doing a full wipe, etc. In fact, I don't recommend that. So...if all of your contacts (or other Google data like calendar and gmail) are in google/gmail contacts on the web, skip their backup. Then, after you wipe your phone and flash whatever you're flashing, just sign into your Google account, and your contacts and any other data on Google severs will automatically be downloaded (and then set up for 2-way sync) without your needing to do any thing further.
Does that make sense?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

How to backup joined contacts?

Hello, I've spent the last hour linking my Google Contacts with Facebook. So i think, i don't wanna do this again next time I flash new rom or change phone. So is it possible to make some kind of backup that will remember what contacts where linked.
If not, is there an app that can rename all my Google Contacts according to the names of the linked Facebook account.

Are you using a HTC phone with a Sense ROM? If you are, then the People app in Sense adds a tag to each contact once you link it. Using this it automatically restores Facebook link when you factory reset/flash a new ROM. To confirm that it added those tags for you, open a contact and look under the 'Notes' section. Also log into your Gmail account on a computer, open a few random linked contacts and see if this tag is there under 'Notes'. If it's there, it's backed up with Google contacts and when you restore the contacts to the phone, it'll automatically link them after signing into Facebook.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

No, i don't have HTC phone

Which phone do you have then? And which ROM are you using?
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

I have T-mobile move balance(Huawei U8600) and i'm using stock rom(2.3)

deemeetar said:
Hello, I've spent the last hour linking my Google Contacts with Facebook. So i think, i don't wanna do this again next time I flash new rom or change phone. So is it possible to make some kind of backup that will remember what contacts where linked.
If not, is there an app that can rename all my Google Contacts according to the names of the linked Facebook account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wish i could help man, i want to do the same thing too

Unfortunately, I don't think it is really possible as these are two separate sets of contacts. The best way to alleviate some of the hassle is to transfer some of the data over, as in, transfer the facebook info into your Google contacts.
Facebook info is not editable as it is stored on their sore and merely linked to it. Ubuntu One os working on their contact management which would slow for this as it syncs facebook, Google and any other services to you ubuntu account then would sync to your mobile.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

I've added all the email address of my friends to my Google contacts. I manually did this one day on my computer, copy pasting email addresses from Facebook to Google contacts. Since then I've never had this problem. Facebook automatically identifies my contacts through their email ID and links them. It's a time consuming process, but you'll only need to do it once and for every new contact that you add.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

Well i'm hardly a developer, but if it possible to access to contacts joined contacts from the android API, and if we build an application that would read information from facebook(with permission, like all FB apps) then i guess it would be possible to store lets say profile id from fb to google contacts notes, and then with the same app, you would be able to join them again in case of new phone/new rom.
Would you say thats possible? Would anyone try to build that?
I think i will try to make something like that after I finish the college year.

HTC has a feature like that, as was mentioned. So it's possible. It would be worth it to try! Basically the htc app automatically searches and paris contacts, based on names, emails, numbers, etc. them you are given a notification, and prompted with the suggestions and you can choose to link. This only happens on startup, so am app that could be called on at any time would be nice!
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

When on contacts screen, press menu> import/export> export to sdcard
Restore them whenever you flash a new ROM, don't tell if it wasn't what you were looking for
Sent using xda premium

I know it has been a long time since this questioned has been asked, but I wanted to let people annoyed by this problem that I have made a free application that can backup and restore those joins. It can help those with mild OCD like myself.
It is called Total Backup and can be found in Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.softwareshack.totalbackup. If you happen to use it don't hesitate to write to me any bugs or features you may like. Feedback is very important to me.

[Q] How to automatically sync contacts to Google

I flash a lot of ROMs and every time I lose a couple of contacts because they aren't synced to my account. Is there any way to change a setting so that every contact created on my HOX is a Google contact?

bigeee said:
I flash a lot of ROMs and every time I lose a couple of contacts because they aren't synced to my account. Is there any way to change a setting so that every contact created on my HOX is a Google contact?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be as simple as when you flash your rom, and then when you add your Google account to your phone, simply say yes to syncing your Contacts along with any other settings you want to sync.
If you want to check to see if the rom you are currently running has that already set or not just go to Settings, Accounts and Sync, then select your Google account in the list.

I think the original question was misunderstood.
The original question is: How do you change the default New Contact creation from being a local Phone contact and instead make it so that the default is a Google contact.
I just looked and I had two contacts that were local Phone contacts which I missed when creating them to be a new Google contact.
Sent from my HTC PG09410 using xda premium

I'd like to know, also. I've had the same thing happen to me the last couple of times.

galfert said:
I think the original question was misunderstood.
The original question is: How do you change the default New Contact creation from being a local Phone contact and instead make it so that the default is a Google contact.
I just looked and I had two contacts that were local Phone contacts which I missed when creating them to be a new Google contact.
Sent from my HTC PG09410 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. I searched for a week for an answer to this question, and it doesn't exist. You just have to be vigilant and every once in a while inventory / audit your contacts to make sure they're set up correctly, and if not, do a one-way copy. I just always make sure my "phone" contacts is ZERO.

I had to go to manage contacts and then copy all new contacts to my Google account
Somehow the contacts are stored in separate accounts ae Google and phone
I just copied all phone contacts to the Google contacts

Contacts showing multiple only when searching

As the screen shots below show when im using the contacts its fine (1 contact per name) but when i search for a specific person 6 or more contacts show up for that name. I wouldnt mind this but when i save a new number say from a text message and try to add it to the exsisting its like a guessing game which one to put it under because only 1 shows up under contacts normally. If i add it to the first one it says saved but then going into contacts its never there.
Stock 4.0.4 rooted.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Join contacts

ekklesiaillusion said:
As the screen shots below show when im using the contacts its fine (1 contact per name) but when i search for a specific person 6 or more contacts show up for that name. I wouldnt mind this but when i save a new number say from a text message and try to add it to the exsisting its like a guessing game which one to put it under because only 1 shows up under contacts normally. If i add it to the first one it says saved but then going into contacts its never there.
Stock 4.0.4 rooted.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have run into this. You more than likely have more than one account syncing your contact (google, samsung, verizon?) To get rid of the contacts (multiple) Sync them to only one account, delete all contacts, then resync. Hope this helps.

greatdaneduke said:
I have run into this. You more than likely have more than one account syncing your contact (google, samsung, verizon?) To get rid of the contacts (multiple) Sync them to only one account, delete all contacts, then resync. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ill give it a try thanks
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

chamberc said:
Join contacts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
When you have multiple accounts syncing the phone can't always reconcile small differences. If you long press on a contact you can join it to another one manually. It's been something I've had to do since I let Facebook sync.
Sent from my DROIDX using xda app-developers app