Hey Guys,
As I mentioned in the title I am an uber noob when it comes to any sort of customization. I am travelling for 8 months, so I decided to pick up the HTC One S (first smart phone) instead of a laptop in Beijing because I thought it would be more useful. However, I'm already experiencing many difficulties.
Everything is in Chinese and I want English apps, but the Chinese app market loaded onto the phone has nothing in English. I have been searching through these forums trying to root my phone and flash a new rom onto it in hopes of accessing Google Play (I might need a VPN, too). However, some of the sites where I need to download software from (mediafire in particular) are inaccessible from where I am. How should I proceed?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! (and please in fairly simple terms for my noobish brain to handle or something I'd be able to search online)
Try to change the language in settings!
Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
Before you try and unlock/root/flash your device, make sure it is an actual HTC One S, not some clone, and make sure you know whether you have an S3 or S4 model.
Graymm said:
Hey Guys,
As I mentioned in the title I am an uber noob when it comes to any sort of customization. I am travelling for 8 months, so I decided to pick up the HTC One S (first smart phone) instead of a laptop in Beijing because I thought it would be more useful. However, I'm already experiencing many difficulties.
Everything is in Chinese and I want English apps, but the Chinese app market loaded onto the phone has nothing in English. I have been searching through these forums trying to root my phone and flash a new rom onto it in hopes of accessing Google Play (I might need a VPN, too). However, some of the sites where I need to download software from (mediafire in particular) are inaccessible from where I am. How should I proceed?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! (and please in fairly simple terms for my noobish brain to handle or something I'd be able to search online)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does your phone look like one of these? In that case it does not have much in common with the One S versions in the rest of the world and you should absolutely not flash anything from xda. Even if it looks like the "normal" One S do as Jobo mentioned and pay attention to if it is a Z520e ("S4") or Z560e ("S3") and only flash stuff made specifically for your version. There should be a model number on the box.
I just got one yesterday in hk for $900.
Anyone else got one?
I checked antutu, and it is a snapdragon version.
I would like to know whether someone can activate lte on the first sim. I only got hsdpa now
Sent from my SM-T315 using xda app-developers app
yatbond said:
I just got one yesterday in hk for $900.
Anyone else got one?
I checked antutu, and it is a snapdragon version.
I would like to know whether someone can activate lte on the first sim. I only got hsdpa now
Sent from my SM-T315 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't help you at ll, but I am very interested in this post, I live in China, and despite most of the technology being built here, it is not easy for a Westerner to A) get hands on stuff B) get information on, and C) not get ripped off in the process of A) and B). So far, I haven't had the displeasure of C.
Actually, I see elsewhere that there is another user posting about trying to get GApps onto his N9006 and not having much success getting infomation http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2454079&page=17 . Not sure if that is because he is a complete Noob, or whether it is because no one knows or both.
So, I'm wondering about the N9002 and the N9006. Did the aforementioned N9002 come unlocked and with GApps installed? Is a dual sim even useful?
How does it differ from the N9006, I wonder? Also, can I root them easily, as I am sure they won't come with GApps (sigh!) I had no problem rooting a Chinese s4 for a friend, but it was an i9500 and didn't have a strange model number.
Has anyone got one of either the N9002 or N9006 and had success? It is a bloody awful amount of dosh to pay for a phone, if it doesn't work properly for an English or non Mandarin native user.
Look forward to hopefully seeing some replies and advice.
Cheers.
When I got mine, I made sure the saleman install Google apps for me. I got play store, gmail, and everything. But I don't know how. All I know is you can do it somehow. Even I factory reset, and I can still use google apps.
I rooted it myself. I just googled it and find the necessary .tar files. And flashed with Odin.
The n9002 support dual standby and dual call (concurrently). The first sim supports hsdpa but the second sim only supports gprs.
I bought this for my brother who has to travel a lot. With the large battery, I think this is thd perfect travel phone. Buy a data sim oversea and put it in as sim1 for data and put in the native sim in sim2 to such that all business partners can continue to reach you.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my SM-T315 using xda app-developers app
yatbond said:
I just got one yesterday in hk for $900.
Anyone else got one?
I checked antutu, and it is a snapdragon version.
I would like to know whether someone can activate lte on the first sim. I only got hsdpa now
Sent from my SM-T315 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the internal GB - is it 16 or 32 GB ? How's the battery life ? I am also looking to buy one from HK ( i live in India, would be visiting HK in the next 15 days or so ) .
.............also, where did u buy it from ? I hope it has no regional Lock issues ?
It is a 16gig. I can't report on the battery yet. Still testing. There is no region lock issue. I use my HK sim to turn it on (it is a China phone).
I bought it at OceanTec Mobile at Shop G61, Sincere House Comm. Podium, 83 Argyle Street, Mong Kok.
The price I got it for is $6980 hong kong dollars.
I am not associated with this shop. Just bought it there.
yatbond said:
It is a 16gig. I can't report on the battery yet. Still testing. There is no region lock issue. I use my HK sim to turn it on (it is a China phone).
I bought it at OceanTec Mobile at Shop G61, Sincere House Comm. Podium, 83 Argyle Street, Mong Kok.
The price I got it for is $6980 hong kong dollars.
I am not associated with this shop. Just bought it there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is a 32 GB one available ? If yes, what is the price ?
Don't know and didn't check.
Sent from my LG-F320K using xda app-developers app
I bought a n9002 yesterday in China, and I am a non-native. It is 16GB and they didn't seem to offer any different. At first they asked me if I wanted a China Mobile (carrier) phone, and I said no so they got me a different one. They asked for my sim card so we could check that it would work but they did not let me see them turn it on. It worked but when I turn it off and on at home it has Unicom (other carrier) crap on it, even without the sim card inside. So I thought I was getting carrier unlocked but possibly not.
There aren't any Google apps and instead there is a Unicom one. Search for things like Skype, and you get the Chinese (monitored) version. It's the same with the magazine, you can only join Chinese social accounts. I added a VPN and went to Facebook and tried downloading the app, but it seems any URL starting with market:// isn't loading.
I downloaded Google play to my computer and used bluetooth to send it across to N9002. I had a warning about installing software from unsupported markets but a change in setting let me install it, but it won't run.
I'm all right with technology but this is my first ever Android device so I have never rooted before. I would like to go back to the shop and see what I can do but yesterday was manic because it's a national holiday (that's why i didn't hang around very long) and it might be like that for the next couple of days.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for starting this thread.
Blizza,
I got my google play installed by the salesman. But I think the following link should work. it seems pretty simple and just use Odin to flash.
https://support.mobicity.com/entrie...Play-Store-on-the-Dual-SIM-Galaxy-S4-GT-i9502
I was able to root.
It is pretty simple as well. You can just follow the followings:
Flash CWM Recovery with Odin using this: Down volume, home, and power together.
https://hotfile.com/dl/246835247/21b6180/n9006-cwm-recovery-6.0.3.7(0922).tar.html
Flash the .tar for root using this with the CWM Recovery: Up volume, home, and power together.
http://www.netded.com/xiao_1.php?url=http://pan.baidu.com/s/1yy9IP
If you don't know how to use Odin, then let me know. Try at your own risk....
Use titanium backup Pro (paid version) or search some Freeze App in Google Play to freeze all the bloatwares. Mine is all good now.
Thanks for the advice and I really want to try it but I am using Mac OSX so I can't use Odin. However there might be another solution in Heimdall. I'm still looking into it but that was a very encouraging video.
Blizzaa said:
Thanks for the advice and I really want to try it but I am using Mac OSX so I can't use Odin. However there might be another solution in Heimdall. I'm still looking into it but that was a very encouraging video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know if you figure it out, I just bought a 9002 as well and the Unicom store sucks... My grief with it is less with the terrible design but more of whatever app you download from that store does not show up in your application list!! Also I feel a little uncomfortable with apps coming from Unicom knowing a lot of my info.
Tried downloading G-Play but it would not run (would install ok, but would not open)
I too only have a mac atm but if what it takes is a PC to fix the problem, I'll gladly go and buy a cheapo one.
Overall its a great phone, I have my China number and a my HK SIM card in the phone and they both work great. Also navigation is really really fast. I also have a single SIM S4 that I bought in HK.
Found this while doing research into this, its in Chinese so not sure how that may help you guys. Guy is promising 100% success rate into installing Google Play.
I might get a PC so I can try this out to see if it works...
Edit:
I am a new user so I am unable to post external links... search n9002 google play and its on a 52samsung forum
This might be a bit long but points out what I have noticed is different or missing from 9002 version.
1. Google Apps, including Play 2. Only 3 languages (Korean, Chinese & English) 3. Only 1 keyboard (Samsung Chinese IME) 4. Magazine only allows access to Samasung partner apps in China (Sina Weibo & Renren) 4. Samsung Hub is in Chinese 5. Numerous widgets use Chinese partners (i.e. Baidu search, not Google).
(Feel free to add to this list, I should be able to go back and edit additions in).
My perfect scenario would be to flash and install something that makes it all Western style, but that might take some time for this version.
On the Rooting side I thank Yatbond greatly for his help, the links were very helpful despite my not being able to use the PC. You can still get the needed files.
There is a Mac OS X alternative, Heimdall, which uses terminal. I have seen a video on youtube that demonstrates the process on a Mac and Note 2 (I can't post external links yet but search 'root note 2 with mac osx' and you will see it, or visit galaxynote2root dot com. This method requires having the restore on the SD card which I will go and buy today.
I am a noob so i am being a bit careful but I think that a mix of yatbond's and Heimdall has the answer for mac and 9002 users, it's just be great to have a guide of some sorts.
I am going to check Infuras link now, and see if I can use the translator to make progress.
Yatbond, I noticed that one of the files is n9006-cwm-recovery-6.0.3.7(0922)-fix-adb.tar - n9006 not 9002 is OK?
---------- Post added at 08:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:58 AM ----------
Infura led me towards the Chinese 52samsung forums and after a search i found 2 posts. 1 gives the same files as Yatbond's however another one linked to a different recovery file. Here is the link http://bbs.52samsung.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=713202
I used the translator and it mentions recovering using n9005 (HK) and goes onto say that performance is improved.
OK, quick update before my laptop battery dies. I went to the Official Samsung shop where I brought the phone and they said 'no can do' and that it was impossible for these dual sim phones to come with Google pre-installed because they are for the Chinese market. However he told me where I could get it rooted. I went there, the kid had never done one before and was trying to use, what looks like a very easy, Chinese app. However it's a new device and he couldn't do it. I had downloaded the files that yebot gave me before, and we watched the note3root.com video and did it. However no Google play, so then we watched the video yebot sent me too, and we did it! I've got Play working, downloaded Titanium backup and also got rid of a few Chinese bloatware apps. I'm still having issues getting facebook and skype though, and quite a lot of the store app descriptions are showing in Chinese or Cantonese so maybe it isn't quite right.
Mac OS X users, I didn't want to try it myself until a video guide was done. Borrow a PC or wait until note3root.com shows you how (but he doesnt show the adding of google play, and the CW versions are different to what yebot linked us to).
I will update when I have done more.
Blizza,
I think you are fine. The file for 9006 is fine. That is the one I used. It is a recovery file, and so should be ok.
You are obviously in china. Play store probably is in Chinese because of that. And facebook probably won't work in China.
Now, try resetting your phone and set it up again. This should clear all locale that has been set initially.
You should be able to keep root. And hopefully play, which I am not sure. Or alternatively, you can go into all related apps from application Manger in settings and clear their cache and data.
Sent from my LG-F320K using xda app-developers app
http://www.gsmarena.com/newscomm-6909.php
just a question, if you use 2 sims from different countries at the same time will they still work? sorry i have no clue i never owned one but if ever they sell them here in the middle east i might be interested to try it
Yes.. They work with any sim from anywhere
Sent from my LG-F320K using xda app-developers app
There is a special package for google apps you need to flash in recovery. The samsung rep is probably a clueless kid, i will post details when i will be back home ( tonight chinese time ).
Sent from my SM-N9006 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bubbl3 said:
There is a special package for google apps you need to flash in recovery. The samsung rep is probably a clueless kid, i will post details when i will be back home ( tonight chinese time ).
Sent from my SM-N9006 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please do. I'm a laowai in BJ who accidentally ended up with the 9002 and stuck without GApps... I've managed to root it with CF-Auto-Root but the only GPlay apk I could find will install but not open.
Thanks to everyone in this thread, it's been immensely helpful to someone who never even considered rooting a phone before.
whiterabbitobj said:
Please do. I'm a laowai in BJ who accidentally ended up with the 9002 and stuck without GApps... I've managed to root it with CF-Auto-Root but the only GPlay apk I could find will install but not open.
Thanks to everyone in this thread, it's been immensely helpful to someone who never even considered rooting a phone before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A follow up that, like Blizza, I got mine to work now it seems. It took a long time of mixed up confusion, but it looks like if you only root using CF-Auto-Root, that it doesn't allow GApps to be installed, because the recovery hasn't been flashed to CWM (or I did my flash wrong).
Using the cwm files for the 9006, I was able to follow this guide:
galaxynote3root DOT com/galaxy-note-3-root/how-to-root-galaxy-note-3/
and then use the GApps package listed here:
support.mobicity DOT com/entries/22148360-How-to-flash-the-Google-Play-Store-on-the-Dual-SIM-Galaxy-S4-GT-i9502
to get GApps installed and set up.
I can't thank the contributors to this thread enough, I could never have figured this out without this thread and I'd be stuck with the chinese apps that I can't read...
Excuse me while I go play with my new phone finally. (and donate after confirming everything's looking good :good
Last year in china i bought a chinese fake samsung tablet.
It should be a tab 9 note(never heard of it) but that doesn't matter for now. It is fine for some browsing and social media.
I got a new real samsung tablet, so i root the chinese one with kingoapp. Works perfectly!!!
The system is rooted and after reset there is in red the word DEMO on the screen. I looked over every setting, but all the demo settings are turned off. Also tried reset to factory defaults, but also no results?!?
Now i was looking to install a custom rom and hopefully solve the problem.
Already installed some custom rom apps, but all didn't recognized the tablet.
The model of the tablet is TW-900B
I have no idea what brand it is.
If someone needs more info, let me know!!
I hope that someone can help me.
Hi
Thanks for writing to us at XDA Assist. Unfortunately I have to be the bearer of bad news, you're going to find out extremely hard to find custom ROMs for a fake/clone device as they simply don't exist. This is just the way it us with clone devices, sorry, and good luck.
Thread closed.