Related
Source: HERE
AT&T: The most crippled Android experience
We try to be fair to every handset, but the are some we just can’t help but make fun of. Everyone thought Verizon was going to cripple Android, but they became friends with Google and offered the full Android experience.
AT&T is in bed with Apple and has gone to extreme measures to make sure their first Android phone, the Motorola Backflip, was under-powered and locked down. We already knew about the lack of Google search and today another limitation has surfaced.
The Backflip has no option to install applications from unknown sources (aka non-Market applications). This is important to note because every Android phone (that I know of) has included this as a default option of the Android OS.
Maybe it was done to “protect” the users, but this blocks the install of apps purchased on alternative markets and beta apps like Swype. Developers will also be unable to easily load and test their apps on the device before they release them.
Basically, AT&T is offering the same locked-in market experience that iPhone users get to enjoy put up with.
To add insult to injury, customers are also not allowed to remove the dozen or so AT&T apps that come preloaded with the device (bloatware). Android phones already struggle with limited storage space and having the carrier dictate which ones are installed on a user’s phone is a disappointment.
So to recap the AT&T Backflip:
1. Outdated Android 1.5 with Motoblur
2. No Google search (replaced by Yahoo)
3. Unable to remove AT&T bloatware apps
4. Cannot install non-market apps
Let us hope that AT&T offers a more open experience on their future devices, because this is not the Android that we know and love.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, I am SO... SO SO SO SO SO SO glad I am not on AT&T with my Android devices, nor that I waited for them to FINALLY get one, I would be PI$$ED about this!!
Well, until it was rooted and custom ROM's released... but still... seriously??
Yep, they just don't get it & continue to screw their customers!
I bought the nexus 6 today and hate the google bloatware more than any other bloatware. When Samsung or Sony or insertcompanyhere has bloatware on their phones it makes people angry. Why do these companies continue to pump resources into developing **** no one wants to use or deal with? I don't know, and I don't believe they know either. No one makes me as angry as google in this game though, because I can't shake the feeling that they should just know better. Almost all of googles preinstalled apps can not be removed. Why? Every other app requires me to have interest, download it, use it, and then uninstall it when I lose interest. Why does google think their apps are an exception, so much so that they design android software to break if you try to remove their garbage? Can someone, anyone, link me a resource that can show me how to get rid of every google app from my phone? I don't want it disabled, I want it obliterated from my cell phone. Google +, Google Maps, Google Hangouts, Google everything but the market. Can this be done? If the baby has to be thrown out with the bathwater, what rom will give me stock android with google play ONLY, and how do I install it. And can anyone explain to me why google is so scared of their apps not being used that they consistently shove it down the throats of humanity with such violent, unrelenting force? Why can they not have all of their apps that lots of people use available for download on the market, and sell the nexus 6 with nothing but the market, giving everyone the OPTION to download their applications, and the OPTION to uninstall it when they are done, or not install it to begin with? I pray for that day to come!
Warlock10000 said:
I bought the nexus 6 today and hate the google bloatware more than any other bloatware. When Samsung or Sony or insertcompanyhere has bloatware on their phones it makes people angry. Why do these companies continue to pump resources into developing **** no one wants to use or deal with? I don't know, and I don't believe they know either. No one makes me as angry as google in this game though, because I can't shake the feeling that they should just know better. Almost all of googles preinstalled apps can not be removed. Why? Every other app requires me to have interest, download it, use it, and then uninstall it when I lose interest. Why does google think their apps are an exception, so much so that they design android software to break if you try to remove their garbage? Can someone, anyone, link me a resource that can show me how to get rid of every google app from my phone? I don't want it disabled, I want it obliterated from my cell phone. Google +, Google Maps, Google Hangouts, Google everything but the market. Can this be done? If the baby has to be thrown out with the bathwater, what rom will give me stock android with google play ONLY, and how do I install it. And can anyone explain to me why google is so scared of their apps not being used that they consistently shove it down the throats of humanity with such violent, unrelenting force? Why can they not have all of their apps that lots of people use available for download on the market, and sell the nexus 6 with nothing but the market, giving everyone the OPTION to download their applications, and the OPTION to uninstall it when they are done, or not install it to begin with? I pray for that day to come!
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Click to collapse
Let me see. Your using a Google OS on a Google device. All you need is root to remove these apps. If you search will find a project that is android without Google, but mind you that without Google's services you will lose alot of the abilities of the OS
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
master-richie said:
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a project that doesnt have google stuff but you lose alot. Like no app store and things like that. Also Android is a google project. Like WP is by microsoft.
No there is no site like you are looking for.
Android is not a company but an OS like IOS, Windows, Linux and such.
The issue is mainly that if your device is not widely used then there may not be anything available for it. You also need to find out if the bootloader is locked or not and if kernel source is available for the device.
Google doesnt brand phones persay. The android operating system is theirs.
master-richie said:
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google has not shown itself to be a malicious company. Is it a little creepy that they know everything about you? Yes. Will it make your user experience better? Probably. When you flash a custom ROM it removes all of the Google apps but the Google apps are really useful. Play Store, Maps, Gmail (can store all your contacts so if you get a new phone you can just import them), etc. are all very useful in my opinion. I don't personally need Google Music for example so I deleted that. All of my music comes through Spotify and Bandcamp downloads. But I can't imagine my phone without the Play Store and Gmail. It would make the experience very annoying. Cyanogen Inc. is looking into pushing their ROMs on to retail Android phones so the phone would come with Cyanogenmod and have their own equivalent to GApps. But, that won't happen for a while. The best bet to get Google out of your hair is to root it and delete the apps you don't need, or use SlimRom.
Edit: Make sure your phone is the same model as the ones that SlimRom is created for.
dictatorkara said:
Google has not shown itself to be a malicious company. Is it a little creepy that they know everything about you? Yes. Will it make your user experience better? Probably. When you flash a custom ROM it removes all of the Google apps but the Google apps are really useful. Play Store, Maps, Gmail (can store all your contacts so if you get a new phone you can just import them), etc. are all very useful in my opinion. I don't personally need Google Music for example so I deleted that. All of my music comes through Spotify and Bandcamp downloads. But I can't imagine my phone without the Play Store and Gmail. It would make the experience very annoying. Cyanogen Inc. is looking into pushing their ROMs on to retail Android phones so the phone would come with Cyanogenmod and have their own equivalent to GApps. But, that won't happen for a while. The best bet to get Google out of your hair is to root it and delete the apps you don't need, or use SlimRom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true. Even without gapps there are still many google base system files that are built into the system. There is only one Google-less project that is being worked on but they do have issues as the OS is not built to run without them. Even Slim Rom still use alot of googles stuff.
zelendel said:
This is not true. Even without gapps there are still many google base system files that are built into the system. There is only one Google-less project that is being worked on but they do have issues as the OS is not built to run without them. Even Slim Rom still use alot of googles stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't say you can completely de-Google an Android device. But, you can make it appear to be de-Googled, although the system files you mentioned will still be there. But you can completely opt out of Gmail and the like.
dictatorkara said:
I didn't say you can completely de-Google an Android device. But, you can make it appear to be de-Googled, although the system files you mentioned will still be there. But you can completely opt out of Gmail and the like.
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Click to collapse
I used to have an IT company not too long ago and I run a bunch of commercial grade servers in my house - My needs aren't the same as the typical phone user with respect to data redundancy, cloud computing, etc - I have that capability already. I pretty much use my phone to snap photos, internet browsing, texting, making calls and sometimes use the gps when driving. What I don't need is a copy of all my activity, contacts, calls, texts and browsing history stored on google servers to be sold or given to entities that I a. wouldn't consent to b. have no clue it's happening.
I don't really care if there is a Google footprint left in the phone, I just want to remove Google's ability to mine my personal data from my phone which also includes registering my device via a google+ account.
With respect to playstore, isn't Aptoid a suitable alternative?
What is SlimROM? where can I get more info on it? I saw the post you had linked to originally which prompted me to post my OP because I couldn't find any other info on it
master-richie said:
I used to have an IT company not too long ago and I run a bunch of commercial grade servers in my house - My needs aren't the same as the typical phone user with respect to data redundancy, cloud computing, etc - I have that capability already. I pretty much use my phone to snap photos, internet browsing, texting, making calls and sometimes use the gps when driving. What I don't need is a copy of all my activity, contacts, calls, texts and browsing history stored on google servers to be sold or given to entities that I a. wouldn't consent to b. have no clue it's happening.
I don't really care if there is a Google footprint left in the phone, I just want to remove Google's ability to mine my personal data from my phone which also includes registering my device via a google+ account.
With respect to playstore, isn't Aptoid a suitable alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Dont use that. They are all warez and are known for including data miners, Keyloggers and screen recorders.
Ill be honest. You picked the wrong OS for that then. GPS itself uses google software to connect to the satalites.
This is your best option
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1715375
WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO ANDROID?
Background:
Running a Samsung Galaxy J3v sm-337v (cheapest smartphone Verizon sells outright $168!) If anyone has info on rooting this phone LMK (told impossible)
My last phone was an unlock Blu (crap spy company)
Verizon doesn't allow unlocked non-verizon phones-VoLTE not authorized
The want to lock us in to thier bloatware/spyware.
I am on per-gig plan.
My phone is configured to allow as few permissions as possible. Default for most preinstall apps is to "allow modify system and allow draw over apps" yikes!
Disabled auto sync on all gmail, play, everything is manual sync.
Disabled all advertising and tracking options. (**** OFF i pay big $ for internet access)
Do not sync my stuff to google only email
NOW: Been out of the rooting game fir a min, installed No Root Firewall (wonderful)
W T F !?
Why are these effing companies sending so much information back and forth from my device COnSTANTLY!?
I expect google play transport services to be doing a little back and forth [every time I pwr my screen lol]
But Samsung Home Experience
Samsung Keyboard
Gallery!
MY Files (explorer)!
Game optimizing service (not a single game on this phone)
Chrome (never use)
Google Translate (hardly use)
Verizon "Security and Privacy" (ha)
Play Store (over and over)-disabled -i can get apk from web
A blank and unknown app 'balancing service' to "yandex.com" (russia)
And more
All of these are pinging servers 2-20 times a day when I am not using my phone even.
Do not tell me these are regular updates.
How deep down the rabbit hole do I want to go.
From an outside look it would seem they are litterally leaching info on all my pictures, files, possibly keystrokes, ect.
Again WTF?
Am I the only one?
P.s I am not a wanted criminal or doing anything illegal other than the occasional MJ joint.
It makes me mad AF tho.
Android (and apple i assume) have become vampires.
My phone should only do one notified updated and only access servers when i prompt it too!
This **** seems like it has gone too far
Any explanations, comments?
Ps. These ****ing image verifications are damn ridiculous!
Down with alphabet skynet!?
Does anybody have?
I would purchase any phone that has a BLANK (not even play store) Android and can still use Volte and CDMA on Verizon USA bands.
I could care so little to say goodbye to every Google app and service. The satellite imagery maps are thier only GOOD thing.
Facebook should have to pay 500 billion if you ask me, bankrupt 'em.
I tried to do this with the BLU tank on T-blowbile ,but no matter the patches the volte wouldnt stick.
If a device/platform exists I want to be the first to know.
I want to take back my digital ownership.
i am wanting to get a mate 30 pro and of course install google services on it...
in almost every video tutorial i saw whether its the mate 30 pro or the mate 30 or the p40 the GSF ID is always the same.
the GSF ID is supposed to be unique to every device yet in these videos they are all the same (see below the two i got from videos).
so in essense 100's if not 1000's of people using the restore method are using the same GSF ID? isnt that dangerous to the google play account its lined to?
I am also curious whether this has to do with the backup we're restoring to the phone.
Also, i am spooked by the big G application. who knows what backdoor it maybe opening?
3db5868d120809ca
3497da632b1481ce
The big G is the lz play exploit app. I used it to get GMS on my mate 30 Pro last year when it was still an easy fix. I have noticed nothing but I did uninstall it after the fix. Not sure about the most recent fixes? As for the G Id, this could be something like one of Microsoft bulk licensing where one product Id is put on loads of the same PCs ( Dell, HPs etc), not sure but could be something like that? It is obviously from a working account that has been backed up though and copied. But if you need to use GMS, then there is not much choice really.
Is there a working option without crutches now?
Aliexpres now sell phones with Already Installed Google Services
Sathelp said:
The big G is the lz play exploit app. I used it to get GMS on my mate 30 Pro last year when it was still an easy fix. I have noticed nothing but I did uninstall it after the fix. Not sure about the most recent fixes? As for the G Id, this could be something like one of Microsoft bulk licensing where one product Id is put on loads of the same PCs ( Dell, HPs etc), not sure but could be something like that? It is obviously from a working account that has been backed up though and copied. But if you need to use GMS, then there is not much choice really.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply.
I understand your explanation but as i read about the GSF ID its like a car license number or rather a serial # for a device. this ID could be tied to your google account or rather device serial #.
I now understand why when installing and uninstalling the framework you have to keep retrying to get the ID back...i think its a hole in the google system where it just gives up and assigns it to you.
I dont know. I feel this is dangerous that all of us are sharing one GSF ID from a backup.
If the device was able to be rooted you can generate a new one.
i am sure the people that generated this backup had rooted their device because when the device first launched there was a service to unlock the bootloader. now its no more.
this is the article i am talking about that concerns the GSF ID:
https://blog.onyxbits.de/what-exactly-is-a-gsf-id-where-do-i-get-it-from-and-why-should-i-care-2-12/
LamerOk said:
Is there a working option without crutches now?
Aliexpres now sell phones with Already Installed Google Services
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they are probably using the methods everyone is using, putting the phone back in the box and shipping it. i see no other solution. unless root and thats not possible since bootloader unlock services for the device has stopped.
That was how my mate 30 Pro arrived but I reset it and used the lzplay method when it worked back then myself for the sake of it. Good read above, I think we will have to wait a while to see what happens next.
Sathelp said:
That was how my mate 30 Pro arrived but I reset it and used the lzplay method when it worked back then myself for the sake of it. Good read above, I think we will have to wait a while to see what happens next.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we should no longer hope that the USA will grant Google the authorization to work with Huawei seen the tensions between China and the US and the Covid-19 story. I have google spy services up and running since late last year and have no issue, granted my use of google apps is very limited. If we have a backdoor installed through lzplay we will never know but if you have google, wattsapp, fakebook etc installed you can be sure you will be tracked, profiled in one way or the other. That is a fact.
cfds said:
I think we should no longer hope that the USA will grant Google the authorization to work with Huawei seen the tensions between China and the US and the Covid-19 story. I have google spy services up and running since late last year and have no issue, granted my use of google apps is very limited. If we have a backdoor installed through lzplay we will never know but if you have google, wattsapp, fakebook etc installed you can be sure you will be tracked, profiled in one way or the other. That is a fact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your suggestions... to get rid of Google in order not to be tracked?
the average consumer has no clue of what lzplay is doing. its the most dangerous app out there using the MDM technique (mentioned above).
today at the mall i saw a girl representative for a reseller company in my country for huawei products and she had it installed.
i warned her and told her she committed a mistake but ppl see their phones working fine and dont worry about it. you wont know if the app is sending or stealing your data...(Well, actually, you can install a firewall app and track which apps are sending data to what destination - thats one way that came to my mind)
The issue remains is: We dont know who created lzplay and made a website and made the app. thats the scary part.
Now, another perception of this could be the following:
MAYBE, just maybe the lzplay was released by huawei themselves and if so then we need not worry. i mean we run on their operating system. they would have no interest in stealing data. they can already do that ...
This is being optimistic and thinking this maybe a fact.
i, myself will not venture into this and wont attempt it. Almost all apps work fine except for one thing: Games that rely on Google play games will fail without having the GMS files installed.
I dont play games so its not a big deal for me.
besides, most games now-a-days give you the option of logging in with facebook or google play games. select facebook and you'll be fine.
cylent said:
the average consumer has no clue of what lzplay is doing. its the most dangerous app out there using the MDM technique (mentioned above).
today at the mall i saw a girl representative for a reseller company in my country for huawei products and she had it installed.
i warned her and told her she committed a mistake but ppl see their phones working fine and dont worry about it. you wont know if the app is sending or stealing your data...(Well, actually, you can install a firewall app and track which apps are sending data to what destination - thats one way that came to my mind)
The issue remains is: We dont know who created lzplay and made a website and made the app. thats the scary part.
Now, another perception of this could be the following:
MAYBE, just maybe the lzplay was released by huawei themselves and if so then we need not worry. i mean we run on their operating system. they would have no interest in stealing data. they can already do that ...
This is being optimistic and thinking this maybe a fact.
i, myself will not venture into this and wont attempt it. Almost all apps work fine except for one thing: Games that rely on Google play games will fail without having the GMS files installed.
I dont play games so its not a big deal for me.
besides, most games now-a-days give you the option of logging in with facebook or google play games. select facebook and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If anybody who is without Google will share the experience, honesty thinking of making hard reset and stay without Google...
cylent said:
the average consumer has no clue of what lzplay is doing. its the most dangerous app out there using the MDM technique (mentioned above).
today at the mall i saw a girl representative for a reseller company in my country for huawei products and she had it installed.
i warned her and told her she committed a mistake but ppl see their phones working fine and dont worry about it. you wont know if the app is sending or stealing your data...(Well, actually, you can install a firewall app and track which apps are sending data to what destination - thats one way that came to my mind)
The issue remains is: We dont know who created lzplay and made a website and made the app. thats the scary part.
Now, another perception of this could be the following:
MAYBE, just maybe the lzplay was released by huawei themselves and if so then we need not worry. i mean we run on their operating system. they would have no interest in stealing data. they can already do that ...
This is being optimistic and thinking this maybe a fact.
i, myself will not venture into this and wont attempt it. Almost all apps work fine except for one thing: Games that rely on Google play games will fail without having the GMS files installed.
I dont play games so its not a big deal for me.
besides, most games now-a-days give you the option of logging in with facebook or google play games. select facebook and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your concerns and it is very valid. Over the last 4 months of usage, I have not notice any unauthorised data being sent. I had a filewall installed for removed it just a couple of weeks back.
But again, I can't be 100% sure.
Archibald1963 said:
If anybody who is without Google will share the experience, honesty thinking of making hard reset and stay without Google...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just do a full reset of my phone with GMS trying only using HMS. So far it's easy with phone clone and Aurora store. The only thing I miss are the notifications from Google and Twitter, but everything else is working perfect.
If you guys have specific questions concerning the GSF ID, I'd be happy to answer them. I'm the author of the aforementioned blog post, as well as several tools that deal with Google Play Services (in case you don't have/want them on your phone).
onyxbits said:
If you guys have specific questions concerning the GSF ID, I'd be happy to answer them. I'm the author of the aforementioned blog post, as well as several tools that deal with Google Play Services (in case you don't have/want them on your phone).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to change de GSF ID of the phone manually? For example give the GSF ID of a Samsung device that works with FCM to a Mate 30 Pro, so that the Mate 30 Pro won't have the notifications issue when GSM are installed.
Or go back to a GSF ID that works perfectly and by mistake the phone's memory has been wiped and now the GSF ID doesn't work to receive FCM notifications.
tistasis said:
Is there a way to change de GSF ID of the phone manually? For example give the GSF ID of a Samsung device that works with FCM to a Mate 30 Pro, so that the Mate 30 Pro won't have the notifications issue when GSM are installed.
Or go back to a GSF ID that works perfectly and by mistake the phone's memory has been wiped and now the GSF ID doesn't work to receive FCM notifications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not suppose to change it manually. However, you can always request a new one by clearing the cache of the market app. The GSF ID is kept in that apps database, so if you wanted to change it manually, you'd have to install the android platform tools, use ADB to pull the file (root required), use sqlite3 to make the changes (the key is called "android_id", not GSF ID for legacy reasons), then push the file back to the device. Reboot afterwards.
onyxbits said:
You are not suppose to change it manually. However, you can always request a new one by clearing the cache of the market app. The GSF ID is kept in that apps database, so if you wanted to change it manually, you'd have to install the android platform tools, use ADB to pull the file (root required), use sqlite3 to make the changes (the key is called "android_id", not GSF ID for legacy reasons), then push the file back to the device. Reboot afterwards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the Windows tools above to change the GSF ID of my un-rooted Samsung Galaxy A325G, and they worked fine... but does anyone know how the new GSFID was determined?
Is it random?
EDIT: I might be able to figure out how it's generated using "Dummy Droid".
[Tool] DummyDroid - GSF ID generator
Dummy Droid is a mainly a companion tool for the Raccoon APK Downloader . It allows you to create hardware profiles for arbitrary Android devices and upload them into your Google Play account, generating a new GSF ID in the process.
Mocks can either be generated by probing an existing device via ADB or be completely made up from scratch. You (may) need this tool if Google Play won't give you access to an app because of device incompatibilities, country or carrier restrictions. You (may) also need this tool if you are an app developer yourself and want to test compatibility filter settings without actually owning the target device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse