Hello!
This is my first post and my very first Android phone of all time - so excuse me if I asked something that is so obvious. I am still learning!
I have a Moto G Google Play Edition and I am very happy about everything with it (It's my travel phone, my primary driver is an iPhone 5S and a BlackBerry Z10) I read a lot of article about this phone before I settled on my very first Android and I heard a lot of good things about using stock Android. There is just one catch, the stock Camera app sucks and does not take HDR pictures. Is there a way to load the Motorola Camera App on this phone without rooting? I googled a few methods on the internet and doesn't seem to work (Obviously it wouldn't install from the Google Play Store, I also tried downloading the apk but it doesn't install on my phone.)
Any help is appreciated!
Thanks!
:good:
if you want functions this has loads. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.almalence.opencam
It's nice but it's not the same interface
I am a purist...
Related
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.
Click to expand...
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
I've been looking at Chinese smartphones for a while but haven't yet taken the plunge. However, a colleague of mine asked me for my opinion and I nudged him in the direction of the X2, as it would have been what I would have gone for had I gone for one...
He went for it and I am impressed. But I didn't realise (probably niaively) that it would be so dislodged from Google. Obviously not completely detached, but there is no Play Store, G+, Play Services etc as you will all know. I've been on XDA for many years and I'm somewhat of an HTC fanbuy (see my sig :laugh so I know all about unlocking bootloaders, rooting, flashing custom recoveries, firmware, custom roms etc so I am absolutely fine doing all that. He has brought the phone back to me and asked if I can help him with it; basically give him a more "westernised" Android experience I suppose
So once unlocked, rooted and flashed the (apparently) only custom rom available (KangVIP), am I able to flash a gapps package to it? And if anyone has done so, would you please be able to point me to the right one to use? He tried adding google apps from the built-in appstore but they don't play nicely (I wouldn't expect them to), presumably because the framework isn't there
Coming from a long list of mainstream devices, it's amazing to me to see a subforum with only one of two threads I understand the lack of support isn't due to unwillingness though; just a lack of owners and developers. I've been on XDA so long because of how helpful everyone is and I try to help others where I can from my experiences and techy logic
I would be extremely grateful for a little bit of advice if someone wouldn't mind :good:
Thank you all
PS - The device is the 16GB 703L and is currently running the B106 update (EMUI 3.1)
matmaneyre said:
I've been looking at Chinese smartphones for a while but haven't yet taken the plunge. However, a colleague of mine asked me for my opinion and I nudged him in the direction of the X2, as it would have been what I would have gone for had I gone for one...
He went for it and I am impressed. But I didn't realise (probably niaively) that it would be so dislodged from Google. Obviously not completely detached, but there is no Play Store, G+, Play Services etc as you will all know. I've been on XDA for many years and I'm somewhat of an HTC fanbuy (see my sig :laugh so I know all about unlocking bootloaders, rooting, flashing custom recoveries, firmware, custom roms etc so I am absolutely fine doing all that. He has brought the phone back to me and asked if I can help him with it; basically give him a more "westernised" Android experience I suppose
So once unlocked, rooted and flashed the (apparently) only custom rom available (KangVIP), am I able to flash a gapps package to it? And if anyone has done so, would you please be able to point me to the right one to use? He tried adding google apps from the built-in appstore but they don't play nicely (I wouldn't expect them to), presumably because the framework isn't there
Coming from a long list of mainstream devices, it's amazing to me to see a subforum with only one of two threads I understand the lack of support isn't due to unwillingness though; just a lack of owners and developers. I've been on XDA so long because of how helpful everyone is and I try to help others where I can from my experiences and techy logic
I would be extremely grateful for a little bit of advice if someone wouldn't mind :good:
Thank you all
PS - The device is the 16GB 703L and is currently running the B106 update (EMUI 3.1)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you install the play store from the Chinese App Store it installs the Google Framework. The only two things you need to install are the Play Store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. You can download the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nw5nwhtp16l5gd6/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk?dl=0
ajsmsg78 said:
When you install the play store from the Chinese App Store it installs the Google Framework. The only two things you need to install are the Play Store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. You can download the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nw5nwhtp16l5gd6/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk?dl=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I did read this in another thread actually but I was reading so much that it got lost in my brain somewhere
So at the moment play store is installed (I don't have the X2 with me at the moment). Play store won't load because of not being able to authenticate with Google servers. Also G+ doesn't work for the same reason and obviously sync doesn't work. So am I right in thinking that one sync adapter will solve all of that? If so I'll sort it tomorrow for him :good:
Thanks again
matmaneyre said:
Thanks for this. I did read this in another thread actually but I was reading so much that it got lost in my brain somewhere
So at the moment play store is installed (I don't have the X2 with me at the moment). Play store won't load because of not being able to authenticate with Google servers. Also G+ doesn't work for the same reason and obviously sync doesn't work. So am I right in thinking that one sync adapter will solve all of that? If so I'll sort it tomorrow for him :good:
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have to do anything on my new X2 other than install the play store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. Go into settings---Manage Apps and clear data for the play store and see if it opens. Mine opened no problem and I was able to sign into my Google account from there. When I opened maps it asked me to update Google play services and when I did the play store would no longer open. So I installed the Google play services update, rebooted and everything worked fine after that.
ajsmsg78 said:
I didn't have to do anything on my new X2 other than install the play store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. Go into settings---Manage Apps and clear data for the play store and see if it opens. Mine opened no problem and I was able to sign into my Google account from there. When I opened maps it asked me to update Google play services and when I did the play store would no longer open. So I installed the Google play services update, rebooted and everything worked fine after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent... Thanks a lot! I forwarded the link to him and told him to download and install it and he reports everything is working. To say he is grateful is an understatement. I was bombarded with messages at 2am saying how amazing it is
Just need to help him get rid of all of the Chinese bits now. Changing default apps and keyboard, launcher etc. He's not really interested in rooting which is a shame because of all the system apps I'd like to clear out for him but if he's happy I'll let it go. No good for my OCD though. I like a clean ROM myself
matmaneyre said:
Excellent... Thanks a lot! I forwarded the link to him and told him to download and install it and he reports everything is working. To say he is grateful is an understatement. I was bombarded with messages at 2am saying how amazing it is
Just need to help him get rid of all of the Chinese bits now. Changing default apps and keyboard, launcher etc. He's not really interested in rooting which is a shame because of all the system apps I'd like to clear out for him but if he's happy I'll let it go. No good for my OCD though. I like a clean ROM myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
ajsmsg78 said:
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swiftkey is standard for me so that's a definite recommendation. And yes something along the lines of Apex or Nova will improve it 1000%. At least then he can have an app drawer and either hide the stock Huawei apps or put them into a folder, never to be opened again
Messaging-wise he's already using WhatsApp but I'll mention Textra anyway
Google Play and Apps on X2
Which model is your friend having ? Mine is the GEM-702L and it comes pre-installed with Google Play and apps.
ajsmsg78 said:
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Textra is the best. I gave up swiftkey for touchPal. Also, love Buzz launcher also. And for emails, I cant give up on CloudMagic.
weather is weatherbug
GPS Navigation is WAZE
add others if you think of some top notch super highly recommended stuff
Hi as the title says i am late to the party
I managed to get one of the watches cheap recently and have a few questions.
Im having problems because the roms ive installed dont have gapps i chose not to install them because i didnt need any of the services until now and ended up with more issues e.g. even with gapps installed i needed the latest play store for the wear os app to even run then after installing it said my play services or something similar needed updating before wear os would run after that the wear os app would just freeze.
After that annoyance i decided to install a stock rom and have to go through all the updating google stuff again then i finally could get my watch to boot and sync up etc but the battery life on my phone was a lot worse and not really worth the hassle (using airplane mode on both roms)
I see theres a few roms and kernels for the watch but not sure what the differences are.
What do the roms offer that stock doesnt? I know it seems stupid having a smart watch and not using all the features but some of the things i wont use at all and the things i would are hindered by the fact it has to go through the wear os app that then needs all the google services to run.
Is it possible to use the watch without all the google stuff? I have an alcatel "smartwatch" that just seems to be easier to get running and pair with its basic app on my phone . at the minute i prefer the alcatel or even just my analogue watch becuase of the hassle the huawei seems to have to go through but if i reset the watch im going to have to do all that nonsense again with the play store.
Dear forum members,
im new to the whole "custom ROM"-theme and im rly excited about it. As you can imagine im kinda overwhelmed with all the info i found on youtube and other platforms.
Im on an Honor 9 phone. My wife is on an iPhone 6. We both got into the topic privacy and security recently, so i found Robert Braxman on Youtube, a techie guy who makes videos about custom ROMs, linux phones and so on. I found it very interesting, especially in times of mobile phone tracing, that it's possible to opt-out of the whole privacy madness, for example with an ubuntu touch phone or an de-googled android phone.
So i got a nexus 9 and managed to install Ubuntu Touch on it. It works great but my problem is, that i need certain android apps, that i cant find on Ubuntu Touch. To be precise, i work professionally on Instagram with my business, so i need a possibility to use the Story and the Live Stream feature. Now im thinking about what to do.
I found e-foundation on the internet and i think it's impressive what they do. Do you think in my situation it's a good solution, to get 1 or 2 de googled e foundation phones so we can keep working with them? Or would the whole Instagram think be stupid, because we would have to install google play store to download it, so the whole privacy advantage is gone again? Or is there maybe a solution to install instagram without having to install google play store and to USE instagram without having to log in with an gmail account. I've read something about microg or so, but i dont know what it is!
Sorry for my rly long text, but i think it's good, to describe my struggle as precise as possible for you guys!
Thanks and regards!
johnthreesixteen said:
Dear forum members,
im new to the whole "custom ROM"-theme and im rly excited about it. As you can imagine im kinda overwhelmed with all the info i found on youtube and other platforms.
Im on an Honor 9 phone. My wife is on an iPhone 6. We both got into the topic privacy and security recently, so i found Robert Braxman on Youtube, a techie guy who makes videos about custom ROMs, linux phones and so on. I found it very interesting, especially in times of mobile phone tracing, that it's possible to opt-out of the whole privacy madness, for example with an ubuntu touch phone or an de-googled android phone.
So i got a nexus 9 and managed to install Ubuntu Touch on it. It works great but my problem is, that i need certain android apps, that i cant find on Ubuntu Touch. To be precise, i work professionally on Instagram with my business, so i need a possibility to use the Story and the Live Stream feature. Now im thinking about what to do.
I found e-foundation on the internet and i think it's impressive what they do. Do you think in my situation it's a good solution, to get 1 or 2 de googled e foundation phones so we can keep working with them? Or would the whole Instagram think be stupid, because we would have to install google play store to download it, so the whole privacy advantage is gone again? Or is there maybe a solution to install instagram without having to install google play store and to USE instagram without having to log in with an gmail account. I've read something about microg or so, but i dont know what it is!
Sorry for my rly long text, but i think it's good, to describe my struggle as precise as possible for you guys!
Thanks and regards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to download Instagram from the Google playstore, there are many sites that host the app for download, such as, APKmirror.
As for logging into Instagram with a Google account, if Instagram has an option that allows logging in with a non Google account, you can log in with a non Google account. If all they support is logging in with Google then you are stuck using a Google account which then robs you of privacy from Google at least as far as Instagram is concerned.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
Hi,
I purchased a new phone a Motorola Edge S (hardware SKU XT2125-4), unfortunately it is a China ROM phone which means it didn't come with Google play store. This was side loaded and I am able to install apps from google. But I have SO many issues with this and I am hoping someone has something helpful to actually use this phone
1. When I try to use Google setup a nearby device (to transfer everything over to this phone), it simply can't find my new phone (despite having bluetooth and location on for both phones
2. I can't restore contacts from google drive even though I can connect
3. I downloaded the MAGISK app, however the file browser is unable to install as the app is not allowed. The toggle to trust the app can not be changed.
I am at a loss as to how to actually use this phone as essentially it's useless at the moment. Any help would be appreciated.
It is already running Android Version 11
Baseband version M55_HI20_209.334.01.60R NIO_PVT_SUPERSDS_CUST
Kernel Version 4.19.136-perf+
Build Number RRN31.Q1-20-17-6
I can provide any / all other information if needed
If the solution is to root the phone, I'm ok with that too, but see point 3.
I'm in the same situation. Purchased the XT2125 as well. Got the Google stuff working by side loading the play store, services and framework. However, initially, while everything else was working, the contacts wouldn't sync. After a few hours of searching, finally came across an article which said that I also needed to side load an apk called google contacts sync and give it permission. Contacts started syncing after that. Fast forward a couple of days and a system update later, SMS are delivered with really long delays and outbound ones fail. Google maps crashes constantly and navigation just doesn't work. I don't know what to do with this phone now honestly, since I need Google maps navigation on a regular basis. Have tried reinstalling maps, resetting permissions, clearing cache and data but nothing seems to work. And with the SMS delay, I can't sign on our complete transactions on a lot of apps because the SMS usually arrives after such a delay that the code has expired. Feels like such a waste of money this phone even though it's supposed to be great bang for the buck.
I am hopeful that when they release the Moto G100 (same phone actually), that we will be able to flash it with this ROM to make it usable.
Slartibartfast70 said:
Hi,
I purchased a new phone a Motorola Edge S (hardware SKU XT2125-4), unfortunately it is a China ROM phone which means it didn't come with Google play store. This was side loaded and I am able to install apps from google. But I have SO many issues with this and I am hoping someone has something helpful to actually use this phone
1. When I try to use Google setup a nearby device (to transfer everything over to this phone), it simply can't find my new phone (despite having bluetooth and location on for both phones
2. I can't restore contacts from google drive even though I can connect
3. I downloaded the MAGISK app, however the file browser is unable to install as the app is not allowed. The toggle to trust the app can not be changed.
I am at a loss as to how to actually use this phone as essentially it's useless at the moment. Any help would be appreciated.
It is already running Android Version 11
Baseband version M55_HI20_209.334.01.60R NIO_PVT_SUPERSDS_CUST
Kernel Version 4.19.136-perf+
Build Number RRN31.Q1-20-17-6
I can provide any / all other information if needed
If the solution is to root the phone, I'm ok with that too, but see point 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait it's like that with motorola too
I thought it's only like that with xiaomi
Seems like even with motorola it doesn't come with google apps if it's a china rom
Though it was only with xiaomi where if it's a china rom it doesn't come with any google apps guess im wrong
Slartibartfast70 said:
I am hopeful that when they release the Moto G100 (same phone actually), that we will be able to flash it with this ROM to make it usable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think it's being released in a couple of days. Anyway, I did a factory reset and the maps issues sorted out. Had to go through the pain of sideloading google again but the device is being shown as google play certified, but yeah, would be nice to just have the international rom on it.
Were you able to make any headway with your device? I didn't put a sim in mine but the rest of it seems to be working ok, except Youtube Vanced isn't signing in with a google account.