Hello!
I have a Droid Razr M circa late 2012 (with the stock software, two versions before the most recent update, 4.1.2, 98.18.78.XT907.Verizon.en.US).
Under "Settings -> Apps", I discovered an app that has a very grey icon with a tiny "SD" square at the bottom right, and it is called com.color.android.socialcam . The size is 6.85 MB.
I am trying to determine what that app is.
It appears under "Downloaded", but does not show up under Google Play or Amazon Store. Nor does it show in the full list of the installed up that is accessible from the home screen by pressing on the circle with 6 dots. AppMonsterPro doesn't list it either.
My guesses about its possible origin:
1. A discontinued/abandoned app that is no longer on Google Play
2. An old version of the present app that is renamed (e.g. Socialcam by Autodesk) that lost the link to the newer verison.
3. Some other abandoned app that was a part of the bloatware installed initially, but that was not in the updated version of the system.
4. Similarly to #3 above abandoned portion of the system
5. An app that I downloaded as an apk from a completely different source (I doubt, as I've done such a thing only 2 times that I remember).
6. Malware that got somehow onto my phone.
I've been searching for the answer, and so far my findings can be summarized as follows:
I found that a few people had it on their Android phones. It is not exclusive to Razr M, as it shows up on at least Galaxy S3 (produced at about the same time), but seems to be limited to Verizon.
Some might even had this app preinstalled.
See, e.g. here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314&page=11
http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/301743-weird-text-message-downloaded-app.html
There is one piece of potentially useful information that found in some of those listings is that it also has name
"Color 1.2.0.8" (see the first link above, in the xda forum).
There are two apps out there for video recording/sharing: "Color" and "Socialcam".
I am not sure if what I found is related to either of those two, but I couldn't seem to find the history of those apps (e.g. if Autodesk acquired or renamed its Socialcam").
Any ideas as for what this app might be?
The phone has never been rooted. With that, is there any way of finding more information about the app from within the phone itself?
Thank you!
St-Ranger said:
Hello!
I have a Droid Razr M circa late 2012 (with the stock software, two versions before the most recent update, 4.1.2, 98.18.78.XT907.Verizon.en.US).
Under "Settings -> Apps", I discovered an app that has a very grey icon with a tiny "SD" square at the bottom right, and it is called com.color.android.socialcam . The size is 6.85 MB.
I am trying to determine what that app is.
It appears under "Downloaded", but does not show up under Google Play or Amazon Store. Nor does it show in the full list of the installed up that is accessible from the home screen by pressing on the circle with 6 dots. AppMonsterPro doesn't list it either.
My guesses about its possible origin:
1. A discontinued/abandoned app that is no longer on Google Play
2. An old version of the present app that is renamed (e.g. Socialcam by Autodesk) that lost the link to the newer verison.
3. Some other abandoned app that was a part of the bloatware installed initially, but that was not in the updated version of the system.
4. Similarly to #3 above abandoned portion of the system
5. An app that I downloaded as an apk from a completely different source (I doubt, as I've done such a thing only 2 times that I remember).
6. Malware that got somehow onto my phone.
I've been searching for the answer, and so far my findings can be summarized as follows:
I found that a few people had it on their Android phones. It is not exclusive to Razr M, as it shows up on at least Galaxy S3 (produced at about the same time), but seems to be limited to Verizon.
Some might even had this app preinstalled.
See, e.g. here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1809314&page=11
http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/301743-weird-text-message-downloaded-app.html
There is one piece of potentially useful information that found in some of those listings is that it also has name
"Color 1.2.0.8" (see the first link above, in the xda forum).
There are two apps out there for video recording/sharing: "Color" and "Socialcam".
I am not sure if what I found is related to either of those two, but I couldn't seem to find the history of those apps (e.g. if Autodesk acquired or renamed its Socialcam").
Any ideas as for what this app might be?
The phone has never been rooted. With that, is there any way of finding more information about the app from within the phone itself?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the comment here seems to give a little insight as to what it does/did.
bweN diorD said:
the comment here seems to give a little insight as to what it does/did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great find!
Thank you, that "little insight" helped me to unroll the rest of the story.
For those who are interested (and if somebody would have the same question in the future):
forums.androidcentral.com/verizon-galaxy-s-iii/246681-color-app-discontinued-recently.html
mashable.com/2012/10/17/color-shuts-down/
(sorry for the incomplete links - you need to add the http prefix and the rest, due to my newbie status, the system doesn't allow me posting links in the reply [even though I posted links in the original question])
Apparently,
1) By the time I was buying my phone (November-December of 2012), VZW was selling their phones with this defunct bloatware included.
2) They (VZW) quietly "released" this app from being "protected" with the subsequent OTA system update, so that one can "uninstall" it.
However, they kept the app on the phone and didn't delete it. Nor they provided any information to the users that it can be deleted.
Funny, that now, I don't see any way how I can start that app.
So, now I can delete that app without much of concerns.
Thanks again!
Related
Hi folks,
I'm just wondering of there's a reason why I can't access some apps I was able to find before in the market?
Quick Settings, Launcherpro beta, Adw launcher, Zeam, etc, are nowhere to be find now...
I've got some of them on my download page on the market app and I also wonder if I can still access the updates.
------------------------------
Sent from my Milestone using Tapatalk
think its a problem your end as I can findthen no problems..... Am uk..
regards
lohtse
Thanks for the reply. Ill try to find out.
Maybe your market access keys are incorrect because you have installed a custom rom? For example, test versions from Huawei have test keys installed that will not list all applications. You need to use proper release keys provided by carrier.
Thanks speckles, you point a different possible problem. Even if I don't have a custom rom: just a Milestone 2.1 rooted.
You need to use proper release keys provided by carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I think that I have the proper one for I didn't changed it. Can you tell me how can I check this? (I've got still a lot to learn.)
I have been reading a little on old and similar problems, often related issues with protected app, like paid/protected app on rooted phones - and regardless to the models, countries, carriers, and maybe even to the versions.
I am not sure to be concerned, I mean it's a bit different in my case. For instance, I have Tapatalk pro installed and which is protected but I can still find it on the market (I mean outside of the download tab).
So far, my problem only concerns some free apps.
There were from long time app that I wasn't able to find on the market (like TV.com), by example when using appbrain. But now, that's the first time I can't find apps I had already downloaded and that I've got installed. (I spotted the problem while recommending apps to a friend who's got a Desire since a few days. He was himself unable to find them, like Quick settings.)
Edit --
Scanning a barcode pointing on the apps in the market do not work as well.
Some solutions points to the build.prop:
Root your phone and modify your /system/build.prop with the fingerprint of a build that actually works. Then clear all data and cache from the market and google apps, reboot, set your clock to 23:59 and wait 5 minutes to force a refresh of the data before starting the Market app. You'll have to supply your Google account details again but this should work around the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Useful as well:
From MasDroid, on XDA -14th April 2010, 08:59 PM
I've read about this issue which was recently explained by a developer of XDA (nprussell).
Apparently everyone is in the same boat so to speak. He states that many "protected" apps are missing from the market. There are generally two reasons why apps will be missing from the market:
When a new ROM or handset is released, the manufacturer (i.e. HTC), sends the build to Google for verification, which includes a 'Fingerprint' (a unique line of text which governs its market access) in one of the build files. Generally, it states the name of the phone and Android version in the fingerprint. With Root & System write access, this fingerprint can be changed, but although it's been claimed that the Desire has recently been Rooted, we still don't have confirmation from any developer of it being able to gain System write access.
Only until Google approve the build, then fingerprint will be added to their allowed database to view these protected apps on the market.
The other cause for apps missing from the market in builds is because of permissions of certain apps. For example, the barcode scanner app requires permissions to use the camera/auto focus. They are NOT protected apps. If the XML permission files are missing from system/etc/permissions, then Google Market will simply block these apps from showing.
HTC need to chase Google up on this and Google need to activate the Fingerprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit 2 --
I have tried to replace my build.prop (using one from a Telus Milestone) but nothing has changed. Maybe I need to erase the market's data as told in the second quote but I'm not sure to know how to do it.
I have the same problem. (Htc desire Vodafone/the Netherlands/original ROM) There was an OTA update few days a go. After that most of the installed apps couldn't be found. It seems that this affected a lot of people...check the comments on launcherpro an adw launcher websites
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
If you have edited your build.props, then it can take upto 24 hours for them to be published to the market. So wait a few days.
If it still doesn't work, try Eris Market Fix after doing a nandroid backup. Again, you may have to wait about 24 hours before noticing any changes.
I think i have same problem here. Finland/HTC Desire/Stock ROM.
There should be LauncherPro in market right? Had to dl new one from LP's site.
I have got everything back and I'm still using the same build.prop. So I believe that the market had been fixed.
Hope it's the same for you!
Transformer just arrived. All set up and using my existing Google Account.
However, if i click on any paid apps in the market it states 'Sorry, details page for the requested item could not be found' ....
Its let me sync all my other apps, including paid ones, and it recognised my ID ...
what am i missing ??
There are a couple of other threads open on this, it seems that from yesterday some users are starting to experience the same market issues. I have the same problem and it started this morning, i don't think its a problem with your account or set up. I have emailed Google apps, awaiting their reply or a fix from other users.
If I were a betting person I'd say we're not far off an update of the market that will add a proper tablet specific section, just like itunes has for iphone/ipad apps, as any time an app is reported a few times that it's crashing/FC'ing in honeycomb, it seems to get blocked for tablet installations. So maybe it has something to do with a google reshuffle of the way apps are viewed.
stuntdouble said:
If I were a betting person I'd say we're not far off an update of the market that will add a proper tablet specific section, just like itunes has for iphone/ipad apps, as any time an app is reported a few times that it's crashing/FC'ing in honeycomb, it seems to get blocked for tablet installations. So maybe it has something to do with a google reshuffle of the way apps are viewed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could be right but it is not affecting incompatible apps, it is any paid app, i have installed a few from your thread prior to this issue and now cannot install new ones you have added as compatible e.g. backup pro.
HasC said:
You could be right but it is not affecting incompatible apps, it is any paid app, i have installed a few from your thread prior to this issue and now cannot install new ones you have added as compatible e.g. backup pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but I'd assume paid apps were on different servers, as they would have more encrypted data, so possibly one section could be affected while the other remains untouched during an upgrade.
stuntdouble said:
Yeah but I'd assume paid apps were on different servers, as they would have more encrypted data, so possibly one section could be affected while the other remains untouched during an upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm... possibly, will have to wait and see, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Just started getting this today too :-(
I was getting this quite a bit last night, but it wasn't only for paid apps. Some free ones had the problem as well. My workaround for a paid app that I hadn't yet purchased was to buy it on my computer and it was automatically sent to my device.
I got it only once today, don't remember which app. But it has worked fine generally.
I got this message on a few different apps last night. I was able to get around it by either hitting the back button instead of OK in the popup. Or by going to the market through the browser and pushing the app to my device. The market app for HC is really lacking at this point. You can't even review apps. Hopefully they will update soon.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
I'm getting this too.
Temporary solution is to download any app from market.android.com and have it manually download from your browser to your tablet.
I can't install from the market web app - get a notice that I "have not opened the market recently on this device" (which I have - I'm in it now..)
I have bought some apps from the Android Market which I no longer want to use. Is there any way to remove them from my "Not Installed" list on Android Market?
This is not a Galaxy Note related problem but a general Android related one. So in the general Android forum you will get much easier and faster an answer.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
'No, there isn't' would've been a much shorter reply
This is the one Android annoyance nobody seems to care about doing anything to fix.
There must be some leftover bits and pieces somewhere to remove from apps that get into Not Installed. On my phone the only apps that have gone there are four out of the many pre-installed apps I had no use for.
I've never had any other apps, sideloaded or market downloads, go to not installed after uninstalling with the built in app management.
Using other tools like SDX Stock App Remover can cause that to happen. For some of those, using SDX to put the apk back then using root explorer to remove it fixed the not installed entry.
Searching for a way to remove all trace of Sprint's NASCAR and football apps, TeleNav and Samsung MediaHub.
Titanium Backup shows there's some database files for two of them but does not show the full path to their location.
When someone with a lot of Android knowledge gets annoyed by that, then we'll see a fix. until then it looks like we're stuck with junk we do not want on our phones.
The history is held on Google's server. If you do a wipe-data+cache on the market app, that's all you can do on the phone end, beyond that it's just pulling data from Google.
Have a look at all the junk on your market account on the website.
The most important post in this article is your signature
I have searched this forum and the web, still surprised about the poor integration of multiple devices in Google Play.
Can anybody tell me if there is any easy and fast way to transfer most of your app's to a new device?
I am amazed the lack of usability in this matter? Why is there not a column based page with all your registered devises from left to right and all the app's downwards, then a box to "tick" on each device to install or delete multiple app's in one go??? How hard can it be???
I know you can use Titanium but you need to be rooted and still go by each app individual or take all in one go, this do not make any sense since a newer device might not need all the app's.
On Google Play I can see all my app's and then install them one by one with a confirmation box for every one? long and boring task.
A column based set-up where you choose which app's to be installed on what device you have registered seems like a "no-brainer" to me but I have not been able to find anything that resembles that??
Does it exist and am I a knob or is this a major oversight by Google???
All suggestions are welcome.
Robert
The key here is you need to tell Google to restore your phone once you install an OS. If you did this, the Play Store automatically downloads all your previously installed apps.
Also, in Titanium you have the checkboxes on the side as you're asking for, you just deselect the checkboxes besides the red apps pretty much...
This is on a generic a23 q8h tablet, I was also getting popups in the form of fake facebook alerts about some stupid drone company.I deleted 2 apps/plugins/whatever they were and the popups went away but my homepage changes between smartdrone.com, vandroidnews.com and kszz.com.I want to put a boot up someones ass for installing this garbage on these tablets and selling them.
What browser do you use ?
Check the browser settings it may have option to set the desired homepage.
Stock browser, there was also baidu browser installed but i uninstalled with titanium backup.I changed the setting but it gets replaced with one of those three pages.
Tried clearing data of the browser?
I just got a Q88 A33 "generic" tablet and I too get the "default" page and the "home page" in the browser changed to "smartdrone.com". This was/is the behavior on delivery so it is probably part of their installed firmware.
If you have made any progress on how to fix this then please let me know, I will be reading up on Android and how to take a look at the files in the ROM and see if I can find a solution but I am not very familiar with Android so some pointers would be great. For example, would this be the result of some .apk that can simply be removed or is it some shell script or file somewhere in the actual ROM files?
It's because theres a factory installed trojan, yes its baked right into the factory firmware and if you remove it with say an anti-virus program the word DEMO in big red letters will be superimposed on the screen making the tablet useless.I've seen manufacturers offering an apk to 'fix' it but that just re-installs the trojan.Here is a fix that I got from another website and uploaded to my Box account.
Instructions from another forum:
A backup will be made before actual modification are made. To restore the backup, rename SystemUI-backup.apk to SystemUI-A20/A23.apk and restart the corresponding function.
HowTo use:
1. Scan for Device: searches and verifies a connected android device.
2. Scan for Trojan: checks if the trojan responsible for the demo lock is active.
3. If 2. is positive, check the Build.prop to see if you have a A20 or A23 model.
4. A20 FIX or A23 FIX, depending on the results from 3., you choose one of these.
5. The script will reboot the device to recovery mode, manually perform a factory reset.
Definition for Cloudservice / DEMO Trojan:
For clarification let me state that Android by "default" or "origin" is not susceptible to virus' and being built on Linux platform it is "open source" so that is where you get some LAME people and large corporations making these virus' encoded into the devices original configuration [ROM] and NOT NATIVE TO ANDROID.
Perfect example for how we the users can infect our own devices would be the small flashlight apps we all use daily and available for free on Google Play Store... these can factually be classified as "Intrusive Adware" that we install for quick access to our devices camera flash for use as a flashlight and yet we tolerate the pop-ups generated by the app.
Again not NATIVE to Android... this is something we the USERS have put on our devices. Harmless but annoying and same principle.
What is the Cloudservice / DEMO Trojan?
My definition based on learned knowledge as no "official" definition is or most likely will ever be available.
Firstly, in some devices it seems to be in a "sleep" mode until one day it simply "shows up" according to some reports. Our new Tool at TechKnow seeks and destroys the hidden files and configs totally eliminating all traces of the Trojan.
[SPECULATION: it could possibly be incorporated into some downloadable apps in the future. The same basic principle as adware is incorporated into the flashlight apps would suffice. However, it being included in downloadable apps is NOT confirmed and if/when it is the confirmed apps will immediately be reported to their distributor whether Google Play or Amazon App Store etc... by your friends at TechKnow]
It is a truly deceptive application that is hardcoded into the must have system dependent "framework-res.apk" on some of the newer Android devices ROM from the factory. The Trojan can track your app content such as Browser and can lock your device into a "demo" mode which will display large red DEMO text in caps across all your screens. The app is also linked to Baidu.
Baidu, Inc., incorporated on January 18, 2000, a Chinese web services company headquartered in the Baidu Campus in Haidian District in Beijing.
ok.... so you are being tracked and monitored by the Chinese?
but that's not all...
The secondary part to the Virus/Trojan is more of a pain in the :wub: imho than tracking and reporting my web history to an unknown Chinese web service company [for who knows what they seek to learn or truly have access to with this Trojan on your device]...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Allwinner Demo Fix: https://app.box.com/s/wpbl5nfrxtjdbgvgrwp2tbgvzlt31oqk
I can't remove Trojan virus from my tablet azpen. A739 ?
Sent from my A739 using XDA Free mobile app
Allwinner Demo Fix
This is how I removed the trojan without getting the red "Demo" letters on the screen http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/chinese-tablet-demo-mode-t2853062#post64002423