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Hi everyone, sorry if this in the wrong section, feel free to move it.
I have searched but not found anything suitable.
I'm looking for a Winmo app to record the number of texts and minutes (and poss mobile web usage) each month, that will then reset at my billing date each month.
I have the excellent Spb Wireless Monitor already for the mobile web, and have tried an app called LCMinutes, but its quite fiddly to set up and use.
Using the HD2.
Is there anything anyone can recommend?
Thanks
here it is;
LCMinutes
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=354103
Basically LCMinutes is an application that keeps track of phone calls, SMS, and data traffic, calculates their charge based on user defined rate plan, and thus keep user informed of the up-to-date balance information: like current charges, used free minutes, used free messages, used free data allowlance, expire date for prepaid plans, etc.
Have fun,
Senax
Moved as not software release.
In school, I learned about a European carrier effort called Joyn, which is a text messaging replacement app. It works just like text messaging except it uses data instead of the SMS protocol. Why are the carriers themselves doing this? People are ditching texting for data apps that do the same thing because the apps are free vs SMS which is paid. Joyn is also free but the Euro carriers can at least improve the experience and maybe sell add-on services such as video calling and maybe international calling over data. I'm not sure what stage they're at in Europe but there's already a demo app.
Food for thought:
- will people learn to use a new app?
- would we developers be welcoming to a new app platform on top of Joyn? I'm thinking apps that use a Joyn api and that install through Joyn instead of the Apple/Android/MS apps stores.
The advantages:
- no more asking your friends to install the same app you use, or getting a separate number just for free texting! It would be built-in to your phone and your number just like SMS today. By the same token, lesser need to maintain multiple apps.
- quality control: some apps I use on my Android have huge delays; carriers are better positioned to maintain quality of service
The disadvantages:
- getting people to do/learn something different?
General thoughts are welcome as well!
wujuyamakin said:
In school, I learned about a European carrier effort called Joyn, which is a text messaging replacement app. It works just like text messaging except it uses data instead of the SMS protocol. Why are the carriers themselves doing this? People are ditching texting for data apps that do the same thing because the apps are free vs SMS which is paid. Joyn is also free but the Euro carriers can at least improve the experience and maybe sell add-on services such as video calling and maybe international calling over data. I'm not sure what stage they're at in Europe but there's already a demo app.
Food for thought:
- will people learn to use a new app?
- would we developers be welcoming to a new app platform on top of Joyn? I'm thinking apps that use a Joyn api and that install through Joyn instead of the Apple/Android/MS apps stores.
The advantages:
- no more asking your friends to install the same app you use, or getting a separate number just for free texting! It would be built-in to your phone and your number just like SMS today. By the same token, lesser need to maintain multiple apps.
- quality control: some apps I use on my Android have huge delays; carriers are better positioned to maintain quality of service
The disadvantages:
- getting people to do/learn something different?
General thoughts are welcome as well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure how this is any different to Apple messaging. On my work phone (iPhone 4) I have a single messaging app - if I am sending to someone else with an iOS device it is delivered as an iMessage but if I'm sending it to someone else it automatically sends it as a text message. Even my 72 year old Mum can deal with this - "one app to rule them all"
This might work but I don't see this happening in developing countries anytime soon. Over here, majority of people doesn't have a smartphone and the data isn't the best. Unlimited sms rates are also cheaper than data. But then again it really depends on the person because I rarely use sms these days. It would be nice to have a bbm/imessage style app where everyone has one on their phones though. No more "hey install this so we can talk".
A decent amount of texts are usually included with any data plan. If data only plans were offered on cell phones then I think you would see people switching to voip instead of regular calls and internet based texting.
I think eventually texting will move to strictly data. But they will milk it for awhile still.
Doubt it will be a big thing here. Most carriers are giving unlimited texting away as part of the new tiered data plans. Texts costs carriers nothing to pass back and fourth.
MissionImprobable said:
Doubt it will be a big thing here. Most carriers are giving unlimited texting away as part of the new tiered data plans. Texts costs carriers nothing to pass back and fourth.
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Click to collapse
i can see a future facebook , gmail ,yahoo messengers are integrated into a single Messenger application somewhat like whatsapp but with more functions like video chat , voice chat...and all the goodness of texting .
How is that Euro app different from what you can do with Google Voice?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
spunker88 said:
A decent amount of texts are usually included with any data plan. If data only plans were offered on cell phones then I think you would see people switching to voip instead of regular calls and internet based texting.
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Click to collapse
In the US, data plans are completely separate from SMS plans.
SimonTS said:
I'm not sure how this is any different to Apple messaging. On my work phone (iPhone 4) I have a single messaging app - if I am sending to someone else with an iOS device it is delivered as an iMessage but if I'm sending it to someone else it automatically sends it as a text message. Even my 72 year old Mum can deal with this - "one app to rule them all"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The difference is you wouldn't need a texting plan with Joyn. Also Joyn is cross-platform, works on non-iOS devices as well. Also, it's free from Apple's whims
rbruno66 said:
How is that Euro app different from what you can do with Google Voice?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out some of the videos on the Joyn site, it offers a whole lot more features such as video and voice messages, file sharing, location sharing, etc.
But just regarding the texting portion, the difference is that Joyn is created by the carriers themselves so there would be high QoS, as opposed to Google Voice (which I gratefully use), which has had delays of over 24 hours at times with my texts.
The other difference is that Joyn would be built-in to phones so you don't have to worry about the other end having SMS support or not.
wujuyamakin said:
But just regarding the texting portion, the difference is that Joyn is created by the carriers themselves so there would be high QoS, as opposed to Google Voice (which I gratefully use), which has had delays of over 24 hours at times with my texts.
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Click to collapse
You shouldn't be getting such long delays, I don't think. It should (though I'm not 100% positive it is) be pushed straight from the google voice server.
Anyway, as mission said, texting isn't going to go away, bundled as it is into our plans. It's exceedingly cheap for the carriers, while they can try to use it to get unsuspecting customers to pay much more.
We already use apps such as Kik and whatsapp instead of sms. First theres no worry about length of text plus we can send pics vids and sounds for free. These are even better than apples imessage because dont matter if you have blackberry, android or ios.
Also we can chat in groups much easier.
I'm just jumping in with thoughts. The only benefit i can see, as the abundance of unlimited text plans has already been pointed out, is that a data based sms is completely independent of carrier, operating system, phones, region, etc.- so long as internet access is available. But that may be irrelevant as carriers probably have a nice texting deal worked out to transfer texts among other carriers really cheaply. I could be wrong as i am only speculating.
Future of texting- something to think about.
I'm in Europe and I've never heard of this 'Joyn'...
Now, Whatsapp, on the other hand...
The more integrated that 3rd party messaging apps become with mobile OSs the less likely it is that phone users will choose to use more expensive options like SMS, MMS, or even standard voice calls.
My comment would be that a data-based messenging app is fine, but not everyone has a smartphone. With the high cost of data plans I predict that sms-based texting will continue to dominate, because people still like cheap phones. We lose track of that since most of our peers are data junkies
Sent via Tapatalk on LiquidSmooth Galaxy Nexus
MunkinDrunky said:
I'm just jumping in with thoughts. The only benefit i can see, as the abundance of unlimited text plans has already been pointed out, is that a data based sms is completely independent of carrier, operating system, phones, region, etc.- so long as internet access is available. But that may be irrelevant as carriers probably have a nice texting deal worked out to transfer texts among other carriers really cheaply. I could be wrong as i am only speculating.
Future of texting- something to think about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couple other major (IMHO) benefits:
- No more asking your contact to install apps and juggling multiple apps. Joyn is carrier-made and integrated with your phone number. I now have 3 apps that all do messaging because people have different preferences and some apps work better on certain OS's than others. Something like Joyn makes messaging just like calling; it just works if you know the other end's number.
- App platform potential: Joyn has an API. Apps can be added such as grouping interfaces, virtual gifts, BBM-like features such as encryption and security. Good opportunity for us developers, better alignment of interests between carriers and users (good user experience).
wujuyamakin said:
Couple other major (IMHO) benefits:
- No more asking your contact to install apps and juggling multiple apps. Joyn is carrier-made and integrated with your phone number. I now have 3 apps that all do messaging because people have different preferences and some apps work better on certain OS's than others. Something like Joyn makes messaging just like calling; it just works if you know the other end's number.
- App platform potential: Joyn has an API. Apps can be added such as grouping interfaces, virtual gifts, BBM-like features such as encryption and security. Good opportunity for us developers, better alignment of interests between carriers and users (good user experience).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you bring up a good point but anti socialists would cry!
I use google voice for texting. It works great for me in the US. Not sure if it is available in Europe.
I like Droidwall. Here's my review: Droidwall is a nifty program which can easily be configured to block wifi and/or data communication for each individual application. Perhaps allows small savings in battery, data usage, and slight improvement in security. Particularly when app had no logical purpose to acces internet other than advertisements etc. Also does not cost any significant cpu or memory resources... just modifies a table somewhere.
Now onto my question:
One of the applications that I blocked was labeled “(Kernel) – Linux Kernel”
Blocking the “kernel” has no effect on items like browser, gmail etc.
Based on Droidwall log, over the past several weeks since I installed the program, it has blocked 397 outbound packets from “kernel” which were destined for a variety of IP’s that all seems to be associated with Google, XDA, or Microsoft.
Below is an example of three of the IP’s:
Google
74.125.227.140
https://ipdb.at/ip/74.125.227.140
xda
50.23.216.69
https://ipdb.at/ip/50.23.216.69
Microsoft
65.52.32.12
https://ipdb.at/ip/65.52.32.12
Another thing I noticed, these are the only log entries where the external IP is recorded in the log. In all the other non-kernel blocked-application log entries, the IP recorded is my router IP.
I’m using Entropy’s DD kernal on GB.
It seems to me a little strange that these outbound transmissions are associated with the kernel. And at the same time, they don’t seem to be associated with any obvious legitimate purpose....because my phone works fine on normal internet application even with “kernel” blocked by Droidwall.
Does anyone have any ideas what would be the explanation for these packets sent from kernel to Google, MS, xda ?
Well I don't know much of anything about programming, however some people say that it isn't just apple that collects information about people without them knowing. Could be that or I could be completely wrong.
Just for curiosity, do you allow anonymous data to be collected and sent to Google?
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
If no answer here, maybe post your question here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1957231
Well I don't know much of anything about programming, however some people say that it isn't just apple that collects information about people without them knowing. Could be that or I could be completely wrong.
Just for curiosity, do you allow anonymous data to be collected and sent to Google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I generally answer no the the “anonymous data collection”.... thinking about battery, data usage, and privacy. I think several apps have that question. I don’t doubt there are a lot of programs trying to communicate for a variety of non-obvious (possibly suspicious) reasons regardless of how you set up the options. ....there were a several installed Apps attempting access that had no obvious reason to do so.
What initially struck me as strange was that this was attributed to the kernel.. that didn’t quite compute. Trying initially to formulate an intelligent thought about what that meant, I utterly failed and came up with the notion that these items must somehow be related to programming by the developer of the kernel. When I actually engaged my brain, I realized that was just plain silly because:
1 – That would be Entropy. Enough said.
2 – The kernel is open source.
3 – There are several different destination ip’s. If one person was trying to collect data, he wouldn’t send it to different places. So it must be several applications interacting with the kernel.... just shows up attributed to the kernel by Droidwall.
If no answer here, maybe post your question here: [afwall link][
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Click to collapse
Thanks Pony Ex. I didn’t know that program afwall existed. Looks like it might have some good improvements to an already-great program (Droidwall). Will definitely give it a try. But I’m not bold enough to post this type of question in the developer’s thread though... several others were scolded for non-appropriate posts in that thread.
To my limited understanding, and I apologize if I am wrong, entropy just modified the kernel that was already there? Hence why the new ICS and jelly bean ROMs are still using a gingerbread kernel.
So who actually wrote the kernel? Samsung? Google? Both?
I agree I don't see entropy gathering personnel data.
However, apple was caught doing it and to the conspiracy minded individual, Google (a company that made it's fortune with information) would be in a similar position to do the same.
Again I have no evidence or knowledge to back up anything I'm saying, however what better way to collect information then distributing a free open source program with 100's of millions of users?
Sent from my SGH-I997 using xda app-developers app
electricpete1 said:
Thanks Pony Ex. I didn’t know that program afwall existed. Looks like it might have some good improvements to an already-great program (Droidwall). Will definitely give it a try. But I’m not bold enough to post this type of question in the developer’s thread though... several others were scolded for non-appropriate posts in that thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
electricpete,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=35352916&postcount=256
I'll fade the heat.
Edit: His first reply: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=35360652&postcount=257
Pete,
Are you using the Droid Wall to stop the outgoing packets to ensure privacy or are you using it to stop the wakelocks that may be contributing to the wifi drain bug on gingerbread?
Here is a reply from someone else... pretty good read:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13148076#post13148076
post # 47
Pony Express said:
Here is a reply from someone else... pretty good read:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=13148076#post13148076
post # 47
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Pony Express, for posting that question. Good info in the responses and other links.
qkster said:
Pete,
Are you using the Droid Wall to stop the outgoing packets to ensure privacy or are you using it to stop the wakelocks that may be contributing to the wifi drain bug on gingerbread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is the potential to improve all three (limit data usage, limit battery usage, improve privacy).
I think the improvements in battery life and data usage are probably relatively small (especially because I also manage those by turning my connections off when not in use while away from home wifi)... whereas I think the improvement in privacy may be substantial... so I guess that's my main interest (improving privacy).
But since the $ cost and resource cost is basically zero, it almost seems to me like no-brainer choice to use it regardless of the level of benefit we expect (unless there is some hidden disadvantage...which I haven't seen yet).
I wasn't aware of a particular wakelock problem on Gingerbread. I haven't particularly noticed a change in batteryusage one way or the other (and I really wouldn't expect to notice unless it was a dramatic change), but it stands to reason that reducing traffic from unwanted Ads, pinging, data-gathering etc could help. Here are some links that may support that view:
http://gizmodo.com/5894572/in+app-ads-are-destroying-your-battery-life
http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/19/2884902/android-apps-battery-efficiency-study
There was one poster in the AFwall thread that suggested an App that is denied access will keep trying again and again, and therefore use more juice..... which also sounds plausible, but several others disagreed with that.
* I have installed AFwall now, in place of Droidwall. It is the same program with a few improvements (fixed hole in the security wall during reboot) and a lot of extra features. But still keeps the same basic simple user interface.
Okay, so, I summed up some 5 articles on this subject - in the hope of starting a discussion about device security. I hope you will find this interesting and meaningful and perhaps you will find out about some of the risks of using Android.
2 months ago Juniper Networks, one of the two biggest network equipment manufactures, published a blog post (1) about an intensive research their mobile threat department had on the Android market place.
In essence they analyzed over 1.7 million apps in Google Play, revealing frightening results and prompting a hard reality check for all of us.
One of the worrying findings is that a significant number of applications contain capabilities that could expose sensitive information to 3rd parties. For example, neither Apple nor Google requires apps to ask permission to access some forms of the device ID, or to send it to outsiders. A Wall Street Journal examination (2) of 101 popular Android (and iPhone) apps found that showed that 56 — that's half — of the apps tested transmitted the phone's unique device ID to other companies without users' awareness or consent. 47 apps — again, almost a half — transmitted the phone's location to other companies.
That means that the apps installed in your phone are 50% likely to clandestinely collect and sell information about you without your knowledge nor your consent. For example when you give permission to an app to see your location, most apps don't disclose if they will pass the location to ad companies.
Moving on to more severe Android vulnerabilities. Many applications perform functions not needed for the apps to work — and they do it under the radar! The lack of transparency about who is collecting information and how it is used is a big problem for us.
Juniper warns, that some apps request permission to clandestinely initiate outgoing calls, send SMS messages and use a device camera. An application that can clandestinely initiate a phone call could be used to silently listen to ambient conversations within hearing distance of a mobile device. I am of course talking about the famous and infamous US Navy PlaceRaider (3).
Thankfully the Navy hasn't released this code but who knows if someone hadn't already jumped on the wagon and started making their own pocket sp?. CIO magazine (4) somewhat reassures us though, that the "highly curated nature of [smartphone] application stores makes it far less likely that such an app would "sneak through" and be available for download."
A summary by The Register (5) of the Juniper Networks audit reads that Juniper discovered that free applications are five times more likely to track user location and a whopping 314 percent more likely to access user address books than paid counterparts. 314%!!!
1 in 40 (2.64%) of free apps request permission to send text messages without notifying users, 5.53 per cent of free apps have permission to access the device camera and 6.4 per cent of free apps have permission to clandestinely initiate background calls. Who knows, someone might just be recording you right now, or submitting your photo to some covert database in Czech Republic — without you even knowing that your personal identity is being compromised.
Google, by the way, is the biggest data recipient — so says The Wall Street Journal. Its AdMob, AdSense, Analytics and DoubleClick units collected data from 40% of the apps they audited. Google's main mobile-ad network is AdMob, which lets advertisers target phone users by location, type of device and "demographic data," including gender or age group.
To quote the The Register on the subjec, the issue of mobile app privacy is not new. However Juniper's research is one of the most comprehensive looks at the state of privacy across the entire Google Android application ecosystem. Don't get me wrong. I love using Google's services and I appreciate the positive effect this company has had over how I live my life. However, with a shady reputation like Google's and with it's troubling attitude towards privacy (Google Maps/Earth, Picasa's nonexistent privacy and the list goes on) I sincerely hope that after reading this you will at least think twice before installing any app.
Links: (please excuse my links I'm a new user and cannot post links)
(1) forums.juniper net/t5/Security-Mobility-Now/Exposing-Your-Personal-Information-There-s-An-App-for-That/ba-p/166058
(2) online.wsj com/article/SB10001424052748704694004576020083703574602.html
(3) technologyreview com/view/509116/best-of-2012-placeraider-the-military-smartphone-malware-designed-to-steal-your-life/
(4) cio com/article/718580/PlaceRaider_Shows_Why_Android_Phones_Are_a_Major_Security_Risk?page=2&taxonomyId=3067
(5) theregister co.uk/2012/11/01/android_app_privacy_audit/
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Now I am proposing a discussion. Starting with - do we have the possibility to monitor device activity on the phone? By monitoring device activity, such as outgoing SMSs and phone calls in the background, the camera functions and so on we can tell if our phone is being abused under the radar and against our consent. What do you think?
.
I am finding it sad and troubling but even more so ironic that nobody here cares about this stuff.
Pdroid allows you to tailor your apps and what permissions your device actually allows on a per app basis. Requires some setup, and the GUI is nothing fancy.. but for those worried about permissions, it is quite ideal.
Edit : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1357056
Great project, be sure to thank the dev
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
DontPushButtons said:
Pdroid allows you to tailor your apps and what permissions your device actually allows on a per app basis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good for a start, I'll look it up
pilau said:
Sounds good for a start, I'll look it up
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Click to collapse
Okay, so I looked it up, and Pdroid does look like a fantastic solution to control what apps have access to what information on your droid.
However, it doesn't cover monitoring hardware functions such as texts being sent, calls being placed etc. as described in the OP. Besides, it only works in Gingerbread as far as I could gather.
EDIT: looking at PDroid 2.0, it does exactly what I originally asked
pilau said:
Okay, so I looked it up, and Pdroid does look like a fantastic solution a control what apps have access to what information on you droid.
However, it doesn't cover monitoring hardware functions such as texts being sent, calls being placed etc. as described in the OP. Besides, it only works in Gingerbread as far as I could gather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually first found out about it on an ics rom, so it's definitely not just gb. As for monitoring, no clue. Any sort of extra process logging would likely bog down resources or space eventually.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
DontPushButtons said:
Any sort of extra process logging would likely bog down resources or space eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely wouldn't know. This solution looks very complicated in first impression but on the Google play page it says 100% no performance effects.
Anyway, I looked up PDroid 2.0 here on XDA, which is the rightful successor of the original app. It does everything the original app does and also monitors many device activities! Here is the full list of features. I would add a working link but I'm still a n00b and I am restricted from doing so. Sigh....
forum.xda-developers com/showthread.php?t=1923576
PDroid 2.0 allows blocking access for any installed application to the following data separately:
Device ID (IMEI/MEID/ESN)
Subscriber ID (IMSI)
SIM serial (ICCID)
Phone and mailbox number
Incoming call number
Outgoing call number
GPS location
Network location
List of accounts (including your google e-mail address)
Account auth tokens
Contacts
Call logs
Calendar
SMS
MMS
Browser bookmarks and history
System logs
SIM info (operator, country)
Network info (operator, country)
IP Tables(until now only for Java process)
Android ID
Call Phone
Send SMS
Send MMS
Record Audio
Access Camera
Force online state (fake online state to permanent online)
Wifi Info
ICC Access (integrated circuit-card access, for reading/writing sms on ICC)
Switch network state (e.g. mobile network)
Switch Wifi State
Start on Boot (prevents that application gets the INTENT_BOOT_COMPLETE Broadcast)
I've always had the luxury of someone else integrating it into the Rom, then I just had to set it up through the app. It is time-consuming, but not very difficult at all. I say give it a shot and see if that's what you had in mind. Maybe the logging is less detrimental than I had previously thought.
I'm sure you could get your post count up by asking for some tips in that thread. Every forum on xda has at least one person that's EXCESSIVELY helpful, frequently more. So have a ball
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Hey guys, I have a big question to ask.
Would really appreciate creative answers for this.
Let's say today, I own a telco. As a telco, I have access to a certain amount of data. However, I want more data. As people tend to use tons of apps on a daily basis, I am missing out on a bunch of data by not being able to track how much time a user spends on that particular app.
My question is:
Is there a way for me, as a telco, to track the usage time of an app I do not own? Example, tracking how many of my subscribers are playing Minecraft and how long they play Minecraft for. Would it be able for us to inject code into the APK that helps telcos track how long the app is being used?
No, attempting to inject code would equate to hacking an app. Provided apps are downloaded from "safe" sources, they should not be modified by anyone except the developer.
Am internet provider does have access to any IP you connect to. In that way an inference can be made.