Beware of pre-release "Lollipop" apps - Moto X Themes and Apps

I came across a site today which purported to have several Lollipop apps that could be installed on KitKat phones (I have a Moto X Gen 1). As I looked more closely, I noticed that the keyboard came with a warning that it could record any keystrokes, including credit card info, etc. Now, this may be a standard warning that comes with the genuine Lollipop keyboard. Still, it was enough to keep me from actually installing it. I did pilfer a few Lollipop wallpapers, since I figured those would be safer.
Anyway, I'm realizing once again that, when it comes to waiting for a new Android release, patience is a virtue.

You will get that from any 3rd party keyboard app. And as far as stock keyboard from google don't think google doesn't have the same permissions.

O.K., thanks for the clarification.

varxx said:
I came across a site today which purported to have several Lollipop apps that could be installed on KitKat phones (I have a Moto X Gen 1). As I looked more closely, I noticed that the keyboard came with a warning that it could record any keystrokes, including credit card info, etc. Now, this may be a standard warning that comes with the genuine Lollipop keyboard. Still, it was enough to keep me from actually installing it. I did pilfer a few Lollipop wallpapers, since I figured those would be safer.
Anyway, I'm realizing once again that, when it comes to waiting for a new Android release, patience is a virtue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, just to reiterate, every single keyboard app comes with that working.. if you try installing swiftkey, kii keyboard etc or anything from the playstore. It has the ability to log all your keystrokes so they show that warning. But it is probably a safe practice to avoid downloading apks from the web anyways, unless you really trust the site. ( I do it anyways but its a risk I'm willing to take)

Related

[Q] Problems with AppStoreHQ on G Tab

Brand new G Tab owner. Just charged and started up last night. I received the notification of the 3389 release immediately and went ahead and let the update download and installed.
I'm just checking things out at this point keeping her stock for a while. I have a lot to learn about Android in general so I'm in no hurry to begin mods.
In just following the suggested links I ran into a problem with AppStoreHQ. There are two apps there, can't seem to find them on any of the other 'approved' app stores, Google TV Remote and the Nook reader from B&N.
I cannot install either of them, or any app for that matter, from AppStoreHQ. Anybody else having this problem.
I called Tech Support, thought it would be a good first test. I was surprised to get a real person in under 2 minutes. He was helpful, said he would try it on their G Tabs, and put me on hold. He came back in a couple of minutes and said they are having the same problem. He would report it to the software team and there should be a fix in 24 hours.
He also told there will be a general update for the G Tab in the next week.
Any help would be appreciated, even another way to get the apps I'm looking for.
ACDFx3 said:
Brand new G Tab owner. Just charged and started up last night. I received the notification of the 3389 release immediately and went ahead and let the update download and installed.
I'm just checking things out at this point keeping her stock for a while. I have a lot to learn about Android in general so I'm in no hurry to begin mods.
In just following the suggested links I ran into a problem with AppStoreHQ. There are two apps there, can't seem to find them on any of the other 'approved' app stores, Google TV Remote and the Nook reader from B&N.
I cannot install either of them, or any app for that matter, from AppStoreHQ. Anybody else having this problem.
I called Tech Support, thought it would be a good first test. I was surprised to get a real person in under 2 minutes. He was helpful, said he would try it on their G Tabs, and put me on hold. He came back in a couple of minutes and said they are having the same problem. He would report it to the software team and there should be a fix in 24 hours.
He also told there will be a general update for the G Tab in the next week.
Any help would be appreciated, even another way to get the apps I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to go investigate the custom firmware threads in the developer sub-forum... They all have a method for gaining near complete access to the market.
OTOH if you actually like the TapnTap UI, you can probably find the Nook and Google TV remote apks somewhere online, then read about using adb to install them from your computer, or how to enable installation from foreign source directly on the gTab(can't remember if it's on by default in stock or not since I gave up on TnT a LONG time ago and have pretty much settled on TnT lite ATM...)
[EDIT]
...just remembered... search this forum(and maybe the dev forum too) for info about applying some mods to stock firmware (root, Google market, etc.) if you REALLY want to stay stock... you're not going to learn a whole lot about Android in stock UI though as it's buried under the TapnTap UI... Vegan "ROM"(firmware) is closer to a vanilla Android 2.2 release...
[/EDIT]
Installation from foreign source enabled by default, since there is no official Android Market, if it were disabled no software could be installed. If you find the '.apk' files download them to the device anf tap them then install.
3389 has a bad bug of slowing down when woken from sleep state. Only cure is to reboot. so you may want to look into one of the unofficial but from Viewsonic updated, if you want to keep that "stock' feel. If not there are many options for alternets that each have a loyal following.

[UTIL][APP]Lenovo Security / LeSec app (anti-virus/spam/theft/firewall)

Edit: Important: The newer V4 version of LeSec may no longer be usable for non-Chinese speakers. See this post #17 here, also to discuss alternatives
For all you Lenovo users out there,
I wanted to (re-)introduce this application. Because I have the impression that many Lenovo phone users rather quicly move on to migrated ROM's from for example APKHOT/Smileyvvv/Etotalk etc, where this app is cooked out.
You may want to reconsider going back to it, if it will still work on your phone with whatever ROM you have. It is really a very useful utility:
Firstly, it is a virusscanner. Not sure how useful a virusscanner is on Android, and as I want to avoid that discussion in this thread, that is the last I say about it.
It is also anti-spam. You can black- or whitelist SMS and Calls. See screenshots for an impression. Very useful.
Anti-theft is there. Send SMS upon SIM change, or remotely instruct the phone to send location or self-destruct. I suspect, but did not try, the SMS instruction is stored in /system, so a data-wipe will not undo this. But a good hacker will fully flash, so it only protects against noob thieves, like all anti-theft apps.
But those are common functions, readily availible in other apps. But now for the interesting feature:
It has a firewall. If that is the correct name. Or an app-wall. An permission-wall? You know those apps that you download that for some reason want permission to send SMS? Why does it need that? Or why does it want to read my contacts?
Well, you can per-app decide to block a permission. This app does not need to read my contacts. That app does not need to send SMS. And it will show you if an app tried to anyway. How cool is that?
Guest- and Childmode. Hide some apps. After all, we do not want junior to see daddies tripple-X rated apps. Or the wife. Which is why you can also hide certain contact's and call-history entries (wink, wink). It may also apply to banking apps and your bookie, though that is a bit more boring. Oh, and in Child mode the radio turns of as we want to protect junior from radiation...
Some of you that use Etotalk or APKHOT ROMS may have noticed the notification area buttons to these last two that were dead because this app was missing.
We could of course worry about whether this app in itself is not a spy, reporting everything you do to the Chinese government. But you may not be aware that this is true for *any* Chinese clone you buy. Typically those clonemakers do not release the kernel or framework source, so such a spy would be in there, not in a de-installable app. And if you are really worried about it, make sure you get a phone where you can install CyanogenMod compiled from source.
Personally, I doubt either Lenovo or China is interested in me, and if they do it means they have a Infinitesimals bigger datastore to clog their machinery before they find something on people like Liu Xiaobo or Tenzin Gyatso, which is actually a good thing. But I suspect the app is simply without such sinister intentions.
Anyway, attached is the version I got from my phone. From a Lenovo A750 ICS 4.0.3 S306. But I suspect it works with any phone that uses the Lenovo Framework, so any Lenovo ICS phone that has a not too heavily modded ROM. It did also work on the ICS 4.0.3 Lenovo P700 ROW S113 (Rest Of World edition) edition.
I provide update.zip installers for MT6575 and MT6577 (because I know their partition table). It probably also works on Lenovo Framework phones based on MT6573/MT7513 or even MSM7227/MSM7527, maybe even GB ones. But then you need to take the two *.apk files from inside the zip file, and copy them manually into /system/app, as the update.zip installer will not work for that.
But do try, and please report back if it does or does not work on your phone/rom. There is also an uninstall package. Oh, and you are messing with /system, so as always, at your own risk, ensure you can always flash back a working ROM or have a Nandroid backup before you experiment.
Your zip didn't work on my A789, which is using the apkhot based rom available on forum.china-iphone.ru. After extracting the apk files, copying to /system/app and manually setting permissions, it's working like a charm.
Thanks, I really missed it. On the most recent cooked roms, I miss many things available on the Lenovo official ones, like the fm transmitter, or the butterfly-like widget on the default home screen. Some cookers tend to leave out any non standard apps without even taking some time to know what they do. Not all Chinese apps are rubbish or impossible to understand, and Lenovo is a serious company.
Ok, here you have the FM radio and transmitter of the A789, but it probably does not work, as it is Odex'ed.
And I uploaded seperate installers for MT6575 and MT6577
Also, on your APKHOT, please confirm it actually blocks permissions and blacklists SMS. I am not sure how much the APKHOT deviates from the Lenovo Framework, so merely being able to install and configure may be too soon to tell.
PS: why not try my factory-cleaned A789 ROM? It comes with all those apps by default, and I now have 3 positive feedback.
Come to think of it, why did I take this security app from A750, when A789 is newer....
Edit: Because they are both the same version. In fact the LeSec has not changed since Dec 2010, according to the internal dex binary.
I have tested call blocking and it works, but it isn't so important, since call blocking is a built in feature of the Mediatek framework. You can block calls from any contact you have on your Google account just out of the box, and it works great. I've tested older phones which used older Mediatek chipsets and that feature has been part of the Mediatek framework since MT6573.
The FM transmitter won't work that way, since it is odexed. But it doesn't work deodexed, either. I've just got a deodexed version of the app, thanks to a friend from another forum, and it doesn't work very well. It works, but I had to stick the phone to the antenna on my radio in order to hear something. People I've talked to say that the transmitter works great on the stock Lenovo roms, so maybe it's just some incompatibility with the apkhot roms.
The only reason I'm not using your rom (which I have downloaded) is that I wanted to setup the phone in Spanish, and the rom I'm currently using is the only one I've found which contains that language. Just a quick question: is there any noticable performance increase on the s227 based roms? If so, I don't care using the phone in English, since I just want the most feature rich rom.
Thinking it twice, I've remembered another reason. One of the things I like most about the apkhot rom I'm using is that the external sdcard is mounted on /sdcard and not /mnt/sdcard2, which avoids problems with many apps. I tried one of the newest apkhot roms, based on s227, and none of the tricks to exchange /sdcard and /mnt/sdcard2 worked with it.
I'll reply to that in the A789 thread, as we seem to deviate from the security app.
cybermaus said:
Edit: Because they are both the same version. In fact the LeSec has not changed since Dec 2010, according to the internal dex binary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember there was an update of that app on my A750 with your ROM. Now with apkhot I installed that package posted above and I have the older / original version. But there is no update offered...
That was probably on the S148 Gingerbread ROM. That one has an older version. I know, because I messed up trying to install it, as I had that older GB version and the new ICS one both in my Titanium backup. Also, the Dec 2010 date is probably false, I just got OTA ROW_S114, and it too had all files timestamed to Dec 2010. But I am certain the LeSec from S306 and S227 are the same, the binary compared identical. Official version is V3.5.1.3.5.2.0041 and the update button tells me there is no newer.
Every so often it does update the virus/blacklist signatures, but that is not the app itself. Current virus signature 2012.09.14 Current harasment (blacklist) 2012.07.11
But if you find a newer one, please do let me know.
I've been trying LeSec further and it works, but I found a problem I wasn't able to fix, so, until I found a solution, I've freezed it with Titanium Backup. The problem is that I'm using Go SMS Pro, instead of the default messaging app, since I need to write SMS in Spanish and the default app doesn't support Spanish characters like accents, etc. Go SMS Pro works, but every time I send an SMS, LeSec thinks an unauthorized app is trying to send an SMS in the background, and shows a popup to let you decide whether to allow it or not. I haven't found a way to disable that, and it's a bit annoying having to click two buttons everytime I want to send a message.
Its probably a silly question, but you did go into LeSec->ChargeShield-SMS and ensure that your app was allowed to send SMS in background?
Probably for reasons of 'likely form of attack' the SMS apps are (unlike other permissions) by default in a 'Warning' setting, but if the warning does not come to the foreground on your phone, it may simply not work.
Also, rather than freezing LeSec completely, you could go into ChargeShield, and simply turn of the ChargeShield.
cybermaus said:
That was probably on the S148 Gingerbread ROM. That one has an older version. I know, because I messed up trying to install it, as I had that older GB version and the new ICS one both in my Titanium backup. Also, the Dec 2010 date is probably false, I just got OTA ROW_S114, and it too had all files timestamed to Dec 2010. But I am certain the LeSec from S306 and S227 are the same, the binary compared identical. Official version is V3.5.1.3.5.2.0041 and the update button tells me there is no newer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I used the S148 just some days and updated to your S306 V1.2 and simply stayed there, because it works very well. After some time it offered me an update and the user interface changed a bit with that update. The way how you set privacy on app level and so on. The update button itsself never worked for me either.
Sadly, backup never worked on that rom. I found that out as I wanted to try apkhot. To be honest, I didn't try on apkhot, yet.
A few minutes ago, I was offered a 4.1.4 version and installed it. Now it's purely chinese
Maybe I have to reboot the phone for english...
From the design it is a version newer than the version I wrote about...
leFloyd said:
A few minutes ago, I was offered a 4.1.4 version and installed it. Now it's purely chinese
Maybe I have to reboot the phone for english...
From the design it is a version newer than the version I wrote about...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, before you put the old one back, safe this one for me will ya.
cybermaus said:
Well, before you put the old one back, safe this one for me will ya.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want the old one back - I want this one to be english
How do I save it? Any idea where it has downloaded it's update? This was done within the app...
Well, it would have simply replaced the two apk's in the /system/app folder.
So look for:
LenovoSafeCenter.apk
LenovoSageWidget.apk
or something similar, it could have changed its name, or added a 3rd component.
Got the files?
Sent from my Lenovo A750 using xda app-developers app
Well, it seems that Lenove Security (LeSec for short, and LenovoSafeCenter officially) is becoming less usuable. As mentioned above, it is fully Chinese, no Engrish anywere.
I had a look at the new V4 of it, even decompiled it. Not only 100% Chinese, but is hardcoded in the app, there are no resource xml files that we could translate. A big pity.
Also, there is one app (Waze, a social car navigation app) that in the latest version is incompatible with LeSec. Though it is at this moment the only incompatibility I ran into, it is also a pity.
That may mean we need to find an alternative:
For now, these two has shown up:
LBE : Somehow, I think LBE is actually the company that makes Lenovo LeSec. Or at least, there logo is shown in the about menu of LeSec as part of the "in cooperation with" mentions. Maybe the reason why the free LeSec is limiting itself?
Anyway, I am trying out LBE at the moment, to see how it works.
pDroid : pDroid looks promising. Specifically, they are promising ICS support, but right now, only GB, so one to keep an eye on, but not availible to us just yet.
Permissions Denied : A Paid app. But if it works well, it may be worth it. Not looked at it yet.
So, LBE seems to work well. It does not have the hiding of apps for 'child mode' and 'privacy mode'. Nor does it have the 'anti-theft' or 'virus-scan' but it does the permissions thing well.
I tested, it nicely prompted/blocked permissions. And to be honest, using a slight more clear interface. If it is permissions, which was indeed what I was after, LBE seems to do the job. I also like I can block internet use separate for 3G and Wireless. Very useful.
One problem though: Waze is failing in the same way as with LeSec. Even if I make it a 'trusted' app. It seems the latest version of Waze simply does not like to be looked at too closely.
anti theft
I cannot input number In anti theft . for ex if I write +35989xxxxx I need two more digits but it does not allow it. If I write in national format 0899.... I have to write more digits than the phone number has. Any solution?
As mentioned, while I started enthusiastic about LeSec, it is now focussing too much on China alone. Not as good internationally.
Try using one of the other anti-theft solutions.

[Q] Google now troubles

Good day all.
Last summer I accepted to install Google Now after some suggestion from Google. I quickly realized that this was extremely intrusive and overtook my pad time and again. At the time I blamed that on the fact that my pad was fairly new and was extremely buggy and unstable in every respect.
Now, after many updated and firmware fixes, my Transformer TF700 is much more stable. Lately Google Now has started popping up unasked overtaking the pad. It crashes whatever application I am using and just sits in the lower left corner as if waiting for me to use it. While my pad goes through these episodes, that can last from few minutes up to half an hour, my pad is completely useless.
I have uninstalled everything I can find that resembles Google Now but that does not seem to be enough. I simply can not do anything at all. Anything I try to do the Google Now crashes. I have been able to "force" my way into the app manager (meaning I just make continuous attempts to get into setting/Apps until successful) but there is no Google Now available under running apps.
I have installed all updates and am at version 4.1.1
Any ideas what I can do? This is just too annoying and just last night this behavior prevented me taking meeting minutes in a very important meeting.
Help! Please!
Ólafur
Olafur said:
Good day all.
Last summer I accepted to install Google Now after some suggestion from Google. I quickly realized that this was extremely intrusive and overtook my pad time and again. At the time I blamed that on the fact that my pad was fairly new and was extremely buggy and unstable in every respect.
Now, after many updated and firmware fixes, my Transformer TF700 is much more stable. Lately Google Now has started popping up unasked overtaking the pad. It crashes whatever application I am using and just sits in the lower left corner as if waiting for me to use it. While my pad goes through these episodes, that can last from few minutes up to half an hour, my pad is completely useless.
I have uninstalled everything I can find that resembles Google Now but that does not seem to be enough. I simply can not do anything at all. Anything I try to do the Google Now crashes. I have been able to "force" my way into the app manager (meaning I just make continuous attempts to get into setting/Apps until successful) but there is no Google Now available under running apps.
I have installed all updates and am at version 4.1.1
Any ideas what I can do? This is just too annoying and just last night this behavior prevented me taking meeting minutes in a very important meeting.
Help! Please!
Ólafur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google now should work fine on your tablet. You definitly have some issue with your OS, I suggest you should download the full firmware from Asus, do a factory reset then reflash the full firmware. This should fixed your Google now and anything else too.
Olafur said:
Good day all.
Last summer I accepted to install Google Now after some suggestion from Google. I quickly realized that this was extremely intrusive and overtook my pad time and again. At the time I blamed that on the fact that my pad was fairly new and was extremely buggy and unstable in every respect.
Now, after many updated and firmware fixes, my Transformer TF700 is much more stable. Lately Google Now has started popping up unasked overtaking the pad. It crashes whatever application I am using and just sits in the lower left corner as if waiting for me to use it. While my pad goes through these episodes, that can last from few minutes up to half an hour, my pad is completely useless.
I have uninstalled everything I can find that resembles Google Now but that does not seem to be enough. I simply can not do anything at all. Anything I try to do the Google Now crashes. I have been able to "force" my way into the app manager (meaning I just make continuous attempts to get into setting/Apps until successful) but there is no Google Now available under running apps.
I have installed all updates and am at version 4.1.1
Any ideas what I can do? This is just too annoying and just last night this behavior prevented me taking meeting minutes in a very important meeting.
Help! Please!
Ólafur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gather you are on the stock ROM? You cannot actually uninstall any system module on stock; you can only disable them (same result on the exterior, though).
You could give unlocking and installing a custom ROM a thought: they generally either do not include Google Now at all or only at your own discretion (with CROMI, for example, it is an optional install). Are you rooted? If so, you can try installing Titanium Backup and freeze system modules in the app list and hunt it down that way. It seems to be starting up now, missing some component or access. I do not have it installed at all anymore (I found it useless out of the box, and although people recommended it as becoming better with time as it 'learned' what to present me with, I didn't find any improvement on finding the info myself by hand, and it is too US-centered for us Europeans, anyway -- I have no use for yesterday's American Football results.
buhohitr said:
Google now should work fine on your tablet. You definitly have some issue with your OS, I suggest you should download the full firmware from Asus, do a factory reset then reflash the full firmware. This should fixed your Google now and anything else too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose I will attempt this and try to choke Google Now after reflashing.
I found the firmware on ASUS web but now I do not know how to proceed. I will look for info about reflashing.
What is mu best option regarding backing the tablet up? I have rather a lot of stuff locally on the tablet that I wish not to loose.
Thanks.
Ólafur
MartyHulskemper said:
I gather you are on the stock ROM? You cannot actually uninstall any system module on stock; you can only disable them (same result on the exterior, though).
You could give unlocking and installing a custom ROM a thought: they generally either do not include Google Now at all or only at your own discretion (with CROMI, for example, it is an optional install). Are you rooted? If so, you can try installing Titanium Backup and freeze system modules in the app list and hunt it down that way. It seems to be starting up now, missing some component or access. I do not have it installed at all anymore (I found it useless out of the box, and although people recommended it as becoming better with time as it 'learned' what to present me with, I didn't find any improvement on finding the info myself by hand, and it is too US-centered for us Europeans, anyway -- I have no use for yesterday's American Football results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, I am on the stock ROM and I have not rooted yet. The tablet was so unstable in the first few weeks after I got it so I did not dare void the warranty yet. After it has stabilized I might root it if there is a reason to.
Google Now is WAY to intrusive and, like you said, to US-centric to be of much use to me.
Is there a usable backup solution that does not require me to be rooted?
Thanks,
Ólafur
Olafur said:
You are correct, I am on the stock ROM and I have not rooted yet. The tablet was so unstable in the first few weeks after I got it so I did not dare void the warranty yet. After it has stabilized I might root it if there is a reason to.
Google Now is WAY to intrusive and, like you said, to US-centric to be of much use to me.
Is there a usable backup solution that does not require me to be rooted?
Thanks,
Ólafur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the full firmware from Asus, unzip the file then copy the unzipped file to the root of your micro sdcard, you should see a notification for update, tab on it and let it rip! BTW, without root, not much you can do even try to backup your device.(it's not going to be a complete backup but a half ass one).
buhohitr said:
Download the full firmware from Asus, unzip the file then copy the unzipped file to the root of your micro sdcard, you should see a notification for update, tab on it and let it rip! BTW, without root, not much you can do even try to backup your device.(it's not going to be a complete backup but a half ass one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. ASUS has an Unlock Device App on its support page. If I get that and, backup, and reflash will I not be back to untooted? If that is so,will I not have trouble restoring my stuff?
As you realize I have not given this much time. I just want to use my devices and not have to be plagued by stuff like this. To me, my phone is a utility first, toy second. I do not have the time to play with it as much as I would like and therefore this kind of operation is all a bit blurry.
I am an IT manager and have been for over 20 years so I am technically aware but have not given my current Android platform enough time yet.
Many thanks,
Ólafur
Olafur said:
Hi. ASUS has an Unlock Device App on its support page. If I get that and, backup, and reflash will I not be back to untooted? If that is so,will I not have trouble restoring my stuff?
As you realize I have not given this much time. I just want to use my devices and not have to be plagued by stuff like this. To me, my phone is a utility first, toy second. I do not have the time to play with it as much as I would like and therefore this kind of operation is all a bit blurry.
I am an IT manager and have been for over 20 years so I am technically aware but have not given my current Android platform enough time yet.
Many thanks,
Ólafur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you want your device to run really well, then you need to unlock your device and flash custom rom/kernel. Many ppl kicked themselves in the bud for not doing this sooner. Sure if you unlocked, warranty is voided, but it well worth the hassle. OK back to your topic, in order to root, without unlocking, you need to downgrade back to ICS version .30, root your device, install OTA root keeper, then do incremental upgrade back to JB. The only advantage with root is so you can install rooted backup app to backup all your apps (system apps, user's apps and all the settings), rooted will not improve your device performance at all, but if you unlocked and flash custom rom, you will see a huge improvement on performance.

Motorola Solutions TC55

Hello,
I have a TC55 from Motorola Solutions (i.e. the enterprise division that does not belong to Google). It is a rugged phone with a big battery (4400 mAh), but certainly not the sleekest design. Not sure if there is much interest in this kind of device, and I am certainly no developer - but in case anyone is investigating the TC55, here are two things I found so far:
It does not come with any Google apps: no Maps, no Gmail, no Play store and so on.
It is easily rooted with Framaroot using the Gandalf exploit.
(I cannot post this info into the Framaroot thread due to my low post count).
Anyway, maybe this helps someone. I will be happy to try to answer any questions about the TC55, but keep in mind I am no pro and I am not keen in messing around in its internals much more than I have done already.
Elanguescence said:
Hello,
I have a TC55 from Motorola Solutions (i.e. the enterprise division that does not belong to Google). It is a rugged phone with a big battery (4400 mAh), but certainly not the sleekest design. Not sure if there is much interest in this kind of device, and I am certainly no developer - but in case anyone is investigating the TC55, here are two things I found so far:
It does not come with any Google apps: no Maps, no Gmail, no Play store and so on.
It is easily rooted with Framaroot using the Gandalf exploit.
(I cannot post this info into the Framaroot thread due to my low post count).
Anyway, maybe this helps someone. I will be happy to try to answer any questions about the TC55, but keep in mind I am no pro and I am not keen in messing around in its internals much more than I have done already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard my company is planning to go with these soon for entry level supervisors such as myself. I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is. All the specs and brochures from Motorola keep calling it a mobile computer in a smartphone "form factor" but never actually call it a phone. I didn't see anything in any of the specs to lead me to believe for sure that it was a phone or if it was just an Android computer in a smartphone form factor.
Anyway, I just wanted to confirm, that, you're certain this is a phone, correct?
Thanks.
- Byron
bfollowell said:
Anyway, I just wanted to confirm, that, you're certain this is a phone, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, definitely. You can call and get called, and you can send and receive SMS. It also supports wired headsets, and it is supposed to work with Bluetooth headsets, though I do not have any to test.
Elanguescence said:
Yes, definitely. You can call and get called, and you can send and receive SMS. It also supports wired headsets, and it is supposed to work with Bluetooth headsets, though I do not have any to test.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info but it looks like mine is going to be crippled.
Sort of a let-down really. Yes, it "can" be a phone. Or without a sim card it can be a really powerful Android based mobile computer. That's what it is going to be for most of us. Only a few supervisors with area management approval are going to get units with the phone features working. Still cool. Just not as cool as I'd thought it was going to be.
- Byron
bfollowell said:
Thanks for the info but it looks like mine is going to be crippled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, sorry to hear that. It sounds weird to me to do that, but then again I have no clue about this type of work.
Maybe the crippling could be worked around or undone by people with good Android knowledge - but I suppose it might not be the best idea to go against company policy.
Elanguescence said:
I see, sorry to hear that. It sounds weird to me to do that, but then again I have no clue about this type of work.
Maybe the crippling could be worked around or undone by people with good Android knowledge - but I suppose it might not be the best idea to go against company policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think they're doing anything all that special to cripple it. They just won't all have sim cards or a cell plan. Pretty much as simple as that.
I won't be doing anything to circumvent that though or rooting it or anything like that. It's not like it's a gift and it belongs to me or anything. After almost 22 years, I've kind of grown to like my job and getting a paycheck every two weeks.I'd kind of like to keep it for another 15 or 20 years. Who knows, maybe my manager will decide that I need cell service with mine.
I work for a large automaker in the U.S. We have over 2.8 million square feet under roof. Personally, I can be anywhere on in the plant, on the roof, in pits & sub-basements underneath or anywhere on or near the 50 acre plant site at any given time. A lot of what I need to do on a daily basis is through our intranet portal. They're putting in something like 500 new wi-fi repeaters/extenders all around the plant as well. They're purchasing these for over 300 first line supervisors at my site alone. I'm pretty sure they're doing this corporate-wide so I hate to think what they're spending on these things as a corporation. I'm sure it would bankrupt many small nations! In addition to giving us portal access away from the desk, these are meant to replace our aging industrial radio system. As expensive as these are, they're still much cheaper than $1.5 to $2k per person for a radio that has no other built-in functionality and these do seem pretty ruggedized.
Still a shame about the phone functionality though.
- Byron
Can you see what browser it comes with? Can you install (untrusted) APKs directly without rooting it?
FYI, in case anyone's wondering, there is a version with Google apps on the way (if it isn't already orderable).
Sent from my Moto X
tfnico said:
Can you see what browser it comes with? Can you install (untrusted) APKs directly without rooting it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Browser is a standard one, which comes with other devices. Name is Browser.apk and version is 1.0.9
It's possible to install unsigned APK's without rooting.
google account
Hi,
I got stucked with trying to get google calendars from my google account to TC55.
I found one solution to setup google account as a corporate one, but it's not available anymore due to change in google policy.
I can setup google mail via email account, but that doesn't bring me my calendars to the device.
I tried to install gapps but without success.
Is there any other way?
Thanks.
Motorola work on google apps for TC55.There is in beta.
Elanguescence said:
... here are two things I found so far:
It does not come with any Google apps: no Maps, no Gmail, no Play store and so on.
It is easily rooted with Framaroot using the Gandalf exploit.
(I cannot post this info into the Framaroot thread due to my low post count).
Anyway, maybe this helps someone. I will be happy to try to answer any questions about the TC55, but keep in mind I am no pro and I am not keen in messing around in its internals much more than I have done already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously u rooted, can u install gapps in it?
RjCode said:
Obviously u rooted, can u install gapps in it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea, I haven't tried. As far as I understand gapps are usually installed via flashing a zip from recovery, and the stock recovery of the TC55 does not have that option, it only allows reflashing a whole image, if I understand it correctly. Either way, I have come to appreciate the open source alternatives and do not want to get Google on my phone, so I will not try, sorry.
However, going by this thread over at the Motorola support forum, it seems it won't take long until there is official gapps support:
https://developer.motorolasolutions.com/thread/4989
Motorola has now released a TC55-firmware with Google apps. Here are the release notes:
https://atgsupportcentral.motorolasolutions.com/content/emb/docs/ReleaseNotes/Release%20Notes%20-%20%20TC55_RevAPlus_GMS_01%2074G_v10.htm
According to the support email they sent me, to get the actual release you need to perform the following arcane ritual:
Resolution Type is : Software Download
Resolution Id is  : 95562
Resolution Title is : TC55 Update Image v1.74 with GMS (Google Mobile Service) Release Note & Factory Reset & Enterprise Enabler package
restrictedSW :
T55N0JGMVRUEN17400.zip 321 MB TC55 OS Recovery Update package
T55N0JGMVAUEN17400.apf 321 MB TC55 OS update package file for deployment using MSP
If you require access to OS files for TC55 1.74 GMS then call the local Support Desk and provide following information:
a. Site ID
b. Serial #(s)
c. Phone #
d. Customer name (First and Last)
e. E-mail address
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't ask me what the local support desk number is, or the site ID, or why they have to make this so complicated.
Hi Elanguescence,
I think I screwed up my tc55 by enabling the multiuser function without first creating the white list. Now all the users (with admin rights) does not have access to all the programs, including Applock Administrator and Multiuser administrator.
To cut things short, do you know of a way to reset the device? I don't mind setting it to factory default and start over. I've googled it and some said to launch Rapid Deployment and scan a barcode from there... but my Rapid Deployment just says "Service Not Ready, Please Wait" and get stuck there.
Any help appreciated. Thank you.
Any TC55 users here? Should be getting my unit w/ GMS soon... How do you guys like it?
Is the bootloader locked?
Sent from my Moto X
Hey!
I want to Buy one TC55 for me. Normally i hate Android and the Google stuff on the Phone but some Motorola Salesman told me there is a version with out.
Now i use an Sybian Device. That mean i am "offline" the hole time and when i need Internet the Phone connect the the Internet.
So how about that phone can i work "offline" to?
I will also use an VPN Tunnel to block on my backend all Connnection i dont want. Does all Data trough this VPN Tunnel ?
How about the Barcode Scanning does it work good?
I know for 2D i need to use the Cam but how works it when i am in some other Application?
Nobody?
Ok. I just bought a TC55 from a Friend and I was wondering if someone would post the update to get GSM and the Factory Reset packages. I went to the page and it requires all the information posted above before. Mine is rooted, but i am trying to install GAPS but the recovery is the basic and cannot. I manually installed Google Play and the Google Play Services but Google Play services keep crashing and the Play Store will not connect, any ideas ?
the are 2 versions one with google s... service and the other without.
So i belive you have the first?
(Can i ask you some question about that phone?)

While awaiting Android N for our Pure (XT1575)...

I decided to try out simplifying my phone and reduce issues that I've come across when using various custom ROMs, modified stock ROMs, etc... and used the Restore-To-Stock tool found in these forums. I then updated the phone via Settings, About, System Updates... then once that was done (Several times...) I was fully updated and ready to go. I flashed the latest TWRP & then installed the latest SuperSU for MM via TWRP... went into the file system and removed the APPs I did not want or need on my phone, wiped the caches and rebooted... I did this a few days ago and am insanely impressed by it. I forgot what stable and issue-free felt like... There's no fancy custom edits, no oddball quirks randomly from whatever was modified from various ROMs and after I installed xPosed, a few basic modules, setup Nova Launcher and all my APPs (Did a full fresh no restore of anything run through of it all)... I am the happiest I've ever been with my Moto X Pure (XT1575).
Once N pops in, I'll go through the whole process again, of course... but I think I might start sticking out simplified setups from here on out. I wanted to get the next Google "Nexus" phones released this year, but after seeing the Pixels and the prices... no thank you, I'm staying with my Pure for a while. I'm VERY happy with it... Dual front facing speakers are pretty much a necessity now for me. Internal Storage and Removable Batteries (prior to my Pure) are no longer my requirement. I've adjusted to pretty much using Google Drive and Google Play Music for all of my Files & Music with T-Mobile's no-data-cost of Google Play Music Streaming, I download my favorites (All I ever need would fit on a 32GB phone easily)... and Google Photos auto-backup has prevented me needing tons of storage options anymore... Battery you say though? No... I've YET to have a phone I wasn't able to charge on-the-go or even have a battery go bad.
Rambling here, this post was probably more for me than anyone who might read it, lol... I wanted the Moto Z so bad... but if I can't get an unlocked one that has the shatterproof display to use on T-Mobile... I don't see myself getting one at all. I want my next phone to have a fancy AMOLED hopefully shatterproof display with dual-front facing or at least a mod for sound / speakers like the Z and perhaps smaller top / bottom bezels. Not sure if I care about a fingerprint sensor yet or not. Anyway, have a great day everyone!!!
Have you compared debloated stock to tru pure x?
I've been thinking about doing something similar for the last few days. I've been running the latest TruPure since it came out several months ago. It might be the longest I've ever had an Android device without doing a clean flash of something, and things are degenerating.
I've always been a huge fan of TruPureXMM but have run into a few minor quirks here and then over time and definitely feel this is proving to be a much more stable experience. I removed (debloated) pretty much everything TruPureX did when it comes to APPs, but I believe TruPureX had a lot more going on than just that, which is what prompted me to go this route.
Since we're all sort of waiting for the official N, and we all know it won't be here amazingly fast... I've opted for this route to stay with the official run of things until N is stable and available through the official channel. I'll go through the full official update process and then TWRP and Root after... I'll be able to stay away from xPosed at first simply because the only things I'm using now are making MM more like N and I won't need to do that with N. I'm hoping once I can TWRP, Root and debloat by deleting the many APPs I don't like... things will be great!
CJ-Wylde said:
I've always been a huge fan of TruPureXMM but have run into a few minor quirks here and then over time and definitely feel this is proving to be a much more stable experience. I removed (debloated) pretty much everything TruPureX did when it comes to APPs, but I believe TruPureX had a lot more going on than just that, which is what prompted me to go this route.
Since we're all sort of waiting for the official N, and we all know it won't be here amazingly fast... I've opted for this route to stay with the official run of things until N is stable and available through the official channel. I'll go through the full official update process and then TWRP and Root after... I'll be able to stay away from xPosed at first simply because the only things I'm using now are making MM more like N and I won't need to do that with N. I'm hoping once I can TWRP, Root and debloat by deleting the many APPs I don't like... things will be great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've made me interested in trying this out as well. Is titanium backup the best way to remove system apps or is there a better alternative?
HaggisIV said:
You've made me interested in trying this out as well. Is titanium backup the best way to remove system apps or is there a better alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I've always done is go into TWRP and remove them myself. Going full fresh no restore means no real need for Titanium. Return-To-Stock first, then OTA your way up to current... THEN TWRP and SuperSU... then boot in, make sure everything is working and jot down on a piece of paper or Google Keep from your computer a list of the APPs you don't want.
Then power off, get into TWRP and mount /System, go into Advanced, File Manager and within /system/APPs and /system/PrivAPPs (Or something like that, memory just blanked) and find what was on your personal list... enter the folder for it, hit button bottom right, choose delete, done, go back and do the others... then wipe Cache / Dalvik and power off / boot up for the absolute freshest experience you can have with a stock ROM.
The trick is to NOT restore ANYTHING... install all your preferred Google APPs first, do the whole Google Phone install if you removed the stock Phone app, etc... (I remove it and the messenger, and a bunch of other stuff like the gallery, mail, etc... because I solely use Google services now).
I removed my case cover and have been carrying the phone around bare.
It's like I bought a whole new phone.
Have you guys tried a quality AOSP based ROM like Dirty Unicorn or BrokenOS?
Super stability. Nothing at all like running a CM ROM.
Testing cm14 now. Hashbang is doing a great job getting it daily worthy.
nobreak1970 said:
Testing cm14 now. Hashbang is doing a great job getting it daily worthy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cant get it to recognize my sim
unitz0mbie said:
cant get it to recognize my sim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
10/11 build will I bet. :highfive:
What apps/services did you remove? I'm running stock rooted myself and honestly I only see a couple of things I'd get rid of, nothing that would have any real impact on battery/storage though. This phone's stock ROM really is close to AOSP.
same too what apps did you remove tnx.. im not rooted .. tried uninstalling apps and guess what it got temp bootloop.. did hard reset using stock recovery and got fix again started tru welcome menu.... may i know guys what apps not to unistall tnx
Did a side by side comparison of apps in TruePure and stock. I counted 39 apps deleted from TruePure.
Android Live Wallpaper, Basic Daydreams
Bubbles, Calculator
Cloud Print, Com.Android.wallpaper.holospiral
Com.Motorola.audiomonitor.helper
Com.Motorola.bug2go
Com.Motorola.motgeofencesvc
Com.qualcomm.atfwd
Config Updater, CQATest
Demo mode, Device help
DiagMdlog Settings , Entitlement
Google Indic Keyboard , Japanese Input
Google Launcher Config , Korean Input
Pinyin Input , Play Movies
Play Music , Hangouts
Input Devices , Messaging
Moto Care , Moto Care int
Motorola Boot Services , Motorola Checkin
Motorola Notifications , Motorola One Time Init
Motorola Update Services
Native Drop Box Agent , Phase Beam
Rescue Add-on: Motorola
Sheets , Slides , Talk Back
I only deleted the extra Keyboards, Play Movies, Music, Hangouts, Sheets, Slides and Talk Back to be sure I had enough space for Xposed.

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