There's plenty enough threads discussing the best twitter clients or which SMS app is best...But except for the odd tidbit mentioned in a post by someone, I don't see any particular discussion (if I've about what folks have in their "toolbox" for doing things like capturing logs, running test, etc...
Here are some of the things I've found, please feel free to share any gems you may have found.
Antennas: Monitor GSM/CDMA cellular network http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.technolatry.antennas/
Any Cut: Any Cut allows you to create Home shortcuts to anything http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.appdroid.anycut/
aLogcat: View color-coded, scrolling (tailed) Android device logs directly from your phone http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/org.jtb.alogcat/
Dev Tools: With the Dev Tools application, you can enable a number of settings on your device that will make it easier to test and debug your applications http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/debug-tasks.html#additionaldebugging
GPS Test: GPS Test shows basic GPS signal (SNR) and satellite information
http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.chartcross.gpstest/
BASH: drop it in /system/bin and you're off http://android.modaco.com/content/software/301932/bash-4-1-native-app-for-android/
Wifi Analyzer: Turns your android phone into a Wi-Fi analyzer http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.farproc.wifi.analyzer/
Titanium Backup: The ONLY tool that can backup/restore/analyze your apps + data + Market links http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup/
I'm not sure if this is along the lines of what you were saying, but I use the 'url monitor' widget from the marketplace. It's free, and it monitors a list of URL's to check their status. I host several websites as well as my own exchange server so this is very useful. It's always good to be working on a problem before people tell you about it.
Thanks for mentioning titanium backup! I've never heard of it before so I decided to check it out. I liked it so much I bought a license.
Few more for the list...
Apps Organizer: Create labels/categories for all your apps...Titanium Backup uses the categories from this app for filtered views! http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.google.code.appsorganizer/
MyIP: MyIP displays your current IP address, name and connection type http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/radonsoft.net.myip/
Just wondering, whats the need for a bash shell? While useful in many cases, I fail to see how its helpful on the N1
Does Titanium Backup only backup your apps+data? I mean...it doesn't reorganize the desktop to it's previous state...right...or is that function only in the paid version? I would have gotten the license already, but I thought that it would re-organize the desktop as well. Maybe I'm missing a step?
Namuna said:
Few more for the list...
Apps Organizer: Create labels/categories for all your apps...Titanium Backup uses the categories from this app for filtered views! http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.google.code.appsorganizer/
MyIP: MyIP displays your current IP address, name and connection type http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/radonsoft.net.myip/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait...titanium backup supports apps organizer? I was about to wipe my phone and was wondering how this was going to work. I exported my categories anyway but if that is a step i don't have to fuss about...fantastic.
Just wondering, whats the need for a bash shell? While useful in many cases, I fail to see how its helpful on the N1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, I use it when I SSH into my N1. Working in BASH is a part of what I do at work, so I've got lots of shortcuts/aliases/scripts that can be dropped directly to my N1 and used.
I mean...it doesn't reorganize the desktop to it's previous state...right
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TB can indeed restore your home screens! You have to manually find the backup with 'launcher' or 'home' in the name and manually reload it though (which is confusing since TB has a 'restore all apps +all system data' batch option)...But yes, it does restore the desktop
Wait...titanium backup supports apps organizer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. Create your labels in AO, then assign your apps to those labels...Then when you go into TB->Filter, you'll see that you can now filter your apps by those labels! VERY convenient. Attached are some pics of the dynamic-duo in action.
For more goodies to add...
FCC Test: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Broadband Test application provides consumers with information about the quality and speed of their mobile data connection http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.ookla.fccbroadband/
root explorer: The ultimate file manager for root users. Access the whole of android's file system (including the elusive data folder!). http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/com.speedsoftware.rootexplorer/
MountUSB: (Included with the DesireROM) MountUSB is a one-click tool which allows you to mount or unmout your SD card as an USB mass storage device. http://www.cyrket.com/p/android/at.abraxas.mountusb/
...and I've made a feature suggestion to Google for it. Here it is. Issue 36793. Basically, what I'm suggesting is a drive mounting service that will allow you to connect to cloud services, remote shares, and local drives (SD cards, zip drives, ect.). These would then be accessable to apps through the use of standard google APIs. This would mean you could potentially save your angry birds game to your dropbox if rovio programed in the ability. What is more, they would just program in the connection to the google service. Through that, you would select the specific drive. This would mean that apps would no longer have to program could service/drive specific integration. I could use something besides dropbox for my YNAB app (I'm guessing most don't get the reference).
Anyway, here's a link to my writeup on google.
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=36793
Hello,
I'm attempting to make an inventory application. Basically, our company has several devices/equipment that we checkout to other people and our current paper system isn't working out. The devices will each have an NFC tag put on that uniquely identifies it, and the idea is that the Android application on our smartphones (provided by the company) will simply scan it to check in/out the device. It will record the date time, who checked it out, and other information, and we want more than one person to be able to check in/out items at a time.
My problem is figuring out a way to store this data. Our company already pays for a OneDrive for Business account and our initial idea was to simply store the data in an Excel spreadsheet and share it with the people who checkin/checkout the devices (only two people at the moment), then the app would download the spreadsheet, record the new data, and upload it again to OneDrive. Reading and writing the data is easy, but actually pulling the file from OneDrive is where we hit a road bump and now we need another plan.
Are there any free alternatives for data storage of this kind where I would be able to access it through the Android application and update it? We also thought of using Heroku, but through researching I found that directly connecting to the PostgreSQL database they provide within the application is not possible. Of course we want to keep this data secure and only accessible to the people actually checking in/out devices, but we do not need a huge amount of space to store this data. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
cyborg99 said:
Hello,
I'm attempting to make an inventory application. Basically, our company has several devices/equipment that we checkout to other people and our current paper system isn't working out. The devices will each have an NFC tag put on that uniquely identifies it, and the idea is that the Android application on our smartphones (provided by the company) will simply scan it to check in/out the device. It will record the date time, who checked it out, and other information, and we want more than one person to be able to check in/out items at a time.
My problem is figuring out a way to store this data. Our company already pays for a OneDrive for Business account and our initial idea was to simply store the data in an Excel spreadsheet and share it with the people who checkin/checkout the devices (only two people at the moment), then the app would download the spreadsheet, record the new data, and upload it again to OneDrive. Reading and writing the data is easy, but actually pulling the file from OneDrive is where we hit a road bump and now we need another plan.
Are there any free alternatives for data storage of this kind where I would be able to access it through the Android application and update it? We also thought of using Heroku, but through researching I found that directly connecting to the PostgreSQL database they provide within the application is not possible. Of course we want to keep this data secure and only accessible to the people actually checking in/out devices, but we do not need a huge amount of space to store this data. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heroku is a good option. You'll have to make an app to run API's that will talk to your app.
Any help will be much appreciated.
I have to install an app which I don't trust, but which requires too many permissions, which obviously I am not keen on giving the app. For reasons beyond my control, I can't name the app (it's a work thing).
My idea is to create a new user on the phone, (OnePlus2) and install the app for that user only. Would this stop it from being able to access the data under my own user, and restrict it to only read the data available for the new user for which it is installed?
It requires permission to: (just incase this info helps)
Draw over other apps
Take pictures and videos
Find accounts on the device
Approximate location, precise location
Read SMS/MMS, Send & View SMS/MMS
Modify or delete contents of USB storage
Read contents of USB storage
Read phone status and Identity
Any other solution I should look at? Or will this work just fine?
Cheers!
No way I would install that. Not on a device I use. Unless I had full control over the source code for the apks. I could see some uses.
But to answer your question, I think that should work. I don't have much experience with the details of extra users on the device bit you can look it up on the Google developer site.
That should be enough.
For good measure, I Tried Doing this on my Moto G4 Plus. I created a new user and installed Drupe and Textra. And here is what happened.
1. The New User did not have access to my contacts, call records or SMS
2. The old user could not see these two apps.
since the gallery is tied to photos on the Moto, the users could not see each other's photos.
UPDATE: I just saw an app on another thread that may work for you. - https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/closed-beta-test-incoming-companion-app-t3366295
Hello guys,
I have been searching for answers to some of the tech stuff, but couldn't find them.
Here are some of those questions. Hope some of you would have answers to these. Thanks in advance!
ANDROID
1. How to share files between multi-users on Android 11?
Before Android 11, it was possible to save files inside the Android/ obb folder, and these files were visible for all users on the device. In Android 11, this is no longer working as the 'obb' folder appears to be exclusive to each user.
I know this is possible via USB OTG or a cloud service, but is there a solution without these?
2. How to copy/ backup game data for non-rooted devices?
Helium Backup doesn't seem to work. I have played a game for long on my Mediapad, and I would like to copy that game to my phone. Unfortunately, my Mediapad is not rooted and losing all that game progress has become a nightmare. I have written to the app developer to provide some sort of backup using either Google Play Games or social media integration like Facebook/ Twitter, but haven't received any response.
3. How to force apps (esp. file managers & gallery apps) to use in-app media viewer without changing system default.
For example, I may use the stock gallery app as default for viewing media. But if I am using another gallery app or a file manager that is capable of viewing media files using its own media viewer, I would rather want it use it than open the default app. Is there a way to do it?
4. Replace stock file manager (a system app) with another app from Google Play Store or other sources. Is this possible?
I am not asking how to convert a user app into system app. I know that part. I tried replacing the apk file of the stock file manager with a 3rd party apk, even renamed it, but it didn't work.
5. Extract a system app from one device and install it on another device without root. Is this possible?
I have tried it, but apk installation fails. For example, Samsung Gallery app on OnePlus phones.
iOS
1. How to install .ipa (iPhone app) on an iPhone (not jail-broken) without a laptop (iTunes)?
2. Is it possible to have SFTP server for iPhone?
All Operating Systems
1. How to provide LAN only access for non-rooted devices as well as in Windows & iOS?
For rooted devices, we have apps like AFWall+ that can do it. But is there a way to do it for devices without root, as well as for Windows and iOS?
For non-rooted devices, we have apps like Netguard that support 'Allow LAN access' whilst blocking internet access.
Are there any alternatives and solutions for other platforms?
2. How safe is it to enter login credentials in an app to allow it access to network drives?
I use several apps (on various platforms) to connect to my laptop over SMB. This requires me to provide the app with my Windows Login Credentials, which is a Microsoft account. Am I risking my account by providing this info to the app? Is it safe to enter login credentials of cloud services in file manager apps?
Just bumping this thread as it seems to have been lost/ unnoticed.
@Ultramanoid can you answer some of these?
Sridhar Ananthanarayanan said:
@Ultramanoid can you answer some of these?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't help much, sorry. As to Android, some notes :
1. Never have used an OEM / Google's version of Android, or anything other than rooted single-user systems.
2. In addition to the previous answer, I'm not a gamer.
3. I usually don't ever set defaults with some rare exceptions, so I am always given a choice of what I want to use to handle a file. It may vary depending on many things; I may want to edit an SVG file as text, or view it as an image, for instance. There are applications / services that will intercept intents to allow you to do this sort of thing as well, but I can't recommend a specific one, never use them myself.
4. Possible, but will break Android as by now the system requires it as a file picker in many instances without recognizing alternatives and developers of most applications do expect it as well and their services will not work without it. Don't do it. With recent Android storage changes, including the scoped storage debacle, this is not a viable option anymore.
5. Depends, but not likely as a general rule, specially for OEM garbage, which relies on their own proprietary modifications of Android, their libraries, frameworks, et al. You'd have to carry those over to the destination too, which may not even be possible. Use OEM-independent and not Google Services reliant applications. ( Edit : you'll find some of those applications built to install on all devices here on XDA by single developers, "SONY camera for all devices" and that sort of thing, not recommended anyway, not well supported or long-lived experiments. )
Ultramanoid said:
Can't help much, sorry. As to Android, some notes :
1. Never have used an OEM / Google's version of Android, or anything other than rooted single-user systems.
2. In addition to the previous answer, I'm not a gamer.
3. I usually don't ever set defaults with some rare exceptions, so I am always given a choice of what I want to use to handle a file. It may vary depending on many things; I may want to edit an SVG file as text, or view it as an image, for instance. There are applications / services that will intercept intents to allow you to do this sort of thing as well, but I can't recommend a specific one, never use them myself.
4. Possible, but will break Android as by now the system requires it as a file picker in many instances without recognizing alternatives and developers of most applications do expect it as well and their services will not work without it. Don't do it. With recent Android storage changes, including the scoped storage debacle, this is not a viable option anymore.
5. Depends, but not likely as a general rule, specially for OEM garbage, which relies on their own proprietary modifications of Android, their libraries, frameworks, et al. You'd have to carry those over to the destination too, which may not even be possible. Use OEM-independent and not Google Services reliant applications. ( Edit : you'll find some of those applications built to install on all devices here on XDA by single developers, "SONY camera for all devices" and that sort of thing, not recommended anyway, not well supported or long-lived experiments. )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much. But I wish you answered the last 2 questions as well.
If time permits, would you be interested in telling us how you use your phone? I mean which device, which OS and what apps you use. I would like to give that a try (on a spare device) and see if it is possible for me to live without Google.
Sridhar Ananthanarayanan said:
Thanks very much. But I wish you answered the last 2 questions as well.
If time permits, would you be interested in telling us how you use your phone? I mean which device, which OS and what apps you use. I would like to give that a try (on a spare device) and see if it is possible for me to live without Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't answer because it won't be helpful.
As to the 1st, I don't use LAN, and I don't keep data in any device or computer unless in use. External independent encrypted storage to be used wherever, whenever, independent of device, cables if needed.
As to the second, it's a matter of common sense, being informed of vulnerabilities and aware of reputation, and trust. Would you trust Chrome or Mozilla with data if you're online banking ? Seems reasonable -- but be aware of major vulnerabilities that may be going on. Would you trust an application released yesterday by a single developer for the same ? Probably not a good idea.
Finally, I doubt what I use and how I use it would be acceptable for you, or most people. In essence you could : Install latest firmware, wipe device, install latest security patched Lineage build for it, remove vendor / Lineage applications, get full root, remove anything you don't need or use which could have vulnerabilities; frameworks, libraries, binaries, etc ( Bluetooth, SMS, Android system-wide downloader, system-wide WebView, NFC, and on and on .. ), install your own binaries, fonts, hosts file, and applications where appropriate ( /bin /etc et al ), install Termux and all Linux packages required for your use, everything open source whenever possible, and stay away from any Google services / Play / applications with ANY trackers, analytics, data mining or even crash report capabilities; zero tolerance. Internet permission only for a secure web browser -- and terminal if / when needed. Half of what I do or use goes through terminal to be honest. In short, for me an Android device is a full Linux laptop replacement with added perks : Always on and on me, camera, GPS, pedometer, unlimited LTE data, and emergency calls for medics / police. ( Edit : And Japanese EEW alarm of course ! Only notification I use. We learned our lesson well in 2011. )
You can use ApkExport to extract any apk including system apks. I've transferred apks between other devices devices with it.
Never had need of doing that though with a system apk.