I'd like to get some ad blocking software that works under root; so what's the best thing out there?
I only run a modified hosts file and replaced the one that's in /system/etc/
amartolos said:
I only run a modified hosts file and replaced the one that's in /system/etc/
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That must be a really large hosts file. Does the size of it slow down anything? If not can to share that file?
I googled for mine a while back, got it from a funny url like "someonewhocares.org" or something. No slowdowns whatsoever for me.
MoaAB: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916098
I haven't noticed any slowdown.
I use Adaway
Related
Long time lurker here. I've been following this forum for some time and was wondering if anyone has found and successfully edited the host file so that ads no longer load, thereby saving much bandwidth and getting snappier-loading web pages. It's been done on the Palm Pre and iPhone, and I've tried to find the host file on the Hero, but no luck yet.
lostnfound53 said:
Long time lurker here. I've been following this forum for some time and was wondering if anyone has found and successfully edited the host file so that ads no longer load, thereby saving much bandwidth and getting snappier-loading web pages. It's been done on the Palm Pre and iPhone, and I've tried to find the host file on the Hero, but no luck yet.
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I believe there is an app somewhere on the marketplace that does this for you. But either way, Android is a linux system like any other (albeit highly stupified by Google) so the hosts file is /system/etc/hosts.
chuckhriczko said:
I believe there is an app somewhere on the marketplace that does this for you. But either way, Android is a linux system like any other (albeit highly stupified by Google) so the hosts file is /system/etc/hosts.
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Ah yes, I did find another thread in the (G1) Dream forum with steps on how to do this. Thanks for the reply.
Ad-less browsing.
All you have to do is put it in the /system/etc/ folder.
ajones7279 said:
Ad-less browsing.
All you have to do is put it in the /system/etc/ folder.
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You are the man (or woman?)! Thanks!
Man.
ajones7279 said:
Ad-less browsing.
All you have to do is put it in the /system/etc/ folder.
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I realize that this is a totally nub question but I can't seem to figure it out. How do I copy this host file from my Windows computer to the /system/etc/ folder on the Hero? It'd be awesome to be able to browse the phone's filesystem from Windows but, alas, no such luck.
as per the title, on the various file managers I've tried, I havn't been able to sus out how to select more than one jpg (for example) in a dir to del all at once.. is this an android or app function that isn't available or am I a noob and missing someing?
If you use astro file manager, you have an option on the toolbar called 'multi', you then select the files you want to delete, then the same toolbar will show different options, and here ul find the one called 'delete'!
Hope it helps!!
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
spot on thanks!!
If you don't want to deal with the ads in Astro, you can also use ES File Explorer. That too supports multi-select.
Or Just Install a patch that removes ADs from Astro FM.
Just google a little
Cheers
citsym said:
If you don't want to deal with the ads in Astro, you can also use ES File Explorer. That too supports multi-select.
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for all of androids goodness there are some glaring omissions from basic OS functionallity..
I'm sure there are reasons this kind of thing are not in the basic android interface, but as a simple end user they would be very useful.
Thanks for the other input on alternatives and hacks for ads.. --> strangly though I don't mind paying for apps or taking an ad supported one to support the devs.. unlike most software on my desktop :/ wierdness
boydivalor said:
Or Just Install a patch that removes ADs from Astro FM.
Just google a little
Cheers
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Click to collapse
Yeah. Adfree was one thing I installed soon after rooting my phone.
Here's a rough tutorial to 'remove' some of the bloatware using adb. Since we don't have a working recovery or sbf file yet, it is preferable to rename files (change .apk to .bak) rather than completely removing them. This way you can simply rename them back if there's an issue. Keep in mind this is all case sensitive.
**NOTE: Do not remove BackupAssistantClient.apk, HelpCenter.apk or anything "Blur" related. As usual, proceed at your own risk**
Naturally, you need to be rooted and have adb installed before doing any of this.
Commands:
adb shell
su
mount -o rw,remount -t ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk1p21 /system
cd /system/app
mv CityID.apk CityID.bak
mv Skype_mobile.live.apk Skype_mobile.live.bak
(same syntax for each apk you want to rename - CASE SENSITIVE!!)
mount -o ro,remount -t ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk1p21 /system
exit
exit
List of files ok to rename (case sensitive):
CityID.apk
Skype_mobile.live.apk
MyVerizon.apk
Skype_mobile.live.apk
Vvm.apk
WorkContacts.apk
amazonmp3_1.7.22_signed_zipaligned.apk
Blockbuster.apk (may need to uninstall updates first)
Mynet.apk (3G Mobile Hotspot)
redding-7648-signed-zipped.apk (Kindle - may need to uninstall updates first)
Thanks to qoncept @ droidforums.net
Question
Is there a file manager I can download after rooting my Droid 2 that would allow me to do this on my phone with a GUI?
I am getting: "no such file or directory" When trying to rename any of the files.
makickal said:
Is there a file manager I can download after rooting my Droid 2 that would allow me to do this on my phone with a GUI?
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Used root explorer and did the rename .bak. worked like a charm.
ITGuy11 said:
I am getting: "no such file or directory" When trying to rename any of the files.
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Oops, I forgot cd /system/app (see above)
blubyu87gt said:
Used root explorer and did the rename .bak. worked like a charm.
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I've used Astro & Linda and keep getting "Permission Denied". I'm guessing I don't have permissions to rename these Apps. How would I go about changing that?
makickal said:
I've used Astro & Linda and keep getting "Permission Denied". I'm guessing I don't have permissions to rename these Apps. How would I go about changing that?
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that isn't a root browser. you would need root explorer or some other rooted file browser.
djh816 said:
that isn't a root browser. you would need root explorer or some other rooted file browser.
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Ah I see. Any recommendations on a free one?
Really hoping someone figures out how to dump some of this blur stuff, namely contacts, I'd like to go back to stock android contacts, the moto stuff is awful.
I'd like to know if there's anything else safe to "disable" beyond the list in the original post. There are some things that are always running, no matter how many times I force stop them. And these are things I have no interest in using, like:
-Social Networking
-News
-Weather
I keep killing them, and they keep coming back. Is it safe to "disable" them?
I got rid of the social networking app a few days ago and I haven't run into any problems yet
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
What is the file name for Social Networking?
Its Friendfeed or something very close to that but you should check
Thank you!
I've gotten rid of socialnetworking and bunch of related apks and widgets, plus news and news&weather and the other weather widget with no ill effects. Its been 3 days.
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the insight. I was wondering about those as well because my main concern is getting rid of all the apps running in the background sucking down battery and slowing down the apps and functions that I actually care about.
I removed the Social Networking already -- did you remove the Social Messaging apps?
Renaming dlna.apk doesn't seem to have caused any issues either.
Also, anyone know what Media Share's .apk is?
I find that it is faster after removing skype, amazon, blockbuster, cityid, and friendfeed. I swear the battery last longer also.
After playing with this phone some more, I see two problems: Verizon bloatware and Moto Blur services.
The Verizon garbage is obviously just that, garbage. The MotoBlur stuff really pisses me off because when I go into Applications --> Running Services, there are WAY too many services running in the background sucking up CPU power and killing my battery. I killed off every Motorola service I could find in there and the difference was IMMEDIATELY noticable. Everything was smoother and quicker -- switching home screens, scrolling lists, loading different screens. I would love to just throw stock FroYo on this and see how nicely it performs.
illwill18 said:
Renaming dlna.apk doesn't seem to have caused any issues either.
Also, anyone know what Media Share's .apk is?
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Click to collapse
It is HomeSyncWizard.apk
Hello ,
how to modify the hosts file?
Thanks
Not possible for now. Definitely not possible with standard API and menus.
There wasn't ever any hosts file (at least not on WM), it was in registry. HKLM\Tcpip\Hosts or something like that. If you unlock the device and get access to registry, you can do it there.
How to access the registry?
No way of doing that yet.
Anyone managed to look deeper into that? Could be helpful for blocking ads and unwanted comunication to MS...
Does anyone try to edit host file on Mango?
try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1349213
Also, have in mind that the app you downloaded was free because of the ads. Most apps have a paid version that removes the ads.
I've edited my hosts file, with various different methods... signed flash, rooted copy, adb push, move, and EVERY time, it is a partial success. ALL of the hosts in the file successfully direct to 127.0.0.1 when I ping them from Terminal Emulator. They show as they should from nano. However, when I try any and all of them in any browser (Safari, Opera Mini, Dolphin HD), it connects fine to everything in the file!
One of the blocks are suggestqueries.google.com - Since I have no choice, I use this to block Google search suggestions from the YouTube application. This does its job in YouTube, but you guessed it, I can connect (and get redirected) in the browser perfectly.
"Anything" browser related to my hosts file are not working. Namely, the one I want to block the most is clients1.google.com. It's in there in the hosts file, and pings back to 127.0.0.1, but of course, the browsers redirect this to Google.co.uk, and picks up suggestions normally. The same goes for all of the sites in the file.
DroidWall wouldn't solve this issue either as I can only block applications, not hosts. I tried fixing permissions, changing APN maybe it would clear DNS cache I don't know?? (if it really makes any difference). Tried with and without Adfree with/without symlink. The behaviour does not change. If it pings back to 127.0.0.1 and works for all other applications, I don't think there is anything wrong with the file or its operation. Can someone please advise me why this is happening and how to solve it? I've spent about a week searching, editing, flashing and more searching.
So I take it nobody knows? Is it supposed to be like this?
Sent from my HTC Magic/Dream using XDA App