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[Android] Motorola Backflip - DON'T BUY, HERE'S WHY!

OK, so I've been using a Kaiser/Tilt with Eclair on it for awhile. I've spent countless hours drooling after the Nexus One. When AT&T finally got the "Backflip" from Motorola, I just couldn't resist. I took the plunge.
I should've known better. I have plenty of AT&T horror stories, and this is the same carrier that wont allow you to tell your Java apps NOT to ask for permission more than once (making Opera mini a PITA but the only usable browser for non-smart-phones).
There is NO option to install applications from untrusted sources. This means anything on your SD card, downloaded from the web or over your wifi at home WILL NOT WORK. Naturally, you also cannot use the "su" command in terminal.
Motoblur is nice I guess, but the uninstallable AT&T paid apps, the limitations of 1.5 firmware (ie: no google navigator, no voice search) and the locked-to-yahoo-search-bar are enough to get me to say NO to any further AT&T abuse.
With the Kaiser's bloatware, they removed/hid apps from you so you wouldn't try to use them and replaced them with their crapware.
AT&T does not know the meaning of "open" and they do not understand Android. You are not buying an Android phone when you buy from AT&T.
You are buying a device LOCKED to a market with a smaller number of applications than the iPhone (I don't use Apple products either ) forced to use a lesser search engine for your most convenient option and subject to losing any application that was once on the market but then removed. You can't install your own apps or even test them on your device. Period.
Also on my first day of using it I got a number of "Force Close" messages including on the built-in applications (ie: Motorola's flavor of the desk clock).
It's decent hardware, it feels pretty zippy to me, but this is exactly why I WONT buy an iPhone.
Screw you, AT&T. I will make sure that everyone I know is properly informed about this crippled device that is nothing like the Android experience is supposed to (expected to!) be.
/endrant phew, going to go breathe for awhile.
EDIT: I will add:
- Set "orientation" on this phone when you tilt it and somehow it gets stuck in one orientation or the other (who knows maybe this one is just me, not seen any other backflips) if you set it back to just when you open/close it it's fine again though
- The desk clock can't be launched manually and is tricky to get to appear trying to get the phone in that perfect angle to display it
- I don't have a separate camera on me right now to show you the menu but to back up with sources:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/1910...n_atandt_not_the_full_android_experience.html
https://supportforums.motorola.com/message/121849
Don't buy this phone. Stay away from AT&T, stay away from Motorola (IMO or at least the motorola backflip).

This is pretty horrible.
I have two questions, though.
1) Can you take a screen cap of the Settings > Applications screen so we can see the lack of Unknown Sources option? That'd really help people see the validity of this issue.
2) I hope you have some kind of 30-day money-back guarantee when buying a handset from AT&T like Sprint offers. Otherwise, ouch =/

I haven't tried to install an apk from astro or anything, but i have pushed a few with ADB which seems to work fine. It kinda sucks, but I really hope that we can figure out root access soon! I don't care for blur, but I like android. Hopefully we don't have to wait to long. Here is an ADB guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=643866

I wonder if Apple suddenly took over AT&T because this kind of behaviour is more common to them

... It's not only AT&T who manages to confuse their customers about an OSS... Don't forget who decided to lock down an open software system boot-loader for everyone *cough*Motorola*cough*

Apple made them an offer they could not refuse!
nuff said

I spent some time with one yesterday.
Ouch, even my Fuze running eclair is faster.
They really broke this machine.
I am worried about other att phones!

My hope for an even somewhat open x10 on AT&T is starting to dwindle.

HushH said:
My hope for an even somewhat open x10 on AT&T is starting to dwindle.
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Click to collapse
mines as well. i hope they dont. i know its off topic but is there an officail release date for the x10 on att? i hear it may be april/may

Someone more familiar than I needs to figure out the proper java system call to enable unknown/untrusted sources and then post on this thread the proper at command to execute it via CLI. You wouldn't even need root to do this.

IConrad01 said:
Someone more familiar than I needs to figure out the proper java system call to enable unknown/untrusted sources and then post on this thread the proper at command to execute it via CLI. You wouldn't even need root to do this.
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Click to collapse
Assuming the software running on the Backflip is the same software they released the source to on opensource.motorola.com, there may be hope of that. I'll dig into it when I get time.

Wow. I am surprised that this was picked up by Gizmodo. Do we have anyone corroborating this? Doesn't this somehow violate Google's terms of service?

HushH said:
My hope for an even somewhat open x10 on AT&T is starting to dwindle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine too! Just means to spend the couple extra hundred dollars and get an unlocked unbranded one.
I got the Backflip just because I am moving on from my jailbroken iPhone and I wanted something neat and shiny.
I can say that there is a lot of smack talk here, but give these guys a chance here to root the phone and get some things working on it.
It's been two days since the release and I can already say, that I like the phone a hell of a lot more today then I did on Sunday. I've been able to install untrusted sources using the Droid Explorer, a bit of a pain in the ass, but it's okay, considering that if I want Android, then this is the only way to go for now.
But I have faith in someone out there... Someone will figure this out.
I just hope it's within my 30 day return policy.
EDIT: I Installed "GDE" on my device and I am able to use the Google search widget... So that issue is sort of solved...

This may just be my unit but the A2DP doesn't work right, it starts playing music then begins to fast forward whatever you are watching or listening to. Did a hard reset, no luck. Looks like I already need a replacement lol.

Squeaky369 said:
EDIT: I Installed "GDE" on my device and I am able to use the Google search widget... So that issue is sort of solved...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please explain how you got the google search widget working?

nutcake852 said:
Can you please explain how you got the google search widget working?
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Click to collapse
Eh; fail on my part. It's mostly a cosmetic fix. I didn't actually test it, but when you click on it, it changes to "Yahoo".
So my bad on that one.
God, I hate Yahoo. Ever since that stupid ass cowboy did that commercial, it's ate away at my soul...

I don't know why...
To think we were all worried about how Verizon was going to cripple android only to have ATT do it instead. At first I was amazed and then I realized that any android phone would have outshown their prized phone...oh well one more reason to love being on T-Mobile. ;-)

I played with a Backflip. My god it's a horrid phone. And yeah, Android is completely locked down, with no way to delete those AT&T apps and no installing off-Market Android Apps out of the box.
I was going to wait to see what AT&T was going to bring to the table, but I'm not holding my breath.
Btw, I noticed that AT&T trained to sell the Backflip pretty hard. Like, seriously, I was looking at phones today, and every other word out of the rep's mouth was that I should buy the Backflip. Thankfully I'm more informed than that. I walked out with an iPhone instead. (Don't grill me, I use a Touch Pro2, I just needed a good phone for my work line >_<)

Help i ****ed up my phone
So i just rooted my g1 to get the nexus one features to it and now all it is doing is foreclosing instead of going to the home screen if anyone can help can you please email me at [email protected] thank you

Xodium said:
I played with a Backflip. My god it's a horrid phone. And yeah, Android is completely locked down, with no way to delete those AT&T apps and no installing off-Market Android Apps out of the box.
I was going to wait to see what AT&T was going to bring to the table, but I'm not holding my breath.
Btw, I noticed that AT&T trained to sell the Backflip pretty hard. Like, seriously, I was looking at phones today, and every other word out of the rep's mouth was that I should buy the Backflip. Thankfully I'm more informed than that. I walked out with an iPhone instead. (Don't grill me, I use a Touch Pro2, I just needed a good phone for my work line >_<)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really do think though that this is going to end up to be a decent phone.
I know I am a little pro for that comment, just because I bought one. But lets look at every phone that ever comes out. There is always some sort of challenge that we have to overcome.
And; with all the threads I've been reading about this; it looks like it was BOTH AT&T and Motorola that are to blame for locking this phone down. ATT cause they don't want us to install from anything but an "App Store" and Motorola because they don't want their devices used for what "there were not intended to be used for," is the wording I've seen floating around the internet.
But in all seriousness. I am coming from an iPhone 3GS which I had jailbroken. So I am coming from a phone that I had everything and anything on to this, and I am, overall, happy with it. Although it's only been 5 days, I can say I don't think I'll change my mind in the next 25 days.
But that's just my two-cents.

[Q] Poor screen response?

I've just got back from looking at the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" on display in the Carphone Warehouse.
Has anybody else noticed that the screen doesn't respond smoothly to pinch-to-zoom gestures in Google Maps? I tried exactly the same thing on a couple of other tablets on display - e.g. TF Prime, Galaxy Tab 7.7 and they responded exactly as I would expect. The errant behaviour I noticed was that the zoom didn't always change the way I expected it to - some gestures resulted in wildly different zoom levels than I was expecting, and it just didn't do a good job of tracking two fingers at once. (Just sweeping one finger over the screen was okay so far as I could see.)
For some reason, the stock web browser seemed to be pretty well behaved. I tried rebooting the device, but that didn't seem to make any difference. Have Samsung cheaped out on the input digitiser, or was the unit in the store faulty?
I'd appreciate any feedback - at £200 I was walking into the store ready to buy one, but my experience with Google Maps really put me off.

I would never use a store model as a performance benchmark. They are good for getting a physical feel for the device but when you have a popular device that just came out that tons of people are using, installing different (Possibly malicious) apps, and just basically abusing they tend to never perform the way they will when you actually own the device.
I will test out maps myself but I believe this device is plenty fast enough for anything you throw at it.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, and for agreeing to give it a go - I look forward to hearing your impressions...

I don't have any issues with Google Maps on my tablet. I haven't used it that often, but I don't notice anything unusual when zooming in and out.

I made a video and went to post it to youtube but it's not letting me. Basically Maps is smooth as butter. I had no trouble zooming in and out and moving around the entire map. No lag at all.

Thank you both for your responses, it's been very helpful to get some real world opinions! I clearly need to give this tablet a second chance.
I'll report back soon once I've made a second visit to the shop...

BodHack said:
Thank you both for your responses, it's been very helpful to get some real world opinions! I clearly need to give this tablet a second chance.
I'll report back soon once I've made a second visit to the shop...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely say at least restart the tablet before you start using it. Makes a world of difference.

It's my experience that this tablets screen is a little unresponsive. My phone has a very responsive screen as compared to the tablet and when I use the tablet with a mouse all the issues go away. I use a Logitech mouse (M110) I bought locally for under $10.00 with this tablet. When using the mouse there is no lag and unresponsiveness.
I still think this tablet is great and am very happy using it daily especially with the app "tablet talk" installed.

bark777 said:
It's my experience that this tablets screen is a little unresponsive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree. Sometimes it's perfect. Sometimes it acts like it's doing something else and too busy to respond. It seems to be most prominent in the all the different browsers I've tried. And it seems to get worse as I add more apps - though I never get past more than half-a-dozen or so before it becomes so bad that I give up and start over. I've tried to isolate it to one specific app, but it even does it in a box-stock configuration. Performing a factory reset fixes it for a time, and then it gradually starts to degrade again.
Sadly, I'm returning it.

wellersl said:
I have to agree. Sometimes it's perfect. Sometimes it acts like it's doing something else and too busy to respond. It seems to be most prominent in the all the different browsers I've tried. And it seems to get worse as I add more apps - though I never get past more than half-a-dozen or so before it becomes so bad that I give up and start over. I've tried to isolate it to one specific app, but it even does it in a box-stock configuration. Performing a factory reset fixes it for a time, and then it gradually starts to degrade again.
Sadly, I'm returning it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow never had anything close to this
I notice a stutter sometimes when I am loading the screen up from sleep with the widgets, but after that its fine and I purposely never reboot just to see how it all lasts.

Reboots seriously do help me though. My home screen will be laggy about hallway through the day but I reboot and then, its smooth.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk 2

Poor screen response on mine too. I'm gonna jump over to Samsung threads and see if any reports are being discussed there. Will post findings :banghead:
Soooo, nothing at samsung
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. It almost sounds like there could be a couple of hardware versions out there. Is there any way to find out, as one does with Device Manager in Windows, what the exact hardware configuration is of an Android device? A useful app from the market?
Does ICS come with an easily accessed CPU usage monitor? It sounds like the screen response might be worse when the processor is loaded up...?
(I'm also not familiar enough with Linux to know what command lines might work, if there's no app which would show hardware configuration.)
I'm hoping to get back to the Carphone Warehouse tomorrow, and will ask the salesperson nicely if it's possible to try a new device that hasn't been put out on display...

I'm pretty sure it's bad form to keep replying to your own topic, but here goes anyway!
My plans changed at the last minute this morning and I had another chance to visit the shop. I discovered the CPU usage overlay in the developer options, and noted that when idle there didn't seem to be any gremlins sucking up all the CPU time. Maps was still a problem, and the gallery was a bit wonky too. It might just be me, but I also found precision selection (e.g. picking a hyperlink out of small text in the browser) to be a little less likely to succeed than I expected.
I wanted to speak to the staff about looking at another example of the P3110, but they were generally uninterested and I had to get back to work after hanging around for 20-30 minutes. Anyway, after looking at their returns policy, it seems like you have no rights to a return an item you buy in-store unless there is a fault which you can convince the staff about. Given their lack of interest in the problem when I brought it up on my last visit, I'm not really willing to risk that!
I'd suggest that anyone interested in buying one of these tablets does so over the phone or internet, because you then have a 14 day return period. The Carphone Warehouse terms and conditions state that if you want to return a tablet ordered online or on the phone that you must adhere to the following:
"Tablets:
* You can turn the tablet on and try it out. But you can't make any calls or send texts or emails, or add anything to its memory (such as saving numbers or taking a photo)
* The tablet must be returned in its original condition"
...So presumably, keep it clean and do a factory reset before you take it back!
For my part, I wouldn't want to buy one without a get-out clause, so I will be considering this option.
To conclude:
After this second visit, I think that many people would be fine with the device - it does respond to your inputs, it's just that under some circumstances it might take two or three goes to get the desired response. With a little patience this is not a problem at all, and considering the price point it's probably acceptable.
Unfortunately, I guess I'm not so patient as I once was - I'm too used to the way that my Galaxy S (Stock 2.3.5 ROM, XXJVT) responds to inputs, and I'd rather not take a step backwards. Ultimately, I'm now considering combining my desire to have a small ICS tablet with a mobile phone upgrade, in order to justify a Galaxy S III with its larger display (once the blue version is fixed/available).
Samsung would probably be happy with this outcome - after all, I'm now talking myself into spending £500 on one of their products instead of 'just' £200!

BodHack said:
It sounds like the screen response might be worse when the processor is loaded up...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Intuitively, the first thing I checked. In my case, nothing obvious indicated by the built-in task manager. I even tried using the setting Developer Options -> Do not Keep Activities
I hadn't seen that before, but it didn't help.
BodHack said:
Unfortunately, I guess I'm not so patient as I once was - I'm too used to the way that my Galaxy S (Stock 2.3.5 ROM, XXJVT) responds to inputs, and I'd rather not take a step backwards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I'm in the same boat. I'm really looking for a 7-inch Droid X - without the phone.

Seems like some of us are having issues and some of us aren't, might it be a faulty hardware thing or a bad batch?

androidpixar said:
Seems like some of us are having issues and some of us aren't, might it be a faulty hardware thing or a bad batch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just bought mine over the weekend so it is possible I got a newer revision than others who bought it in early May.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using XDA

miketoasty said:
I just bought mine over the weekend so it is possible I got a newer revision than others who bought it in early May.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You having issues? I got mine last week and no issues so far.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using XDA Premium HD app

androidpixar said:
You having issues? I got mine last week and no issues so far.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I am not having issues. Sorry said that earlier in the post.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

androidpixar said:
Seems like some of us are having issues and some of us aren't, might it be a faulty hardware thing or a bad batch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It reminds me of the first attempt by VZW/Moto at rolling out GB on for the Droid X. Some people praised it. Others cursed it. Some people got a new X2.
I was a cusser. Happily humming along now, still on FroYo.
It's true, though. Hardware continually gets revised and updated - not always for good. It could be as simple as changes in tolerances, or supplier's manufacturing processes.

[Q] Questions about upgrading from a G2x

I'm consider buying a Galaxy Nexus and I wanted to get some info from the community about the process before ordering through the Google Play store.
1. SIM card: My carrier is T-mobile and I know the phone will work on the their network. When I get the GN is it as simple as putting my SIM card in the new phone and then activating the phone via T-mobile's site? Or is there more to the proceess?
2. Selling the G2x: Once I've got the new phone I'll be selling my G2x on craigslist. What should I worry about as far as security goes? Is it enough to do a factory reset and format the SD card? The phone has already been returned to stock ROM and recovery so I don't have CWM on it right now. Also, once the phone is wiped is there any functionality or do you need to be logged in using a gmail address to do anything? The reason I ask is if a potential buyer wants to see the phone running to make sure it's working, etc, I'd like to be able to do that without worrying about logging in.
3. Opinions on the Galaxy Nexus in the long term: if I buy a Nexus I will probably be using it as my daily driver for at least a year and a half. I know Google will be supporting the OS but I'd like opinions on the hardware. I don't game on my phone at all. I mostly use it for productivity and light entertainment: email, messaging, task management, social media, music, podcast listening, stuff like that.
4. Any other thoughts on the process you might like to add.
And thanks in advance for your responses. I don't post here much but I lurk almost every day and the info I've gotten here has always been valuable.

dmj2012 said:
I'm consider buying a Galaxy Nexus and I wanted to get some info from the community about the process before ordering through the Google Play store.
1. SIM card: My carrier is T-mobile and I know the phone will work on the their network. When I get the GN is it as simple as putting my SIM card in the new phone and then activating the phone via T-mobile's site? Or is there more to the proceess?
2. Selling the G2x: Once I've got the new phone I'll be selling my G2x on craigslist. What should I worry about as far as security goes? Is it enough to do a factory reset and format the SD card? The phone has already been returned to stock ROM and recovery so I don't have CWM on it right now. Also, once the phone is wiped is there any functionality or do you need to be logged in using a gmail address to do anything? The reason I ask is if a potential buyer wants to see the phone running to make sure it's working, etc, I'd like to be able to do that without worrying about logging in.
3. Opinions on the Galaxy Nexus in the long term: if I buy a Nexus I will probably be using it as my daily driver for at least a year and a half. I know Google will be supporting the OS but I'd like opinions on the hardware. I don't game on my phone at all. I mostly use it for productivity and light entertainment: email, messaging, task management, social media, music, podcast listening, stuff like that.
4. Any other thoughts on the process you might like to add.
And thanks in advance for your responses. I don't post here much but I lurk almost every day and the info I've gotten here has always been valuable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Its as simple as just putting your sim card in. That's all you have to do, as I don't think you have to activate the phone as it comes unlocked and is ready for any sim(which the sim itself is already activated)
2. I'd say wipe the internal storage and go back to a stock rom, unroot, and flash a stock recovery, EDIT: I see you've already did. As SD card goes, sell it separately, or for a few more bucks bundled with the phone or just an added, free extra, as the G2x didn't come with one if I remember correctly. Also, I don't think there is a way to skip setup. I mean I guess you could sign in, and then do a factory reset once more, Im not exactly sure on that one.
3. As hardware for what you'll be doing with it, I say the Nexus is perfect for that. And if so, I've seen the Nexus still performs well when playing heavy games.
4. I say the Nexus is one of the best choices you can go for right now. Its a guaranteed phone that will still be up to date in 2 years. I don't have it but right now I'd get it over any other.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app

Thanks for the reply noah. Had to wait a bit because just as I was deciding to get my Nexus Google took it down temporarily. It's back up now so I'm getting ready to make my purchase.
I do have another question - I have a car charger I use for my G2x. Will that be able to plug into the Galaxy Nexus or are the ports different?

dmj2012 said:
Thanks for the reply noah. Had to wait a bit because just as I was deciding to get my Nexus Google took it down temporarily. It's back up now so I'm getting ready to make my purchase.
I do have another question - I have a car charger I use for my G2x. Will that be able to plug into the Galaxy Nexus or are the ports different?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, the usb/charging ports are the same(micro USB)
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app

Thanks again. Last couple days I came close to posting the order and fell short of pulling the trigger on the deal. The only lingering doubt I have right now is longevity. The specs on the Nexus 7 blow away the Galaxy, but I don't want a tablet I want a phone. I'm just afraid of laying out the cash for GN and getting something that may get bogged down in less than a year as apps upgrade to meet hardware specs of newer devices.

dmj2012 said:
Thanks again. Last couple days I came close to posting the order and fell short of pulling the trigger on the deal. The only lingering doubt I have right now is longevity. The specs on the Nexus 7 blow away the Galaxy, but I don't want a tablet I want a phone. I'm just afraid of laying out the cash for GN and getting something that may get bogged down in less than a year as apps upgrade to meet hardware specs of newer devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt it. As the nexus will continue to be updated for another few years, so it'll continue to pull its own weight good enough(Nexus S still got jelly bean). And besides, there's custom roms and stuff too. It'll be a good purchase.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app

Stolen....AGAIN

for the 2nd time in less then 2months, my nexus 5 was friggin stolen today. The first time, while i was pretty upset, I turned it into a positive, cause I wanted the White one in the first place, and I ended up being able ot get a brand new white one as a replacement. but this time, I am sooooo damn pissed. My replacement (another 100$ later) will be here in 3-5days, and this time, I am like chaining that thing to me.
My damn GF left it sitting at the table in McDonalds. She was supposed to grab our stuff, while I put our garbage in the bin and went and started the car, about 5min after leaving, i asked for my phone....no phone, turn around go back, NO PHONE !
And at least last time I had my LG G2 as a backup phone so I had something nice to use while I waited for a replacement. But I since have sold the G2, and all I ahve is a Verizon Galaxy S3, which doesn't help me at all cause my Verizon account was closed back when the Nexus 5 came out cause I wanted that phone so bad, that I switched to T-Mobile. So now I got nothing but hte home phone, which today was the first time I've used a home phone in years, it was kinda weird lol.
Anyways, obviously this isn't a question or anything, and I apologize to the Mods for that, but this is the only site in which I can talk about what happened and have people know my pain, and I needed to vent, cause twice in less then 60 days is friggin BS to the 10th power. I've never lost a phone or had one stolen or even had to file a claim for phone insurance, in all the years of owning phones, which I am going on 10years (first phone when i was 17, and am 27 now)....I swear ! if someone takes my next Nexus 5, I am going postal up in whatever place it was that I had it taken from. lol

Sorry to hear about this, very unfortunate. Any luck tracking the device using the find my phone feature? Clutch your new phones tightly folks.

Damn man.. I feel for you. That sucks big time I would be so pissed if my gf left my phone at McDonalds lol. Hopefully you have better luck on the next one mate!
By the way, prepare for some random douche coming in to be an ass to you for posting this story

Dang. That sucks dude. I got mugged for my HTC one a couple weeks ago. Couldn't afford to buy another so went with the nexus 5. No brained really. This phone is awesome. Not missing the one too much. I gotta tell you tho. At least you lost it and didn't get a knife or worse pulled out. For future reference kit Kat has location always on. Even with the low accuracy setting, you should be able to find it with lookout if installed but I highly recommend android device manager. You'll find it in the play store.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

whozilla said:
Dang. That sucks dude. I got mugged for my HTC one a couple weeks ago. Couldn't afford to buy another so went with the nexus 5. No brained really. This phone is awesome. Not missing the one too much. I gotta tell you tho. At least you lost it and didn't get a knife or worse pulled out. For future reference kit Kat has location always on. Even with the low accuracy setting, you should be able to find it with lookout if installed but I highly recommend android device manager. You'll find it in the play store.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
damn. I am assuming you weren't able to use a FIND MY PHONE type app either ? My T-Mobile protection plan comes with a premium account for Lookout mobile, which when it works is great, but if they take out the simcard and reset it, before you can locate it, its useless. Last time, i wasn't able to do it either, but that was cause like 2 hours before it got jacked I had just factory reset/wiped system, to install a test build of a ROM I've been working on (first ROM I've done that wasn't based of CM or AOSPA, building this one straight from stock AOSP source, just like the Nexus stock firmware is. And adding my own features instead of using others. Tho I did add Halo, cause i love that feature lol as well as app bar, which works in tandem if you set it up right. But enough OT lol) So yea, since I had just flashed that, and was test driving it, didn't have Device Manager or Lookout installed. This time, it just didn't work.
I am really sorry to hear that happened to you bro. I remember back when FIND MY PHONE apps were first becoming relevant, this dude here in Seattle was mugged and they took his iPhone 3G (think it was the 3GS actually) and he had the official iPhone one (which is through iCloud now, I have it for my iPad AIR, which OT again, is my first iOS device since my 4th Gen iPod touch, and I will never be an iPhone guy, but I am loving the iPad. I want that damn 12.1 Note Pro tho lol) and he was able to get the GPS data (which was all that it did back then, as well as Wipe, the Scream feature, and Lock, didn't have signal flare or Lock Cam, etc etc, like we do now) and he gave it to the SPD, and they were able to track it back to both suspects, retrieve the phone, all the money minus 12.59$ and the rest of the wallet contents as well as his jewelry. that was the incident that made the popularity of those apps take off, while also showing the need for such apps, and the need for better refinement of their functionality etc etc.
They need to find a way around people being able to shut it off. There has to be some type of feature that makes it so there is absolutely no way for them to take wipe the phone without A.) the password, which already exists as a feature B.) a special docking device or Computer USB cable that enables the Wipe feature (albeit, this could be bypassed via custom recovery I guess) and finally C.) bringing it to the phones carrier and proving ownership, etc etc. The simcard being removed should have nothing to do with it. But apparently removing that, and wiping the device negates the whole purpose of that feature. So what can you really do.
People are dumb, Steal a phone and within seconds you can wipe and remove simcard, and then the only thing the owner can do is report it and blacklist it, which even then can be gone around if you know how to use the proper JTAG device or if you plan on selling it, or using it, overseas. cause their blacklists obviously don't coincide with our's here in the US. I personally had a friend who legitimately bought an S4 for T-Mobile, and then the dude (this was through craigslist, another reason why swappa is better, so there is accountability at least and proof of purchase and authorized sale of said device) reported the device lost or stolen within minutes of the sale. So he gets the money, and a replacement phone and my buddy is screwed. But he found someone with a JTAG device that rewrote the IMEI (WHICH I do not condone, and is actually ILLEGAL, only mentioning it as part of this topic) and he is still using it on T-Mobile today.

How did you get a replacement? Was it from Google?
Sent from my NeXus 5

Just checked my email, and found two things that made me even more upset about this. First one was a notification of a PM here on XDA from the Dev's of Nameless ROM, responding to my request to be a Mainter for the Nexus 5 version of their ROM. which I've been wanting to do for awhile now, to help learn more about Development while also giving back to the community in whatever way I can until I finish my own ROM and App.
Second, was an Email from someone who must of seen my request on Google+, about getting an Invite to the new Aviate Launcher beta, which I've been intrigued by for quite sometime, and finally got my invite code. No phone to use it on. I have an S3 from my Verizon days, that I keep for backup, but pointless sine I dont have verizon now, and for the life of me can't find the battery for haha. Hopefully my friend can find the T-Mobile version of the S3 he has, and said I could use til my replacement got back .I always liked the S3, and my S4,. and especially my Note 3 (want that damn 12.1 Note Pro...already said thta tho haha) the only thing I liked better was the Nexus 5. The G2 would be my 2nd fave if it wasn't for that damn UI of theirs which is a obvious kang of TouchWiz, but dont wrong, and bloated up even more so. Which TouchWiz is already pretty damn heavy and resource hungry, well from time with the G2 as secondary device before giving it to one of my bandmates, I can tell you, it is bogged down soooooo much. That UI is holding that device back from being an top 5 android phone. But that camera is one of the best. Which reminds me of how much I want the 1020 or 1520 to come out on T-Mobile, cause I want that camera and I also want to try out a WP, but all the ones on T-Mobile are crap. Anyways......Stupid theives, ruinned my day. I wanna try AVIATE so bad.
Guess I can give invites now, so if anyone wants one , post here and let me know and your wish shall be granted......if you post a video of you doing a double backflip and saying my username 3 times fast.....haha, that would make this day better for me too

Silicon Knight said:
Just checked my email, and found two things that made me even more upset about this. First one was a notification of a PM here on XDA from the Dev's of Nameless ROM, responding to my request to be a Mainter for the Nexus 5 version of their ROM. which I've been wanting to do for awhile now, to help learn more about Development while also giving back to the community in whatever way I can until I finish my own ROM and App.
Second, was an Email from someone who must of seen my request on Google+, about getting an Invite to the new Aviate Launcher beta, which I've been intrigued by for quite sometime, and finally got my invite code. No phone to use it on. I have an S3 from my Verizon days, that I keep for backup, but pointless sine I dont have verizon now, and for the life of me can't find the battery for haha. Hopefully my friend can find the T-Mobile version of the S3 he has, and said I could use til my replacement got back .I always liked the S3, and my S4,. and especially my Note 3 (want that damn 12.1 Note Pro...already said thta tho haha) the only thing I liked better was the Nexus 5. The G2 would be my 2nd fave if it wasn't for that damn UI of theirs which is a obvious kang of TouchWiz, but dont wrong, and bloated up even more so. Which TouchWiz is already pretty damn heavy and resource hungry, well from time with the G2 as secondary device before giving it to one of my bandmates, I can tell you, it is bogged down soooooo much. That UI is holding that device back from being an top 5 android phone. But that camera is one of the best. Which reminds me of how much I want the 1020 or 1520 to come out on T-Mobile, cause I want that camera and I also want to try out a WP, but all the ones on T-Mobile are crap. Anyways......Stupid theives, ruinned my day. I wanna try AVIATE so bad.
Guess I can give invites now, so if anyone wants one , post here and let me know and your wish shall be granted......if you post a video of you doing a double backflip and saying my username 3 times fast.....haha, that would make this day better for me too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love an invite. Sorry bout your phone.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium HD app

My damn GF left it sitting at the table in McDonalds.
does this count as stolen? well i know what i would do (hand it back) but this was just a unlucky situation.... and i hope you learned your lesson here bro...
GL

Silicon Knight said:
damn. I am assuming you weren't able to use a FIND MY PHONE type app either ? My T-Mobile protection plan comes with a premium account for Lookout mobile, which when it works is great, but if they take out the simcard and reset it, before you can locate it, its useless. Last time, i wasn't able to do it either, but that was cause like 2 hours before it got jacked I had just factory reset/wiped system, to install a test build of a ROM I've been working on (first ROM I've done that wasn't based of CM or AOSPA, building this one straight from stock AOSP source, just like the Nexus stock firmware is. And adding my own features instead of using others. Tho I did add Halo, cause i love that feature lol as well as app bar, which works in tandem if you set it up right. But enough OT lol) So yea, since I had just flashed that, and was test driving it, didn't have Device Manager or Lookout installed. This time, it just didn't work.
I am really sorry to hear that happened to you bro. I remember back when FIND MY PHONE apps were first becoming relevant, this dude here in Seattle was mugged and they took his iPhone 3G (think it was the 3GS actually) and he had the official iPhone one (which is through iCloud now, I have it for my iPad AIR, which OT again, is my first iOS device since my 4th Gen iPod touch, and I will never be an iPhone guy, but I am loving the iPad. I want that damn 12.1 Note Pro tho lol) and he was able to get the GPS data (which was all that it did back then, as well as Wipe, the Scream feature, and Lock, didn't have signal flare or Lock Cam, etc etc, like we do now) and he gave it to the SPD, and they were able to track it back to both suspects, retrieve the phone, all the money minus 12.59$ and the rest of the wallet contents as well as his jewelry. that was the incident that made the popularity of those apps take off, while also showing the need for such apps, and the need for better refinement of their functionality etc etc.
They need to find a way around people being able to shut it off. There has to be some type of feature that makes it so there is absolutely no way for them to take wipe the phone without A.) the password, which already exists as a feature B.) a special docking device or Computer USB cable that enables the Wipe feature (albeit, this could be bypassed via custom recovery I guess) and finally C.) bringing it to the phones carrier and proving ownership, etc etc. The simcard being removed should have nothing to do with it. But apparently removing that, and wiping the device negates the whole purpose of that feature. So what can you really do.
People are dumb, Steal a phone and within seconds you can wipe and remove simcard, and then the only thing the owner can do is report it and blacklist it, which even then can be gone around if you know how to use the proper JTAG device or if you plan on selling it, or using it, overseas. cause their blacklists obviously don't coincide with our's here in the US. I personally had a friend who legitimately bought an S4 for T-Mobile, and then the dude (this was through craigslist, another reason why swappa is better, so there is accountability at least and proof of purchase and authorized sale of said device) reported the device lost or stolen within minutes of the sale. So he gets the money, and a replacement phone and my buddy is screwed. But he found someone with a JTAG device that rewrote the IMEI (WHICH I do not condone, and is actually ILLEGAL, only mentioning it as part of this topic) and he is still using it on T-Mobile today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I got mugged I wasn't using any of the find my phone apps. I feel like I use them now out of paranoia but I don't feel 100% secure. Is it the best best? I think so. The device manager is good when couples with kit Kat. The best iv seen so far. As you can imagine, when I picked up my n5 I simulated the device being stollen. I had my girlfriend take the phone for a walk. She powered it off. Then on. It gave me her location for both moments and I had the option to wipe. Will I find my phone? Probably not but its better than being paranoid. I wish there was a way to activate tracking regardless of phone on or off or reset. It should be a system setting that locks the feature in once you report it lost or stolen. If the NSA can do it. Why can't we?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

helstonrampersad said:
How did you get a replacement? Was it from Google?
Sent from my NeXus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I go through T-mobile for service, but my friend had an upgrade he wasn't going to use, cause he has the HTC One Max that he bought outright and doesn't wanna change anytime soon (plus he owed me money) so he let me use it, and I got the White Nexus 5 for 49.99$ so technically I still have a claim (still good for a lil over 30 days, they give you 60days to pay teh deductible once the claim is approved) that I can use to get one. That deductible is 90$ (when I lost my Note 3, OMG they wanted like 175$) so I can get two Nexus 5's. So this time, I believe I will pay both deductibles when i get paid next week, then sell both, buy a 32GB white one from Google, and then use the rest too pay that months bill on T-mobile !
Then if it happens again, I am gonna be pissed, cause I don't think I will be able to file another claim. Don't even know if sprint or T-mobile or AT&T etc etc, offer insurance if you buy the phone from Google instead of them. Which is a good question, if anyone happens to know the answer to it, please let me know. Or else I will google it, and I don't wanna google it, cause I am in the midst of a 40day 40day, vow of no-googlesearch. Not joking. I've always been pretty good at comprehension, reading and vocabulary skills (music being my main skill, since it was a skill my parents and family nurtured from a young age. Played my first guitar solo back when the guitar was still taller then me lol) And my parents always made me look things up when i asked what a word meant extra, but now google has made us, especially me, lazy. So i wanna prove that I can still function intelligently without using Google to answer unknown questions, by instead researching by talking to people experience in whatever subject etc etc. This may sound so dumb to many of you, but I think it's a good idea to do at least once after being the first generation raised on the Internet (I am 27 and I've had an email since I was 10yrs old lol)
OT - (not that this whole thing has not become OT, I am just so damn bored without my phone right now, homealone for the night, GF at work, and no band pratice, this is normally phone mod and/or dev time, but I need my phone for that, tho i could do some work on my App without it, but that makes me sad right now, cause i want my phone haha)......ANYWAYS - I've yet to meet a single other musician, let alone, a Guitarist, on this Site and I've been a member since 2011. If anyone who see's this is a Musician, especially a Guitarist and Producer/Engineer (just graduated Music School, Music Production/Audio Engineering & Music Theory/General Music) say wats up in here, and let me know I am not the only Musician who's a closet tech/android/computer geek lol

Silicon Knight said:
.ANYWAYS - I've yet to meet a single other musician, let alone, a Guitarist, on this Site and I've been a member since 2011. If anyone who see's this is a Musician, especially a Guitarist and Producer/Engineer (just graduated Music School, Music Production/Audio Engineering & Music Theory/General Music) say wats up in here, and let me know I am not the only Musician who's a closet tech/android/computer geek lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also a musician/guitarist/vocalist/percussionist/pianist that dabbles in sound engineering. I'm not going to school for that sort of thing, but it's still a huge chunk of my life, and I also spend a lot of time messing around with Android.

You know what I just realized? Girlfriends and nexus devices don't mix. My girlfriend stepped on my N7 and shattered the digitizer. LCD is still good tho. This was about a month ago. I'll replace it myself. Just too busy with my N5
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

Device Manager comes enabled by default. You should be able to log into your google account and find the location or lock or wipe the phone from your pc. Just google Device Manager

Look into the app called Cerberus.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus
Flash the hidden version from the following link via a custom recovery:
https://www.cerberusapp.com/download.php
It'll survive a factory reset, email you the info from any unauthorized SIM card someone puts into it (including the phone number, service provider, & subscriber ID), and as long as the phone has service you can still control it (lock it with a pin, ...) through text messages (no internet connection required).
Also, the paid license is valid for up to 4 (maybe 5) devices. I have it installed on my girlfriend's, brother's, mother's, and my phone. As far as those apps go, it's the best I've found.
Better luck in the future
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Don't mean to sound rude, and it's harsh it went missing, but why did you 1. Leave your phone on the table in a public space, and 2. rely on your girlfriend to pick it up? My phone is in my pocket unless it's in my hand or on my work desk. I would never leave it in the open for anyone to take. Maybe I'm just less trusting of those around me but at least you're insurance covered things to an extent. Lesson learnt (I hope)

Same thought here, why would you ever leave your device on the table ? I´m not paranoid, I use a antitheft app just in case I somehow manage to lose my device.
What also seems to help against muggers or similar bad dudes is a rather "ugly" or very plain and simple looking case. A Spigen Slim Armor "smooth black" is a nice case but it also makes your phone look from far away as being a cheap, generic smartphone
EddyOS said:
Don't mean to sound rude, and it's harsh it went missing, but why did you 1. Leave your phone on the table in a public space, and 2. rely on your girlfriend to pick it up? My phone is in my pocket unless it's in my hand or on my work desk. I would never leave it in the open for anyone to take. Maybe I'm just less trusting of those around me but at least you're insurance covered things to an extent. Lesson learnt (I hope)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[RECENTLY OVERHEARD CONVERSATION IN TIMES SQUARE]
A: Can I borrow your phone?
B: Where's yours?
A: I left it on the table in Starbucks for one second, turned around, and it was gone.
B: Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
A: I only took two steps away!
B: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
A: Shut up!
B: HAHAHA! You freakin' idiot! HAHAHA!

@Silicon Knight - just out of curiosity, did you contact the McD management to see if their cameras picked up anything? If they are unwilling to discuss, file a police report (if you haven't already done so), and get them to review their recordings

I feel like the average person stealing a phone would not know about android device manager and you could track it.
Ps: This isn't Q&A, Help, and troubleshooting problem.

Suspicions that "new" phone isn't really new...

Hello everybody,
First time posting but great job with all the advice given on this forum.
I recently bought a BLU Pure XL phone online (not sure I can post where I bought it from). When I was playing around with it, I found some ringtones that go on for about 30 seconds and have names like turkish_music or persian_wow_music. This is my second BLU device and I can recognize some ringtones also present on my other phone (Life One), and their naming is, for example, HalfwayHome and the length of those is not more than 10 seconds. I have screenshots if this would help, but again I am not sure if I am allowed to post them and I would like some guidance on how .
I was wondering if they are part of the default ROM or if someone was using my phone before I purchased it, because I only bought the specific one that was listed as new. Do they exist on anyone else's phone as well?
I was offered a free exchange but I would like to make sure the phone is not new before I proceed, since this will probably involve paying the shipping costs, and having to wait for the new phone to arrive. Is there a definite way to find out if the phone was used before I got it? I have searched for hours upon hours and also tried all the relevant secret codes but most of them didn't even open the respective menu they were supposed to open.
I would much appreciate your help or your view on this.
Thank you

pmoiseos said:
Hello everybody,
First time posting but great job with all the advice given on this forum.
I recently bought a BLU Pure XL phone online (not sure I can post where I bought it from). When I was playing around with it, I found some ringtones that go on for about 30 seconds and have names like turkish_music or persian_wow_music. This is my second BLU device and I can recognize some ringtones also present on my other phone (Life One), and their naming is, for example, HalfwayHome and the length of those is not more than 10 seconds. I have screenshots if this would help, but again I am not sure if I am allowed to post them and I would like some guidance on how .
I was wondering if they are part of the default ROM or if someone was using my phone before I purchased it, because I only bought the specific one that was listed as new. Do they exist on anyone else's phone as well?
I was offered a free exchange but I would like to make sure the phone is not new before I proceed, since this will probably involve paying the shipping costs, and having to wait for the new phone to arrive. Is there a definite way to find out if the phone was used before I got it? I have searched for hours upon hours and also tried all the relevant secret codes but most of them didn't even open the respective menu they were supposed to open.
I would much appreciate your help or your view on this.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can assure you those are the default international ringtones you speak of. If you factory data reset the phone, you will still see the same ringtones. I personally would visually inspect the phone along with its packaging to ensure it is new and not used. Good luck!

mhajii210 said:
I can assure you those are the default international ringtones you speak of. If you factory data reset the phone, you will still see the same ringtones. I personally would visually inspect the phone along with its packaging to ensure it is new and not used. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no visible marks on the phone or the box. I just was thrown off by the existence of those ringtones. No other data/apps or anything else exists on the phone. I already tried resetting and they are still there so I guess you must be right. Do you have the international version as well? Are those ringtones present in yours as well?

pmoiseos said:
There are no visible marks on the phone or the box. I just was thrown off by the existence of those ringtones. No other data/apps or anything else exists on the phone. I already tried resetting and they are still there so I guess you must be right. Do you have the international version as well? Are those ringtones present in yours as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly wouldn't worry about it then. I bought my phone from Amazon here in the USA. I am 100% positive it's brand new and I have the same ringtones. I wouldn't exchange the phone for that reason alone. I had to exchange my first one since it had a small screen defect. My second one the fingerprint sensor started acting up. I'm on my third one and (knock on wood) it's been perfect. I've had it for over two months now. All three phones had the same ringtones. I personally think it's cool how it has such a variety of ringtones.

mhajii210 said:
I honestly wouldn't worry about it then. I bought my phone from Amazon here in the USA. I am 100% positive it's brand new and I have the same ringtones. I wouldn't exchange the phone for that reason alone. I had to exchange my first one since it had a small screen defect. My second one the fingerprint sensor started acting up. I'm on my third one and (knock on wood) it's been perfect. I've had it for over two months now. All three phones had the same ringtones. I personally think it's cool how it has such a variety of ringtones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your reassuring answers. :good: I hope that your 3rd is the charm. I also think it's cool to have lots of ringtones. I may even have some more on it in the near future. Oh well, for now, let's get comfortable with the new phone first

pmoiseos said:
Thank you very much for your reassuring answers. :good: I hope that your 3rd is the charm. I also think it's cool to have lots of ringtones. I may even have some more on it in the near future. Oh well, for now, let's get comfortable with the new phone first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad I was able to help. Enjoy your new phone!