A good idea to improve Android speed without root? - Android General

Would it be a good idea to freeze apps that you don't use so your Android system can run faster?
There are apps that I don't want to uninstall but I don't use them all the time. It would be cool if Android had a built in feature to freeze the apps so they don't startup, create services, use RAM, etc. Then, when I actually need to use them, then I can thaw them out and use them.
Examples of such apps are travel apps that I use when traveling, like the Disney app, Universal Orlando app, hotel apps, travel shopping portal apps, etc. I don't use them all the time, but it's annoying to uninstall and then reinstall and re-login.
It would be easier to just freeze them when not in use and thaw them when I need them.
I know this can easily be done with root, but those of us on Verizon mostly don't have root because Verizon sucks.

Related

What verizon apps are safe to delete!

Hey, guys, when I get my S3 on Wednesday, I'm going to root it ASAP.
I want to remove as much bloatware as I can without losing the cool and useful things Samsung has added to their UI. Like S-voice the eyeball watching thing, the gestures etc are all things I want to keep.
What I don't want is verizon nag screens and useless apps and adware that they put on.
Any suggestions or point me to a thread where this is already talked about?
Geez No response yet? I would like to know this as well....
Id like to know to. In the mean time, I just hid them. There was only 4 apps from VZ and the only one that I use is the mobile hotspot app.
VZ mobile, apps, and nav are hidden and never seem to show up in my running apps.
I've froze in titanium backup without issue so far...
Allshare (All 3 of them)
Amazon Kindle
Apps 3.05.78
ColorGoogle+
Guided Tours
Keis air (Both)
Media Hub
Music Hub
S Suggest
S Voice
Samsung Account
V Cast Tones
Voicemail
VPN Client
VZ Nav
Yahoo (both)
Do either of the Kies apps need to be enabled in order to receive OTA updates?
I would recommend using an app like Titanium Backup that has the capability to freeze applications rather than deleting them, so you can play around with it and disable what you don't use or don't like.
I also recommend using the standard ICS application disabling capabilities first, then using a solution like Titanium Backup for those apps that cannot normally be disabled.
For the record, on my Verizon S3 I have roughly 30 applications frozen/disabled.
I actually worked in the opposite direction. I flashed the stripped version onto my phone and then manually added back the apps that I wanted to keep via Root Explorer. The only apps that I added back were Divx, Video Player, and Music FX. The phone runs fast and battery life has been GODLIKE.
Stripped ROM thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1759642

CPU usage and services in the background

Sometimes I notice my phone gets warm and when I bring up a task manager (from system tuner pro) I see the same apps are causing problems.
Pulse news reader
Amazon app store
Groupon
The thing is, if I didn’t use my phone 24/7 I would never notice these apps running because I think they close within an hr or so once it "does whatever it does" ….
But im ALWAYS on my phone - so i do notice it..
How can I disable any/all services associated with the apps – and make sure that they only run when I open the program – and the second I close them – the services stop as well not to turn back on till i open the app again?
I don’t want to run a task manager/auto kill program =(
Thank you!
ROM Cleaner should do the trick. Ask in their thread if you have problems, they are very friendly and helpful. Sorry, just reread and realized you said disable. ROM Cleaner removes the apps you don't want, including system apps. I just get rid of all the junk after flashing a new ROM and it runs cool and smooth.
To disable, use Titanium backup and freeze those apps.

Android adware?

So I see a ton of cool looking free games in the play store, and am interested in mass downloading a bunch of them. However I know nothing comes without a price, and dont want to run the risk of infecting my cellphone with whatever crap is out there. If you uninstall an app that manages to spam your notification bar or place shortcuts on your homescreen, are you effectively clean? Does uninstalling the offending app basically rid you of its presence? Or is it like a PC and it can side-load all sorts of crap and you'll never be able to fix your phone without reflashing? Also, whats the risk with apps accessing things like email and your phone number? Do I have to worry about some freeware game sending spam to my gmail inbox? Or sending emails on my behalf? Or worse yet, getting my cellphone number and texting me or others? Are any of these things even possibilities, at least from apps on the play store with high ratings?
RunNgun42 said:
So I see a ton of cool looking free games in the play store, and am interested in mass downloading a bunch of them. However I know nothing comes without a price, and dont want to run the risk of infecting my cellphone with whatever crap is out there. If you uninstall an app that manages to spam your notification bar or place shortcuts on your homescreen, are you effectively clean? Does uninstalling the offending app basically rid you of its presence? Or is it like a PC and it can side-load all sorts of crap and you'll never be able to fix your phone without reflashing? Also, whats the risk with apps accessing things like email and your phone number? Do I have to worry about some freeware game sending spam to my gmail inbox? Or sending emails on my behalf? Or worse yet, getting my cellphone number and texting me or others? Are any of these things even possibilities, at least from apps on the play store with high ratings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before uninstall I recommend clearing any app data and force stop through settings. After uninstalling you can use Clean Master and/or SD Maid to clean up and remnant files and folders. As for privacy, you can use XPrivacy to restrict app access to anything and everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu6FHo4X5ts
If you are still worried, you can run android emulators on your PC in an enclosed virtual machine before install on your device.
RunNgun42 said:
SoOr is it like a PC and it can side-load all sorts of crap and you'll never be able to fix your phone without reflashing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use clean master from ks apps. Nothing can clean leftovers better than you.
You download something, app uninstall does the download disappear? Neither commonly used references like flash.
You are tge best judge when it comes to cleaning.
Privacy tools tries to disconnect wifi 3g etc which again you can do manually. Run your apps in flight mode.
Use firewall to control to fro traffic.
Pressing THANKS easier than typing.
Sent from s5360 GB DDMD1 rooted stock.

Freeze user apps without root access?

I know there are ways to freeze system apps so-called bloatwares when root is gained (or even with Galaxy Mega non-rooted some system (aka stock) apps can be disabled/frozen. My question is, I want to disable a few of the apps I installed (like WhatsApp, Opera browser etc.) without rooting. Is it possible?
Well, I kind of found the answer to my question. There are two apps: One is called Hibernate in app store and the other Greenify (I don't care if the 'bigA' thinks they have patented the word 'app store'!!!, I call it so...)
Now I was looking for a kind of solution like freezing that's amazingly available in Link2SD or Titanium Backup Pro. But to my surprise, these 2 are fulfilling my needs until I root my phone.
I'm not sure which one is better though... After tinkering with both of them, I like the UI of Greenify but functionality of Hibernate is really good. Don't know what's their difference though! ?

Rooted Android Security Measures. What are they?

I've never rooted an Android. One of the warnings I see over and over is that rooted devices are more vulnerable to malware. I don't see any solutions for this though.
What extra measures will I need to take to keep my Android safe?
I use Norton 360 on my PC and Androids. Will this be of any help?
Are there any apps I can install to help with this issue?
Are there any system settings I should use for this particular problem?
Thank you
With stock or rooted the biggest threat is the user themselves. Most either install or download the malware themselves. A fully updated stock Android isn't invulnerable; there's no saving dumb bunnies...
Side loaded apps are high risk; at the least scan with online Virustotal and consider the results before installing. Keep email in the cloud and be careful if you choose to download anything.
All downloads stay in the download folder until vetted. Jpeg's and png's are suspect; open them there first before moving them and watch for strange behavior in that folder. Check the download folder daily for anything you didn't download, if found do not open, delete.
Keep thrash social media apps off the phone, all of them. They are targets and vectors for malware of all types.
Use a good firewall and police what apps are doing. Revoke internet access to all apps that don't need it. Know what apps have run at start permissions; do they need it? Updates and upgrades can cause more lost time then malware trying to find work arounds. Lock auto updates down, and download them only if needed. Updates and firmware upgrades can and do break things...
Most importantly cover your six and be prepared.
Critical data can not be lost, protect it!
Redundantly backup all critical data to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC. Be ready to do a full reload if needed.
If malware is found or suspected, isolate the phone and if it can't be completely deleted in an hour or two, nuke that load. Be ready to change passwords and secure accounts.
Never trust antivirus apps to detect malware or save you, mostly they just waste resources on an Android.
Thank you!
I'm already doing a lot of those things, especially social media apps.
One of the reasons I want to root my phone is that I can't uninstall, force stop, disable or take away permissions for some apps, like Facebook, Facebook App installer, FB app manager Google, ad nauseum. The same goes for the millions of preinstalled Samsung bloatware apps. They dont stay disabled and routinely restore permissions. Im sick of having to routinely check them all. I'll never buy another Saamsung again.
You're welcome. Welcome to XDA
I run 2 stock N10+'s, one on Pie, the other on 10.
I use package disabler to kill bloatware and services I don't want to run at bootup. You can also use a adb editing app to disable apks. Don't go too nuts; be wary of disabling any Samsung system apps. Most of these apps just sit unless needed. Dependencies... actions have consequences; understand what the app does and what other apps, services or UI functions are dependent on it!
Google play Services can be disabled when not needed; disable find my device as System Administrator first.
On Pie Karma Firewall is fully functional but not on Android 10 and up, although it will still block access. It uses virtually no battery.
Once you sort it out (learning curve ahead) stock Samsung's especially older ones like the N10+ are easy to run. They are the most customizable stock Android on the planet with an excellent UI. The current load on this one will be 2 yo this June; still fast, stable and fulfilling its mission. Security is simply not an issue.
blackhawk said:
You're welcome. Welcome to XDA
I run 2 stock N10+'s, one on Pie, the other on 10.
I use package disabler to kill bloatware and services I don't want to run at bootup. You can also use a adb editing app to disable apks. Don't go too nuts; be wary of disabling any Samsung system apps. Most of these apps just sit unless needed. Dependencies... actions have consequences; understand what the app does and what other apps, services or UI functions are dependent on it!
Google play Services can be disabled when not needed; disable find my device as System Administrator first.
On Pie Karma Firewall is fully functional but not on Android 10 and up, although it will still block access. It uses virtually no battery.
Once you sort it out (learning curve ahead) stock Samsung's especially older ones like the N10+ are easy to run. They are the most customizable stock Android on the planet with an excellent UI. The current load on this one will be 2 yo this June; still fast, stable and fulfilling its mission. Security is simply not an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more annoying Samsung apps I was referring to are the Bixby apps, AR doodle, Smarter things... those kind of apps. If they didn't re-enable themselves restore permissions, I wouldn't mind them so much. But they DO.
I won't be using that phone much longer anyway. I'm going back to Motorola.
I always buy factory or globally unlocked phones. That helps some. But Motorola recently started forcing FB. I can uninstall it, however I have to review updates to make sure it doesn't end up on my phone again. But then I review all updates before installing them anyway..
I always look up the system apps before making any changes. Like Google Easter Egg. Everything I could find says it's unnecessary.
All those mentioned apps can be safely disabled.
Bixby Vision is used for barcode scanning though.
Try the free Galaxy store icon packs, themes and the Good Lock family of apps including One Handed Operation plus.
Chose theme>icon pack>whatever wallpaper you want. The native high contrast theme looks good.
Play with it...
blackhawk said:
All those mentioned apps can be safely disabled.
Bixby Vision is used for barcode scanning though.
Try the free Galaxy store icon packs, themes and the Good Lock family of apps including One Handed Operation plus.
Chose theme>icon pack>whatever wallpaper you want. The native high contrast theme looks good.
Play with it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually already ordered a new Moto. It will be here tomorrow. Well, it's after 1am, so I guess it'll be here later today.
I've disabled multiple Samsung apps, restricted data and battery, taken away permissions, not just in app settings, but in permissions setting, special access permissions... And all the other weird ways I keep finding out about that you wouldn't think would be a place to remove permissions. When my phone starts to slow down, or the battery isn't lasting very long, sure enough, Samsung has gone behind my back and reset my preferences again. I never had issues like this any of the Motorola phones I've had.

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