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[Q] i727 ICS 4.0.4 - Google Search Can't Search On Device

Hello all - Got a brain twister for all you geniuses out there -
I'm running a NON_ROOTED Samsung Galaxy SII i727 Skyrocket on ATT
Currently running the ICS 4.0.4 ROM
A few months back - I lost the ability through Google Search to find anything located on my device. Google search is limited to only searching the web now.
The option to define ON-DEVICE SEARCH called "Searchable Items" located in Google Search Settings Menu - well, it is GONE.
After I decided to do a full factory reset and wipe the slate clean to start over again - thinking something got corrupted - I found it's still missing.
So, I spoke with Google and a rep there told me that there was some legal nonsense they could not discuss but it was removed from the official ROM - no other details.
I spoke to a Support Mgr at Samsung - who was surprised to learn that the removal is inconsistant accross the product line (works on one carrier but not the other - works on one device for one carrier but a different device for a different carrier)
Anyone have a work around for this? Preferably one not requiring me to root the device? It's never been very stable even running a factory rom so i'm not really looking to play with experimental ROMs and end up in crash central with a rooted cooked rom - it's my only phone, although frankly at this point I might reconsider my position on that...
Please help!
Regards,
Chris

I'm not sure what items you want to search, but I'm running embryo 6, android 4.1.2 and Google search does have some on the phone items that can be searched. Contacts, apps, etc. Is that what your trying to search?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

You can thank apple for that...
Basically here is what happened in a nutshell.
Apple sued Google's partners, Htc, lg, motorola, and samsung over there global search feature that is implemented in android. Before this, you could search the following things: Music, files, web, apps, pictures, and the like.
After the case, apple won. Which means the carries and companies had to "update" there phones to remove the global search feature found in android or the companies customization. This is probably why you can no longer do universal search on your phone. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find an app for you that would do what it used too. Google now allows you to search music in there music app, as well as youtube etc. But you need to be in the app for what your searching for. Universal search was nice, sadly apple won. The way I see it, they are losing the war.
If you really cannot stand not having universal search and want extra features, try a custom rom out.
Example: pcworldDOTcom/article/259828/samsung_removes_local_search_feature_from_galaxy_s_iii_as_patent_suit_nears.html[/url]

Feed back on my app gomp3

Okay guys I made a new app called gomp3. It is free, so try it out download it and let me know how it works please. You can set as ring tone, listen, share the music and so much more. Since I am a new member I can not post links to outside the forum. But go to the google play store and search gomp3 should be the first app that pops up. I just need some feed back on it.

Will look at it and give some feedback.
After download: Great way to download mp3s for free! Really like the simplicity. A few critiques:
1. Not sure if the music is acquired legally or not. Hopefully Google keeps it up on the Play Store because it reminds me of TV Portal and that got removed.
2. Holos themed UI is becoming more and more popular so implementing that would be nice.
3. My first download failed halfway through (my fault, Wifi issues with Nexus 7), and when I retry the download status bar keeps flickering from where I left off previously to its current restart position. It downloaded fine and everything seemed functional. Also the dual download is kind of annoying, not sure why it downloads twice. Glad part of it can be put in the background though.
Will definitely continue to use as long as the songs work and I can find what I need. Has a lot of potential (as long as it stays legal)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Hello you lovely Huawei people!

I've been looking at Chinese smartphones for a while but haven't yet taken the plunge. However, a colleague of mine asked me for my opinion and I nudged him in the direction of the X2, as it would have been what I would have gone for had I gone for one...
He went for it and I am impressed. But I didn't realise (probably niaively) that it would be so dislodged from Google. Obviously not completely detached, but there is no Play Store, G+, Play Services etc as you will all know. I've been on XDA for many years and I'm somewhat of an HTC fanbuy (see my sig :laugh so I know all about unlocking bootloaders, rooting, flashing custom recoveries, firmware, custom roms etc so I am absolutely fine doing all that. He has brought the phone back to me and asked if I can help him with it; basically give him a more "westernised" Android experience I suppose
So once unlocked, rooted and flashed the (apparently) only custom rom available (KangVIP), am I able to flash a gapps package to it? And if anyone has done so, would you please be able to point me to the right one to use? He tried adding google apps from the built-in appstore but they don't play nicely (I wouldn't expect them to), presumably because the framework isn't there
Coming from a long list of mainstream devices, it's amazing to me to see a subforum with only one of two threads I understand the lack of support isn't due to unwillingness though; just a lack of owners and developers. I've been on XDA so long because of how helpful everyone is and I try to help others where I can from my experiences and techy logic
I would be extremely grateful for a little bit of advice if someone wouldn't mind :good:
Thank you all
PS - The device is the 16GB 703L and is currently running the B106 update (EMUI 3.1)

matmaneyre said:
I've been looking at Chinese smartphones for a while but haven't yet taken the plunge. However, a colleague of mine asked me for my opinion and I nudged him in the direction of the X2, as it would have been what I would have gone for had I gone for one...
He went for it and I am impressed. But I didn't realise (probably niaively) that it would be so dislodged from Google. Obviously not completely detached, but there is no Play Store, G+, Play Services etc as you will all know. I've been on XDA for many years and I'm somewhat of an HTC fanbuy (see my sig :laugh so I know all about unlocking bootloaders, rooting, flashing custom recoveries, firmware, custom roms etc so I am absolutely fine doing all that. He has brought the phone back to me and asked if I can help him with it; basically give him a more "westernised" Android experience I suppose
So once unlocked, rooted and flashed the (apparently) only custom rom available (KangVIP), am I able to flash a gapps package to it? And if anyone has done so, would you please be able to point me to the right one to use? He tried adding google apps from the built-in appstore but they don't play nicely (I wouldn't expect them to), presumably because the framework isn't there
Coming from a long list of mainstream devices, it's amazing to me to see a subforum with only one of two threads I understand the lack of support isn't due to unwillingness though; just a lack of owners and developers. I've been on XDA so long because of how helpful everyone is and I try to help others where I can from my experiences and techy logic
I would be extremely grateful for a little bit of advice if someone wouldn't mind :good:
Thank you all
PS - The device is the 16GB 703L and is currently running the B106 update (EMUI 3.1)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you install the play store from the Chinese App Store it installs the Google Framework. The only two things you need to install are the Play Store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. You can download the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nw5nwhtp16l5gd6/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk?dl=0

ajsmsg78 said:
When you install the play store from the Chinese App Store it installs the Google Framework. The only two things you need to install are the Play Store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. You can download the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nw5nwhtp16l5gd6/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk?dl=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I did read this in another thread actually but I was reading so much that it got lost in my brain somewhere
So at the moment play store is installed (I don't have the X2 with me at the moment). Play store won't load because of not being able to authenticate with Google servers. Also G+ doesn't work for the same reason and obviously sync doesn't work. So am I right in thinking that one sync adapter will solve all of that? If so I'll sort it tomorrow for him :good:
Thanks again

matmaneyre said:
Thanks for this. I did read this in another thread actually but I was reading so much that it got lost in my brain somewhere
So at the moment play store is installed (I don't have the X2 with me at the moment). Play store won't load because of not being able to authenticate with Google servers. Also G+ doesn't work for the same reason and obviously sync doesn't work. So am I right in thinking that one sync adapter will solve all of that? If so I'll sort it tomorrow for him :good:
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have to do anything on my new X2 other than install the play store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. Go into settings---Manage Apps and clear data for the play store and see if it opens. Mine opened no problem and I was able to sign into my Google account from there. When I opened maps it asked me to update Google play services and when I did the play store would no longer open. So I installed the Google play services update, rebooted and everything worked fine after that.

ajsmsg78 said:
I didn't have to do anything on my new X2 other than install the play store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. Go into settings---Manage Apps and clear data for the play store and see if it opens. Mine opened no problem and I was able to sign into my Google account from there. When I opened maps it asked me to update Google play services and when I did the play store would no longer open. So I installed the Google play services update, rebooted and everything worked fine after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent... Thanks a lot! I forwarded the link to him and told him to download and install it and he reports everything is working. To say he is grateful is an understatement. I was bombarded with messages at 2am saying how amazing it is
Just need to help him get rid of all of the Chinese bits now. Changing default apps and keyboard, launcher etc. He's not really interested in rooting which is a shame because of all the system apps I'd like to clear out for him but if he's happy I'll let it go. No good for my OCD though. I like a clean ROM myself

matmaneyre said:
Excellent... Thanks a lot! I forwarded the link to him and told him to download and install it and he reports everything is working. To say he is grateful is an understatement. I was bombarded with messages at 2am saying how amazing it is
Just need to help him get rid of all of the Chinese bits now. Changing default apps and keyboard, launcher etc. He's not really interested in rooting which is a shame because of all the system apps I'd like to clear out for him but if he's happy I'll let it go. No good for my OCD though. I like a clean ROM myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.

ajsmsg78 said:
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swiftkey is standard for me so that's a definite recommendation. And yes something along the lines of Apex or Nova will improve it 1000%. At least then he can have an app drawer and either hide the stock Huawei apps or put them into a folder, never to be opened again
Messaging-wise he's already using WhatsApp but I'll mention Textra anyway

Google Play and Apps on X2
Which model is your friend having ? Mine is the GEM-702L and it comes pre-installed with Google Play and apps.

ajsmsg78 said:
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Textra is the best. I gave up swiftkey for touchPal. Also, love Buzz launcher also. And for emails, I cant give up on CloudMagic.
weather is weatherbug
GPS Navigation is WAZE
add others if you think of some top notch super highly recommended stuff

Google Messages RCS Trick

Hello All!
My Samsung phone was not receiving RCS on the google messages app, despite google confirming rollout in most of the world. I suspect that my cell provider Lucky Mobile might have something to do with it, as it is one of the few carriers in Canada that does not provide RCS services. In an effort to activate it on my phone, I found a trick that I believe has not been posted yet. I tested this out on an unrooted Samsung Galaxy S10 running android 10 One UI 2.5, an unrooted Samsung Galaxy A50 running Android 10 One UI 2, and an Unrooted Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite running Android 11 One UI 3. These are all Samsung devices, so it may not work on other phones, but I have no way of testing that. The steps I took are below
On the Google Play Store, install Carrier Services from Google
Still on the Play Store, Install Google Messages
Open Google Messages and set it as the default messaging app
In the Messages app, open settings and check to see if chat features are available, they were not for me, but it is a good idea to check
Keep the Messages app open in the background but switch back to the Play Store and uninstall Carrier Services
Re-open the Messages App, then exit and close it from the Recents menu, and then open it again
You should now get a pop-up saying that you can use chat features, if not, then it should be available in the chat features section in settings
That’s it! I’m not sure how useful this will be to others, considering that my issue is something most people wont have, but I thought that someone might be looking for a way of activating RCS on their phone, with similar results that I had until now. I would also appreciate if people with phones from different companies (e.g. Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus) could try it out to see if it only works with Samsung phones or other companies’ phones as well.
Edit: You can join the Messages Beta program if you want after the steps are complete, as it keeps RCS enabled. Not sure why but I am not complaining
(P.S. This is my first post on XDA so I'm not sure if this is best format to post this, or the right place to post this in)

No luck for pixel 4 xl on Android 12

Pixel3 custom ROMs status in 2022

Hi,
First sorry for this vague post. I am on Android since 2012. During 2012-2014 I used to try out lots of custom ROMs as I was in college and I had mobile like Samsung Galaxy S3 and then later Nexus and the OEM abandoned the updates after a while. After that I started working and since then have been on multiple Google line of devices, first Nexus and now my latest is Pixel3. I am generally happy with the phone. However, my Pixel3 stopped receiving updates I started thinking why I should dump this and buy a new one when it's perfectly working fine for my need.
I just came to this site after like ages to see what is the current status of custom ROMs. It seems overwhelmingly new now. I remember back then we had some sharp edges and something or other didn't work. Since then I am more into google ecosystem now. I use google Fi for phone. I like and use most of the google feature. So just wondering what will I lose by moving to custom ROM and am I ready to live without those features or should I just accept that I will not have any updates and if I need the updates I will have to buy a new phone.
I am not much interested into rooting and gaining advanced controls or doing anything extra nerdy. I will be perfectly happy with just getting the security patches and whatever feature is there if they keep working.
1. what are some good custom ROMs popular these days?
2. What are the things I'd lose moving to custom ROM?
3. Does all hardware for ex: Finger print, NFC work?
4. What about google apps, I mostly like all google app like camera, google pay, phone, play store
5. I like the google specific features like call screening and google assistance, google feed. I guess I will lose those.
6. I also use google Fi, can I still use that seamlessly or is there any gotchas I need to be aware of?
7. Is there any other way to keep my phone Googlized and receive security updates. It is totally acceptable if I can get security patches after some delay and not via OTP but have to sideload manually.

r0b0 said:
Hi,
First sorry for this vague post. I am on Android since 2012. During 2012-2014 I used to try out lots of custom ROMs as I was in college and I had mobile like Samsung Galaxy S3 and then later Nexus and the OEM abandoned the updates after a while. After that I started working and since then have been on multiple Google line of devices, first Nexus and now my latest is Pixel3. I am generally happy with the phone. However, my Pixel3 stopped receiving updates I started thinking why I should dump this and buy a new one when it's perfectly working fine for my need.
I just came to this site after like ages to see what is the current status of custom ROMs. It seems overwhelmingly new now. I remember back then we had some sharp edges and something or other didn't work. Since then I am more into google ecosystem now. I use google Fi for phone. I like and use most of the google feature. So just wondering what will I lose by moving to custom ROM and am I ready to live without those features or should I just accept that I will not have any updates and if I need the updates I will have to buy a new phone.
I am not much interested into rooting and gaining advanced controls or doing anything extra nerdy. I will be perfectly happy with just getting the security patches and whatever feature is there if they keep working.
1. what are some good custom ROMs popular these days?
2. What are the things I'd lose moving to custom ROM?
3. Does all hardware for ex: Finger print, NFC work?
4. What about google apps, I mostly like all google app like camera, google pay, phone, play store
5. I like the google specific features like call screening and google assistance, google feed. I guess I will lose those.
6. I also use google Fi, can I still use that seamlessly or is there any gotchas I need to be aware of?
7. Is there any other way to keep my phone Googlized and receive security updates. It is totally acceptable if I can get security patches after some delay and not via OTP but have to sideload manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. LineageOS
2. I have not found anything lost.
3. Yes
4. You can download the Google Camera app from the play store. Probably the phone app also, but I have not tried it. Google Pay will require rooting and Universal SafetyNet Fix module.
5. Don't know, as I don't use them.
6. I don't use Fi, but would expect it to work.
7. I'm not aware of any other way, but have not looked. Lineage does everything I need.