I just got an LG GT540 for traveling abroad (I use a Droid X on Verizon for most of the year). It was a good deal, but it came with Android 2.1 and I want to be able to use apps off the SD card.
When I started searching around for ROM's, I found a plethera of SwiftDroid developer forums and was about to install v1.4b when I found out that most people were expecting v1.5 to come out today, and it did (v1.5FM). Most people seem to like what they're seeing but they keep referencing FastBoot which I do not have. I'm fairly technical (rooted my Droid X, used Clockwork Recovery to install Liberty v1.5 ROM on that, etc) but I need a basic user guide for using FastBoot --that is if I decide to use this SwiftDroid v1.5FM rom that I am 20 seconds away from being done downloading... HOWEVER, there is one guy who posted that the camera button (physical hard button on the side of the phone) is not letting him take a photo, meaning he has to hit the soft button on the screen, which I would find extremely annoying. I'm also worried that the google apps aren't included (but can't ask the people in the dev forum cuz I'm a newbie). I want to be able to use the Market, Gmail, etc, right afterwards. My Liberty ROM wasn't missing anything on my Droid X aside from the BLUR and Verizon-specific stuff that I didn't like/caused lag anyway (yay, no more task killer processes required to kill other task processes haha).
Anyone else know if the camera button issue on the SwiftDroid 1.5FM rom is a widespread issue or just that one guy's issue? Do you know if I'm going to need to install the Google Apps myself? Know where to get FastBoot and a basic guide for using it? Other comments? Perhaps I'm missing out on a much better ROM opportunity I should research?
Thanks!
Hey
The first (Android) smartphone with camera that can really compete with the digital cameras and no section for it?
Modding it would be great
Altek A14 Leo
Altek Leo Section
regarding the serious problems the Altek Leo has, as no google apps, not even market, no rooting published, no adobe flash, firefox will not install and so on,
a section would be useful for the distessed owners of this camera phone which
is more a fumble phone than a smart phone. Its advantages are a very good lens, an outstanding CCD chip, a xenon flash and professional camera software.
True, is buggy
I bought one actually and despite it being pretty buggy, I just absolutely love the camera.
Definitely needs some software love though:
1) Interface is pretty sluggish and 2.1 isn't helping, the latest android performance improvements would be nice.
2) Touch-screen is strangely inaccurate. Swype was a must for me.
3) Battery life is pretty bad (not certain how much a newer Android would help, but any amount of powersaving fixes would help).
4) Buttons/widgets to lock the screen (e.g. Extended Controls) don't work.
5) The camera button doesn't open the camera when the phone is locked (debatable I guess, but imo, the camera button should just open the camera, period).
6) Default alarm clock doesn't ring randomly.
7) Not to mention apps randomly crashing, strange animation bugs in the Album viewer, no google apps, terrible GPS, etc.
But despite those, I've managed to work my way round them and am in love with it.
Alex
I have one of these and I do like the quirkyness .
I would love to improve the experience by modding.
Quirkyness fits well
To continue the list (more than enough for a forum)
- Backups by Titanium, AVG or Nandroid do not work because i have no idea
how to root the Altek Leo.
- WLAN range is still very short and does not always an automatic reconnect.
- I could not manage to make any browser play flash files, but the moboplayer
plays flv files well.
- Apps like soundhound say the microphone is blocked.
About half of the apps i need are not available because they will not install
or they are exclusively available over google market and getting them from
file hosters seems a bit risky to me. Most of this problems seem to be caused
by the small software space of 120 MB for files and 83 MB for running
applications.
But i will keep the Altek Leo and use it because the camera prooved itself
as outstanding among mobile phones.
- I use the application stores Applanet, Amazone Appstore, Handango,
SlideMe SAM and the tools Memory Booster Lite, Android Tweak.
Does anyone discovered any other useful helpers for this half of an
ANDROID device ?
"We do not need any adobe flash, we have got a real xenon flash."
Where To Buy
Does anyone know where to pick up/order one of these units?
Here To Buy
Search at Ebay, you will need a Paypal account.
I bought mine from Wifigadget.
Eason of Yupitek provides International Customer Service,
have a look at the facebook pinwall.
Thanks for the tips! Really like Memory Booster and Swype.
If you're on a mac, the "missing sync" from markspace is well worth the buy - particularly given that there does not seem to be a way to add a Google account under accounts and sync - it's missing on my altek leo! Anyone elses too?
Also recommend "Lookout" if you're worried about virus from no easy way to get apks other than file sharing sites.
Despite the quirks, very happy with this all-in-one device - music player + phone + camera - 3 down to 1! Fantastic!
Vignette
Sidenote, 'Vignette' is the perfect app for this device.
It doesn't fix any of the quirkiness, but it's a photo manipulation tool which complements the fantastic camera perfectly.
You can take your pics and then touch them up making the phone a studio for all things photography.
You can purchase it from the AndAppStore.
By poor battery life, how many days do you get out of it?
root and market
Has anyone tried the Gingerbreak exploit? I heard it might work on older devices. Also, if you don't trust file sharing sites and want stuff from the market. You could try running an emulator and installing the Market on that, then sideloading the APKs. I haven't tried it myself yet, but it seems there are a lot of people doing this. Here's one HOWTO which is specific to Mac but I think it's prety much the same or at least you should be able to use the same system image. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1387830/how-to-install-android-market-app-on-the-emulator there are lots of other links if you google "android market emulator" I don't have the Leo yet because they're sold out in Taiwan, but I've got mine on order. I'm most interested whether the google apps work at all if they're sideloaded. I've just sort of bricked my older Cyanogen device. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Oh, here's a Windows specific link - http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/10004/accessing-android-market-from-android-sdk/
and be careful with Gingerbreak!
There's also UniversalAndRoot to try http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=747598
and SuperOneClick http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682
Poor battery-life
@rocky7st
It depends on usage. Light usage is ok. Any sort of medium/heavy usage won't get you through the day.
I bought it from an ebay seller which sent me 2 batteries which was helpful:
cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230614421067
It's is useful since it allows me to occasionally geek out with the camera, playing with apps or using the GPS (i.e. 2 hours straight) and and it'll completely run out of juice by late afternoon.
I usually wait till I get home to recharge it on those occasions, but it's been very useful to be able to switch to the backup battery if I'm out and about and I really need to use the phone.
@everyone_else
On the topic of side-loading apps, my gf has an Android phone with a market on it, so I use the "Astro" file manager which allows you to "Backup" the apks, and then I transfer them to my phone via email.
I've been unable to get my device to show up with adb, so not far enough to try SuperOneClick.
UniversalAndRoot says something like "unable to root"
Z4Root says "running root exploit" and does not progress..
That's bad news but good to know at the same time. Hopefully there will be a method soon. Still waiting on mine but I unbricked my older one. Seems to be an almost total lack of hands-on reviews (outside of a trade show) so I thought someone might be interested in this one. Also, I emailed the author to see whether and how he installed the Market app.
http://120x160.com/old-entries/216-hardware-review-altek-leo-a14-camera-phone
Cheers for the reply jackflap. Do you guys know anything about the Android 2.2 upgrade, I've heard Altek is meant to be releasing it next month.
Okay, I got SuperOneClick working so I have root. ADB worked in windows after installing the Altek software.
ADB in linux still cannot find the phone..
So I tried installing various vending.apk files but keep getting MISSING SHARED LIBRARY or out of date SDK.
@daktak I've been trying to develop for the Leo but have not been able to get ADB to work in windows. Where did you obtain the Altek software?
Hi All,
I am a complete noob here and non technical.
Recently bought an altek leo with the sole purpose of loading an app called Passport Photo Plus and using the device to create passport photopgraphs and to send by Bluetooth to a compatible printer.
We have been doing this on other android smartphones but wanted to use the altek due to its camera features.
It appears that our desired app is ony avaiable on Market.
Being non -technical we have tried and failed to find a way to install this app on our leo.
I'm sure there may be other apps available but we specifically want this one due to it's features.
Does anybody know if this can be done, and if so how? Can anybody point me in the right direction (in easy to understand non tech terms please!)
Would happily pay a small fee for succesful step by step instructions (not sure if I can post that here, if not please ignore / mods pls delete).
Many thanks in advance.
The last time I rooted a phone and installed a custom ROM was on a HTC with Windows 6.5, so to say I'm rusty is an understatement.
And honestly, I liked HTC Sense so I never had the urge. But now, I have been waiting for the ICS Android for so long that I think it's time to Mod Again! And it will be nice to get rid of that pink T-Mobile crapware! So I have a few newbie questions, I'll hope you'll forgive me.
1. Will I be able to keep all my app store bought apps? How?
2. Can I go back to the "official" ROM if I have to send in my device for repair?
3. What are considered the best HTC Sense/ICS Roms for the sensation?
4. Will I be able to migrate my contacts? How? (and will I be able to get rid of the awful duplication of records that seems to have occurred somehow)
5. Is there a reason to actually not go for HTC Sense? I personally really like the smart linking features of contact related information and the way contacts work with all the social networks info in one contact record. I think the contacts are where the phone shines. I hate the bugs in the music app and I don't really like the photo app either.
6. Where can I find a good step by step guide? (I can find it myself, but while I'm asking the pro's anyways)
7. Are there any limitations such as things that won't work as well because of driver support etc?
Cheers,
Marc
I have had a galaxy s4 verizon for a long time. I am rooted Anne ruining on hyperdrive rom. I am just plain sick and tired of the way touch wiz looks is just so dull. And yes I've downloaded stuff from the play store it's just all a load of crap. I saw that one of my buddies has an lg g3 and I enjoyed the experience I had with it. I loved his messaging app in particular and some of his other stock apps I'd there any way to get his lg stock apps to wotk for me. And can have the same features such as his pops up over his screen and he can quick reply. Maybe there is an easier way to do this. Also the phone app I would like to replace if possible.
This question has been asked and answered before: the stock apps from an LG phone are very likely specialized for the LG phone and its stock ROM. You can find the installation files for the applications you're looking to add (APK files) on a variety of websites, like APK4FUN or Aptoide. If your friend knows how, s/he can copy the APK from the LG and email it to you to install on your GS4. Regardless, they likely won't even install, and if they do, I can almost assure you that they will crash.
For example, I was transitioning from an LG G3 to a Samsung GS5 last year and copied the amazing stock LG QuickRemote app to my new Galaxy (a G900V). It managed to install, but crashed every time I tried to run it.
So, you can try to install and run LG stock apps on Samsung phones, but you'll likely fail. Hope that helps!
I thought that I would ask this question and then see what everyone has to offer.
I recently rooted my LG Volt phone and all is well. My next step is to take off some of the 'Bloatware' that came installed on the phone from VM.
My Question is HOW? and WHAT?
I know I would like to remove CHROME browser but not sure how. I know there are a lot of other apps that could come off that I'm not aware of that just slow down the phone and take up space. Has anyone ever developed a definitive list of the 'possible' bloatware that is installed on phones.
I'm afraid to remove some things incase it is required to operate the phone. So something that is critical to the phone operation should not be included on the list.
Once a list is developed than I could check against it to see what it is possible to remove.
Second part is how. Since my phone is rooted it should be fairly easy but not sure exactly how and to make sure I got all of a piece of software removed or am I leaving something behind that is more wasted space.
This, I would think, would be very useful to amateurs like myself.
JimReid said:
I thought that I would ask this question and then see what everyone has to offer.
I recently rooted my LG Volt phone and all is well. My next step is to take off some of the 'Bloatware' that came installed on the phone from VM.
My Question is HOW? and WHAT?
I know I would like to remove CHROME browser but not sure how. I know there are a lot of other apps that could come off that I'm not aware of that just slow down the phone and take up space. Has anyone ever developed a definitive list of the 'possible' bloatware that is installed on phones.
I'm afraid to remove some things incase it is required to operate the phone. So something that is critical to the phone operation should not be included on the list.
Once a list is developed than I could check against it to see what it is possible to remove.
Second part is how. Since my phone is rooted it should be fairly easy but not sure exactly how and to make sure I got all of a piece of software removed or am I leaving something behind that is more wasted space.
This, I would think, would be very useful to amateurs like myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
install app called (system app remover) ....about WHAT : you need to un-install the apps that you don't need but doesn't harm the phone ....like if you are on Samsung phone or sony....you need to un-install chrome and Samsung store ....play groups...
simply my man you can un-install all the apps that shows in your app drawer ...else than that don't remove any thing
good luck :good: