Why install Android on Android phones? - General Questions and Answers

Hi all,
It seems like the focus of XDA is just modifying existing phones, but not questioning the premise that Android is a worthy OS.
And yet there's a continual news drumbeat about malware on Android phones and new exploits.
Why not take steps to replace Android?
So much effort, probably many man-years collectively, is going into doing anything but this.
Mod edit:
Closed at OP request

Related

XDA Sister Site for All Android MFG's

Hello all,
With how big the buzz is on the new Moto Droid, and how awesome the reviews have been on it so far, I'm hoping the modding community would attack it like a wolf on a sheep.
The question of the day though, is where will the modders conglomerate? It's not a HTC phone, so of course it wouldn't be on XDA (though I wish it was, because the android community here is first class awesome).
Why not create a sister site of XDA called droid-developers.com (or any name really, i wrote this because android-developers.com is taken). We could move all of the android forums and posts over to the sister site (which would definitely save bandwidth here on XDA), and that way the devs can have a one stop area for all android development, not just HTC phones. They could then just create new forums for other phones, like the liquid a1, motorola droid, samsung galaxy, etc..
If we have different sites for different manufacturers, the dev and mod community will be broken apart on different sites, whereas they could all be centrally located on one site.
Having all the android devs in one location not only helps form a community, but it also makes it a one stop location for everything android modding and developing. Others have tried doing so, but each attempt failed because there was no backing. If XDA made the site, it would have the backing of XDA, and with them moving all the current android forums over to the new site, it would be instant 100% backing, as that is where the devs would go for their current projects that are already posted, and any new projects.
As it stands now, there is a different forum for dream/magic, yet a lot of the posts get double posted in each because they are applicable to each. when someone is working on an application, do they choose to put it in the Dream section, Magic section, or Hero section? With it's own complete forum, there could be a general app section, etc..
Lets use an example. The Samsung Galaxy. It was the second android phone released. It's a great phone, but because it's not made by HTC, and therefore has no place on XDA, there is no modding community for it at all. A great device (and really the only one with a good amount of internal storage) has no hopes for the modding future because there is no central location for devs to conglomerate. If it was made by HTC, it would have flourished in the modding community simply because it could be discussed and worked on here at XDA.
The main thing, is they're modding Android, not the specific device. Sure each device has it's own quirks, but Android as a whole is what the topic is about. Why limit it to just HTC phones?
So please, if you agree that this will help the android community, vote in the poll, and voice your opinion by posting in this thread.
Well, as I find the proposal fair enough I've voted yes, but I'm not at all convinced about that domain.
If you intend to move devs from this site (which is well known in the android scene) to a new one, and you use as a reason that this was htc specific, you can't possibly try to name the new site droid-developers in direct reference to a motorola phone.
it wasn't used for a motorola reference. android-developers.com is already taken, as is android-devs.com.
If you have any other suggestions for domain names please post them.
Edit: fixed the first post to reflect what i stated here about the name
Are the mods here not going to create a section for this phone?
There will be no section for The Droid, Galaxy, Cliq, Liquid A1, etc.. because they are not HTC phones. XDA is for HTC phones only.
PCTechNerd said:
There will be no section for The Droid, Galaxy, Cliq, Liquid A1, etc.. because they are not HTC phones. XDA is for HTC phones only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have the mods said this somewhere?
livejamie said:
Have the mods said this somewhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, it's the origins of XDA. Look at all the phones listed on the forum. They're all HTC phones. XDA is another name for an older htc phone. This site was made and is used only for HTC phones.
PCTechNerd said:
There will be no section for The Droid, Galaxy, Cliq, Liquid A1, etc.. because they are not HTC phones. XDA is for HTC phones only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then why is there xperia x1
JJbdoggg said:
then why is there xperia x1
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Click to collapse
Because the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 was made by HTC.
How about making an Android section on this forum that has every Android device, HTC or not? Still under the XDA-Developers.com domain though.
PCTechNerd said:
Because the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 was made by HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doh should have checked it out
Tawm said:
How about making an Android section on this forum that has every Android device, HTC or not? Still under the XDA-Developers.com domain though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't work also, as it would make the main site very clustered. the current per phone forum layout is great, and I would hope the new site would maintain the same layout. Each phone definitely needs it's own forum for hardware hacks (like rooting, SPL's, custom ROM's, etc..) but with all Android devices in one place, it's easier for the community to discuss, mod, etc.. from device to device.
you got another yes here. i would like to see all android being supported.
I too would like to see all Android supported. Especially seeings how a lot of the development will apply to most devices.
I personally hope for a new site to offload some traffic. With android coming to more carriers there is bound to be much heavier traffic.
XDA has been invaluable to me since I got my titan a few years back.
As I have been considering the DROID as an upgrade, I would feel much better about that choice knowing it had a great community to support it despite not being an HTC device.
The same could apply to Windows Mobile though. There are great WinMo devices that aren't supported by the xda-dev's. They can only do so much.
I ststed this in another thread. ModMyMoto will have a section for Droid and Cliq. As far as the others Im sure a site such as PPCGeeks will have the other devices covered.
But I wouldnt be chosing a phone based on the presence of a forum. There will always be someone modding a device if it exists, and finding info is easy enough with google.
If all the devices were located on the same forum, you would have all kinds of tardos flashing files to incorrect devices.
If youve been on XDA for a while you know that these conversations come and go. XDA does their thing, they are the big dogs on the block so its not a big deal if it takes another site to fill in the gaps that XDA cant cover.
I post most of my work on alldroid.org because I would like to use that site for software related things and then use XDA for hardware related things for my G1. I think once more non-HTC phones hit the stores there will be a big influx of people looking for a site to mod on and I dont think XDA will be able to support it unless they dramatically change their ways.
Was going through my past subscriptions and I came upon this thread. Oh how the tides have changed
Ahhh this brings back so many memories. It's great to see how much XDA has progressed over the years!

[Poll] New "Android only" forum?

These past weeks I've noticed an increase of irrelevant threads and clutter being made in regards to Android development in the HTC Dream forum and every other Android development forum on xda. A lot of Android devices out on the market now are not made by HTC. This of course is causing a problem since this forum is for HTC devices only.
Maybe it would be a good idea if a new forum was created that accounts for all native Android devices (Motorola Droid/Milestone, Motorola Cliq/Dext, Samsung Galaxy, etc...). That way, a lot of the clutter would surely be resolved and a considerate load would be taken off of this server (Gotta hate the horrible load on xda these days...).
I'm sure there are quiet a few people on here that have an HTC device and are fully satisfied with it (Me included!). That doesn't mean that everyone else has to feel the same way. People that choose to go with Samsung, Motorola, etc. for their next Android device should not be left out. That's why I believe there should definitely be a forum that serves everyone.
To put up a new forum specifically for this matter takes no time at all, but it does take participation. So if you feel like this is something you would like to see, please feel free to leave a comment.
What are you're opinions on this matter? Agree? Disagree?
Discuss.
If there's enough people interested in this project, would there be anyone willing to help getting things started in terms of hosting space or something similar?
Sorry, I misunderstood "a new forum was created that accounts for all native Android devices" to mean that a new subforum on XDA should be made, so I voted no. Upon reading it again, I realized you meant to create an independant Android specific site, which I would actually be in favor of. So while I can't change my vote officially, you should know that one of the "No" votes should actually be considered a "Yes" vote.
Yea, sorry. I meant that there should be a completly new forum for all android devices (not a subforum on xda). Thanks for your vote!
Like I mentioned before, there are definitely more people who agree than those who disagree. Only problem will be to spread the word I guess.
I think XDA-Developers needs to be divided into a Windows Mobile and an Android section and those need to be further divided into HTC and non-HTC ones.
With more and more Android devices, and rising competition for HTC from Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson etc., XDA-Developers cannot stay WM-focused and HTC-only without becoming irrelevant and losing its no.1 status for everything concerning WM and Android development.
EDIT: OR make independent, but linked together, sites for WM and Android and for different manufacturers.
maati said:
EDIT: OR make independent, but linked together, sites for WM and Android and for different manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm thinking as well.
I forsee good things to come from this. Or the thread just being closed.
There needs to be a WinMo forum and Android Forum that are both linked from the home page.
I would be all for this, and would be more than happy to fund the project. Hosting, domain fees, coding ect..
I agree completely. It's also annoying to see various large Android Community sites popping up, which deal with everything android, including all models, which includes HTC models... because they are invading the "mindshare", if you will, of "where does one go to get best development and mod info for android OS phones?" ... When the first Android devices were only HTC, this was not an issue, as HTC was correctly housed here and had Android devices forums added.
But yes, the whole touchscreen marketplace has erupted and fractured in the last 6 months, and it would be a bad thing, in my view, if XDA were to become relegated to a "boutique" site, that was great with SOME andorid devices, but AWOL on others.. And as the original poster notes, there is only bound to be more and more cross-device discussion and innovation developments for the whole android platform.
my 3 cents...
maati said:
I think XDA-Developers needs to be divided into a Windows Mobile and an Android section and those need to be further divided into HTC and non-HTC ones.
With more and more Android devices, and rising competition for HTC from Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson etc., XDA-Developers cannot stay WM-focused and HTC-only without becoming irrelevant and losing its no.1 status for everything concerning WM and Android development.
EDIT: OR make independent, but linked together, sites for WM and Android and for different manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So are most of you in favor that an independent site for Android-only devices should be made (WinMo-only devices could also be added later on to another section).
Or do you think that xda should try to change their forum around so that it will fulfill our needs?
Bavilo said:
So are most of you in favor that an independent site for Android-only devices should be made (WinMo-only devices could also be added later on to another section).
Or do you think that xda should try to change their forum around so that it will fulfill our needs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm totally new to Android; have not even purchased my HERO yet. So take this with a grain of salt... but to me, I think the train already left the station... In the past three weeks as I have investigated HTC Hero, I have encountered 4 or 5 rather substantial communities already built around Android.... I will just list a few of them. Being truthful, there have been very few poll participants here... and it may well be the case that what you are envisioning as a resource already exists -- it's just not here.
So, to me, you either have to (A) turn the whole mothership around (XDA-devs) and try to make a case for why non-HTC devices should fit in more officially here (they are already accomodated "unofficially" and have been for quite some time on the WinMo side -- with tons of questions asked in many a forum about "What about the Omnia? can you release that for Omnia?" and same for Sony Xperia, as just two examples....
or (B) bridge-out to one or more of the communities already developed around modding Android phones... (but again, I am prob the wrong person to comment since I am brand new to Android... )
http://androidforums.com/
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/index.php
http://forum.androidcentral.com/
http://modmygphone.com/forums/
To me, most of those sites just feel like user communities but not any real development like here at XDA.
narunetto said:
To me, most of those sites just feel like user communities but not any real development like here at XDA.
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Click to collapse
That's exactly what I want to change. And thanks to Craiger22 this might be possible very soon!
I do think this site needs to drop it's HTC bias to be honest. It makes choosing a new handset quite horrible. On one hand HTC devices get software support on this forum (which is still the best out there). But on the other hand there are some very nice non-HTC devices coming up. It makes choosing a handset a lot harder.
Fair enough if there's some sort of official affiliation with HTC, I can understand that. But is it not just some nostalgic bias relating to the origins of this site? That's the way I understand it anyway.
Personally there's no HTC hardware I want right now and I think that it's a shame that when I replace my X1 I will (if the HTC hardware situation remains similar to how it is now) wind up leaving this community.

android subfora

Running a title-only search for 'android forum' yields quite some many results.
it seems like many on xda want their own android subforum. polls show that most think it makes sense. I agree with that because for people not interested in anything linux based it's totally annoying to have android threads everywhere. on the other hand if you're looking for some linux based / android image it's easier to have a special place for that.
So it's overall a good step imho.
The reason for posting this thread is that I have some thought on that:
It might be better to put one main forum instead of many subfora for linux/android:
Many htcs with the same chip share the same linux codebase and can run the same android/ubuntu/whatever roms. Also most of the msm7*/qsd8* device forums have at least one linux/android topic thread. You will end up with one linux/android subforum for each device.
=> development processes and rom distribution are eased when focused in one place.
It's not ideal to create *android*-only subfora.
Since there are many linux distributions you have quite some stuff that won't fit an android subforum.
Let's say you made some ubuntu image for the blackstone you want to share. Blackstone android rom development is the wrong place then because ubuntu is, just like android, linux based. And not vice versa.
Same if you have a question about a linux driver on your blackstone. Same problem. That'd be linux kernel related and has nothing to do with android.
=> It is better to use different naming. e.g. linux & android rom development. This will reduce confusion and make the splitting into wince / linux based topics more efficient.
My 2 cents
regards
Doesn't this do the trick?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=564
svetius said:
Doesn't this do the trick?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=564
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Click to collapse
I forgot to mention that I'm talking about the devices that support linux non officially!
I'm sorry for causing confusion.
Well still your answer would make sense to my first point.
Forget about that. I guess it is better to have those device specific linux/android subforums in the device main forums! Cause that's where people are looking for them.
Still concerned about the second thing about the subforum names though. Could you give me a thought on that (now that you know I'm referring to the non-official linux/android devices)
I think they should really be Linux (and android) subforums, and not android only.
Ok, so just to be clear, you think that we ought to rename the device-specific Android forums for WinMo device (like Blackstone, Rhodium, etc) to include Linux? So instead of:
Touch HD Android Development
it would be:
Touch HD Linux (Android, etc) Development?
Like that? I know that some other operating systems that run from Linux have been shown running on some of these Windows Mobile devices, but 90% of the Linux dev work is being done on Android. Perhaps this may be a good idea in the future if we see Ubuntu/etc development pick up, or do you think we need the change today?
svetius said:
Ok, so just to be clear, you think that we ought to rename the device-specific Android forums for WinMo device (like Blackstone, Rhodium, etc) to include Linux? So instead of:
Touch HD Android Development
it would be:
Touch HD Linux (Android, etc) Development?
Like that? I know that some other operating systems that run from Linux have been shown running on some of these Windows Mobile devices, but 90% of the Linux dev work is being done on Android. Perhaps this may be a good idea in the future if we see Ubuntu/etc development pick up, or do you think we need the change today?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I would suggest to change the current subforum names to something like that. So that people know everything <device>-linux related can be posted there with any userspace they like. Still it is important to put android in the name because many people just look for android and don't know that it's based on linux. So the pattern you propose seems perfect.
I agree. Obviously most of the users want to run android userspace on their HTCs now and that's what the biggest part of the discussions seems to be about. Still I would change it in the proposed way already for two reasons.
With the current titles not only discussion about non-android userspace is excluded but also everything kernel related. And the kernel is very important. Of course also for android.
Also, people who want to develop non-android linux based stuff like ubuntu for HTCs might not be much attracted seeing a (seemingly) android-only forum. They will rather publish/discuss their stuff elsewhere because it might appear to them that only android related things can be released in the xda forums.
Thanks a lot for the attention payed to this!
Plz rename Android section to Linux?
Or give us a Ubuntu section like Andriod got its own (Still both Linux thou)
Im happy for all who want Android on there WM, BUT for me i have second to non intrest on getting it on my HD2, like WM 6.5.3 and NRG keeps making WM more and more perfect everyday (Love to NRG and...HOW The hell do you do it!=)
My intressts are fully on Ubuntu news and just plainly, talk about buggs and leave feedback and we are drowning in Andriod threads. And atm i feel there is no way to find peace and calm to engage people to this. Ubuntu or other Linux work could grow, given only a chance.
Anyway i hope this getts a solution since its trying my patience. So i agree totally with Dcordes, we need a change
I know this thread is a little old, but I think that changing the forum names to include linux in the title should be looked at again. In the HD2 Android Dev Forum there was a thread asking about porting meego to the HD2, and it got a quick response from a member saying "maybe when we have a meego dev forum" and continued to post responses against it, when there are several people interested in meego or maemo. Its all linux and the forum should be called HD2 Linux/Android Dev or something similar to avoid confusion.
I feel some of the users won't get it that *Device* Linux Section is the one which contains Anroid ! They might start asking for a seperate Android section again.
IMHO.

How to learn how to root and MOD an Android Device

I'm currently reading on becoming an Android developer. But I've caught an interest in hacking Android phones. My biggest question is how do you learn how to root Android phones??????? I hope someone will be nice enough and point me in a good direction. My current Android device is an CDMA HTC Hero and saw reports of 2.2 being ported on it but everything is not working. I figure this could be my first project Finishing the 2.2 on the Hero but how do I do that. So if any one can PLEASE help.
Android is based on the Linux platform. I would imagine that most of the people that are doing the heavy work on android know quite a bit about Linux, as it pertains alot to these devices.
You should learn C and C++. Also, you should read up on the Linux Kernel and all you can about Android's framework. I don't know specifically about the Hero, but it's probably not all working due to driver issues.
This is a HUGE undertaking to a new coder.
Could you please rephrase your question about android hacking please? Like do you mean you wish to be able to come up with your own exploits and find your own ways to root a phone, or do you mean something along the lines of using current exploits and developing your own roms and such?
~PsyCl0ne
Hi all,
I know this thread is quite old but I wanted to have some info about the rooting topic.
My question is about the general development necessary to root a phone, sdks and tools needed.
I know already a bit of Linux and C, C++ but I don't know how the rooting work exactly. It seemed to me it is a program that runs when connected to the phone in the boot loader menu.
I think it would be useful a guide made by using an example, like the code used to root the Nexus 1 (I own one so I could put that in practice)
Thanks
me too.. same with conte79

Opinions on Ransomware/Lockscreens on androids?

Interestingly enough, with all of the ransomware that is happening on Windows, a lot of people are panicking, thinking that it will affect androids as well (We all know its a whole different story when it comes to Android architecture compared to Windows) But there is no denying, that exploits are being searched on this topic on this platform as well. My question and I guess discussion topic would be, are there going to be serious Ransomware/lock-screen attacks? Possible developments on those fronts. Your opinions on this topic in general when it comes to Android.
Josh Ross said:
Interestingly enough, with all of the ransomware that is happening on Windows, a lot of people are panicking, thinking that it will affect androids as well (We all know its a whole different story when it comes to Android architecture compared to Windows) But there is no denying, that exploits are being searched on this topic on this platform as well. My question and I guess discussion topic would be, are there going to be serious Ransomware/lock-screen attacks? Possible developments on those fronts. Your opinions on this topic in general when it comes to Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so they *WILL* find an exploit.
It's just a question of when.
What to do?
/restore nandroid backup
Let's hope if I am already rooted, it cant do anything unless I grant root permission. :fingers-crossed:
Josh Ross said:
Interestingly enough, with all of the ransomware that is happening on Windows, a lot of people are panicking, thinking that it will affect androids as well (We all know its a whole different story when it comes to Android architecture compared to Windows) But there is no denying, that exploits are being searched on this topic on this platform as well. My question and I guess discussion topic would be, are there going to be serious Ransomware/lock-screen attacks? Possible developments on those fronts. Your opinions on this topic in general when it comes to Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, Android is more secure but has been affected in the past on older versions eg simplelocker,
lockpin, and no doubt will be in the future, but at least they seem easier to recover from so far .....
IronRoo said:
Yes, Android is more secure but has been affected in the past on older versions eg simplelocker,
lockpin, and no doubt will be in the future, but at least they seem easier to recover from so far .....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's hope it stays like that, It would be a pain if the only removal solutions would be long and tedious steps like Windows have, without much guarantee either.

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