Database Info

How to: Optimize stock ROM

Hi all,
I thought I'd share the steps I did to improve my experience (speed, battery life,...) with the stock ROM of the SK4G, and hopefully get some additional tips from you guys. There's nothing really *new* here, but hopefully it is helpful to some newer people (who don't want to mess with ROMs).
The steps in short:
1) Install the latest firmware.
2) Turn off or configure all automated syncing which you don't use.
3) Remove and/or freeze all apps you don't use.
4) Remove everything from your home screen which you don't need.
5) Disable apps that run on startup, but shouldn't.
6) Replace stock apps.
1) Install the latest firmware.
The latest firmware, currently KJ2, is a real improvement. I was previously using the KG2 firmware which seemed to have some memory leak. In simple terms, every minute the device was on, the system itself was taking up more memory, leaving less and less memory for the apps to run. This resulted in a device getting less responsive with time, the home screen being refreshed regularly, the device completely locking up, ... It was so bad that I made a habit to restart the sidekick at least once a day.
With the new firmware, this seems fixed. I don't think I have even seen the home screen refresh since I updated. Everything just seems more responsive! It also had a positive result on my battery life.
You can either wait for the update to happen automatically, or you can do it manually using Kies. It's a matter of installing Kies, connecting your Sidekick and pressing update. You can find a guide here.
2) Turn off or configure all automated syncing which you don't use.
It's a smartphone, you expect it to sync some stuff. Just check for each use case if you need the syncing and how frequently the syncing should happen. A lot of apps let you configure this kind of stuff. Some even allow you to only sync over wifi.
So just take a look at all installed apps and see which ones use some form of syncing. Some might do it without you being aware of it.
3) Remove and/or freeze all apps you don't use.
This is self explanatory for apps you've installed yourself. With the sidekick you also get a lot of apps that might be completely useless to you, but you can't remove since they are pre-installed. With root however, you can! (See the bottom of this post on how to root.)
Before I go any further, let me explain the difference between removing and freezing apps. Removing an app does exactly what it says, the app will be gone "forever". Freezing however is non-destructive: the app will be disabled and gone from your app list, but you can easily unfreeze it to restore it.
An app that's often mentioned that allows this is Titanium Backup. It is however not free. So instead, I used the free AntTek App Manager, which has worked wonderfully. You get a list of all apps, select one, choose "freeze" and it's gone! In case you want to undo your action, you select the app in the "frozen" list and choose "unfreeze". It's as simple as that.
Note that some apps should not be frozen. For example, I tried to freeze Wifi Calling. As soon as it was frozen, I got "force close" popups. Off course, since freezing is non-destructive, I could simply unfreeze the app to solve the problem.
Here is a list of everything I froze:
- com.amazon.mp3
- AllShare
- com.tmobile.apppack
- Backup (I'm not on T-Mobile)
- DriveSmart
- DriveSmart System
- Group Texting
- Media Hub
- My Account (Only the com.tmobile.selfhelp one)
- T-Mobile Device Carbon
- T-Mobile TV
- Video Chat
- SNS (Social networking)
- SNSAccount
- SnsComposer
- Visual Voicemail (I'm not on T-Mobile)
- Gallery (I use QuickPic instead)
- Swype (I use the samsung keyboard in portrait mode)
- Tips & Tricks
- Email (I use gmail instead)
- Accounts & Sync
- Files (I use ES File Explorer instead)
- Web (I use Dolphin HD instead)
- TeleNav GPS Navigator
- Talk
- Mini Diary
- com.google.android.apps.books
- Task Manager
- Messaging (I use Handcent instead)
4) Remove everything from your home screen which you don't need.
Again, quite easy. What I noticed in the beginning was that I used the home screens to list all apps I actually used, so I didn't have to open the app drawer and search for the wanted app between all apps I didn't use but couldn't remove. However, now that I removed/froze all useless apps (see step 3), the app drawer is quite a clean list of apps, so apps that I use sparingly don't need to be on my home screen anymore.
By the way, it is possible to order the apps in your app drawer. Just open the drawer, choose "menu / View type" and choose "Customizable grid". Afterwards, you can choose "menu / Reorder".
5) Disable apps that run on startup, but shouldn't.
I'm using an app called autorun manager for this. I disabled some apps that I use sparingly but that shouldn't be started when turning on the phone.
6) Replace stock apps.
It might be interesting to look at alternatives for the stock apps, depending on your needs. This is especially handy if you are able to remove/freeze the stock app you're replacing (see step 3).
Some stock apps you can replace:
1) Messaging --> Handcent.
The main features which made me choose Handcent were an incredibly handy popup window if you receive a message and great customization (both the interface as well as the configuration, for example not automatically switching to mms if your message is longer than 3 sms messages was handy for me).
Another nice replacement is Go SMS Pro, but when I tested it, it couldn't work with the led indicators of the sidekick.
2) Default launcher / home screens --> LauncherPro
I only tested this briefly before reverting to the default one, but it seemed very responsive. (I personally didn't like the spacing of the icons on the home screen)
3) Web --> Dolphin HD
I personally love the interface of Dolphin with tabs on top, gestures, efficient use of the screen space, ...
Other replacements are Opera, Skyfire, Firefox, ...
4) Gallery --> QuickPic
I find QuickPic to be a lot faster, and you can easily include/exclude folders.
Root
Rooting the sidekick is actually an easy process. It's a matter of connecting your device to your pc, installing the samsung drivers, running SuperOneClick and clicking "root". That's it. And if you want to undo this change, just go through the same process but click "unroot" instead.
You can find a guide here.

thanks a lot, man. though i'm still considering if i really need root.

Great little guide.
New users that just want a quick way to improve their phone's performance and stability should take note.

Honor 8 - EMUI 4.1 - Chrome notifications

Hello,
Is anyone on Honor 8 / EMUI 4.1 able to get chrome notifications?
I've been checking Chrome settings and found nothing wrong, expect for the fact I don't seem to be able to add chrome to the list of apps that can ignore battery optimization, since it is not listed. I'm not sure if this is the reason though.
Please share your ideas / suggestions.
RM

It's because Chrome is a system app already so it is by default protected. Except it doesn't even work correctly probably because of their ram management, which kind of make this phone useless for receiving notification for me.
I tried adding Google Clock and S-Health to protected apps and also lock it in the "recent apps" menu, they still get forced close and the alarm didn't ring or it stopped counting steps.
I haven't used EMUI5 yet to know if it's fixed.

Hello!
Solution found! The hint (system app) of the previous post made me try this:
1-Uninstall Chrome (using TiBu - root needed)
2-Reinstall Chrome from Play Store
3-Configure settings to allow notifications from wanted pages
4-Add Chrome to the list of apps that can ignore battery optimizations
So far it is working as expected...
About the other notification issues I've faced before (Google Keep, WhatsApp,...) I've solved it after enabling "keep mobile data on when sleeping", besides adding the app to the ignore battery optimization list, of course.
RM

I have found that same exempt setting as well, unfortunately Chrome isn't in the list so I guess that's why you have to root to remove it first and readd it as third party app for it to show up.
To much effort to just get notification working, a basic feature of all phones and risk losing warranty and Android Pay access.
To make it clear for others:
1. add the app to the Protected apps list (settings - advanced settings - battery manager - protected apps).
2. go to settings - apps - advanced - exempt from battery optimization - select the drop down list and and select "all apps" - find your app and set it to allow.
Huawei programmers must have pride themselves in putting settings inside convoluted maze that's impossible to find.

You might also want to add Settings - Advanced Settings - Battery Manger - Upper right gear - keep mobile data on during sleep.
I second you about this kind of maze that we must run to just have notifications, but, on the other hand I'm kind of OK with it, as soon I can find a way to solve matter!
RM

A20 privacy ultimate guide without root

This guide is for people who enjoys privacy, and want to enjoy a fully controlled experience even on a stock Android, and it dosen't only concerns the Samsung A20 but all powered Android phones, after applying all the steps you'll enjoy a stock firmware free from all bloatwares, free from non useful bandwidth consumption, free from unnecessary battery drains, Without having to root and without the need for a computer.
First make sure you use a non bloated firmware you can tell by its size, if not compare and download and flash the lighter stock rom you find, don't be scared your sim card will work. or just follow this guide to the end and all bloatwares will vanish ?
IN THIS GUIDE I'll be focusing on how to regain your privacy without root, and without needing a computer.
DEBLOAT GOD without root :
You can use adb (you'll need a computer for that), there's fully explained guides here on how to debloat using adb. But as I said I'll be focusing on how to regain control over your phone without the need for a computer.
I don't use Google accounts or Services, so my debloating method will block even Google play Services.
Let's start by hard reset :laugh: but before that, make sure to remove all entered accounts and lock screens before going any further with hard reset, so you don't encounter any problems. (of course you can keep your data, but I don't recommend keeping Google or Facebook apps and accounts.)
1)- Hard reset (enter stock recovery by pressing " Power button + Volume up" and wipe cache, and data)
After rebooting don't connect to wifi, it's preferable if you don't have data connectivity on your sim card either, don't be scared it will launch Android even without internet : on the welcome screen, accept only the first two agreements from the four agreements , then hit "Skip" and "Ignore" buttons always, don't enter any Google or samsung accounts, then click finish.
Once on home screen enter Settings app,
Head to applications, on the right corner select show system apps, disable everything that can be disabled, see my attached screenshots.zip for a full detailed list.
How to disable Google Play Services:
After you disabled the unnecessary things, go to the Settings app again and enter "Biometric and Security" - "Other security settings" - "Device admin apps" and uncheck the "find my Mobile".
Now in the settings application go to applications and you can now disable "Google Play Services" and "Device Health Service" as well.
Reboot :fingers-crossed:
Congratulations now you debloated your phone from unnecessary background Services.
2) - Privacy Bonus : Netguard. For an ultimate Control over your bandwidth and internet privacy (everyone can use this following guide especially rooted phones)
Install Netguard pro or netguard. In the settings Go to advanced options, tick manage system apps, notify on internet access if you want to get notified about what apps are requesting on your behalf ?, ("log internet access" optional only if you want to see what apps are requesting internet inside a log)
Now go back to the main Netguard interface, you will see all system apps, and user apps inside this screen,
Turn everything to red, then click the dollar sign in the left corner, and click "lockdown traffic" in the right corner.
Now you can enable only your browser to access the internet and leave all the rest blocked.
You can enable internet to a certain app by clicking the bandwidth sign and turn it from red to green, then click the arrow in the left next to the application name and tick "allow in lockdown mode", and this app will get internet.
See screenshots zip for more details.
That's all of it ! That's how to regain control over processes and bandwidth, only you can decide what should connect, and what are they doing on your behalf and without your consent.
In the screenshots you'll find out that I did disable Google play store, I always download apps from apkmirror dot com, or apkpure, and install them manually. I don't use Google play store, and with doing so you won't be needing a Google account watching you 24/7
Other steps :
Enter the Settings app - "Biometric and security" - " app permission" , and remove unwanted permissions.
THAT'S ALL OF IT !! NOW ENJOY your new phone speed performances, and it's long battery life
Some questions and answers:
Q- Why did I had to do all of this ?
A- If you install Netguard firewall app you'll notice a traffic from all the apps even what we thought are offline, to some unknown servers, like Amazon, and such, and I didn't agree with this, and they didn't say anything about it. I noticed that the disabled apps are sending internet request even if they are disabled and even I did turned off mobile data, and background activity, that why I used the Netguard Firewall to block them all.
Q- How to install apps if you blocked or deleted google play store and Samsung store ?
A- I download APK from apkmirror (dot com), they are clean, and by this you can always have them in case you want them after you 'reset' your phone or uninstall them, and especially no internet is required in order to install apps
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If you liked my post or find it somewhat informative hit Thanks or comment :fingers-crossed: , if not I'm sorry for wasting your time :laugh: i just wanted to share my experience with some people like me. Peace.

[Guide] Better Battery Life With Google Apps + MicroG Mixed System

Hi guys, this is my first post about dev-ish stuff. Cause I didn’t something like that. So, lets get started...
As you know Android 10 has huge battery drain because of Google Play Services. Before that, I got nearly %40 of background usage. Then I start searching to fix that issue. I tried Magisk modules, moded apks but non of them work properly for me. Then, I want to use MicroG but I need Google Play Store, Google Contacts, Google Dialer etc. So, I made a mix of this solutions. That is what I did:
Before everything don’t forget that: I’m not responsible of anything that can brick or harm your devices. You can do these steps if your phone has signature spoofing ability.
1)Clean install ROM with GAPPS package. (I strongly recommend to use stock-ish ROMS like Los, Aex, Cr-Droid etc.)
2)Boot your phone, skip setup wizard then reboot to recovery again.
3)Mount /system partition and go Advanced -> File Manager -> System (folder)
4)Look into app, priv-app and /product/app, /product/priv-app folders.
5)Remove these folders: MatchmakerPrebuilt, Turbo, WellbeingPrebuilt, PrebuiltGmsCore, GooglePartnerSetup, Velvet, GoogleServicesFramework, CalendarGooglePrebuilt.
6)Reboot your phone
7)Download latest Nanodroid release from here and extract that with some zip utility. Find these apps: GmsCore, GsfProxy, nlpBackendApple, nlpBackendNominatim. Move these apks to phone and install all of them with the same order. Open MicroG settings and grant all permissions, disable battery optimization. Open Settings -> Apps -> Apple Backend -> Permissions -> Allow GPS always.
8)Now reboot recovery then install Magisk.
9)Open Magisk and install Aurora Module from this link
10)Reboot phone then open Aurora Services. Grant permissions and allow Play store under Whitelist.
11)Now, we need to install F-Droid app (I recommend AuroraDroid), add Nanolx and MicroG repos. Check for updates. If there is an update for MicroG or it’s components, update them.
12)Reboot your phone one last time and open MicroG settings app. Login with your Google account. In Google device registration make the status ON. In Google Cloud Messaging make receive push notifications status ON and click three dot menu on right cornerand enter advanced. Make confirm new apps status to OFF. Go back to MicroG main menu and enter Google safetynet and make it’s status to ON. Last step: Go location modules and make everything ON and configure their settings for your current location.
13)Now clean Google Play Store app cache and data then open it.
14)DONE. Now you can install your apps (premium and free).
Problems:
1.Some apps won’t work like Google Calendar, Grasshopper or Google Keep etc.
2.If you want to use Google Contacts and Dialer with Google Sync, you should install them in first step (with gapps or gapps included rom)
3.If you still can’t see your contacts open settings -> accounts -> google -> Account sync -> make contacts status ON then reboot.
4.If you still can’t see contacts check Google Contacts app. There is couple things can cause that like maybe you didn’t choose your default account or maybe you didn’t select the visible account for MicroG etc.
5. If you want to update your ROM with dirty flash, make sure to delete apps -said in fifth step- THEN reboot. If you don’t do it, you should start all steps from beginning and also your ROM may not boot.
Questions:
1.Why are we installing these apps manually, why don’t we just flash the NanoDroid.zip?
- Because of saving some apps from deletion and make easier to ROM updates with dirty flash.
2.Why don’t you build a zip file for must-remove Google apps?
- Actually, IDK how.. I’m not a programmer or developer or something like that. If someone can make a little bloatware-removal zip, that will be very nice but don’t forget, maybe you can find these apps in different folders in your system. Some ROMs has their unique directory or something like that.
3.Gboard says that it needs GMS, what should I do?
- Nothing, it works like a charm. Just ignore it.
Now, I can use my phone nearly 36h per charge.(Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Exynos) That is a huge change. Try and tell me what do you think. If you got trouble with some steps, write in comments. I’ll try to reply them.
Thanks for:
-Nanolx for Nanodroid Project
-Aurora Team for Aurora Services and AuroraDroid App
-MicroG team for MicroG project
You can buy me a coffe if you want. Just click here and see your options.
Note for mods: If I made something wrong, please tell me. That is my first pre-professional topic. I want to fix my wrong. Thanks...

Frankly, the word-of-mouth stories are useless. If we don't get hard data, no one should follow a random guide on xda.

Thank you for your guide, might be looking in to it.
But even if not it's nice that you get time and energy and I bet some people already used it

[Tasker] [root] Updater for modded WhatsApp (AlexMods WhatsApp Plus)

What does this do?
Modded WhatsApps generally doesnt update itself, so you have to download the update manually. As known, WhatsApp stops working soon after a new version comes out, if you dont update it. So you have to always download update manually. This Tasker profile does it for you. It regularry checks for updates of WhatsApp in background and, if one is found - it automatically downloads and installs it. Once installed, you dont have to do anything. The profile is intended for AlexMods WhatsApp Plus (https://alexmods.com/wamods-en/), so make sure you are using this WhatsApp. Of course, if you want - you can change it, so that it downloads any other WhatsApp from any other web-site.
Preparations
Please backup your Tasker and WhatsApp before installing. Do note, that this requires root, as Android doesnt allow to install APK without root.
Installation
1. Extract the archive into /sdcard/Tasker (i.e. into corresponding folders).
2. Open Tasker
3. Long press on "Profiles", select "Import profile", then select every downloaded profile.
4. Disable and exit Tasker, then enable and exit Tasker or just reboot the device.

Is this a reputable developer? Downloading apps from places I'm unfamiliar freaks me out. Just interested in in the community's thoughts

Someone check it ? Any feedback ?

Feel free to check if before running by disabling Tasker, importing profiles and opening tasks.