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[Q] Looking for an Ipod Touch Android equivalent + Android Q's

Looking through the threads, it seems there are only two options available for a device similar to the ipod touch: Samsung Galaxy Wifi and Dell Streak 7. Now, the problem with the Samsung is that it is not available in America as far as I can tell. The Dell Streak seems too large for what I want, which is something that I can just leave in my pocket and not care if it gets banged up or not.
The smaller Arcos Gen 8 products seem to be more what I'm looking for: small, cheap android alternatives to an Ipod Touch. Unfortunately, from what I've read, they do not have access to the Android app store, which leaves them without any of Google's products and many other useful things I would want.
This leads me to my other questions about Android in general. What I'm looking to do is treat my Android device exactly as I do my Windows computer, where I can just browse the internet for applications, download whatever I want, and then simply install it to the device.
Is this possible to do on Android? Is it even necessary to have access to the App Store? Can I just go to the application's homepage, download the .apk file, and install it to my device? Do I need root access to be able to do this?
I wouldn't mind having a stripped down Arcos device if I could still get all the applications I want and just use it like I do my computer, but with all the variations on the Android OS I'm not sure if this is possible or not.
I apologize for the mess of questions. I guess what I want is whatever would be the closest
experience to just using my Windows PC on a small, cheap, Ipod Touch-like device.

You can install the apks without the Android Market, but most of them aren't available on the internet in legal ways. On the android market site you can't download the apk nor on any other site (like:appbeain) so you have to look on the developer's site or search a torrent
For you first question Samsung has two alternatives for the ipod, the Galaxy S 4 WiFi and the Galaxy S 5 WiFi. The difference is only in the screen size, the first is 4" which isn't too big (for me). I don't know if they're already available, but I think it worths to wait for them
Sent from my MB525 using XDA Premium App

The Samsung devices looked good but there doesn't seem to be a date for release here (America). The other problem is that I've read quite a bit how Samsung is notoriously bad for providing updates. Since Android is evolving rather quickly with new features being added all the time, receiving timely updates is of utmost importance to me. I guess then I will have no other choice than to root? (Assuming a root is even available and roms can be loaded)
I just wish Google could provide their version of Android on their website to download (it is opensource after all isn't it?) so that when I got my device, I could just replace the out of date Android version with Google's recent build. I don't understand why this couldn't be possible?

The main problem is that the phone's hardwares are different so the manufacturer have to create the apropriate drivers + a few of them has costum launchers like Sense or TouchWiz and these have to be updated too
Sent from my MB525 using XDA Premium App

:good:

[Completed] S3 Stock Dialer into 4.4.4 Roms like CM or OmniRom

Hello everyone
I need your help. I have a rooted galaxy s3. I really really like the ROM developed by XDA members but there is one thing I really hate is the default caller app. I think it's the most awkwardly application developed by Google, since the most obvious thing that should happen when you try to use the phone is see the keyboard, either to find a contact or enter a new number. But Google shows an interface where no keyboard, just a list of recent contacts. If I search the keyboard it does not arise or come after three touchs in special places, luckily I found. So I can not write immediately if someone gives me his phone number. If Google wanted to make impossible for such a basic thing, he did it.
The official Samsung ROM has the best app I've seen: Default leaves the keypad, next pages are history, favorites and list of contacts. All them big size, easy to use, friendly using.
I wonder if it is possible to use this application into a ROM like OmniRom or CM11, and how I could do it.
Thank you very much to all.
Have a great day.

The Samsung Dialer/Phone App is based on Samsung's propitiatory TouchWiz Framework. Its commonly referred to as TW. For this reason, the app will not work well on AOSP Roms such as Omni or CM. You can however find some Good dialer Apps in the Google Play Store.
Can you please post your Device Model and Carrier so that we can point in the Right Direction ?

Changing device model(osprey) to other Nexus/Pixel name to use Android Beta program.

Hello xda-experts,
I have a question for you guys, Is it possible to change the device model? Currently Moto G3 is named osprey , and each devices have an unique name. Previously before the Google Assistant was release to all Marshmallow devices, you have done a tweak to change the device name to Pixel, so the tweak enables Google Assistant, but still I was recorded as Moto G3 in Google Device activity.
So, My question is -- Is there any possibility of changing our device completely pointing as some other devices like Nexus 5X, 6P or Google Pixel, Pixel XL, so I can use the Android Beta Program.
It might be a stupid question, but I don't know whether it is a hardware kind of thing or something else. Just curious to know whether it is possible!! If possible the please let me know how to do this one.
Thanks,
Gokul.

gokul_velu said:
Hello xda-experts,
I have a question for you guys, Is it possible to change the device model? Currently Moto G3 is named osprey , and each devices have an unique name. Previously before the Google Assistant was release to all Marshmallow devices, you have done a tweak to change the device name to Pixel, so the tweak enables Google Assistant, but still I was recorded as Moto G3 in Google Device activity.
So, My question is -- Is there any possibility of changing our device completely pointing as some other devices like Nexus 5X, 6P or Google Pixel, Pixel XL, so I can use the Android Beta Program.
It might be a stupid question, but I don't know whether it is a hardware kind of thing or something else. Just curious to know whether it is possible!! If possible the please let me know how to do this one.
Thanks,
Gokul.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, there is more to it than that... even if you did get it recognized as one of those devices, your IMEI wouldn't be in the database of eligible devices, and if you tricked that some how and got the update it could fail because the signatures wouldn't match. And if you somehow got around that and it flashed, you would have a brick because those ROMs are device specific and would not work on our hardware.
I don't think you really understand how all this works, might want to look into it a little more.

Rooting an Oppo R11

Hi all, was just putting this out there to ask if any of the XDA faithful have been able to successfully root an Oppo R11? I don't need to go into details about how bad the ColorOs is, so you get where I'm coming from
I've read a fair bit since receiving the phone (Gift) about being able to root older models from the work by Wuxianlin and others.
Is it safe to assume the older methods of rooting the Oppo phone wont work for the R11?
Details are below of the model (Australia) etc
Model # - CPH1707
ColorOS version - v3.1
Android version - 7.1.1
Build # - CPH1707EX_11_A.06
Cheers guys, appreciate any help or guidance
Sanchez

dirty cow - NO. msmdownload tool - YES

sanchez78 said:
Hi all, was just putting this out there to ask if any of the XDA faithful have been able to successfully root an Oppo R11? I don't need to go into details about how bad the ColorOs is, so you get where I'm coming from
I've read a fair bit since receiving the phone (Gift) about being able to root older models from the work by Wuxianlin and others.
Is it safe to assume the older methods of rooting the Oppo phone wont work for the R11?
Details are below of the model (Australia) etc
Model # - CPH1707
ColorOS version - v3.1
Android version - 7.1.1
Build # - CPH1707EX_11_A.06
Cheers guys, appreciate any help or guidance
Sanchez
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ColorOS is by far and away the worst experience I've ever had on a phone.... it boggles the mind how they thought this was a good android alternative. The phone is great but really unusable for me at this stage.
carlochiefsg said:
dirty cow - NO. msmdownload tool - YES
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please go into detail, I've never rooted and Android device, as I've never needed to. I'm coming from a BlackBerry PRIV, which I used for many years, and I came dependant on the keyboard (BlackBerry PRIV onscreen keyboard). This is all good, as you can download a Blackberry manager and install the keyboard, however, the keyboard doesn't appear when you tap into message, email, you name it. Sometimes you'll have to tap 4 or 5 times before it'll appear. And it's got all the permissions in the world.
Now I'm here, hoping I can install a stock android version. Is this at all possible? Any help would be much appreciated.

Same same
OppoR11 said:
The ColorOS is by far and away the worst experience I've ever had on a phone.... it boggles the mind how they thought this was a good android alternative. The phone is great but really unusable for me at this stage.
Can you please go into detail, I've never rooted and Android device, as I've never needed to. I'm coming from a BlackBerry PRIV, which I used for many years, and I came dependant on the keyboard (BlackBerry PRIV onscreen keyboard). This is all good, as you can download a Blackberry manager and install the keyboard, however, the keyboard doesn't appear when you tap into message, email, you name it. Sometimes you'll have to tap 4 or 5 times before it'll appear. And it's got all the permissions in the world.
Now I'm here, hoping I can install a stock android version. Is this at all possible? Any help would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the same boat.... for me ColorOS is almost unuseable as I struggle to get the font size and colour that works for my eyes... and it's very non customisable. I am playing around with Themer (Play store download) and it looks better but so far not a final solution

I have a nex with the Global (India) ROM - happy to answer ?'s and one of my one ..

Sold my NEX S from China on ebay and got my hands on a Nex from India with the Global ROM. Happy to answer any questions people have about the global rom. I do have one question that someone might be able to help me with. I am trying to access the smart unlock settings so i can have i stay unlocked when i'm home. When i setup my car for Bluetooth, i got the page asking me if i want to setup smart unlock and did so but now that i want to go back and add a location I can't find it on any settings menu. YouTube and a few other searches had instructions on how to create a settings shortcut to get to the android security menu, but that doesn't work with the NEX. You can setup the shortcut, but it tries to open and immediately closes. I haven't found any way to get to the "Smart Unlock" menu - weird.
Other than that, the phone setup is pretty typical android with all the regular google stuff. You can create a vivo account with just an email verification (no china cell required) and even that's not required. Crazy that the settings section doesn't have a search bar - you have to poke around for everything. The other weird thing I've found so far is even though i selected google gboard as my primary keyboard, for some menus (mostly those related to settings or otherwise data entry points from the OS), it still brings up the default vivo menu (in English). more an annoyance than anything.
Want to make this my daily driver. The only real bummer so far is no NFC; relying on the Samsung pay capability of my gear S3 instead.
No issue changing the default launcher - switched to nova in a few seconds.

Mixed with Edge gestures and funtocuh OS gesture... it's wonderfull

TGUY25 said:
Sold my NEX S from China on ebay and got my hands on a Nex from India with the Global ROM. Happy to answer any questions people have about the global rom. I do have one question that someone might be able to help me with. I am trying to access the smart unlock settings so i can have i stay unlocked when i'm home. When i setup my car for Bluetooth, i got the page asking me if i want to setup smart unlock and did so but now that i want to go back and add a location I can't find it on any settings menu. YouTube and a few other searches had instructions on how to create a settings shortcut to get to the android security menu, but that doesn't work with the NEX. You can setup the shortcut, but it tries to open and immediately closes. I haven't found any way to get to the "Smart Unlock" menu - weird.
Other than that, the phone setup is pretty typical android with all the regular google stuff. You can create a vivo account with just an email verification (no china cell required) and even that's not required. Crazy that the settings section doesn't have a search bar - you have to poke around for everything. The other weird thing I've found so far is even though i selected google gboard as my primary keyboard, for some menus (mostly those related to settings or otherwise data entry points from the OS), it still brings up the default vivo menu (in English). more an annoyance than anything.
Want to make this my daily driver. The only real bummer so far is no NFC; relying on the Samsung pay capability of my gear S3 instead.
No issue changing the default launcher - switched to nova in a few seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. That's been very kind of as many people like me are reluctant to try Vivo especially due to that os and spending 45k Rs is a but risky.
1. Launcher setting- So no problems at all setting nova launcher as default launcher so that you can press home key and go straight to nova launcher home page right ? Have you tried any other launcher like Microsoft launcher?
2. Software - So far how many software updates you got. Generally how is the Vivo os updates ? Am not expecting crazy fast updates like OnePlus but still how is it ? Is there any chance that we get core Android updates to Android Pie and Q especially as other companies guarantee ? What about app to app transition and software os lags present after 1 month of usage ? How is th Ui ? Is it irritating? I like rich os like emui or miui rather than stock os.
3. I have seen in Oppo that enabling developer section under settings for changing Ppi or animation speed causes a red or yellow strip to blink across the status bar. Have you checked that ?
4. Display- In specs page , it said Nex has 338 ppi. How is the display ? Not expecting Samsung quality but can we get near to OnePlus 6 display quality in terms of color accuracy and sharpness or clarity ?
5. Audio quality- Have you tried audio via headphone Jack ? Vivo Nex is only the true competitor against LG V and G series in terms of audio and this is the primary sole reason to buy Vivo Nex. How about the loud speaker output ?
6. Call quality and reception- which network you are using here in India ? Does Vivo Nex picks network range pretty well or is it shabby like LG ? Also since no ear piece speaker but peizoelectric vibrating display how is the call volume ? Is it muffled ? Can it be heard in noisy environment ?
7. How is the charging speed ?
Sorry to ask much but too much curious and anxious about Vivo Nex

Answers to your questions (as best I can) below after each question
ben cherian said:
Thank you. That's been very kind of as many people like me are reluctant to try Vivo especially due to that os and spending 45k Rs is a but risky.
1. Launcher setting- So no problems at all setting nova launcher as default launcher so that you can press home key and go straight to nova launcher home page right ? Have you tried any other launcher like Microsoft launcher? Changing default launcher was no problem. I'm using Nova launcher and it functions exactly as it does on other phones
2. Software - So far how many software updates you got. Generally how is the Vivo os updates ? Am not expecting crazy fast updates like OnePlus but still how is it ? Is there any chance that we get core Android updates to Android Pie and Q especially as other companies guarantee ? What about app to app transition and software os lags present after 1 month of usage ? How is th Ui ? Is it irritating? I like rich os like emui or miui rather than stock os. I've gotten two updates so far. The launcher isn't as clean or neat as others and still have some Chinese type features - Jovi, no search under settings and a very few places where bits and pieces of the Chinese rom still poke through. Overall, though, nothing terribly annoying except that the option for smart unlock is hidden and you can't access it.
3. I have seen in Oppo that enabling developer section under settings for changing Ppi or animation speed causes a red or yellow strip to blink across the status bar. Have you checked that ? Crazy, ugly red stripe across the top of the screen when developer options are on. Doesn't affect performance as far as I can tell - just not pretty. Anyone smart enough to enable them knows what they are getting into and don't need a huge red bar across the top as a reminder
4. Display- In specs page , it said Nex has 338 ppi. How is the display ? Not expecting Samsung quality but can we get near to OnePlus 6 display quality in terms of color accuracy and sharpness or clarity ? I think the display is excellent
5. Audio quality- Have you tried audio via headphone Jack ? Vivo Nex is only the true competitor against LG V and G series in terms of audio and this is the primary sole reason to buy Vivo Nex. How about the loud speaker output ? Haven't used headphones yet. phone speaker is very loud and clear
yet
ll quality and reception- which network you are using here in India ? Does Vivo Nex picks network range pretty well or is it shabby like LG ? Also since no ear piece speaker but peizoelectric vibrating display how is the call volume ? Is it muffled ? Can it be heard in noisy environment ? All good here
7. How is the charging speed ? pretty typical - neither very fast or very slow
Overall I like the phone. swipe gestures like iPhone work well - i only wish there was a quick access button for settings. No NFC also stinks. I was using it as a daily driver but stopped as I use NFC a lot If it had NFC I would still be using it as my daily driver
Sorry to ask much but too much curious and anxious about Vivo Nex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

hi thanks for your help first.
Could you please check does it has a Turkish language in supported languages ?

mdb1903 said:
hi thanks for your help first.
Could you please check does it has a Turkish language in supported languages ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turkish is not supported.

To turn off the "secure" keyboard when entering data go to Settings\More settings\Input method\Security Input. Turn off Security input.

i am wondering if the India build Nex suffers from loose buttons? i saw one with the three buttons loose and not as solid as the Chinese 256
to be fair the version i used was pretty abused with dust filling every space

No issue with buttons.

So are these 3 versions that we know of now:
1- Chinese
2- Indian
3- International - Hong Kong .....?
Are the Hong Kong and Indian versions the same with the same pre-installed Play Store and "ok google" working?

crusht said:
So are these 3 versions that we know of now:
1- Chinese
2- Indian
3- International - Hong Kong .....?
Are the Hong Kong and Indian versions the same with the same pre-installed Play Store and "ok google" working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes three versions, my HK version is on the way

Hello,
I have several questions for you and hope you have an answer for me. I have a Nex S with global rom, and I am wanting to remove a lot of the bloatware. I have noticed that when I go into applications that there are 2 "messages" apps but, only one that is accessible. Do you know the propper commands to remove this one? Also, do you know the commands to remove the following:
1. Google Lens.
2. ARCore.
3. Google Play Movies etc.
4. Google Duo

Phaze1585 said:
Hello,
I have several questions for you and hope you have an answer for me. I have a Nex S with global rom, and I am wanting to remove a lot of the bloatware. I have noticed that when I go into applications that there are 2 "messages" apps but, only one that is accessible. Do you know the propper commands to remove this one? Also, do you know the commands to remove the following:
1. Google Lens.
2. ARCore.
3. Google Play Movies etc.
4. Google Duo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ADB is your friend and same basic pc knowledge
Follow this guide and you are ready
https://forum.xda-developers.com/nex/how-to/guide-vivo-nex-s-apps-safe-to-uninstall-t3813308
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Screen Sound Casting
TGUY25 said:
Sold my NEX S from China on ebay and got my hands on a Nex from India with the Global ROM. Happy to answer any questions people have about the global rom. I do have one question that someone might be able to help me with. I am trying to access the smart unlock settings so i can have i stay unlocked when i'm home. When i setup my car for Bluetooth, i got the page asking me if i want to setup smart unlock and did so but now that i want to go back and add a location I can't find it on any settings menu. YouTube and a few other searches had instructions on how to create a settings shortcut to get to the android security menu, but that doesn't work with the NEX. You can setup the shortcut, but it tries to open and immediately closes. I haven't found any way to get to the "Smart Unlock" menu - weird.
Other than that, the phone setup is pretty typical android with all the regular google stuff. You can create a vivo account with just an email verification (no china cell required) and even that's not required. Crazy that the settings section doesn't have a search bar - you have to poke around for everything. The other weird thing I've found so far is even though i selected google gboard as my primary keyboard, for some menus (mostly those related to settings or otherwise data entry points from the OS), it still brings up the default vivo menu (in English). more an annoyance than anything.
Want to make this my daily driver. The only real bummer so far is no NFC; relying on the Samsung pay capability of my gear S3 instead.
No issue changing the default launcher - switched to nova in a few seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
How is the screen sound casting when you are calling someone and when you are watching youtube/videos or while video calling someone, it will be great if you compare it with you previous phone or samsung/Iphone.
So, can you please share your experience with gear S3 connecting and usability as compare with samsung galaxy S8
Thanks