Database Info

LeapFrog Epic development thread (ROMs, recovery, etc.)

The first custom ROM for the Epic is now live! See this thread for details.
So a friend of mine got his hands on one of these, and since he asked me about flashing Gapps into the device, I was wondering if any one of you guys have been doing something just as "epic" for this children's tablet. And yes, I started this thread as a sort-of sequel/follow-up to the VTech Innotab Max thread I posted a year ago.
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TECH SPECS:
Display: 7-inch capacitive touchscreen with TN LCD display
Resolution: 1024x600
Operating System: Based on Android 4.4 (modified, of course)
Processor: Quad-core, 1.3 GHz (reported by CPU-Z as MediaTek MT8127)
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 16GB; 9GB available for /sdcard partition
Micro SD Card Slot: Yes, expandable up to 32GB
Camera - Rear: 2MP
Camera - Front: 2MP
Audio: 3.5mm stereo jack with microphone
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0
Battery Type: Rechargeable lithium-ion
Battery Life: 6+ hours; results will vary based on usage and settings
Port: Micro USB
Sensor(s): Accelerometer
Much to my disappointment, LeapFrog didn't equip the tablet with a GPS module, and despite the potential privacy issues that may arise with including one, it could be legitimately used for certain applications like tracking the device or your son or daughter in case he/she gets lost. The usual backdoor leading to Developer Options is also disabled for some reason, though it can still be accessed through third-party utilities such as this. And maybe it's just my modded Epic, but beaming stuff from another device to an Epic using ShareIT appears to suffer from connection issues, i.e. the device is detected but the sender is unable to connect to it; a workaround for this would be sending a file or two from the Epic and then having the sender do the same from his/her device.
APKs from outside sources can be installed either through ADB or by downloading it on your device and installing as usual, not to mention that there's a semi-hidden feature (tucked away under the Parental Controls panel) that allows for the Amazon AppStore to be loaded. As for rooting, Kingoroot should do the trick from what I've read here, but you can manually install SuperSU on it if you prefer the more established root access app. ADB-wise, the latest debug and fastboot binaries should work on the device from what I can attest.
Oh, and here's a link to the Antutu test results:
http://our.antutu.net/api/?action=v5&act=benchmark&id=54239552
CPU-Z report:
Kernel sources:
Code:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vo6u4s6b3shjrhb/epic.iso?dl=0
https://github.com/huckleberrypie/android_kernel_quanta_narnia
Mad props to RAMChYLD for volunteering to have the sources mailed to him, as I'm reluctant to have them mail the goods to me no thanks to the rather abysmal postal service here in my place.
Pre-rooted ROM dump courtesy of @epic__fail; This can only be flashed with an unlocked bootloader.
Code:
http://www.needrom.com/download/leapfrog-epic-v1-stock-rom/
Note that while the unsigned ROMs cannot be flashed directly using SP Flash Tool, you can get around this by using the hidden Write Memory option. A quick guide on how to do that can be found on page 12.
Signed ROM dumps. Can be flashed directly using SP Flash Tool v5.1744. Make sure to perform a full backup of the tablet before flashing!
Code:
Epic Academy Edition:
v1.1.95: https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=6006931924117902657
v1.8.160: https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=6006931924117908682
v1.8.804: https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=4349826312261819358
LeapPad Academy:
v1.1.171: https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=4349826312261738402
P.S.: If you're getting a signature error upon flashing, try unticking SEC_RO and then try again.
Official flashable ZIP files:
Code:
Regular:
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/KOT49H.user.1.0.124.20150709.140831-to-KOT49H.user.1.5.45.20160310.231145.zip
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/KOT49H.user.1.1.146.20150825.120621-to-KOT49H.user.1.5.45.20160310.231145.zip
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/KOT49H.user.1.2.90.20150924.150837-to-KOT49H.user.1.5.45.20160310.231145.zip
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/KOT49H.user.1.3.27.20151026.144847-to-KOT49H.user.1.5.45.20160310.231145.zip
Academy Edition:
Latest Version: "KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555"
KOT49H.user.1.1.52.20170522.123745
URL: http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/v2/KOT49H.user.1.1.52.20170522.123745_to_KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555.zip
Patch notes: This is an incremental update from KOT49H.user.1.1.52.20170522.123745 to KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555
KOT49H.user.1.1.62.20170627.010228
URL: http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/v2/KOT49H.user.1.1.62.20170627.010228_to_KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555.zip
Patch notes: This is an incremental update from KOT49H.user.1.1.62.20170627.010228 to KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555
KOT49H.user.1.1.64.20170704.010259
URL: http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/v2/KOT49H.user.1.1.64.20170704.010259_to_KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555.zip
Patch notes: This is an incremental update from KOT49H.user.1.1.64.20170704.010259 to KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555
KOT49H.user.1.1.66.20170712.151925
URL: http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/v2/KOT49H.user.1.1.66.20170712.151925_to_KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555.zip
Patch notes: This is an incremental update from KOT49H.user.1.1.66.20170712.151925 to KOT49H.user.1.1.95.20171215.140555
JSON files for the updater:
Regular:
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/NarniaSystemUpdateVersions1.json
Academy:
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/NarniaSystemUpdateVersions_epic2.json
LeapPad Academy:
http://lfcdownload.leapfrog.com/epic/en/NarniaSystemUpdateVersions_epic3.json
The above ZIPs are incremental patches used to update an existing system to a newer build; I couldn't seem to dig up a full system image, let alone a scatter file, for a bricked or bootlooping Epic to be restored back to factory condition though, but still I'm keeping this as a reference in case any one of you guys is interested in downloading them manually. Apparently "KOT49H.user.1.1.99.20150807.173011" is unique to demo units, hence why there weren't any updates available for my device when I ran the OTA utility.
Demo-to-retail conversion tutorial
A tutorial on how to convert a store demo unit into a fully-functional Epic can be found here:
https://huckleberrypie57.blogspot.com/2018/12/and-i-came-in-for-another-leapfrog-epic.html
Custom ROMs
Unofficial LineageOS 14.1 by mac2612, blakegriplingph and kai2000: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/rom-lineageos-14-1-leapfrog-epic-t4161311

The modifications to the way locale is set means that Bluetooth HID like keyboards can pair but cannot work since it cannot be set to be used for input (the options to change or add keyboard layouts is disabled in the Android settings screen and instead is selected from LeapFrog's own screen which divides the world into 7 regions- US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Other. When you pick Other it forces the UK keyboard and locale on you, which is ridiculous since some countries uses varying combinations of either (for example, Philippines uses US English 100%, while Malaysia uses UK English but US Keyboard). However bluetooth does work with A2DP devices.
Yeah, the CPU-Z and AnTuTu benchmark are my doing. I am the friend Blake mentioned. I should add that the device ran the Project Anarchy demo in AnTuTu somewhat well, averaging at 15fps.
MTK's spec sheet mentions that the SoC also has GPS and FM Radio, but I suspect that both are disconnected on the device since Android doesn't detect them.
The option to enable installation of packages from untrusted sources is still in the android security screen in settings tho, and you will be instructed to turn it on as part of the steps to install the Amazon AppStore.

I actually emailed LeapFrog as to whether they can release a tarball to the MTK kernel sources they used, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed but since they had a history of doing so in compliance with the GPL (c.f. the links to Didj/Leapster sources on eLinux provided by none other than LF themselves), I have high hopes for custom ROM development or at least some mods for the device.

Well, my only problem with the device is that the input method and locale selection is locked down and selected by the "Device Locale" screen, instead of allowing the much more granular selection allowed from the Android settings screen itself. I have determined that the same lockdown prevents bluetooth keyboards from pairing properly with the device. Also, several apps defaulted to downloading videos from UK servers instead (ie BabyFirst TV, Fisher-Price Puppy Player and Little People Player) and thus have what I perceive as "wrong voices".

I'm still waiting for LeapFrog's reply concerning the kernel sources, and if all goes well we'll be golden.

Good luck.

Well, drat. Leapfrog's asking me for a mailing address so they can send me the source CDs. Problem is I am wary of the postal servce here at my place, so is there anyone who's willing to get the sources?

So I bought one of these leap pad epics. Got it at toys r us. It was a return so open box. They gave it to me for $70 (they retail for $169.99+tax) because the last person who owned it left their passcode on it. I can't figure out how to get it off. Any ideas??

Hang in there. I've contacted Leapfrog via Facebook and am awaiting a reply.

RAMChYLD said:
Hang in there. I've contacted Leapfrog via Facebook and am awaiting a reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't doing the standard factory reset procedure be enough for that (as with those who ended up flinging way too many patterns on their device), or is there anything special that's needed to be done?

Okay, got a reply. Go into the parent screen to bring up the pin entry, then enter 4 1 9. Now, when your cursor is in the last textbox, hit the backspace and enter 2 7. Apparently this is a hidden backdoor that Leapfrog puts into the system for cases like these (ie improper returns).
I've tested it, entering 4 1 2 7 upfront doesn't work. It has to be 4 1 9 <backspace> 2 7.
As for doing a factory reset, well, It's a catch 22 situation- to get into the settings screen, you need to enter the password first - they actually modified the settings app. If you don't have the password, well, you're SOL unless you call Leapfrog support, who will probably give you this code anyway. If the ADB interface is up, you could probably do it from there, but I'm not sure if it is.

Hmm, now I'm wondering if there's someone who's up to doing an SP Flash Tool dump of the device.

Good news: RAMChYLD just got his hands on the source tarball, and as such he gave me a link to the ISO containing the kernel sources, ripped off the disc LeapFrog mailed to him recently:
Said link to the sources can be found on the first post, in case you guys are interested.

Actually, Blake did the bulk of the work, talking to Leapfrog and arranging the CD to be sent to me. But yeah.

RAMChYLD said:
Actually, Blake did the bulk of the work, talking to Leapfrog and arranging the CD to be sent to me. But yeah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, pretty much. Though to tell you one thing, I was a bit worried that the sources either wouldn't arrive in time or not at all.

RAMChYLD said:
As for doing a factory reset, well, It's a catch 22 situation- to get into the settings screen, you need to enter the password first - they actually modified the settings app. If you don't have the password, well, you're SOL unless you call Leapfrog support, who will probably give you this code anyway. If the ADB interface is up, you could probably do it from there, but I'm not sure if it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can factory reset by holding down Power + Volume Up at boot.

Is any one of you guys here interested?

I will be. I'll be buying my son one this weekend.

alienundies said:
I will be. I'll be buying my son one this weekend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could provide an SP Flash Tool dump of the stock ROM it'll be golden., along with a TWRP/Clockwork recovery image. I really wish that I could get my hands on one, but the local Toys R Us here sells it for like twice the price even though it's just some glorified MediaTek device made with children in mind.

XbooX08 said:
You can factory reset by holding down Power + Volume Up at boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that work? They even went as far as to disable the ability to screenshot with power + volume down until I installed an app to re-enable it.
blakegriplingph said:
If you could provide an SP Flash Tool dump of the stock ROM it'll be golden., along with a TWRP/Clockwork recovery image. I really wish that I could get my hands on one, but the local Toys R Us here sells it for like twice the price even though it's just some glorified MediaTek device made with children in mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. The Asian importers for the device are charging way more for it over here than the device sell for in the US. It's going for an insane RM1000 at Toys R Us and Hamleys here. Which imo is ridiculous given that there are vendors selling (malware-laden) Chinese tablets for less than a fifth of that.

Is there any secure custom roms or os?

I wish to know if there are any custom roms or os'es that wouldn't touch my data using background processes that doesn't ask for permission to do so. Because these apps are either pre-installed or installed by me (which ask for permissions up front)? Or at least that I would be able grant app permissions when it needs them? It's like a real time permission request service.
Thanks.

I don't understand your question very well but I think you'll need an AOSP 6.0 ROM like the one made by Flashhhh beacuse AOSP is the most secure beacuse just Google modifies it and the developer (Flashhhh in our case). You can't make it 100 % secure beacuse you need to encrypt the partition and lock the bootloader. Encryption slows the device like hell and locking the bootloader with costum software cannot by made except if some of the great develoeprs of the falcon can reprogram the bootloader and the other low level bootloaders. Hardware encryption isn't supported on falcon I don't know why beacuse my Lumia 435 has encryption enabled via settings as you can see here:
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And yes the device is as fast as with the option disabled ! So hardware encryption is supported on Snapdragon 200 and our device has Snapdragon 400. I don't know why but that's the life...I am also interested in a secure OS with encryption that can run on our Moto G without performance loss.

I was really looking forward to cyanogen-mod, because it was looked as safe. But after I've read their DISCLAIMER stating "Modifying or replacing your device's software may void your device's warranty, lead to data loss, hair loss, financial loss, privacy loss, security breaches, or other damage, and therefore must be done entirely at your own risk. No one affiliated with the CyanogenMod project is responsible for your actions. Good luck." I changed my mind. I am paranoid about my privacy and security therefore this disclaimer put all my excitement and hopes to find privacy and security in their custom rom down. On the other had they're stating the things that could happen to my phone through the use of their custom rom, which I am thankful for their honesty and precautions. I was looking for official carbon rom, because of it's flexibility in customization and some other useful features, but sadly they don't support our device so yet again I was let down. Even if there is ports of it. Yet again my paranoia for privacy and security appears to be in action and I just can't help it when It come to it. It's my need and I believe it is everyone's need that sadly seems to be not met... even my keyboard sends data through background services... The more I see what android does the more I want to switch back to windows phone... it was easy to use, simple, and at least secure. I loved the thing that you could use one app for text messaging and social network messaging and I found it really handy feature. Android is highly customizable, but not as secure as WP. Also did everyone else noticed that Android version names are alphabetically ordered which could mean that they have plans up front for Z? Ohhh and google is in alphabet now...

Was WP really more secure or did you simply don't know what it did in the background?
Concerning your question: to find a "perfect" system might by impossible. However, you should not completely give up on Cyanogenmod (or on custom roms in general). You do get the possibility to manage permissions and you get root. The latter you can use to uninstall system-apps you dont like or to set up a firewall for apps and services you dont trust (for instance your keyboard). As a further step you could try if a Google-free device would work for you (i.e. not flash gapps after rom). That might be less convenient in some aspects but you would get rid of the no. 1 risk for privacy. And dont worry too much about the disclaimer! Sure, flashing a custom rom can turn your device into electronic scrap and things like root are risky anyway, the crucial point is that stuff needs to be handled the correct way. With enough information acquired in the first place the risks arent too big

Hwyl.Fawr said:
Was WP really more secure or did you simply don't know what it did in the background?
Concerning your question: to find a "perfect" system might by impossible. However, you should not completely give up on Cyanogenmod (or on custom roms in general). You do get the possibility to manage permissions and you get root. The latter you can use to uninstall system-apps you dont like or to set up a firewall for apps and services you dont trust (for instance your keyboard). As a further step you could try if a Google-free device would work for you (i.e. not flash gapps after rom). That might be less convenient in some aspects but you would get rid of the no. 1 risk for privacy. And dont worry too much about the disclaimer! Sure, flashing a custom rom can turn your device into electronic scrap and things like root are risky anyway, the crucial point is that stuff needs to be handled the correct way. With enough information acquired in the first place the risks arent too big
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yes WP doesn't have such feature as seeing what backgroung processes are active, what they're doing which should be a concern, but I think there are some devices that doesn't support multi-tasking which probably deals with the issue. Well the cyanogen mod does offer that security and frees you from app permission chains, but I don't want to rush on flashing it.
What about ubuntu os? They provide tutorial to port it for your own device which I am really interested in. But is there any advantages over cyanogen mod in terms of user privacy and security? Should I consider porting it myself or flashing a port made by community?

This ROM was created with privacy in mind: (Read the first post carefully and follow the instructions)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/4g-development/rom-identity-crisis-6-lte-extreme-t3328861​
It will boot on Falcon; if after flashing the ROM, you immediately flash the Stock 6.0 Kernel available here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2649763​

lost101 said:
This ROM was created with privacy in mind: (Read the first post carefully and follow the instructions)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/4g-development/rom-identity-crisis-6-lte-extreme-t3328861​
It will boot on Falcon; if after flashing the ROM, you immediately flash the Stock 6.0 Kernel available here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2649763​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it only for LTE version?
Thank you for your time spent on developing this rom for the community. I will flash it straight away.

zgodig said:
Is it only for LTE version?
Thank you for your time spent on developing this rom for the community. I will flash it straight away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, the ROM will boot and work fine on your phone if you flash the Falcon kernel. @minimale_ldz created this ROM based on my previous work.

lost101 said:
As I said, the ROM will boot and work fine on your phone if you flash the Falcon kernel. @minimale_ldz created this ROM based on my previous work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is madness.

Also

lost101 said:
This ROM was created with privacy in mind: (Read the first post carefully and follow the instructions)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-g/4g-development/rom-identity-crisis-6-lte-extreme-t3328861​
It will boot on Falcon; if after flashing the ROM, you immediately flash the Stock 6.0 Kernel available here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2649763​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay. The rom looks good and seems to offer what I need, but that bug when you dim your brightness and flickering occurs can be annoying, since I like to dim it as much as possible, to save my battery from draining. I guess I will have to keep on using the stock rom till port of your rom will be fixed.

zgodig said:
Okay. The rom looks good and seems to offer what I need, but that bug when you dim your brightness and flickering occurs can be annoying, since I like to dim it as much as possible, to save my battery from draining. I guess I will have to keep on using the stock rom till port of your rom will be fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's also Lollipop version of this rom available, and it doesn't flicker. Installing the rom itself, however, won't be enough - even removing GApps doesn't prevent Google and from collecting "anonymous" data as there are still some leaks through kernel and modem debug settings. They can be blocked by firewall (like AFWall+). You may also want to install Network Log to see all the traffic. XPosed Xprivacy module is also very helpful in restricting internet, network, location, sensors, etc. access to the apps. You can also disable location services and bluetooth (and other things) with Servicely for extra protection and battery life.
All of it will give you SOME protection as obviously your carrier will have a lot of data about your device and this can't be avoided as long as you use its phone services.

minimale_ldz said:
There's also Lollipop version of this rom available, and it doesn't flicker. Installing the rom itself, however, won't be enough - even removing GApps doesn't prevent Google and from collecting "anonymous" data as there are still some leaks through kernel and modem debug settings. They can be blocked by firewall (like AFWall+). You may also want to install Network Log to see all the traffic. XPosed Xprivacy module is also very helpful in restricting internet, network, location, sensors, etc. access to the apps. You can also disable location services and bluetooth (and other things) with Servicely for extra protection and battery life.
All of it will give you SOME protection as obviously your carrier will have a lot of data about your device and this can't be avoided as long as you use its phone services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that I should wait for the marshmallow patch. Because I wouldn't have to use the apps you have mentioned in order to protect myself. I've read that you recommend these apps to use on marshmallow too. Which one would you recommend? Lollipop ir marshmallow? From the things you have mentioned it made me an impression that there has to be done more on lollipop to protect yourself as much as possible, than on marshmallow. Besides I suspect that marshmallow is more advanced than lollipop. Anyways an expert opinion is allways worth to concider. A big thank you xda developers for your hard work and time put in developing all of the software available for us. You're the best!

zgodig said:
I think that I should wait for the marshmallow patch. Because I wouldn't have to use the apps you have mentioned in order to protect myself. I've read that you recommend these apps to use on marshmallow too. Which one would you recommend? Lollipop ir marshmallow? From the things you have mentioned it made me an impression that there has to be done more on lollipop to protect yourself as much as possible, than on marshmallow. Besides I suspect that marshmallow is more advanced than lollipop. Anyways an expert opinion is allways worth to concider. A big thank you xda developers for your hard work and time put in developing all of the software available for us. You're the best!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I don't consider myself an expert - just spent some time reading security and privacy related stuff in the web and used some of the information to help myself. Please also mind all the things I mentioned (firewall, XPrivacy, etc.) don't come with Marshmallow and need to be installed and set up anyway so it doesn't make much difference if you use Lollipop or MM version. The biggest privacy-related changes that come with MM are built-in permissions manager (which is good but insufficient) and more up to date security patch. And I think that is it, so it's up to you if you want to wait. The thing with Android updates is that they bring new stuff that OEM and carriers need to implement and optimize, so I wouldn't say that Marshmallow is better in every aspect than Lollipo. I was using 5.1.1 for a few months on Moto G and was very happy - I'm using 6.0.1 on Moto X Play now, and see some annoying bugs that came with it. Interesting thing is they only appeared after removing GApps from the rom. So again - it's up to you.
The other fact is that the more you protect yourself from intrusive Google services the more new privacy and security issues appear. For example - if you use stock rom there's no need to unlock bootloader nor using custom recovery which are actually negatively affecting your privacy. You can access all the system and data in TWRP, so your privacy is pretty much none in case someone steals your phone. Good practice is not to keep too much private stuff on it, because there's always a risk someone can get it - one way or another.

minimale_ldz said:
There's also Lollipop version of this rom available, and it doesn't flicker. Installing the rom itself, however, won't be enough - even removing GApps doesn't prevent Google and from collecting "anonymous" data as there are still some leaks through kernel and modem debug settings. They can be blocked by firewall (like AFWall+). You may also want to install Network Log to see all the traffic. XPosed Xprivacy module is also very helpful in restricting internet, network, location, sensors, etc. access to the apps. You can also disable location services and bluetooth (and other things) with Servicely for extra protection and battery life.
All of it will give you SOME protection as obviously your carrier will have a lot of data about your device and this can't be avoided as long as you use its phone services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
minimale_ldz said:
Well, I don't consider myself an expert - just spent some time reading security and privacy related stuff in the web and used some of the information to help myself. Please also mind all the things I mentioned (firewall, XPrivacy, etc.) don't come with Marshmallow and need to be installed and set up anyway so it doesn't make much difference if you use Lollipop or MM version. The biggest privacy-related changes that come with MM are built-in permissions manager (which is good but insufficient) and more up to date security patch. And I think that is it, so it's up to you if you want to wait. The thing with Android updates is that they bring new stuff that OEM and carriers need to implement and optimize, so I wouldn't say that Marshmallow is better in every aspect than Lollipo. I was using 5.1.1 for a few months on Moto G and was very happy - I'm using 6.0.1 on Moto X Play now, and see some annoying bugs that came with it. Interesting thing is they only appeared after removing GApps from the rom. So again - it's up to you.
The other fact is that the more you protect yourself from intrusive Google services the more new privacy and security issues appear. For example - if you use stock rom there's no need to unlock bootloader nor using custom recovery which are actually negatively affecting your privacy. You can access all the system and data in TWRP, so your privacy is pretty much none in case someone steals your phone. Good practice is not to keep too much private stuff on it, because there's always a risk someone can get it - one way or another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not an expert then you're not far from it, because I don't think it's easy to do the things you did.
Is it possible to re-flash stoch recovery and re-lock bootloader after flashing one your roms to improve security, or are they essential to make rom work?

zgodig said:
If you're not an expert then you're not far from it, because I don't think it's easy to do the things you did.
Is it possible to re-flash stoch recovery and re-lock bootloader after flashing one your roms to improve security, or are they essential to make rom work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know relocking bootloader will fail if installed system is not original, but I'd ask @lost101 as he's got much more expertise in Motorola issues.

minimale_ldz said:
You can access all the system and data in TWRP, so your privacy is pretty much none in case someone steals your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using encryption helps in this case. Just remember that when you get your phone back, don't trust it anymore.

zgodig said:
Is it possible to re-flash stoch recovery and re-lock bootloader after flashing one your roms to improve security, or are they essential to make rom work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Originally Falcon (and Peregrine I suspect) did not support Factory Reset Protection (FRP) - this may have changed for those with locked Bootloaders who updated to Lollipop via official OTA Update. Even with FRP, all you are doing is stopping someone who stole / found your phone from accessing your data. Obviously you must unlock Bootloader to gain real control over your data by flashing a ROM just as those created by @minimale_ldz. Once Bootloader is unlocked, it's permanent. So-called 'relocking' is purely superficial and can be simply undone by anyone with fastboot access.
So the answer is no, flashing Stock Recovery and 'relocking' Bootloader does absolutely nothing for you in terms of security.
Newer phones such as Moto G (3rd Gen) support FRP out of the box. But again, you are at the mercy of Google and Motorola when it comes to privacy as long as the Bootloader remains locked. You cannot root, nor install a custom ROM.
I fear ultimately you must examine your own psychological / egoic need for control and privacy, as the world outside your mind is unlikely to deliver what you seek.

lost101 said:
Originally Falcon (and Peregrine I suspect) did not support Factory Reset Protection (FRP) - this may have changed for those with locked Bootloaders who updated to Lollipop via official OTA Update. Even with FRP, all you are doing is stopping someone who stole / found your phone from accessing your data. Obviously you must unlock Bootloader to gain real control over your data by flashing a ROM just as those created by @minimale_ldz. Once Bootloader is unlocked, it's permanent. So-called 'relocking' is purely superficial and can be simply undone by anyone with fastboot access.
So the answer is no, flashing Stock Recovery and 'relocking' Bootloader does absolutely nothing for you in terms of security.
Newer phones such as Moto G (3rd Gen) support FRP out of the box. But again, you are at the mercy of Google and Motorola when it comes to privacy as long as the Bootloader remains locked. You cannot root, nor install a custom ROM.
I fear ultimately you must examine your own psychological / egoic need for control and privacy, as the world outside your mind is unlikely to deliver what you seek.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to make or do something that no one would be able to enter recovery mode without password or at least pin code?

_that said:
Using encryption helps in this case. Just remember that when you get your phone back, don't trust it anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So encrypting the phone would help to protect data. In case of loost or stolen phone, the person would only be able to delete my data through recovery mode?
And what do you mean that after I'd get my phone back I shouldn't trust it?

Recovering S / N Serial Number on LG G7

Information
Since the method was already in the public domain, I wrote the instructions as the source ( not my original work )
The method is suitable for any bootloader.
Everything is done at your own risk.
What do you need
QFIL - Google search and download
Hex Editor - Online or whatever
FTM - fileftm.img (of your own handset showing blank SN)
QFIL loader - fileprog_ufs_firehose_Sdm845_lge ( google search and download )
Find out your SN on the mobile box or invoice (that you have to restore from below steps )
Steps
Put your phone into 9008 mode
Open QFIL from the installed QPTS package.
The phone must be connected to the PC with the installed drivers, the program should display "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 (COM x)"
Go to configuration - FireHose configutation. Check the Read Serial Number and Reset After Download checkbox, change Device Type to ufs. Save.
Select Flat Build, in the Programmer Path field, select the FireHose file.
Go to Tools - Partition Manager. At the request of the program, click OK. We wait until everything is loaded and a list appears.
We select the ftm item, right-click on it and in the window that appears, select Manage Partition Data - take backup (will edit this ftm image to restore SN)
open the ftm.img file in the Hex editor, find the value 00012000, and write your serial there (see photo)
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
restore the edited ftm image from partition manager
Turn on the phone and check the serial :good:

Hia,
Anyone who got success restoring the serial number got the play protect certification back?

S/N
I have a missing S/N...is that the same number as ESN?

I'd like to know the security this place gives you, imeipro.info, if you try to search for site policies, you'll never find them, just a simple F.A.Q.
I have a feeling that this is a service that reveals our imei for those who clone phones for the Black market. No Google service or reputable sites will ask you for imei, moreover, the police ask you for the imei to locate a phone as last measure.
I don't know if I've expressed myself well, but if anyone can tell if this is a fraud, it would be a big help. And
And please don't tell me that the service works and gives you what you ask for, since Facebook also gives you what you ask for, and you give facebook much more than you get from Facebook, you give your total privacy, your location, your shopping history, your card numbers, etc.

manuhuelva said:
I'd like to know the security this place gives you, imeipro.info, if you try to search for site policies, you'll never find them, just a simple F.A.Q.
I have a feeling that this is a service that reveals our imei for those who clone phones for the Black market. No Google service or reputable sites will ask you for imei, moreover, the police ask you for the imei to locate a phone as last measure.
I don't know if I've expressed myself well, but if anyone can tell if this is a fraud, it would be a big help. And
And please don't tell me that the service works and gives you what you ask for, since Facebook also gives you what you ask for, and you give facebook much more than you get from Facebook, you give your total privacy, your location, your shopping history, your card numbers, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thread is for those who are the genuine buyers of the phone so they must be having there original SN of there handset by any chance if they have lost there SN this is to help them to restore simple

manuhuelva said:
I'd like to know the security this place gives you, imeipro.info, if you try to search for site policies, you'll never find them, just a simple F.A.Q.
I have a feeling that this is a service that reveals our imei for those who clone phones for the Black market. No Google service or reputable sites will ask you for imei, moreover, the police ask you for the imei to locate a phone as last measure.
I don't know if I've expressed myself well, but if anyone can tell if this is a fraud, it would be a big help. And
And please don't tell me that the service works and gives you what you ask for, since Facebook also gives you what you ask for, and you give facebook much more than you get from Facebook, you give your total privacy, your location, your shopping history, your card numbers, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All your last few posts have been about privacy and how you have saved 1.6gb ram, i dont know to do what?
But dont you think you should be the last person to root your phone? You know what root does right?
Many high security workplace apps will never let you keep a rooted phone....

_sumit9786 said:
The thread is for those who are the genuine buyers of the phone so they must be having there original SN of there handset by any chance if they have lost there SN this is to help them to restore simple
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for the answer mate.

manuhuelva said:
Thank you very much for the answer mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are welcome :good:

lefttobleed said:
All your last few posts have been about privacy and how you have saved 1.6gb ram, i dont know to do what?
But dont you think you should be the last person to root your phone? You know what root does right?
Many high security workplace apps will never let you keep a rooted phone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that my latest posts talk about that 1.6gb ... but honestly, everyone is looking to root to improve the capabilities of their phones, be it debloat, theme support, native support through magisk modules for functions that are not present in stock, and make the phone faster in general.
I challenge you to try to put a rom aosp for this mobile, and that it does not sting your neck, thinking about the money you have paid for the phone camera that you do not use because aosp does not have native drivers. Without adding things like the DAC or the loss of 4g calls.
Within the possibilities that exist for this terminal, with the ability to exploit its performance, and how expensive it costs, the most profitable in terms of "worthit" is to stay in stock and debloat it to the maximum, so as not to lose functions, and not be spied on, cheated on, and lagged by junk applications and services.
I am realistic, the only thing I am looking for is to make people who are new to this forum understand that this terminal only has 2 options:
-AOSP with quite reduced functionality and hardly any qualcomm-lg framework support (for that I buy a Pixel or a Mi 8, phones that have too much framework support on aosp) but too much overallspeed.
-Stock with custom kernel, debloat and some other things, having all the wonders that this phone offers, which are not few, and the same overall speed as aosp.
I hope I have resolved your doubts about my post.
PD: Not everyone needs stay DRM-approved or be rootless for applications that require have no modifications for work or connect to loggin services, keeping in mind that for "work/corporative applications" that require Locked Bootloader, I would use a separate terminal, or use magisk hide or any root masker. A high-end phone is supposedly picked to get all the juice out of it. For working stuff there are already companies that provide you with a terminal without modifications, or u can buy mid-range or low-end phones, which give you the fix for the work apps and corporation apps.
PD2: The security that magisk gives you of not being able to be exploited, is much greater than a root from /system.
Also, phones like this one, boot A / B, have a thing called DM-verity and Force-Encrypt, which ensure that the /system partitions and the other more dangerous ones are not modified, but magisk do this overlapping the code on the ramdisk and boot, making impossible install any apk in /system, /system-priv, /vendor.....
Also, if you touched something of /system, the next reboot would revert the changes, since it is a very strong security measure, so a virus cant do damage by scaling permissions or like, u only have to uninstall the app/module/zip and uninstall magisk, flash original boot.img on boot_a and boot_b, and the virus will go out ur phone, because u was systemless root/modded/exploited.

manuhuelva said:
I know that my latest posts talk about that 1.6gb ... but honestly, everyone is looking to root to improve the capabilities of their phones, be it debloat, theme support, native support through magisk modules for functions that are not present in stock, and make the phone faster in general.
I challenge you to try to put a rom aosp for this mobile, and that it does not sting your neck, thinking about the money you have paid for the phone camera that you do not use because aosp does not have native drivers. Without adding things like the DAC or the loss of 4g calls.
Within the possibilities that exist for this terminal, with the ability to exploit its performance, and how expensive it costs, the most profitable in terms of "worthit" is to stay in stock and debloat it to the maximum, so as not to lose functions, and not be spied on, cheated on, and lagged by junk applications and services.
I am realistic, the only thing I am looking for is to make people who are new to this forum understand that this terminal only has 2 options:
-AOSP with quite reduced functionality and hardly any qualcomm-lg framework support, for that I buy a Pixel or a Mi 8, but too much overallspeed.
-Stock with custom kernel, debloat and some other things, having all the wonders that this phone offers, which are not few, and the same overall speed as aosp.
I hope I have resolved your doubts about my post.
PD: Not everyone needs stay DRM-approved or be rootless for applications that require have no modifications for work or connect to loggin services, keeping in mind that for work applications that require Locked Bootloader, I would use a separate terminal, or use magisk hide or any root masker. A high-end phone is supposedly to get all the juice out of it, for work things there are already companies that provide you with a terminal without modifications, or u can buy mid-range or low-end phones, which give you the fix for the work apps and corporation apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with all that you said. Thats the very reason i am here too.
But you questioned the OP about security and keep talking about privacy but your phone is rooted and unlocked, so hows that secure? Yes you can use another phone for security, but the way you are preaching in all your posts to stay away from google, facebook etc is like you want us all to have your setup only, with 1.6gb free ram and no google or facebook to spy on us. All of us have our own preferences and requirements from a phone. Most of us know how intrusive google, facebook etc are, but still might have them in their phones.
FYI whatever you do in modern smartphones, they still can intrude. You will have to go back to the brick phones to save yourself from the system

lefttobleed said:
I agree with all that you said. Thats the very reason i am here too.
But you questioned the OP about security and keep talking about privacy but your phone is rooted and unlocked, so hows that secure? Yes you can use another phone for security, but the way you are preaching in all your posts to stay away from google, facebook etc is like you want us all to have your setup only, with 1.6gb free ram and no google or facebook to spy on us. All of us have our own preferences and requirements from a phone. Most of us know how intrusive google, facebook etc are, but still might have them in their phones.
FYI whatever you do in modern smartphones, they still can intrude. You will have to go back to the brick phones to save yourself from the system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree with you, I can not pretend that everyone uses my configuration, perhaps I have sinned a little to believe that I know everything . But even so, what is real, is the performance that is achieved by removing apps and services that are in the background, although technically it will not free you from being spied, if it is going to remove queued processes from the processor, which is translates into less delay for other applications, and being able to play AAA games and have other apps open, without being abruptly closed by the native task manager.
I apologize if I have offended you at any time.

manuhuelva said:
I totally agree with you, I can not pretend that everyone uses my configuration, perhaps I have sinned a little to believe that I know everything . But even so, what is real, is the performance that is achieved by removing apps and services that are in the background, although technically it will not free you from being spied, if it is going to remove queued processes from the processor, which is translates into less delay for other applications, and being able to play AAA games and have other apps open, without being abruptly closed by the native task manager.
I apologize if I have offended you at any time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No not at all. Please dont apologize. I just was going through many threads and kept seeing your posts. Also saw that you yourself lost your S/N, so was a bit startled on seeing your question to the OP.
But end of the day what you have done to the rom in your phone is quite good. Just saw your older posts in LG forums. Nice.
I am more of an AOSP roms guy with a good overclocked kernel and audio mods. But right now there is no fully stable rom out there, so am on stock android 10 beta. So far doing well.

lefttobleed said:
No not at all. Please dont apologize. I just was going through many threads and kept seeing your posts. Also saw that you yourself lost your S/N, so was a bit startled on seeing your question to the OP.
But end of the day what you have done to the rom in your phone is quite good. Just saw your older posts in LG forums. Nice.
I am more of an AOSP roms guy with a good overclocked kernel and audio mods. But right now there is no fully stable rom out there, so am on stock android 10 beta. So far doing well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding the loss of the s / n, it is wrong, it was there. I extracted the ftm.img partition and saw that it was present, which indicates that the S / N does not appear because of removing the LG-DRM.apk or something like that, it does not appear, but it is present in the Qualcomm-ftm partition .img
Anyway, it is somewhat unnecessary and I have sent myself an email with the S / n to keep it, you never know if you may need it.
And thanks for your words, I have no intention of knocking anyone down, or the work done by anyone for this community, but there are times when I am not able to explain myself well, and I sound a little know-it-all, when I really am an amateur more No computer training, only knowledge of being 14 years behind a PC learning by myself.
By the way, I am one of yours too, I prefer AOSP a thousand times than stock, but we are not lucky to be like the Google Pixel with hardware support

Xposed, Device Id Changer apk. Boom, open the app and there's your serial number

I'm coming up empty searching for fileprog_ufs_firehose_Sdm845_lge.... any hints?
I'm buying a used phone from craigslist where the guy had flashed another ROM and then flashed back... but says his SN is now blank. For the sake of tidiness, I wanted to recover it. (this does not however appear to be one of the ebay/Sprint cross-flashed phones).
thanks!
Mike

zim2dive said:
I'm coming up empty searching for fileprog_ufs_firehose_Sdm845_lge.... any hints?
I'm buying a used phone from craigslist where the guy had flashed another ROM and then flashed back... but says his SN is now blank. For the sake of tidiness, I wanted to recover it. (this does not however appear to be one of the ebay/Sprint cross-flashed phones).
thanks!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has your device the play protect certification? Without that you cant use google pay for example. Or some bank's apps.

2020-09-05 15:53:42.223 13: C:\Users\congl\Downloads\prog_ufs_firehose_sdm855_ddr.elf
2020-09-05 15:53:42.224
2020-09-05 15:53:42.224 15:53:42: Requested ID 13, file: "C:\Users\congl\Downloads\prog_ufs_firehose_sdm855_ddr.elf"
2020-09-05 15:53:42.226
2020-09-05 15:53:42.227 15:53:42: ERROR: function: rx_data:246 Error occurred while reading from COM port
2020-09-05 15:53:42.228
2020-09-05 15:53:42.229 15:53:42: ERROR: function: sahara_main:982 Sahara protocol error
2020-09-05 15:53:42.230
2020-09-05 15:53:42.231 15:53:42: ERROR: function: main:320 Uploading Image using Sahara protocol failed
2020-09-05 15:53:42.232
2020-09-05 15:53:42.233
2020-09-05 15:53:42.234 Download Fail:Sahara Fail:QSaharaServer Failrocess fail
2020-09-05 15:53:42.242 Finish Get GPT

zim2dive said:
I'm coming up empty searching for fileprog_ufs_firehose_Sdm845_lge.... any hints?
I'm buying a used phone from craigslist where the guy had flashed another ROM and then flashed back... but says his SN is now blank. For the sake of tidiness, I wanted to recover it. (this does not however appear to be one of the ebay/Sprint cross-flashed phones).
thanks!
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes nothing in google.
Is here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v40/how-to/unlock-lg-v40-via-9008-root-t-mobile-t4042207
---------- Post added at 07:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:45 AM ----------
soulcraft24 said:
2020-09-05 15:53:42.223 13: C:\Users\congl\Downloads\prog_ufs_firehose_sdm855_ddr.elf
2020-09-05 15:53:42.224
2020-09-05 15:53:42.224 15:53:42: Requested ID 13, file: "C:\Users\congl\Downloads\prog_ufs_firehose_sdm855_ddr.elf"
2020-09-05 15:53:42.226
2020-09-05 15:53:42.227 15:53:42: ERROR: function: rx_data:246 Error occurred while reading from COM port
2020-09-05 15:53:42.228
2020-09-05 15:53:42.229 15:53:42: ERROR: function: sahara_main:982 Sahara protocol error
2020-09-05 15:53:42.230
2020-09-05 15:53:42.231 15:53:42: ERROR: function: main:320 Uploading Image using Sahara protocol failed
2020-09-05 15:53:42.232
2020-09-05 15:53:42.233
2020-09-05 15:53:42.234 Download Fail:Sahara Fail:QSaharaServer Failrocess fail
2020-09-05 15:53:42.242 Finish Get GPT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to instal QPST that comes with Qfil from the link i posted above.

help or advice
Good, very interesting and very useful for those of us who install kdz doing crossfalshing, I just have a question, how do I get the fileftm.img from my own cell phone? If it is possible to provide instructions or a link to do it, thank you.

Use QFIL
digiciber said:
help or advice
Good, very interesting and very useful for those of us who install kdz doing crossfalshing, I just have a question, how do I get the fileftm.img from my own cell phone? If it is possible to provide instructions or a link to do it, thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use QFIL

I seem to have messed up when debloating my phone. What apks are required for GPS?

I made the title as self descriptive as possible. Im a huge anonimity nerd and i debloated my android to my style (Samsung Galaxy A32 5g) since there was no compatibility for Lineage or /e/OS in it. In doing so, i retain pretty much all i want, however one of the weird functions that doens't work as well as it used to is the GPS. I'm pretty sure what i did was disable an APK that uses the phone reception to track location, since when i enable GPS i can still get my location with amazing accuracy, however it takes several minutes (and i mean SEVERAL) after being turned on to track where i am, and in other apps it does not track at all.
The issue is that im an Uber Eats worker (not exactly, but similar style of work) and resetting the phone to factory would mean to debloat all over again.
So, does anyone knows more or less which APKs specifically interact between location and other apps to know which one to enable again?

Might be easier if you listed what you removed.
Dependencies...

blackhawk said:
Might be easier if you listed what you removed.
Dependencies...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue is that i've removed quite a number of things across several days and didn't realize that my GPS wasn't working snap-fast as it was before very much late.

hahaNSAgoBRRRR said:
The issue is that i've removed quite a number of things across several days and didn't realize that my GPS wasn't working snap-fast as it was before very much late.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Off the top of my head I no clue which apk(s) do that. The apk names can be misleading.
Many of the smaller apks just sit there unless needed.
Especially on Samsung's you can really screw up functionality by disabling blindly, worse it may net near zero performance/increased battery life.
One reason I use a package disabler is mistakes are easy to correct when experimenting with minimum consequences.
Someone here likely does know so keep trying. If that model has it's own section on XDA, post a thread there.
It may be one of these although likely not the last one...
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"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
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blackhawk said:
Off the top of my head I no clue which apk(s) do that. The apk names can be misleading.
Many of the smaller apks just sit there unless needed.
Especially on Samsung's you can really screw up functionality by disabling blindly, worse it may net near zero performance/increased battery life.
One reason I use a package disabler is mistakes are easy to correct when experimenting with minimum consequences.
Someone here likely does know so keep trying. If that model has it's own section on XDA, post a thread there.
It may be one of these although likely not the last one...
View attachment 5467967
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afraid it wasn't any of them, but thanks, im gonna look around.

hahaNSAgoBRRRR said:
Afraid it wasn't any of them, but thanks, im gonna look around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MDM App might be needed... best to not disable this probably.

blackhawk said:
MDM App might be needed... best to not disable this probably.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afraid it didn't made a difference. Another weird issue i got however i think this is more of my android config is that after a while with the phone locked whatsapp closes and im not being sent any notifications until i unlock it and open it again. Do you suspect of any apk that need to be on to run the app or what setting could have messed that? I set the phone to never optimize battery and to not turn off data when locked and to not restrict it on whatsapp yet i still randomly open it to find several messages from hours ago that i never got notified for.

Ditch WhatsApp; trashware/malware.
Reload and start from the beginning.

blackhawk said:
Ditch WhatsApp; trashware/malware.
Reload and start from the beginning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
God i wish i could delete whatsapp but i live in one of those countries where everyone and everything uses it.
As for reloading from the start, i've been thinking about it, but it took so much to delete so much bloat that i'd rather first try and see what i could salvage. After all, all the apks that i removed are still existing in the ROM as installers.

Reload, and use this this to at least set it up and determine what's safe to debloat.
If you disabled more than 90 apps, you probably killed more than is needed...

blackhawk said:
Reload, and use this this to at least set it up and determine what's safe to debloat.
If you disabled more than 90 apps, you probably killed more than is needed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, dont worry, i use ADB, although next time i should probably keep in a list what i uninstalled.

hahaNSAgoBRRRR said:
Oh, dont worry, i use ADB, although next time i should probably keep in a list what i uninstalled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem being Samsung's are feature packed and many are useful. After 2 years I'm still exploring my N10+.
If you inadvertently kill a parent app all it's children dependencies go nuts. Some apps serve more functions than you'll ever find listed.
With no way to easily renable them... you have no hope of easily discovering them.
To this day I still update and modify my bloat list to make the device more functional and efficient.
Be careful what you kill... especially if you haven't used Samsung's extensively. I have 2 N10+'s, one running on 9, the other 10. The Q variant literally has dozens of small system apks than the P variant. Both devices behave almost identically. These dozens of small apks allow this. They use almost no resources or battery.
The Q variants battery life is the same or better.
Blocking these apks would serve no purpose and likely screw up the newer N10+. It has about 150 more new packages in the Q variant than the P. I used my imported block list from the AT&T P variant for the non carrier Q variant. I took out a few new ones that were bloatware but the disable head count remains similar between both devices.
So don't go too nuts as Samsung has added many new system apks to tone down and make Android 10 and up UI usable, look nice and prevent lose of functionality

blackhawk said:
Problem being Samsung's are feature packed and many are useful. After 2 years I'm still exploring my N10+.
If you inadvertently kill a parent app all it's children dependencies go nuts. Some apps serve more functions than you'll ever find listed.
With no way to easily renable them... you have no hope of easily discovering them.
To this day I still update and modify my bloat list to make the device more functional and efficient.
Be careful what you kill... especially if you haven't used Samsung's extensively. I have 2 N10+'s, one running on 9, the other 10. The Q variant literally has dozens of small system apks than the P variant. Both devices behave almost identically. These dozens of small apks allow this. They use almost no resources or battery.
The Q variants battery life is the same or better.
Blocking these apks would serve no purpose and likely screw up the newer N10+. It has about 150 more new packages in the Q variant than the P. I used my imported block list from the AT&T P variant for the non carrier Q variant. I took out a few new ones that were bloatware but the disable head count remains similar between both devices.
So don't go too nuts as Samsung has added many new system apks to tone down and make Android 10 and up UI usable, look nice and prevent lose of functionality
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha, although i've always been one for simplicity and all, to be honest i kinda wish i could just grab a barebones android OS for my phone and modify it from there.

hahaNSAgoBRRRR said:
Gotcha, although i've always been one for simplicity and all, to be honest i kinda wish i could just grab a barebones android OS for my phone and modify it from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depending on the model and how much support there is, you can, but it's going to be a time eating gravity well.
It's a lot easier to use stock Samsung's and configure them to suit your needs. Samsung probably has the best launcher out there at least on the N10+.

blackhawk said:
Depending on the model and how much support there is, you can, but it's going to be a time eating gravity well.
It's a lot easier to use stock Samsung's and configure them to suit your needs. Samsung probably has the best launcher out there at least on the N10+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess that's what i get for getting a phone a few months in the market.

hahaNSAgoBRRRR said:
Guess that's what i get for getting a phone a few months in the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been a bad year for phones and Android.
I spent a -lot- of time dialing in my N10+, but once done it runs great. You need to find the solutions and use work arounds when needed.
Stock Androids are almost impossible to crash. So... play with it.
Just make sure all critical data is redundantly backed up to at least 2 hhds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC. Do this or eventually you will lose data.

blackhawk said:
Been a bad year for phones and Android.
I spent a -lot- of time dialing in my N10+, but once done it runs great. You need to find the solutions and use work arounds when needed.
Stock Androids are almost impossible to crash. So... play with it.
Just make sure all critical data is redundantly backed up to at least 2 hhds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC. Do this or eventually you will lose data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I trust you on that! Thanks a lot for your help UH60.

Question Non Rooted Pixel 7 Pro

Okay Ive had some time using this phone and came to a conclusion, I don't need root on this phone.
Now of course root gives us the power but I have found some applications and a few workarounds to get the best overall performance on this Pixel 7 Pro.
1.Shizuku apk.
This app is sorta like a su app with of course no system level privileges.
(I use this app for ,Better Internet Tiles,
Carrier Vanity Name and Dar Q ..)
2.Package Disabler apk.
This app can debloat most apps.
3.System UI Turner apk.
This app can enable and disable hidden features within the ROM.
4. My new favorite non rooted app that can lock the CPU frequencies.
Max All CPU (non root) apk.
This app actually works which shocked me.!!
5.Adguard apk.
So basically having a pixel device has been the same experience as my rooted devices running pixel experience roms.
Of course better screen (AMOLED) wireless charging and IP68 rating etc...
In a nut shell one can enjoy this device without root.
Please list applications or adb commands or anything that can improve the overall performance of the pixel without root..
Thanks..
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What you're asking is nearly impossible. You can disable some apps, but installing more will just slow down your device. There are no ADB commands that will "improve performance" either.

Please list applications or adb commands or anything that can improve the overall performance of the pixel without root..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
V0latyle said:
What you're asking is nearly impossible. You can disable some apps, but installing more will just slow down your device. There are no ADB commands that will "improve performance" either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't speak to ADB commands (I doubt there's any, i figure OP's asking for "special commands" that gain some special access to change a particular setting), I think what OP is going for is methods/apps like Greenify -- which is debatable because, as I understand it, Android OS does a whole caching or keeping apps in a low background state as to not use up more power & resources to start them back up again; I only ever seen it discussed when users discuss the merits of "closing all apps" (also discussed on iphones) and/or how it is different than "closing programs" in Windows (this might've been a different case on older versions of Android [as I recall finding it necessary to do such methods on my Motorola Droids {1,3,4}])...
But agreed, without root access, what can be done is so limiting that it's hardly going to make a noticeable difference. if anything, one must trust Android OS developers that they're making the most out of resources ("under the hood") and not wasting them...

Interesting!

Debloat via windows cpu using :
(UAD) Universal Android Debloater, works on Android 14 beta 3.1 in case anyone is curious..
I've noticed less battery drain when i uninstalled google calander,vzw.apn.lib, digital wellbeing, YouTube music, Gmail, and few others..

jhjhjhjhjhjh said:
Debloat via windows cpu using :
(UAD) Universal Android Debloater, works on Android 14 beta 3.1 in case anyone is curious..
I've noticed less battery drain when i uninstalled google calander,vzw.apn.lib, digital wellbeing, YouTube music, Gmail, and few others..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, when u disable more app, more battery gain. But then, what do u use your phone for? (Uninstall calendar, Gmail?)

hungragezone said:
Of course, when u disable more app, more battery gain. But then, what do u use your phone for? (Uninstall calendar, Gmail?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i used the browser to check my emails and the preinstalled google calendar requires a sign in just to see the calendar month i don't like that i use another calendar app..

4ADatabase setedit mod that has my pixel 7 pro flying and with no overheating.
Running this mod on android 14 beta 3.1..
I saw this mod in a thread somewhere that works without root just the app.
My cpu clock speeds are now stable and don't fluctuate like I'm used to on a rooted phone that i would max out my cores for best performance
.
See my pics.. This phone really needs no root or custom rom
..I need all my banking apps , hold for me and all stock pixel exclusives...
Happy modding without root..

jhjhjhjhjhjh said:
4ADatabase setedit mod that has my pixel 7 pro flying and with no overheating.
Running this mod on android 14 beta 3.1..
I saw this mod in a thread somewhere that works without root just the app.
My cpu clock speeds are now stable and don't fluctuate like I'm used to on a rooted phone that i would max out my cores for best performance
.
See my pics.. This phone really needs no root or custom rom
..I need all my banking apps , hold for me and all stock pixel exclusives...
Happy modding without root..View attachment 5939303View attachment 5939305View attachment 5939307
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about battery life?

jhjhjhjhjhjh said:
4ADatabase setedit mod that has my pixel 7 pro flying and with no overheating.
Running this mod on android 14 beta 3.1..
I saw this mod in a thread somewhere that works without root just the app.
My cpu clock speeds are now stable and don't fluctuate like I'm used to on a rooted phone that i would max out my cores for best performance
.
See my pics.. This phone really needs no root or custom rom
..I need all my banking apps , hold for me and all stock pixel exclusives...
Happy modding without root..View attachment 5939303View attachment 5939305View attachment 5939307
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really appreciate your informations. Anyway the way you tell everbody "you dont need root" is patronizing. People root for many reasons. And its a lot easier to play around with mods if you have root. I never had problems with root since the first Android Phone.

hungragezone said:
How about battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No noticeable difference.. I spent 3 hours on calls, took some video shots, watched about 1 hour of YouTube, used Android Auto and maps while driving down the coast for about an hour.
Came home about 6 hours later still had %65 left in the can.... Battery life has always been good even on A13..

xtcislove said:
I really appreciate your informations. Anyway the way you tell everbody "you dont need root" is patronizing. People root for many reasons. And its a lot easier to play around with mods if you have root. I never had problems with root since the first Android Phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Patronising. lol
I guess one only reads and gravitates to one subject.
I've been rooting, building, baking roms ,flashing etc..since 2009.. This phone is the only phone that I've owned that I've never rooted ..I repeat 14 years of android modding and this phone makes me not want to root it ..
Why does that bother you?
Don't answer I know why..
Lastly, Those of us who are enlighten know something.
Ill throw one bone for your everyone roots for various reasons post
Theres 5 main factors why one roots per national surveys and repetitions.
1.Bloatware/crapware removal
2.Modders/Devs love to tinker and are just enthusiast..(Love That)
3.Google haters. (Micro G lovers) Some hate the Google advertisement practices, Google is an advertisment company remember that part.
4.Hackers, enough said on that..
5.Ability to customize there device to ones own liking..
Many more but you know that already..
So what have we learned today class?

jhjhjhjhjhjh said:
Patronising. lol
I guess one only reads and gravitates to one subject.
I've been rooting, building, baking roms ,flashing etc..since 2009.. This phone is the only phone that I've owned that I've never rooted ..I repeat 14 years of android modding and this phone makes me not want to root it ..
Why does that bother you?
Don't answer I know why..
Lastly, Those of us who are enlighten know something.
Ill throw one bone for your everyone roots for various reasons post
Theres 5 main factors why one roots per national surveys and repetitions.
1.Bloatware/crapware removal
2.Modders/Devs love to tinker and are just enthusiast..(Love That)
3.Google haters. (Micro G lovers) Some hate the Google advertisement practices, Google is an advertisment company remember that part.
4.Hackers, enough said on that..
5.Ability to customize there device to ones own liking..
Many more but you know that already..
So what have we learned today class?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Why does that bother you?" Nothing you mentioned above bothers me, its your attitude.
"Lastly, Those of us who are enlighten know something." -> Attitude
"So what have we learned today class? " That i am right about you and your attitude.
And yes this is highly subjective and just like your tips about not rooting you maybe take a thing out of my critics.

You should put a tutorial together for the devices that are bootloader locked or just do not want to root. Good information here

Enabled (VONR ) Voice Over New Radio=5G
I've read many pixel users say that phone reception is not that good.
Being on Verizon wireless towers i have no dropped calls and calls are super clear with the clear calling option enabled in settings.
This app( pixelIMS.apk ) enables VOLTE, VONR,apn option to add can be enabled although its blocked on spectrum so i still cant edit my apns..and a few other features.
Give credits to the developer of this app on GitHub..
App requires shikuku or root..

NFC works on Beta 14 _3.1
Tested it on a train and made a google pay purchase at the store. Even worked with my bulky case on.