Database Info

Open Android Alliance has moved

OAA has been having some problems this week.
Right now I realize that I have been deleted from my own site, which I spent hours working on and getting to look nice.
Basically, the day I went to register the domain, a user on XDA by the name of 'akapoor' hijacked the domain right before I got it (due to my webhost delaying registration). I messaged him about it and was quite mad, but we worked together to get a site up.
He provided the domain and hosting, which I was kind of weary of but we went with it:
akapoor said:
evilpig said:
akapoor said:
evilpig said:
Hey man, I was just reading the thread and I'm curious if you somehow snatched the domain before my webhost did.
If so just let me know I can give you the nameservers to connect it to the site. http://android.teamriot.net
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah man, not sure how it happened. Because when I saw your post on XDA saying that you registered it, i had JUST hit the submit button on Godaddy for the domain.
It was taking a while (4-5 minutes) but then it finally came through.
That's very weird though, I'll admit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm well would you be able to point it to my nameservers once the domain finalizes? That would work great
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I'll stick with my current host for now - but if anything goes awry, you'll be the first in my mind to come to.
Btw : What's your Gtalk. I'll hit you up and we can collaborate on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He gave me admin access and I went straight to work. Now go to log in today and see my account is gone, all my posts are deleted. And threads thanking ME have been renamed to akapoor.
Also the news on the front page is changed to his name and I have been locked out of my own site.
This makes me angry, and would like help from you guys to do something about it. Even though the project is slow right now, the fact that someone would do this is evil.
I contacted him and he said it was someone else blah blah blah. Yea a hacker will hack into the site and delete my accounts, and rename everything to you. He got me admin panel back, so I went and backed it all up and deleted it from his servers. And then I moved it back to mine. I don't trust this asshole.
Also I need someone to help manage the project, the person who originally started the project just disappeared, and I am just a webdev.
The project is up @ http://android.teamriot.net (I gotta fix the look of the forums later on in the week.)

that is some shady stuff right now. what's up with xda and all this shaddy stuff going on lately. anyways, glad u got it back up and running.

I dealt with this in the past, the forum I founded a few years back had a very slow start, it was just my playground really to post up project i've been working on while also be able to discuss things with users, didnt want a blog.anyway, a started a project that was unique in my field, only other person doing it was charging insane pricing to a teen crowd, I spent 6 months reversing a certain phones firmware and writing code for said project and after it was done was contacted by someone to team up....long story short things were going great until one morning I was locked out of my own system(I paid hosting, owned/ceated domain, did all the behind the scene projects and other guy handled the public forums). we got into vicious hacking wars lasting a few days while arguing with the hosting company back and forth over who actually owned the site. host locked both out until I proved I owned everything as well as paid the bills, all proven with receipts, emails, etc. I did eventually get back control and still have the site but its been a ghostown ever since. I only keep it up for the same purposes it was for originally....my playground. guy was trying to turn this into a profitable business but thats not why I do the things I do online., I do this stuff because I enjoy it.
If this is whats going on with you and this guy pulled a similar stunt I would walk away and never return. if you owned the domain, as well as legal rights to the database fight it, otherwise theirs going to be 2 sites with the same usersbase only 1 will be larger in the end...one will die. I know the situatation as to why It was started and honestly dont see a real need for it. it would be nice to replace all the closed portions but continuing the project would only come back later when HTC decides to crack down on drivers which unless you guys have the datasheets and skill/time to rewrite will take longer than its worth, which will need to be redone as new models come out. just gottta decide for yourself if its worth continuing with it.
Good luck, ****ty situation I know.

BinaryDroid said:
I dealt with this in the past, the forum I founded a few years back had a very slow start, it was just my playground really to post up project i've been working on while also be able to discuss things with users, didnt want a blog.anyway, a started a project that was unique in my field, only other person doing it was charging insane pricing to a teen crowd, I spent 6 months reversing a certain phones firmware and writing code for said project and after it was done was contacted by someone to team up....long story short things were going great until one morning I was locked out of my own system(I paid hosting, owned/ceated domain, did all the behind the scene projects and other guy handled the public forums). we got into vicious hacking wars lasting a few days while arguing with the hosting company back and forth over who actually owned the site. host locked both out until I proved I owned everything as well as paid the bills, all proven with receipts, emails, etc. I did eventually get back control and still have the site but its been a ghostown ever since. I only keep it up for the same purposes it was for originally....my playground. guy was trying to turn this into a profitable business but thats not why I do the things I do online., I do this stuff because I enjoy it.
If this is whats going on with you and this guy pulled a similar stunt I would walk away and never return. if you owned the domain, as well as legal rights to the database fight it, otherwise theirs going to be 2 sites with the same usersbase only 1 will be larger in the end...one will die. I know the situatation as to why It was started and honestly dont see a real need for it. it would be nice to replace all the closed portions but continuing the project would only come back later when HTC decides to crack down on drivers which unless you guys have the datasheets and skill/time to rewrite will take longer than its worth, which will need to be redone as new models come out. just gottta decide for yourself if its worth continuing with it.
Good luck, ****ty situation I know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well lucky for me, I talked to him and he played dumb saying it wasn't him. I convinced him to give me passwords to the admin panel and got all my files and databases and deleted it from his server. So he has nothing but an empty domain now. He also logged into another admin account when I was moving it to my site and started deleting forums and users, I had to add the database to my site a 2nd time and instantly delete him and ban him.
I moved it back to my hosting (which I really wanted in the first place) and I will get a new domain in the near future.

Domain Name
evilpig said:
Well lucky for me, I talked to him and he played dumb saying it wasn't him. I convinced him to give me passwords to the admin panel and got all my files and databases and deleted it from his server. So he has nothing but an empty domain now. He also logged into another admin account when I was moving it to my site and started deleting forums and users, I had to add the database to my site a 2nd time and instantly delete him and ban him.
I moved it back to my hosting (which I really wanted in the first place) and I will get a new domain in the near future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is he willing to transfer the domain name? you can always do that if you wanted to maintain the same name .. he just has to give authorization in the registrar for you to take the domain .. just a thought

LucidREM said:
is he willing to transfer the domain name? you can always do that if you wanted to maintain the same name .. he just has to give authorization in the registrar for you to take the domain .. just a thought
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the .org version, and I will transfer it to evilpig. Or I will point it to his DNS servers if he wants. I got it in the beginning before the .com site went up. So I just have it sitting there. I don't give a damn about the $10, so if the community will use it, I'll donate it.
evilpig: PM or email me and let me know if you want to use it. You can run the hosting so this can't happen again. I'll email you the transfer code or just change the DNS, whatever you want.

Evilpig (i love your avatar by the way) have you brought this to the attention of a forum Moderator? They should definitely be aware of anyone using this site to take advantage of other people. And what you've explained was a blatant disregard for any of us...
I believe what he did was intentional, from the beginning when you announced your intentions. This is unacceptable...
I hope something is done about it....

ttabbal said:
I have the .org version, and I will transfer it to evilpig. Or I will point it to his DNS servers if he wants. I got it in the beginning before the .com site went up. So I just have it sitting there. I don't give a damn about the $10, so if the community will use it, I'll donate it.
evilpig: PM or email me and let me know if you want to use it. You can run the hosting so this can't happen again. I'll email you the transfer code or just change the DNS, whatever you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man. The .org should be up in 24-48 hours.
sykokenndogg said:
Evilpig (i love your avatar by the way) have you brought this to the attention of a forum Moderator? They should definitely be aware of anyone using this site to take advantage of other people. And what you've explained was a blatant disregard for any of us...
I believe what he did was intentional, from the beginning when you announced your intentions. This is unacceptable...
I hope something is done about it....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope a mod will catch this thread and do something about it.

Ok so it's been brought to my attention that Evilpig's, accusations are purely FRAUD.
I agree that I had registered the domain - but I did not STEAL it. Since your host had not registered the domain in time, I had taken the opportunity to do so.
I'd like to clarify that Evilpig's was the one attempting to take over the hosting and domain the entire time. (see convo's below)
As per the logs, it turns out that Jared's IP was registered as last logged-in.
The biggest complication with the accusations that Jared is imposing is my own benefit of providing him with the administrator access after the situation.
As anyone can verify, I had not been an "active" member on the site. (in the sense that I would not log in everday.) I would visit the site on a weekly basis.
There would be no need for me to get into the site, change everything as Jared claims, and make the site my own.
You've been trying to persuade me for the hosting since day one.
9:08PM 9:08 PM
would you mind if I hosted the site and set up the domain to point to it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh and Jared, I'd like to remind you that you are failing to stay upto your word.
Jared: with this project
any money is going to you for hosting and the rest could be saved up for who knows what
3:25PM Jared: woot already $1.13 on ads
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't received any compensation, as you stated would occur.
I've tried to contact you, but I get no response.
All in all : These actions were clearly done by him as his motive was to migrate the site/domain to his own hosting so that he could take total control.
His accusations toward me are considered defamation, and I hope this gives you a sense of the actual character of Evilpig's.
I do legally own the domain and what he has done is effectively theft of the site which is my intellectual property.

Actually, as he is the web dev and I see no contract, he owns anything he personally works on regardless of what domain he uploaded it to.
Period.
So... you own no intellectual rights to anything. You own no copyright, nor do you own any form or fashion anything carried on under the domain name.
You simply own a .com. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I don't want to get in the middle of this, but I work in the industry as a developer for web applications, graphic design, and minor creative development of projects. Without a contract, copyright, or trademark (in the case of logos or other property) all you can do is thank him for the work he did and move on.
This is why if you register a domain and collaborate with someone, you always have it in writing. Otherwise, when you try to screw someone, they can just walk away and take everything.
All you can do is feel bad that you didn't think it through first.

Well, I think Jared's role needs to be clarified then.
As far as web development goes, I had installed and configured all of the applications used, i.e. WordPress and phpBB.
All Jared had done was have someone create a banner and add it to the site, which I really don't consider to be "web development."

It would still be his content if he added to your wordpress in the form of posts and uploads. Regardless of his role. Again meaning that without a contract or some other legally binding action, you can't accuse him of stealing intellectual property.
I'm not picking sides, I just want to clarify to everyone before people start throwing mud in each others faces.
Last thing this community needs is people being shady and going behind each others backs. Open source is not about who did what and who gets the most fame and notification. It's about working on something for a greater cause as a community. Those who deserve it will get their recognition without stealing, threatening, or taking anything.

[Q] Phone Spoofing/Hack.. Heard of it?

Here is a thread a friend recently posted, if you're familiar with spoofing or latest hackes and viruses to cell phones, your input would be appreciated.
It's Called "SPOOFING". And It's Driving Me Mad..
by ANONYMOUS on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 8:14am.
About four weeks ago, a call came through my cell phone--from a number I didn't recognize.
So, I let it go to voicemail. Once I got into my offices, I checked my VM, from my business phone.
The message was a very convincing voice automation. It sounded like a young, perky woman.
"HI! It's me! My number changed. Call me at XXXXXXX."
At that point, my Bureau ears went up.
I called the number. A middle aged male picked up.
I introduced myself and told him the situation. He responded, "Oh, no! It's happening again!"
It seems this man, who lived in Washington state, had been the victim of such calls in the past.
Now--his number was being used on these messages. I told him to kindly provide me with more information--
that way I could launch a formal investigation.
He hung up on me.
I don't blame him. He had every right to be cautious...
However, a few hours later--my old man calles me...PISSED.
"What in the HELL are you doing?!?"
In about an hour his phone was clogged with over 300 text messages.
From me. But I never touched my phone.
Then picture messages--FROM MY PHONE. OF MY KIDS!
Started rolling into his inbox. Still--my cell phone sat untouched upon my desk.
I alerted my Trade Practice Consultant. I contacted a totally bewildered--
and aggravating AT&T rep...from India. Whose only remedy was to not let
other people use my phone to send these phantom messages.
Really? <click>
That's me hanging up on your ass.
Later, my old man's mom started getting calls from "me".
Then texts.
So, I wiped my phone. Set it back to factory.
And mind you--this is a simple phone. And I HATE contracts.
It's just a pre-paid I picked up on sale at Best Buy.
Days pass. Nothing happens. I relax.
Then...my sister calls in a huff.
"How come you NEVER called me back! I was SO worried!"
Seems she was getting texts--from "me" at 2AM.
The texts said--This is Bev. You've got the wrong number. Text me at XXXXXX
Thinking something might be wrong--she texted the number. And waited.
And waited. Then tried to call. Nothing.
The really scary part? Bev is a family nickname.
It's how I was listed in HER phone.
The text used Bev. NOT Beverly.
Somehow--this virus or whatever can access your:
pictures, address book, text and call history.
I visited AT&T's location in Tyler. The manager was VERY helpful.
They gave me a free phone, airtime and set up a fresh account--with NO personal
info.
BUT. My info is still out there. My number is probably being used in messages
and texts. To what purpose? The FCC and FTC don't know.
Why do I warn you? Because, think how much info your smart phones can access.
Your email accounts. Your Facebook. Your banking information. Your LOCATION.
Recently Apple was called on its' iPhone tracking software--which they lamely denied saying,
"Apple has never done so and has no plans to ever do so."
However, the company iPhones DO keep "a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers around your current locations... to help your iPhone rapidly and accurately calculate its location when requested."
Some of that location information is stored on each iPhone, and is backed up on iTunes, meaning that it would be possible for someone with access to a person's computer to retrieve information about their movements.
Your phone--with its' wireless access--means easy transmission of your personal
whereabouts and sensitive information.
And if these sophisticated scammers can crack multiple communications
platforms--they can make your phone a zombie.
Hungry for brains.
The tasty morsels and easy pickings of our interconnectedness.
How can you protect yourself?
So far, nobody has been able to tell me.
My phone didn't have internet access. Or email.
My problems started with a voicemail--that I didn't even call back from my cell phone.
They couldn't be running up my phone bill. It's pre-paid. Once the money is gone--the calls stop.
To have "cloned" my devise would have required tampering with my SIM card.
That didn't happen.
My old man's phone is pre-paid too, but on a different network.
My sister is in DC--again, different network.
Whatever this is--it moves with ease.
It has full access to your phone.
As I learn more--I will make updates.
If you know more--please share...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone heard of anything like this?

That is freaky! Is that true?

MacaronyMax said:
That is freaky! Is that true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a good friend of mine that now works for the Federal Gov't so I would find it extremely unlikely she'd just make it up.

Omg im scared. Wtf is sacred anymore?
Sent from my ADR6300

[Q] Stolen Phone came online, reward for return or forget it?

Much like many of the similar threads I've read, I'm looking for some advice on what to do regarding a missing phone.
Over the holidays my wife's phone, a MyTouch 4G (with Creamed Glacier 4.0.3) was left on a plane in NYC and we live in Ohio. Over the next few hours I installed Plan B, Android Lost, and got nowhere. Coincidentally I had bought my wife a Nexus 4 for Christmas so after a few days we gave up on it. Then about a month after that, some photos started showing up in the Dropbox Camera Uploads folder!
Reinvigorated I started up Android Lost again and got a status reply! It is in NYC, I've got a subscriber ID, an IP from T-Mobile, and the IMEI, plus some other things. Although I can't get an exact GPS lock, I'm hopeful I can.
In principal I would like to have her phone back as it probably has some pictures of our baby on there and well, because it's ours. However, I'm not likely to go track this down in another state and NYC of all places.
So my question is, should I use Android Lost to try and display a message, offering maybe $50 for the phone back hoping for the best? Should I try to remote wipe it and give up on it? And/or contact T-Mobile and report the IMEI as stolen so it's hopefully unusable?
Any other suggestions?
Take care,
Steve

I wouldn't go looking for it in person or suggest another civilian do so - that's just an awful idea. Sure, it might be in the hands of a kind little old lady, but taking that kind of risk for $50 is pretty foolish.
Contact carrier and local law enforcement - I'd talk to the carrier first as they might be able to take care of the latter without you having to do anything.
I also wouldn't try to request a reward. I mean, maybe if they were harmless, but I'm personally a bit paranoid about giving my address to random people - especially those who'd just take a lost phone instead of turning it into a lost-and-found.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app

Pennycake said:
I wouldn't go looking for it in person or suggest another civilian do so - that's just an awful idea. Sure, it might be in the hands of a kind little old lady, but taking that kind of risk for $50 is pretty foolish.
Contact carrier and local law enforcement - I'd talk to the carrier first as they might be able to take care of the latter without you having to do anything.
I also wouldn't try to request a reward. I mean, maybe if they were harmless, but I'm personally a bit paranoid about giving my address to random people - especially those who'd just take a lost phone instead of turning it into a lost-and-found.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your first concern i have edited out. I was hesitant after typing it but couldnt make an edit within 5 minutes. I certainly dont want someone trying to look for it for me.
I did contact Columbus police but understandably not much they will do for a phone. But back to the message i can use a disposable email and the address of a PO Box. But it comes down going to the trouble and having to let go of it.
I think I'll attempt a wipe then submit it as a stolen imei.
steve

Ok, so I don't think the wipe is going to work because I didn't set up the admin rights from the start.
Our main concern is getting her data off there or at least preventing access to it. Is there another application I can remotely install that will do this without having to be present to activate anything? Or I would assume just changing all the passwords should force the application to log out next time it phones home. For example, Dropbox, Skype, and GMail are think are everything. Plus, would like to wipe her old SMS messages too.
We haven't changed the Google password yet just because I had the hope of pushing down more apps if necessary. Or will it affect my ability to reach Android Lost?
Thanks again.

[Q] (not) Unique Situation - Have 2 Galaxy S3 Verizon and Need Guidance

Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark

I really should say I'm surprised but in reality I'm not. Your right when you say they don't care because I've experienced it for myself and with my gf over the phone and my mom for that matter. The sad part is they are getting way too big for even themselves and like most companies don't have very good customer service. I'm unlocked as well and have never had issues with voice calls on this phone, only my first phone with a weird rom. It's not there business to ask you if you've installed a custom rom or not. I wouldn't even of answered the question myself.
Personally i would dump verizon if they treated me like that. I was in the store yesterday with my gf and she is a looooong time VZW customer. I'm taking 14 plus years and she went to best buy to get a phone because VZW doesn't know how to take care of customers at all.
It's a sad trend but the bigger the company the worse the customer service is
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

mrbonine said:
Hi:
I started writing a thread the other day but stopped as it was full of drama and detail not important. This is what happened (when there is drama I will insert [D] with no detail so the context is maintained a bit.
I was minding my own business when one day last week my Samsung Galaxy G3 (I535) suddenly lost the ability to make/receive calls. I was on 4.1.2 and rooted, bootloader unlocked via ODIN. I thought I had loaded software that caused the problem. Couldn't resolve. Called Verizon [D] [D] to level 2, no problem, let me check a few things, OK, cool, do you have 2nd SIM? Yes! OK, it must be the phone, let's get you a replacement.. (Saturday, Phone arrives Tues).
New phone, powers up, no updates, authentication nightmare. Will not auth. Call Verizon...just wait a while?...OK.
Some hours later, authenticated. Very odd problems: charge isn't indicated on several chargers, then it is, then it isn't, charger independent? Keyboard exhibits over 1000 ms delay on press; unusable. Several other odd problems. Confused, I look online: Verizon Galaxy G3 4.4.2 update slow. First two hits happen to be Verizon's own "self-support" boards. All my symptoms and more. Lot's of Verizon's taking customers through the swamp looking for snipe. Reboot, Sim pull/insert, Factory Reset. Called Verizon back, hold times 4x previous call. Getting to Level 2 very difficult, CS rep actually states: "I know most of our phones and I haven't heard this set of problems". I refered him to Verizon's web site, grudingly sends me to Level 2. Extremely long hold time, and upon answer that group is not busy at all but relaxing talking together. Guy is grumpy, "Let me check something", back without hold in about 10 mins. "What ROM did you flash on the phone!?" first thing he said to me.
I've never flashed a ROM on any phone, for the record. I told him I knew what was and didn't do that. He insisted that he "couldn't read the software on the phone" [D] [D]!
I maintained polite, and focused on a solution, but he would not hear of that. I also offered to do a Factory Reset at least twice. "The Custom ROM will still be there after Factory Reset!" Perhaps, but then that would prove what I did and didn't do, maybe? Finally, I told him that I was very tired, and we weren't solving anything. Could I have an problem ticket number or incident number for reference. "We don't use those anymore". "You can have my employee ID and my phone number." Sorry if this is not PC, but it felt like a rapist giving his victim his contact information, should victim want to be in touch. I said, no, I'll just call back.
Immediately upon termination the new phone (replacement) displayed "Safe Mode" no apps, and the inabilty to unselect "screen mirroring" a new feature to me, but now turned on. I pull the SIM and factory reset, even though I had loaded many apps back (Inclulding Towelroot, which I had found and implemented). Although no idication of root before, the phone showed rooted and customer or modified, I don't remember the fields. Next day called back, long holds, CS OK, everyone had read Level 2 notes. Sent me up to Level 2. Long hold time, over 30 minutes. Cold response. I asked why the replacement of a non-functioning device had branched into, after receiving said device, two separate issues, to me it was one, getting my service back. Cold, "what do you want us to do?" Not knowing, I said, "I don't know, I just want the phone to work". Finally he went to talk to the boss, came back at 0 deg. Kelvin, through clenched teeth: You can take your phone to Best Buy, they will flash it back (I presumed to 4.1.2), after factory reboot and confirm no....[D] Thanks, I terminated.
At this point I had no working phone for several days, and I felt very upset about the entire situation, especially how I'd been treated by the last two guys. The first after the replacement was so out of line he should have been sanctioned, and an appology directed at me by manager, unless....
This is what they intended to happen. Because the OTA updates hadn't taken, perhaps, they disabled the G3 connection on the device (and it was unprovisioned on their server), knew this would lead to the likely steps above, and were so intent on getting me under their control with 4.4.2 (which I knew nothing about, in terms of root, etc), they had manipulated me to 4.4.2? I am a long time customer with unlimited data, a withdrawn discount, and paying over $200 for two lines with shared limited minutes and txt. No contract.
Whatever the case I still have my 4.1.2 G3 (no voice) and the 4.4.2 replacement. Obviously, I cannot consider staying at Verizon (likely what they want, apparently). Which do I keep? How do I prep the other for return to them? Know any good class action attorney? Obviously, Verizon is too big to care about me and, like so many huge corporations, no one dares attempt to regulate them.
Thanks for any advice. For infomormation on any technical steps to support the above paragraph, please simply refer me to the thread or post and I'll take it from there. I am not super technical, and had to re-do the original ODIN process about 3 times before it took, so any existing process instructions targeted at the Stupid User level would be appropriate and very much appreciated.
Sorry this is so long, I honestly left out a few calls because it just dawned on me, after I called V back today to figure out next steps, the guy listened (read the notes), said I was very poorly handled, I deserved better, would go talk to manager, be right back, 20 minutes later, manager still busy, can he call me back? Sure, gave info. Not a single call or attempt. That was the "It's not us, it's you response" but made to sound the other way round. Apparently they want me to walk away with a useless device, and since it's old and I'm not under contract, but love the phone, I can't understand why they would destroy my property and tell me to f-off, other than they feel like it.
If this sounds like paranoia, you might be surprised what big companies will do to you if they can. And so far, I'm the only one harmed, since they probably expected me to stop days ago. In any event, I have to send back a phone to them and hopefully keep one that works somewhere else. Please help me with the steps I need to take.
If you like history, or want to see how the big guys got a stranglehold on the US after the Civil War, then were forced back into decency by Teddy Roosevelt, W. Wilson, and FDR check out the Roosevelt 7 part documentrary recently appearing on PBS. I'm up to Episode 4, and already knew much of the story, but the detailed focus on their private and public lives and how they matured and developed is moving, enlightening, and awe-inspiring.
Thank You in Advance,
Mark
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I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

ShapesBlue said:
Speaking of verizon and apps. My gf when she was on the phone was told by a rep that she had updated an app the previous day through Google play. Talk about sketchy! Yea I remember when the verizon app requested root permissions on my phone, that was it for verizon apps for me
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
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Click to collapse
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

XdrummerXboy said:
Wow, that takes things to a whole new level....
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

ShapesBlue said:
Your telling me. She's not rooted or unlocked though but that's still messed up. She got her shiny new S5 yesterday, looks nice
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP
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Click to collapse
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

XdrummerXboy said:
Hmm.. I wonder how they knew that then
Nice! I wanted the S5 or Note4, but I'll be hanging onto the S3 for another year. I can't justify buying one when I have a baby on the way
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
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I hear that. I have mine until June next year. Not quite sure what I'm doing just yet. The Super power saving mode is quite a nice feature. It basically disables all apps but the essential ones. The battery life then goes way over a day plus on the S5
From my Wicked S3 on SOKP

Et tu Verizon
Thanks for the info. I did have the MyVerizon app installed, I believe. I don't remember it requesting root, but I sometimes click through those things without paying too much attention (since I'm fairly careful about what goes on the phone); the reason I install software requiring root is to access it (circular, I know) so, they are doing what they must to run. I appreciate the suggestions about other call centers, etc. I do have the contact information from the single most helpful and polite (funny how that goes together) person I talked to through this debacle. I'll drop him a quick note, but really, since they never even bothered to call back, it's clear to me that they want me to leave. Paying over $200 per month to be treated like crap is not something I could ever do. They are big, very profitable, and don't care about anything but extracting cash from people under contract, or too complacent to leave (I'm in the 2nd category until now). Being in a codependent relationship with Verizon is not only self-defeating, but irrational. Until we have some politicians owned by the people instead of corporations we have no chance of reigning these folks in. Sure, they employ lot's of people, but an army of good people working against the best interest of everyone is not good, it's an uncontrollable menace: just look at the banks that gambled with people's homes, lost their bets, then collateralized them when the bottom fell out of their own septic tank of greed. The entire world economy hit an air pocket, but we're still letting the same greed intoxicated pilots fly. My only regret is believing their lies as long as I did. I deserve better, and it's won't be particularly hard to find it. Since the 4.4.3 G3 (nor the 4.1.2 for that matter) are particularly compatible with the GSM carriers, and Samsung is the lookout for the felonious Verizon, I'll probably get a Nexus 5. I think the G5 is better for several reasons, but that's too bad. All of the tech and marketing in the world will not make me "grateful" to manufacturers or carriers that somehow feel controlling how you use the equipment you buy from them is somehow acceptable. The money Verizon cares about is the corporate contracts, since they can manage that process much better, the revenue is less volatile, and they don't have to take calls from subscribers, wasting the money that could be spent on acquisitions, and expanding their market oligarchy. Public utilities create natural monopolies. There are not 2 sets of power lines, or water lines, or sewers running into your home. And the idea that competition from fiber will for improvements from Comcast is false, prices may move, but service will not get better. Only when barriers of entry are low can new competitors help drive down the price of entrenched utilities. We could all create our own mobile system on meshes of unlicensed 5.0 Gig or other spectrum, but it would be very costly to do that and linking this metropolitan radio webs would be tricky. But probably, someone is already working on that. Ask a HAM radio enthusiast about how they handle phone calls over shortwave. They have licenses, yes, but the technology to connect 2-way voice wireless signals to PSTN phone calls has been around for many years. Big corporations exact huge profits and drag down anyone that needs the services, the trick is to find creative ways around them, most importantly by thinking outside of the feature/function cage they've placed around us. Soon, you'll be able to buy just the cable channels you want, perhaps. I have hundreds and I generally watch less than 10.
The accusation flung at me by the enraged employee is little more that hot air. It reflects a corporate culture of mendacity and blame. My fault was to allow him to take control of the conversation, for a millisecond. Whatever I've done to the software on the phone (which, as you noted, was not a ROM change) it's still my phone and not theirs. They don't even provide the "insurance" to replace the failed device, a third party does. I didn't stop my phone from working to get a new phone. Had the replacement worked as well or better as the one it replaced I would have been happy. Now, I'm going over a week with no phone and they will never get paid for that week. The longer it takes to resolve, the less on my final bill, which will be coming up soon. When folks have experiences like this it's best to communicate the problem to the FCC (as if they cared) and their state PUC. Not that they will do anything about it, but it's important to remember they have a duty to regulate whether this group of appointees cares or not. The only thing that affects Verizon is withdrawing my monthly gratuity and when that happens because of abuse, manipulation, and possible fraud, the regulators need to be informed, if only so they can't say they didn't know.
Thanks for the reminder that they have no business asking questions about rooted phones or ROMS. That lingering guilt that one may have done something Daddy Verizon doesn't approve of is there, for sure, but since what I was accused of I didn't do, it was easier to just say, no, I didn't do that.....when I offered to factory reset TWICE during the call and he pretended not to hear me I realized it was all just a manipulative game played by a bully. No, no lunch money for you today, dude. I think they actually hire volatile people and use them as scarecrows. If Verizon didn't want their customers to be exposed to abuse, they'd fire these guys. The second guy was so cold, trying to do the right thing, but hating it. If you've ever been to a time-share presentation and not purchased one, you are familiar with this game. It's not only wrong, but it reflects how truly manipulative and immoral the employers are, they are paying the guy to be insulting, intimidating, and thuggish. So many large companies act this way, it's amazing we let them get away with it. The only way to stop it is to stop paying them and tell them why. I worked in a small hardware store in a small town 30+ years ago. Even when customers were trying some trick, like returning something they didn't buy from us, or a more elaborate ruse (I'll bring the old stuff back tomorrow......), I just explained how it worked and enforced the process; I never shouted, "You are so busted...." These were customers, some making honest errors, some trying to take advantage, but there were none I didn't want to come back again, because it would be bad for business and likely make an enemy. After I leave Verizon I will never give them another dime ever, and I think they honestly don't believe that.
XdrummerXboy said:
I don't really have any info to help you, so I apologize for that.
But out of curiosity, do you have the MyVerizon app (or whatever the name is) installed?
At one point the app requested root permission, which is EXTREMELY sketchy in my opinion. I wonder if you grant it, or even deny it (if they can detect the denial) if they ASSUMED that you installed a custom ROM, because a lot of those that root also install custom ROMs.
Maybe just try at a different time of day to maybe get a call center in a different state or country?
That is extremely unprofessional on their part though...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Please help me with my Tab A 10.1 wifi PLEASE

So, a bit of a backstory. I'm part of a parenting group who does work with the local school system. They help lower income families and such, and during the remote learning part of COVID they were responsible for giving out tablets and hot spots to allow children without the means to remotely learn. Well now that remote learning is over they had surplus tablets and hotspots and because my fiancée and I are in a parenting group/education class we were entered in a raffle sponsored by them. We won tablets. Tab A 10.1 Wi-Fi tabs. Nice as hell. They came loaded with a Knox configuration for a company for early education called HATCH. Inc. It uses an app called IGNITE!. The security profile locks the wallpaper, and a few other things that are obviously centered around the school stuff. Well, a lot is unlocked also, but I'm concerned about my privacy and inability to upgrade and/or install apps of my discretion. I reached out to the head company several times for them to unlock it. I opened the developers options and was able to enable USB debugging as well as OEM unlock to unlock the bootloader. It had the option readily available. Since then, I have tried EVERYTHING to uninstall this security profile by flashing custom ROMs and everything. I've googled several dozen hours and have installed drivers, .tar recovery files, apps, Odin, flashers, rooters, romers, holy relics, mantras, novels, movies, self-help magazines, you freaking name it I've done it. I also have yet to find a clear, DEFINED set of instructions for my SPECIFIC model of tablet, and the firmware downloads are questionable. Please, PLEASE freaking God above, PLEASE, one of you android gurus help me! I can't get up with the company to remove it because they don't return calls or emails, and I can't find any real help online. This is so freaking aggravating. I OWN THIS TABLET. IT IS MY PROPERTY. Someone, help me disable this Knox crap, so I can use my tablet at my discretion. Please.

That's quit a story...

Indeed. Quite the story and quite the debacle. Most definitely one of the most annoying things that I've dealt with in a long while.

nundril said:
Indeed. Quite the story and quite the debacle. Most definitely one of the most annoying things that I've dealt with in a long while.
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Try to stick to just the pertinent facts especially with issues like this. The axion the longer the story the bigger the lie applies to my former statement. You didn't snap on me so I'll give you the benefit of doubt.
You won't like the answer but the easiest way is to get the IT department to delete the work profile. Not much of a prize if they don't. Some face to face encounters might motivate them better. Rub it it in if you have to, and don't take no for an answer. May take multiple people, trips, letters, whatever, climb the ladder to the top of that administrative chain if needed.
Consider it a lesson in assertiveness, you can never get too much of this type of training and it's free.
Otherwise the solutions you see in the Google searches are what's available.

Understandable. As of now I've just stuck to emails and phone calls. The head office is located about an hour and a half from my location so a ride to them for me and my fiancee tablets to work might be worth it. Appreciate the response and the honesty, I just figured I would explain the situation because I've seen so many times where a situation could've been handled had it been explained in greater detail. Just trying to convey the whole situation to an audience with zero knowledge of me or the situation as to hopefully reach someone with the knowledge to help, that's all.

Knox is a true pain. I avoid using it as much as possible because of the trouble it can cause.
XDA gets at times 1 request a day to bypass FRP lockouts. Some of those are stolen devices.
My dead mother's, friend's, etc. , I forgot it, it was like this when I bought it, my professor assigned us to hack it; the list is endless. Most are first post new members.
Of course some are innocent victims that got caught up in the machine as it were. Best advice is to return to vendor/do a charge back or get the unlock code from the last owner.
Rock simple stupid works the best.
If you're in the right the satisfaction of getting it resolved outweighs the time spent. I'm one of the few people who has gotten a refund check from Sony... it took dozens of calls. It was worth it in satisfaction alone

Do you think that calling Samsung customer support would make something shake? I mean considering we are legitimate owners, of which the instructors of our parenting class (who are employees of the early education place who distributed the tablets) are happy to attest to. I talked to them and they said to email or call and they would verify ownership and the details of the raffle etc etc to whomever reached out to them. If Hatch. Inc won't answer my calls perhaps Samsung might be able to help? Just trying to gather info at this point.

nundril said:
Do you think that calling Samsung customer support would make something shake? I mean considering we are legitimate owners, of which the instructors of our parenting class (who are employees of the early education place who distributed the tablets) are happy to attest to. I talked to them and they said to email or call and they would verify ownership and the details of the raffle etc etc to whomever reached out to them. If Hatch. Inc won't answer my calls perhaps Samsung might be able to help? Just trying to gather info at this point.
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You can try, Samsung customer support is notoriously horrible. Replacing the mobo would fix it. There maybe less drastic ways to resolve it.
The source of your dilemma are your benefactors not ensuring the gifts were properly decommissioned. They should see their mistake is rectified if they are sincere. Actions have consequences... even if by omission.