Related
You can find the latest version of this app on the slideme app store.
http://slideme.org/application/adfree
This is the old thread, I started a new thread in the general section => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40759351
================================================================================================================================================
Spoiled by ad free browsing on my normal desktop computer it became increasingly annoying seeing all the ads on my phone. However it's really easy to make them disappear, although you most likely will need root on the phone.
Download the hosts.txt file from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt, you may need to run dos2unix over the file to remote \r characters, rename the file hosts and copy it to /system/etc on your phone and say goodbye to most ads.
You may find the list to be imperfect, for example some feedburner URLs are "blocked" as a result which can screw with RSS feeds, although it's annoying giving too much info to Google but like everything else in life some things are a trade off.
If you want to root your phone, try this article.
Thanks for this!
As soon as I read the topic title I realised what you were doing and I never thought of it myself.
My hosts file was /etc/hosts though, not /system/etc/hosts
Dark X Dragon said:
As soon as I read the topic title I realised what you were doing and I never thought of it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using this technique for a bit, just didn't think to post about it before did a quick search and noticed no one else had so thought I might as well
My hosts file was /etc/hosts though, not /system/etc/hosts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't seem to matter, I just checked the /etc dir and it has the same hosts file.
Actually, /etc is a symbolic link to /system/etc, so your hosts file is really at /system/etc -- however, accessing the file through either path is equivalent.
Ha ha hosts exists on android!? I had no idea. I'm also a spoiled ad-less pc user. This is great. Thanks.
If you can't download the file above (it appears as text in browser), replace .txt with .zip at the end of the url. This will download the zip file which u can later unzip with an unzip app in the market.
Ok. I can't paste over the original hosts file using the phone? Astro and lynda file managers don't do it for me. And yes I am rooted, running 1.5 dudes build. Can this be done only from a PC?
ShatBag1105 said:
Ok. I can't paste over the original hosts file using the phone? Astro and lynda file managers don't do it for me. And yes I am rooted, running 1.5 dudes build. Can this be done only from a PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have a couple of options, you can download the terminal app from the market and use it, or you can use ADB to shell into the phone, or wait for someone to code an app to do it all for you.
For the time being go with installing terminal, then type 'su' to become root. That is unless you have a copy of adb handy, if you can 'adb shell' the following commands are the same, except you can copy and paste.
Then remount the system partition read-write.
Code:
mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
Then you go into the etc dir
Code:
cd /system/etc
Then you can rm the hosts file
Code:
rm hosts
Then grab the hosts.txt file
Code:
wget http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt -O hosts
Always more than one way to skin a cat, but the above works for me(tm)
lbcoder said:
Actually, /etc is a symbolic link to /system/etc, so your hosts file is really at /system/etc -- however, accessing the file through either path is equivalent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ugghh, I read that ages ago but really didn't commit it to memory. It is now. =)
There's a fair chance I won't get around to it but I'm tempted to take this ad blocking further. Namely an automatic app but there might be more to add to it.
Thanks for the help delta. I figured it had to be done in terminal. And you know, this would definitely become very popular as an app.
I'm a dummy its etc not ect
delta_foxtrot2 said:
Then grab the hosts.txt file
Code:
wget http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt -O hosts
Always more than one way to skin a cat, but the above works for me(tm)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(I am using the terminal program on the phone)
Until the above step, no problems
After typing in the above I get the following message:
"bad address "www.mvps.org"
I checked for typing errors, tried it 3 times but get the same error message
Any suggestions please?
thanks
nyayo99 said:
(I am using the terminal program on the phone)
Until the above step, no problems
After typing in the above I get the following message:
"bad address "www.mvps.org"
I checked for typing errors, tried it 3 times but get the same error message
Any suggestions please?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try it without the http://www. It might work like that. This is a lot harder than it should be lol. The g1 is putting up a fight!
ShatBag1105 said:
Try it without the http://www. It might work like that. This is a lot harder than it should be lol. The g1 is putting up a fight!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but this didn't work either.
Some googling indicated a possible DNS issue.
So I looked up the IP address (209.68.48.119), substituted that into your instructions and presto, everything worked!
Many thanks for the ad killer option for the G1
Aah beautiful work. Just to clarify for newbs like me. The last line is (# wget http://209.68.48.119/winhelp2002/hosts.txt -O hosts). Make sure that -O hosts is a captialized O.
ShatBag1105 said:
Aah beautiful work. Just to clarify for newbs like me. The last line is (# wget http://209.68.48.119/winhelp2002/hosts.txt -O hosts). Make sure that -O hosts is a captialized O.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, capital letter o, lower case o stores the output of wget into the file which isn't the desired outcome
I plan on suggesting the following URLs to the hosts.txt guy to block admob ads in apps
p.admob.com
analytics.admob.com
r.admob.com
In the mean time you can manually add it to the hosts file yourself, just copy and past from another line.
After updating the hosts file you may need to reboot or wait for the hostname to expire from the internal lookup cache, unless someone knows a quick way to flush the cache to speed up the process that is.
Thanks for this. Worked great for me. Very helpful tutorial.
Just uploaded "AdFree" to android market, this does all the steps I laid out manually at the touch of a button.
Its funny how
127.0.0.1 localhost
is the only thing blocked in the /system/etc/hosts file. lol.
andonnguyen said:
Its funny how
127.0.0.1 localhost
is the only thing blocked in the /system/etc/hosts file. lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That isn't "blocked" and in fact nothing gets blocked by the hosts file it just points hostnames to the local system, which usually has no web server running so the connection fails immediately.
However you MUST have localhost listed or various things will fail and cause all sorts of issues.
New version of AdFree is now up, I have the app adding the admob hostnames to the bottom of the list.
As above. Anyone knows?
bryant_16 said:
As above. Anyone knows?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
put it in the media>ringtone folder.
bryant_16 said:
As above. Anyone knows?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok... I'll bite. Ringdroid from the market. Any other answer will take some info.
As in, the ringroid will put the ringtones in the sd card memory not the phone memory, i tried copy paste over but fail.
To place them into the phone memory you will need to either copy them using the terminal or push them through adb.
using adb, place the file(s) in your tools folder
Code:
adb push filename.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones
In the terminal, if you place them in the root of your sdcard
Code:
cp /sdcard/filename.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones
I am not sure if you need to remount or not to push/copy into the folder or not.
It says read-only file system as the error.
jairomeo said:
To place them into the phone memory you will need to either copy them using the terminal or push them through adb.
using adb, place the file(s) in your tools folder
Code:
adb push filename.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try:
Code:
adb remount
That should fix the "read only" problem.
i'm not using adb... I'm using the second method which is in the terminal.
Do yourself a favor and go get Root Explorer from the market. It lets you move any file to anywhere.
Move your files to /system/media/audio/ringtones and remember to check to see if the files that are there are .ogg or .mp3. If they are .ogg just rename your files after you move them.
What you mean I have to rename the files after i move them?
What's the exact application name? I tried searching on market but could not find any.
bryant_16 said:
What's the exact application name? I tried searching on market but could not find any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like SUFBS but ES (or estrong) file explorer is good also. SUFBS cost a buck or 2 but I think it is worth it. Either way your phone needs to be rooted for this. You do have root right?
Yeah, phone is rooted. I tried ES Strong Explorer but cannot work, it says something about permission or something like that..
bryant_16 said:
What you mean I have to rename the files after i move them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if it's a "hero thing" but sometimes the file extensions in the ringtones folder are not .mp3. They are .ogg. If you look into the folder and see .ogg files just change the extension and you'll be all good.
As for the apps. Look for "Root Explorer". I believe there are both free and paid options. The paid one isn't very much $$ so, considering how much easier it makes things, give up the loot and support a dev.
I tried searching under market, but cant find it..
id use terminal with cmds, would be a tad faster and a bit more reliable, in my opinion, but as of searching on your behalf i have found root explorer a paid version and estrongs free version by searching "root" while in the market. estrongs sounds unstable. If your going to pay for a good file explorer get SU file manager&terminal. (and...SAA?ror)
How do I use terminals? I tried but that say permission thingy..
Did you mount the system?
OK dude. If you're rooted I assume you have somebody's recovery. Boot to recovery and go into console (Alt+x). Now do this.
<enter>
mount /system <enter> (maybe mount /system/media if just /system doesn't work)
mount /sdcard <enter>
cp /sdcard/yourfolder/yourringtone.mp3 /system/media/audio/ringtones <enter>
reboot
You should be good to go.
Can I do that in terminal? As in one of the application in my HTC Dream?
Hey guys, I just used root explorer v 2.2 to delete the annoying apps built into the system (amazon mp3)
I am now trying to move my apps into the system so that they cannot easyly be removed. I want to send over lookout and sim checker. That way a theif would not be able to easily delete the apps.
when I select the "move" option (with sim checker) then go to the system apps dirrectpry and then select "paste", it says paste and shows a progress indicator for like 1 second then when I check to see if it actually did the move, it hasn't can anyone help me out
I know I have full root access as I have clicked to allow it and am remounted as r/w so that's not the problem.
Any help to get those two apps into my read only system directory would be greatly apprecaited.
Oh ya I think ill add that I have also tryed to simply change the permissions of the app to readonly (with root explorer) but that did not stop the basic android app manager from uninstalling it.
Try to use adb to move it.
so i went and installed adb, i know its working as well with a little test, could someone please write out a sample command for me to use for this purpose of moving an app out of the apps to sd location and into the system apps.
asb123 said:
so i went and installed adb, i know its working as well with a little test, could someone please write out a sample command for me to use for this purpose of moving an app out of the apps to sd location and into the system apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mv /system/sd/app/*lookout* /system/app
mv /system/sd/app/*checker* /system/app
It really depends on the name of the file though, if it has lookout in it, then it will be moved to /system/app. The * tells it to move anything with that in the file name
type adb and it will give you the commands + switches
adb pull
adb push
In response to your first attempt, it sounds like system is not being mounted as rw. If it were, the copying would work (I do this all of the time with SUFBS). Try to mount the system as rw via the terminal then copy.
JAguirre1231 said:
mv /system/sd/app/*lookout* /system/app
mv /system/sd/app/*checker* /system/app
It really depends on the name of the file though, if it has lookout in it, then it will be moved to /system/app. The * tells it to move anything with that in the file name
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i have the command prompt cd to andorid adk\tools
when i now type in the above :
mv /system/sd/app/*lookout* /system/app
it doesnt recognize the command
so i have C:\android-sdk-windows\tools> mv /system/sd/app/*lookout* /system/app
and it doesnt recognize mv as a command
cloverdale said:
In response to your first attempt, it sounds like system is not being mounted as rw. If it were, the copying would work (I do this all of the time with SUFBS). Try to mount the system as rw via the terminal then copy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey, sorry for the noob question but could you tell me the command for this. I know in the app i was using it says remount as rw and i do have access to change the system app folder (delted apps) but how can i remount as RW in terminal whats the command? And after, do i need to manually remount back to what i was so that it is back to being unchangeable?
asb123 said:
so i have the command prompt cd to andorid adk\tools
when i now type in the above :
mv /system/sd/app/*lookout* /system/app
it doesnt recognize the command
so i have C:\android-sdk-windows\tools> mv /system/sd/app/*lookout* /system/app
and it doesnt recognize mv as a command
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the tools directory in your PATH (as you should) no need to cd to the directory. Anyways, sorry to move it in adb do
adb remount
adb shell
*previous commands*
exit
Bingo!
it says failed on /systen/sd/app/com.lookout.apk - cross-device link
asb123 said:
it says failed on /systen/sd/app/com.lookout.apk - cross-device link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ou have 2 android phones plugged in or an emulator running ath the same time
i dont have two phones plugged in and i dont have an emulator that i know of...
but on the bright side i mannaged to solve my problem using droid explorer. I successfully have gotten lookout entrenhed into the system so that it cannot be uninstalled from the menu.
BUT when i tried the same thing for sim checker it did not work, it would not copy into system\apps
i did manage to get it inot system\app but using the copy rather than move option in root explorer, after reinstalling using the simchecker in system\app
but it is showing up as still uninstallable. I have no idea why simcheck is not working but it worked for lookout...
I didn't feel like plugging my phone into the computer so I emailed myself an apk file (arctu's Mms.apk) because for some reason...it seems to revert back to stock every reboot...
Anyway, I didn't have any terminal apps so I used Root Explorer to copy then paste over the existing apk. didn't work. Why not? Is there a something different about copy/paste?
If you didn't say you mounted the partition I can only assume it was not mounted as r/w and still at r/o.
copy/paste - visual representation of cp
push - pushing files from computer to phone
They are not the same.
SiNJiN76 said:
I didn't feel like plugging my phone into the computer so I emailed myself an apk file (arctu's Mms.apk) because for some reason...it seems to revert back to stock every reboot...
Anyway, I didn't have any terminal apps so I used Root Explorer to copy then paste over the existing apk. didn't work. Why not? Is there a something different about copy/paste?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, what didn't work? lol.
djmcnz said:
Yeah, what didn't work? lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the mms app didn't overwrite. But it could have been user error. I'm using Enom's ROM and didn't have the Community Mms Mod checked...so maybe if I had done that first...it would have worked.
Pushing is taking a file from the computer to copy and paste/overwrite the existing file on the phone. What's the difference where the file is being copied over from? Are you sure about what you were trying to explain?
SiNJiN76 said:
Are you sure about what you were trying to explain?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
k?
I didn't try and explain anything (in this thread at least)?
Either way, yes push literally "pushes" a file to a specified location. However that file needs to be written and if the file system is mounted as read only you will get errors.
If it didn't work you must have received an error message (in root explorer for example), what was that message? If you don't get an error message and the file is still not being written then get a better file manager (ES File Explorer).
The suggestion above by 'evilkorn' was to make sure the file system is in read/write mode before you copy the file over... you can do this in Root Explorer or ES File Explorer.
If your file system is in r/w AND you still don't get an error message AND it still doesn't work then I would try an ADB push as a last resort and if that didn't work, reflash and start from step one I think...
SiNJiN76 said:
What's the difference where the file is being copied over from? Are you sure about what you were trying to explain?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because that was your question in the title, which I answered, they are different terms for different things. You can't push a file on your phone to your phone, you copy it (cp).
You still didn't answer my question... It's hard to help someone when the suggestions fall on deaf ears and all you get is reverb and static back.
evilkorn said:
Because that was your question in the title, which I answered, they are different terms for different things. You can't push a file on your phone to your phone, you copy it (cp).
You still didn't answer my question... It's hard to help someone when the suggestions fall on deaf ears and all you get is reverb and static back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LoL. You gotta ask a question first before I can answer it. You made assumptions, didn't ask questions. LoL. Anyway, I wasn't trying to crawl under your skin. But maybe next time you can read the OP in addition to just reading the title of the thread? Usually, details are given to accompany the title of the thread on the first post. Either way, I guess I wasn't detailed enough. Thanks for your feedback, tho, appreciate it.
@djmcnz - Sorry, my error in quoting the wrong person. Thanks for you explanation, also.
So, to summarize...Push and Copy/Paste should produce the same outcome, right? Cool...like I said earlier...it was my error in not knowing that I had to use the Spare Parts option in Enom's ROM to enable Community MMS.
I use root explorer all the time when I can't use a computer to use adb. It works fine. Usually if its the system partition you have to click the icon that says r/o and it changes to r/w. This will allow you to write files to the partition. Then from what I noticed a reboot usually fixes any issues of stuff not working.
There is many of you that asks how to remove this and that preinstallaed apps in different ROM
When a developer put apps in system/app it can not be removed so easy.
But if you have RomManager or fakeflash´s update.zip there is a other way.
I have attached a zip fil that contains a ordinare ROM installation script that only contains delete and copy.
Download file and unzip on your computer and take a look in the folders
data/app
META-INF/com/google/android/update-script
system/app
If your only wish is to remove a systemapp
edit the file update-script (textfile)
and add line with the filename of what you want to remove:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
If you want to install some apps put them in system/app for not installable
and data/app for apps that can be removed as usual
rezip folders and install zip with RomManager NO WIPE!!
cm6 azures you will get a error because not same structure for data/app
never mind just select reboot. Delete will work anyway.
Sometimes there will be .so files in system/libs too. They are little more difficult to know which to remove so that demands more knowledge of the app.
Use for instance Astro filemanager or Estrong to look in system/app for correct filename to delete
Script work even if *.odex not exist.
The fact that when you zip folders it will not be signed so file will not work with adb recovery
Googleapps filenames:
CarHomeGoogle.apk, CarHomeLauncher.apk, com.amazon.mp3.apk,
Facebook.apk, GenieWidget.apk, Gmail.apk, GoogleBackupTransport.apk,
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk, GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk,
GoogleFeedback.apk, GoogleGoggles.apk, GooglePartnerSetup.apk, GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk, GoogleServicesFramework.apk, googlevoice.apk,
HtcCopyright.apk, HtcEmailPolicy.apk, HtcSettings.apk, kickback.apk, LatinImeGoogle.apk, LatinImeTutorial.apk, Maps.apk, MarketUpdater.apk, MediaUploader.apk, NetworkLocation.apk, OneTimeInitializer.apk, PassionQuickOffice.apk, SetupWizard.apk, soundback.apk, Street.apk, Talk.apk, talkback.apk, Twitter.apk, Vending.apk, VoiceSearch.apk, YouTube.apk, QuickSearchBox.apk, Provision.apk
Other apps:
ADWLauncher.apk, Gallery3D.apk
but filename may be different depending of ROM
Mainpart must exist for using phone normally
Hope that this help to remove "non-removable" systemapps in future.
/Snakehult
Good guide.
via Legend using XDA-app
Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
snakehult said:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
c_man said:
Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can use some regular filemanager such Astro or Estrongs and look in system/app
Always delete both, script work even if odex file is missing
c_man said:
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool guide!
anyway you have to detect the filename of the apps this way:
enter the recovery mode (in modaco-root-r4: recovery-windows.bat)
now type:
adb shell
mount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
ls -l /system/app
(this will give you the list of system apps, with space usage)
you have to delete both .apk and .odex files (the latter may not exist)
I use to delete the bigger ringtones too, the list is given by
ls -l /system/media/audio/ringtones
it is safe to delete, after you setup the google accounts (ie after first boot):
HTCSetup*
com.htc.Setup*
Stock*
HtcFoot*
NewsRead*
wow its working......thanks dude........
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
http://android.modaco.com/content/h...apps-from-the-htc-desire-with-adb-in-windows/
Simple guide from MoDaCo
That must be the hardest way to remove apps i guess Have you seen "modaco guide"? All you have to do is reboot your phone in to recovery mode and type 2-3 commands in ADB. Simple as that.
Thanks anyway for your efforts
Many way för same thing
But with a custom-made zipfile you always remove/install favourite apps without adb. And quick modify new ROM install.
Sent from my Legend using XDA App
Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.
bobstar_fr said:
Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I see it, no use to do much in the dev forum without an rooted Phone
hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete
Learners Lisence said:
hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just delete what you will never use and....no regret
thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks
im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid
Learners Lisence said:
thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
@kdma : install ROM Manager from the Market, and there is an option inside the app : Reboot into Recovery (easiest way to get into recovery mod)
I also deleted /system/etc/clock* and saved some space again
(of course I don't need Htc clock widgets)
cryshop said:
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cryshop, i was typing in the wrong directory
Ps - snakehults's appfixer is real delight ! smooooth.
except that my winzip is a trial version and legend dont recognize winrar files.
I was wondering how i got such good figures for change in space and ram the first time. i havent since then. my legend just likes the rebooting involved coz i dont use task killers anymore. and maybe i deleted more than just stock the first time
Will this work with android 2.2 on Hero?
Hey I've been looking all over for something like this. I downloaded the zip, added the lines
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/email.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/email.odex
and rezipped it.
I used Rom Manager and selected install rom from SD card. It rebooted, seemed to execute the zip. But the original email and mms apps are still installed. What am i doing wrong?
kdma said:
im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first thing you should do is download the required zip file from modaco (I'm a new user of xda and is not permitted to post outside links here. You may easily find that post "24/May r4 - HTC Legend rooting guide - Now with 1.31.x" in android.madaco.com)
I think many of us rooted the device followed the instructions of Paul. So that file might be already in your hands.
Fastboot and then recovery, as you have done before. Run Recovery-linux.sh (or Recovery-windows.bat, if you use Windows) in a terminal window - your device shall be at the green recovery screen.
Open another terminal window and enter:
./adb-linux shell mount /system
and then you can push, pull or rm file. For example,
./adb-linux shell rm /system/app/Calculator.apk
./adb-linux push abc.so /system/lib
--
I didn't notice you have already solved the problem, when I compiled this post. It is no longer useful.