Back in Eclair, all market apps are stored in their original apk files in system/app, so it's relatively easy to retrieve those apk files.
However, after upgrading to Froyo, the apps are stored in a different format, and in various different locations.
I am not trying to distribute apk files illegally, but if I want to theme an application, I will need to get a copy of the original apk file. (Like the transparent theme for LaunchPro widgets). (Metamorph doesn't work for market apps).
So my question is, how can this be done on a froyo platform?
Download android mate, find the app you want, then long press on app and press details.
It will tell you all the info about it including its location
~Webstar1
That solves the mystery. Many thanks.
Related
When I download an app using official Android Market, and install them, is there a folder where the market stores the installation files, apk's? If not, can this be done? Thanks.
Is there any way or any command which can save my installed set of applications to a Text file or PDF. My applications are growing and I cannot remember every one of them and I require all of them at one point or other. Can anyone give me some guidance?
You could use titanium backup, it does have an option to create an update.zip file for your backups which I haven't used but I assume it backs up your apps to the zip so you can reinstall apps from recovery, would need someone to clarify this though
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I was using back up pro but it is no use. Suppose you flash a new rom, and if you restore most of them end up with Force Close errors. Since most of my applications are free, I don't mind spending some time installing them. But since many roms are changing so fast, I have to flash to keep up with the times, you know.
I don't know if there is such an option to save a list of installed apps, but it would be kinda useful.
I soon realized such a list would help and I am just manually creating my own in a text file, and all of the non-stock apps I have (thus far) added are in appbrain.com and I have ensured I have added each to "Apps on the phone" which then appears under "My Apps".
A list no but as all my apps are via AppBrain that's my list .
I use Root Explorer to copy all the APKS to a folder on the external card + a copy on PC . New firmware just open APK folder and install .
jje
For the time being, I am using Titanium free version and it backed up my applications and after I flashed the new rom I was able to restore all the applications via it's batch run commands. I do hope that I don't get force close errors. Upto now everything is working fine.
Thanks to all for your kind replies
Just got my xoom, got my old apks on my dropbox folder, how do i install a apk? The program I always used on FROYO is force closing
When I have an apk in my Dropbox I simply click on it and after it downloaded it asks me if I want to install. So I don't need any specific program.
Okay. I don't have a lot of knowledge on developing/tinkering on Android, but I think I've figured out how to integrate apps into the ROM (updates of system apps and/or downloaded apps). I used:
A stock cricKet 2.2.1 ROM, rooted (of course) w/Universal Androot
Root Explorer, and
ROM Manager (more on this later)
First thing is first, I did a TI backup; don't want to lose anything
I then opened Root Explorer
Mounted R/W, and
did a search for .apk.
Notice that the only directories the actual .apk files for INSTALLED apps should appear in (outside the SD card) are:
/cache
/data/app
/data/app-private (possibly)
/data/FLEX/app
/system/app
Ignore the following:
/cache
/data/FLEX/app
Now, you may already know this, but the system apps you're looking for are located in the /system/app directory, and downloaded apps (for the updated system apps) are located the /data/app directories that aren't being currently ignored (if you're following my instructions). Based on icon, filename, and common sense, I found which .apk files were the updates of already existing system apps (IE Market, Google Maps, Voice Search, etc.) in the /data/app directory, and the corresponding system app they updated in the /system/app directory. I then:
Copied the filename of the system app I was going to replace (rename copy all)
Moved over to the /data/app directory
Located the corresponding updated app
Renamed it what its corresponding system app was renamed (rename, delete existing name, paste)
Hit the 'move' option
Navigated to the /system/app directory
Deleted original system app (you may want to backup this file beforehand)
Pasted the updated system app
Within 30 seconds or so, you should get a (blah.blah.blah has unexpectedly shut down force close/report) popup. Just hit force close and you should be fine (Google Maps seemed to be a recurring FC). If you try to open the app before rebooting, it will force close on you. When you're finished, open ROM Manager. I know you're thinking 'This app is no good on the ZIO'; so stop. Hit 'Fix Permissions'. The reason for this is that it fixes a few rare force close issues. I don't know the mechanics of it, but it works, so I don't question it. Listen to the notification you'll see and reboot your phone after it finishes fixing the permissions. Now go into settings and manage applications, and you'll see that you can no longer uninstall whatever apps you moved to the /system/app directory.
FYI Renaming .apk files doesn't seem to make a bit of difference either way.
(Forgive my horrible perspective descriptions: I/you)
I haven't tested it yet, but I believe unrooting the device should make any apps moved to the /system/app directory that require root access would become non-functional (right?). The reason this thread is a question is that I'm wondering if i did this correctly, and if so, I want to find out if unrooting and factory resetting my phone would somehow delete the apps in the /system/app directory that weren't included in the stock ROM. (I'm not really willing to do that yet; I still have to download the SDK to my new computer so I can do a NANDROID backup.) Any help answering these from a more experienced developer would be great.
If you want to incorporate apps into a rom, the apps have to be free or you must get consent from the developer to include in your rom
Sent from my Zio using XDA Premium App
Only if it is a Public rom. Even free app developers should be credited in a public rom
Mattix724 said:
If you want to incorporate apps into a rom, the apps have to be free or you must get consent from the developer to include in your rom
Sent from my Zio using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm operating under the assumption that you're using Google developed updates of system apps. I suppose I should have said something to that extent up top.
[UPDATE]
Okay, so I did a NAND and then factory reset my phone. Killed everything not in the /system/app directory. I'm sure you knew that would happen, but I guess I'm posting for the noobs. Easier to find, I guess.
Hi,
I've tried to integrate some apps using Titanium Backup but it stuch at 0% for more than 5mins so I cancelled the process. Is it normal that it was that slow? Does Titanium generate odex files too?
I've tried integrating updates for GoogleMaps, StreetView and Youtube using a recovery mode and ADB on my linux machine.
After the backup system data I've deleted original apk and odex files from /system/app/ and moved newer versions from /data/app/ to /system/app/.
I renamed the files from com.google.android.blah.blah.apk to old names (ie. Maps.apk, etc). I haven't generated the odex files.
Rebooted the phone (HTC Desire, 2.2, Orange UK) and these apps were not available. I couldn't run either GoogleMaps or Youtube. They weren't on the "All apps" list, but still were in the system app manager/uninstaller, but couldn't uninstall them as they were in system obviously.
Tried to clear Dalvik cache but no difference.
Then I've copied them with my user backed apk files (it went to /data/app and installed the newest versions) and all is fine - could launch them as usual.
Now using "adb push" method I copied my old system versions of these apps in the /system/app/ and all if fine. I could updated them to newer versions, but this obviously went to /data/app/, so didn't free the phone memory.
Any idea why integrated apps were not visible in the system?
Perhaps I shall just delete the old system apps and copy the ones from /data/app/ without renaming...
Much appreciate it.
Greg
edit:
All went fine now. Just deleted old files in the /system/app and moved newer version without renaming to from /data/app
use titanium backup and choose integrate updates into rom for the app
I don't want to pay for TB premium. I'm poor.
Sent from my Zio using XDA App
TB integrating not working on some phone (including mine) anyway.
I'm looking for a way to replace the system apps with their AOSP counter part.
E.g. dialer, email, contacts etc.
Does someone know if it's possible for all apps or are their any problems to be expected?
And second question, is there probably a flash able zip for this?
I'd be curious to know as well. Coming from a Nexus device I hate Sony's attempts to "improve" the basic apps like dialer and messaging. They all look like they were designed in 1998.
That should be possible....
Nebucatnetzer said:
I'm looking for a way to replace the system apps with their AOSP counter part.
E.g. dialer, email, contacts etc.
Does someone know if it's possible for all apps or are their any problems to be expected?
And second question, is there probably a flash able zip for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think at the moment there is no available zip. You need CWM for your idea - do you have your phone rooted ?
If so there should be a possiblity to create such a flashable zip , that erase the not needed apps and install the new apps...
If your phone is not rooted maybe a batch file could do the trick via ADB for you - in a first step it should block the not wanted apps and in a second step it should install the new apps.
So you need the Names of the packages / apps that should be erased and before that, you should find the AOSP-Apps that run on the Z3C.
pipspeak said:
I'd be curious to know as well. Coming from a Nexus device I hate Sony's attempts to "improve" the basic apps like dialer and messaging. They all look like they were designed in 1998.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My favorites are
Textra for messaging
Quickpic for album
MX Player for Videos
Rhonin86 said:
I think at the moment there is no available zip. You need CWM for your idea - do you have your phone rooted ?
If so there should be a possiblity to create such a flashable zip , that erase the not needed apps and install the new apps...
If your phone is not rooted maybe a batch file could do the trick via ADB for you - in a first step it should block the not wanted apps and in a second step it should install the new apps.
So you need the Names of the packages / apps that should be erased and before that, you should find the AOSP-Apps that run on the Z3C.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it's rooted.
I would be happy too, to replace the dialer & contact apps with AOSP ones.
Regarding messaging, i'm using this one : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.slvn.mms
Collecting of required information
Hi folx,
in this post i try to get all required information to replace the not wanted SONY stuff by the desired stuff mostly AOSP.
Your phone should be rooted and CWM should be installed.
Then we have to build a fitting flashable zip file.
But to succeed we fist need to test if the wanted apps will work on our phone. (i will test for example: Dialer from CM11)
If these Apps work, then we should have a deeper look on the creating of such a flashable.zip file. I have found a lot of howtos in the web. But to be sure we should backup those SONY-Apps
Here are 2 links i would use:
http://www.android-hilfe.de/root-hacking-modding-fuer-lenovo-ideapad-a1/268272-how-cwm-update-zips-erstellen.html german
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1721680 english here at XDA
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2764533 this can also be useful
The updater - script within this zip-file could be adjusted to our needs. Deleting the not wanted Sony.apps from /system /app and replace them with the wanted Apps. If i find the time i could provide such a file - but i can't test it.
The simple Trick:
But you could do it more simple - you just need a root explorer (i prefer ES File Explorer). Go to the above mentioned folder /system/app or system/private. There you should find the not wanted apps. Just copy them in a backup folder on your sdcard, delete the sony apk in the system - partition, copy your desired apk in the folder, where you have deleted the Sony-apk, give the right permissions and then reboot.
If the new app fails - just delete it in the same manner as described above and copy the backupped app in the corresponding folder and check the permissions again. - reboot.
I would really appreciate posting your results and if there are any further questions.... do not hesitate - we are all here to learn and get our phone better
Cheers
Rhonin
I probably have time to test this on the weekend.
I'll let you know how it goes.
I copied over Contacts, Contacts Prvovider and the Dialer apks.
However I couldn't get them to work.
Neither the Contacts nor the Dialer app showed up in the app drawer.
Email didn't work either.
Deskclock works fine. I'd love dialler to work...