Database Develop

[Q] new to the forum. i have a question..

to the obvious. i'm new to xda. hello.
i have a htc hero from cellular south. i recently updated to 2.1, the 2.45.557.1 build. i want to remove a few crap apps that are on the phone that were put there by cellular south. such as footprints, stocks, amazon mp3, etc. by doing a some google searching, i have came to the conclusion that i probably need to root to get the crap apps off my phone.
the problem is i don't know how to root. i don't really know what root means. i have read many posts but find myself still confused. i don't want to mess up the phone. these stupid apps must go. they are useless.
could someone walk me through this like i'm a five year old? any help would be greatly appreciated.

Check the development section, there are a good number of walkthroughs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=674833
How did this not come up in the search?

thanks. but now i'm more confused. i have no idea what flashing is or installing an apk. or even what to flash or where to install an apk. i think i will just leave my phone as it is until i can find someone that can do it for me.

[Q] Gingerbread, SIP/VoIP and people from outside the US

I'm sorry if this has already been debated elsewhere. I did search and try to locate threads on this already, but didn't come up with anything which (seemed) relevant to this problem.
If anyone has a link handy for another thread which already discusses this, I'll close the thread if that is wanted.
With that said... Here's my issue.
As stated elsewhere, one of the main things which excited me about Gingerbread was the ability to do native SIP dialing. About time, I say! Now I've flashed Gingerbread on my SGS and so far the results has been below underwhelming.
From what I can tell this is how you get SIP/VoIP/Internet calling on your phone using Gingerbread:
1. Sign up for Google Voice.
2. Install Google Voice and sign in.
3. Voila. Your Gingerbread Android-device now has a bunch of SIP settings and options.
This is ofcourse, unless your manufacturer has somehow crippled your phone's software.
That might be the case with Samsung's firmware, but I wouldn't know because the steps outlined above is absolutely impossible for anyone outside the US. You cannot sign up for Google Voice anywhere else. End of story.
So. Is this for real? Did Google release a smartphone OS for worldwide consumption, touting "native SIP", native internet calling as feature and then implement it in a way which means it will only work in one country, all else be damned?
I seriously find this very hard to believe. There has to be a way to get this functionality up and running otherwise. Seriously? The internet maestros at Google implements a core OS-level function tied to (one) geo-location? Is third-party solutions ala Sipdroid the solution for everyone else?
So... Please tell me I am completely mistaken and that there are steps for getting SIP running on my phone, despite me not have an adress of residency ending in "US".
Any hints or links in any direction so that I can actually get to try this out would be über appreciated.

Bump.
I realize posting this while Europa were getting ready for sleep and only US-people were around might have been bad timing.
Just bumping this again to see if there's any more response. I can't seriously be the only one wondering about this.
If bumping is severely against forum policies, let me know and I'll make a note of it and wont do it again.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1043016
Use this zip as an update from CWM recovery, enables the menu "Internet call settings" under "Call settings".
Works on odex and deodex ROMS [I have the same JVB as the OP]
Problem solved

Thanks Vinnie.
Since I already have some framework-res.apk dependent mods, I just pushed the permissions-file as mentioned in that thread, and now I have "Internet calling options" available.
Yes, I realize this will only work while on wifi and SIP over 3G will be disabled, but at least it gives me something to experiment with so that later I will know if handing over my other mods for 3G VoIP/SIP will be worth it.
Thanks for the response and handy link. Now if XDA had better search, I might not have needed to pollute the forums with duplicates like this
Edit: Checked the entire thread and saw that there is an update.zip with eyecandy as well. Will try it out later.

Facebook android app integration. Help needed.

Hey guys, I'm relatively new to the android programming scene and I'm trying out a simple app idea I have. My app idea is to be a way for people to make posts to facebook and that's it. I've got the code working but what really bugs me is how the logging in system works and how the posting system works. The way I have done it, the app does not handle the authentication flow nor the posts, but rather a pop-up comes up and asks them to sign in or make a post - similar to using the browser. This does not work with the design of the rest of the app along with slowing it down. I need help. I want my app to authorize the user, similar to how the official Facebook android app logs people in; there are no pop-ups and everything is handled by the app (same to be done with making posts). If you guys could help me out by blatantly telling me what to do, sending me any articles that explain how to do it, or any other help I would appreciate it. Thanks!
NOTE: I have glanced around the Facebook developer site and I'm completely confused by their documentation. I know there's something about fragments, but I'm not sure if I understand it completely.

Okay guys, I found this thread at Stack Overflow and found the answer. In case anyone else had a similar question. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...x-send-to-the-users-wall-with-facebooks-andro

[Q] Password protect certain applications?

Is there an application that can password protect certain apps that I choose?
And please do not say Kids Corner as it does not do what I am asking.

It's probably possible (though far from easy), but I'd actually be more inclined to help if you hadn't opened a duplicate thread about this.

Only made second thread about this to attract some attention, 7 months passed since that guy opened his thread and nobody could give a good answer.
To me it's weird that nobody tried to make an app like this still, it would be very popular and help users very much.
Anyways, thank you for replying.

Really, just bumping the other thread was enough, but since we're here anyhow... my idea for how to approach it (and this would take a *lot* of hacking) goes something like this:
1. Create an app (call it X) that has the capability to launch other apps, and filesystem write access.
2. Have X take another app (call it Y) and encrypt its binaries. This prevents anybody from launching it by any means.
3. Tweak the app database to make it so that when you try to launch Y, it instead launches X and passes the id of Y as a parameter to the launcher.
4. X prompts the user for a password to Y. On getting the right one, it decrypts Y's binaries and writes them back to the correct location, then launches Y.
5. When the user (or OS) closes Y, a background process of X notes that Y is closed and re-encrypts it.
Currently we know how to do... well, some of #1, and we think the rest is possible. Given that, #2 isn't too hard. #3 is something I don't have the least notion how to do *right now* but I'm sure it's possible. #4 shouldn't be too hard given #1 and #2. #5 will be a trick - currently, apps have no way to know what other apps are running - but I'm sure it can be done.
It's a large engineering problem blocked by an even bigger research and hacking problem, though. Nothing we'll have soon. You'd never be able to publish it in the store, either, and it would only work for people with hacked phones. It's exactly the kind of *useful* thing that would be possible if Microsoft were willing to let up the restrictions on third-party developers a bit, of course, But for the time being, there are *reasons* nobody has done it yet.

Well the word that I actually was thinking after reading your post was "crap".
It seems only with time (and a whole [email protected]#$ing lot of it) will wp become a true competitor to android, but to be honest I don't think it will come to that.
Thanks for replying GoodDayToDie, I'm freakin' sad that there is no app that can suit my needs, I even tried with kids corner but the screen still needs the password entered like the normal one. Nothing really can make up for what I have in mind.
Cheers mate.

as soon as we can interop unlock all WP devices, it will be pretty easy... if you're able to provide the XAP (uncrypted of course )
i'll be able to "mod" this in for you... which app are we talking about?
@GoodDayToDie: i do'nt think he is looking for real data security here, so encrypting the whole thing shouldnt be required... i think it's more about preventing his gf to read his private messages or something like that
oh btw.: you would need a dev-unlock to deploy the modified XAP then...

tfBullet said:
as soon as we can interop unlock all WP devices, it will be pretty easy... if you're able to provide the XAP (uncrypted of course )
i'll be able to "mod" this in for you... which app are we talking about?
@GoodDayToDie: i do'nt think he is looking for real data security here, so encrypting the whole thing shouldnt be required... i think it's more about preventing his gf to read his private messages or something like that
oh btw.: you would need a dev-unlock to deploy the modified XAP then...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right tfBullet! I need it for whatsapp, photos, message and games app, mostly to prevent from friends but gf too.
I was thinking it might be possible to mod an app and add password before it can be accessed, although I have no experience in this domain. Many apps in store have this function, like wallet or prive photo apps.
My phone is dev-unlocked as I started a few days ago to study and try to create a simple app for me and my friends.

Modding an app like that would actually be quite hard, because it would break the signature and prevent the app from running. The encryption thing really isn't too hard, although you could skip it anyhow too.

If there was a way to run a program in the background that monitors when certain apps are selected and then prompts when its activated would work, but it would need an unlocked phone. And even under home brew I don't know if its possible to run apps in the background. Yet.
Sent from my Nokia 521 using XDA Windows Phone 8 App

The encryption thing really isn't too hard

Yea, but that's a little extreme. If you can create that password program that runs in the background you could probably have it watch files, apps or pretty much anything. You'd have to password protect the cofig file. And maybe if you can't remember the password after so many attempts you can have the program email the passwords to your email. Just some ideas.
Sent from my Nokia 521 using XDA Windows Phone 8 App

Running software in the background is actually shockingly easy. The trick is getting it to run with better-than-app-sandbox privileges. We're still working on that one. In the meantime, apps can't even read, much less write, to the install location of other apps.

GoodDayToDie said:
Modding an app like that would actually be quite hard, because it would break the signature and prevent the app from running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@GoodDayToDie: actually these .NET apps are pretty easy to decompile, if you're willing to fix the bugs that the decompiler leaves you with...
so there is not really a need for a valid signature, if you're able to compile & sideload the app yourself
the only thing is: you need the decrypted XAP, as far as i know these get decrypted while installation and can be pulled from a interop unlocked device?!
It would be nice to get my fingers on some OEM (Nokia etc..) XAPs, to see if we can find any exploit in them

I know better than probably 95% of this forum what it takes to decompile managed code; I have reverse engineered huge numbers of apps. However, you are missing several important points.
1) Modifications like you suggest are very complicated to automate. It's certainly possible, but it's not simple.
2) Re-installing the app would be a pain. You would really want to do this as an in-place modification, and that means (for store apps) that it would still be signature-checked.
3) Not all apps are managed code; WP8 supports purely native code.
4) Even with managed code, obfuscation can make tinkering with the binary nigh-impossible.

It's just so incredibly stupid that WP is so limited. I know it's under Android big time, but I think even iOS more customizable, right?
Also, is there a message app in the store that has pass option? I searched but found nothing...

I don't believe iOS is any more customizable, no. It has some feature that WP lacks (it ought to; it's been out for years longer and Apple completely controls the hardware it runs on) but it's also missing some features that WP8 offers. In any case, this isn't the thread to have that discussion in.

GoodDayToDie said:
I don't believe iOS is any more customizable, no. It has some feature that WP lacks (it ought to; it's been out for years longer and Apple completely controls the hardware it runs on) but it's also missing some features that WP8 offers. In any case, this isn't the thread to have that discussion in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But with the jailbreak and MobileSubstrate, iOS is extremely customizable, and there are tons of tweaks, that's where Apple gets its new features from
Back to topic, I think the OP would be happy with a solution that locks the "normal" user of his phone out of some apps, so it wouldn't be necessary to modify anything of it, just making the standard launcher (I don't know how it's called, but I mean when you launch the app via home screen or with a toast) ask for a password should be enough.

Haw can I use Chroma Dialer on Stock 5.1.1?

I have used Chroma in the past with minimal issues, but prefer the pure stock over a rom - so my question is; is there any way to use the Chroma Rom Dialer on the stock 5.1.1? (since I know there's several telephony, dialer, phonesky apps/files) I am not sure how I would go about doing that, or what all I would need to change in order to pull it off - if this is even possible at all?
Reason for my question, I like that it has BUILT IN native call blocking ability that the stock dialer doesn't, other than THAT feature it's identical to the stock dialer. I don't care if it's the Chroma dialer, or another rom dialer, I just want the STOCK dialer (or stock-like) to have this ability.
I know there's 3rd party apps for this type of thing, and I've used many of them, but I very much so prefer NOT to have to use a 3rd party app for something that (IMO) should have been built in to begin with.
If you wish to know why this is important to me, read the spoiler:
So, I get ~3-6 calls every day that's just the same BS; Scam calls saying I can lower my CC interest rates and to press 1 to speak to a representative. They always call from a different number, so blocking them individually doesn't work since it's never the same twice (typically - you'll understand after reading below). If you DO press 1 you get a rude person who will cuss at you, call you names, or laugh at you if you ask to be removed from their calling list. Doing that will only make it worse. I've recorded dozens of calls where they say really effed up things to me. Beyond harassment, it's straight up abuse.
I have been getting them for years, I DO NOT own a credit card, never have owned one, and have never even applied for one - plus there's THOUSANDS of pages on Google about these type of calls being a major problem. Even the FCC has a $50,000 bounty for anyone who can legally or illegally stop them - no questions asked (how badass is that!?) - THAT should tell you how hard they are to catch, find, or stop.
After more than 2 years of filing formal complaints/reports with the FCC, Local PD, FBI (as told to by the FCC), USCC, and have seeked legal advice from my lawyer as to getting this stopped via getting a subpoena so uscc has to release the real call origin trace, I'm on the Do Not Call list... - I've been met with ONE solution that has been common on all counts; change my number. That's not really an option, I've had this number since 1997, I'm not about to change it for obvious reasons.
Now, I've tried many apps to get this stopped, ranging from free to paid, and have not found one that ACTUALLY works toward getting it stopped, many are difficult to use or require WAY too much effort and personal information in order to do anything but ask you to donate.
So far I have logged (through Google Voice VM) a growing total of 566 *different* numbers they have called me from - from all over the US and some that are unused anywhere on earth.
In conclusion, Ive logged 566 different numbers that have called me a total of 11,925 times since 2008.
If that isn't justification for this request, then IDK what is. Shy of ditching my phone altogether, I'm out of ideas.

Bumping - I'd really appreciate any help, gents.

iRub1Out said:
Bumping - I'd really appreciate any help, gents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have no idea. If dialer would work would need boh contacts and dialer apk. Have no idea where the code for that mod is and if ASOP dialer will even work on stock. Then you have odex vs deodex to work through.

If it CANT work on stock (which, honestly, I didn't expect it to) given, as you said, the differences are small on the surface but in the actual build they're very different. I understand that, and those are things I considered leading me to wonder.
Can anyone MAKE the stock dialer with that mod added in, or a otherwise stock rom with that?
It seems like a lot to request, I know, but I've been looking for this for months, I've even set up a bounty in a thread on TUSCC, its something that I've really hoped would become a mod thru xposed or "Pure Shamu" rom with it. However, it seems that others don't experience this ridiculous problem, leading to it not being as popular as I wish it was.
Trying to stop an ex from calling is one thing, but trying to stop every call that isn't a contact, I realize that's quite another. Thus is my case, its crazy how many spoofed numbers they use. I'm more amazed that the carrier hasn't done something than I am that it's not a mod. There's tens of thousands of people with this problem and the one solution that requires no effort on the end user isn't available to cell phone users.
I don't know - I'm just at my wits end with these calls. I'd be happy to do it myself if a dev is willing to give me some direction, or ideas to try out.
As a side note, I've recorded several where I just screw with them for as long as I can - then put it on YT after they realize they've been trolled and blow up. It's a small, yet, satisfying "middle finger" I can do.

iRub1Out said:
If it CANT work on stock (which, honestly, I didn't expect it to) given, as you said, the differences are small on the surface but in the actual build they're very different. I understand that, and those are things I considered leading me to wonder.
Can anyone MAKE the stock dialer with that mod added in, or a otherwise stock rom with that?
It seems like a lot to request, I know, but I've been looking for this for months, I've even set up a bounty in a thread on TUSCC, its something that I've really hoped would become a mod thru xposed or "Pure Shamu" rom with it. However, it seems that others don't experience this ridiculous problem, leading to it not being as popular as I wish it was.
Trying to stop an ex from calling is one thing, but trying to stop every call that isn't a contact, I realize that's quite another. Thus is my case, its crazy how many spoofed numbers they use. I'm more amazed that the carrier hasn't done something than I am that it's not a mod. There's tens of thousands of people with this problem and the one solution that requires no effort on the end user isn't available to cell phone users.
I don't know - I'm just at my wits end with these calls. I'd be happy to do it myself if a dev is willing to give me some direction, or ideas to try out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I knew what the mod is it would be possible to port to stock. My guess it is in smali which cannot access on stock odex. Stock Would have to be deodexed to access smali which is also possible in rom form. Nobody I know of is deodexing stock 5.1.1 We have done it and got it working but don't post as we still don't know if everything works. Lollipop is still hard to make fully working rom from stock image. M is even going to be harder. Would still need the code required to enable the mod.

prdog1 said:
If I knew what the mod is it would be possible to port to stock. My guess it is in smali which cannot access on stock odex. Stock Would have to be deodexed to access smali which is also possible in rom form. Nobody I know of is deodexing stock 5.1.1 We have done it and got it working but don't post as we still don't know if everything works. Lollipop is still hard to make fully working rom from stock image. M is even going to be harder. Would still need the code required to enable the mod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I concurr, your talking about taking apk's not meant for a certain rom and adding them in to pray it works. Did you look in the market t.o see if there was a KB you liked there? You can't just switch around apk's like that because you could easily get force closes. If you want to try just copy and paste it into a rom. you wont brick doing that, it may work

I know it isn't as easy as swapping apks - I had *hoped* it would be similarly easy, but figured there was no way.
Idk what the mod is, or how Chroma did it - but the dialer looks stock other than the addition of that option under the advanced menu in the dialer settings.
I've looked in the market, used many of them, Mr. Number was my go to for a long time but it is iffy on 5.1 as *sometimes* a call will get through for a couple rings then gets blocked. It would also block known contacts on a rare occasion, I would go a couple days without knowing I had missed a call from a family member because it didn't show up in Mr. Number or the stock dialer - somehow it blocked it and had no record of the call even coming in.
That's why I was hoping to find a way to get this option in the stock dialer - without porting anything or swapping apks, that way it's a native feature to the dialer and I wouldn't have to depend on 3rd party apps to do it.
I've asked Google, but their solution was to add them to one contact and send the calls to VM - while that essentially works, that means I'd have to add all 500+ numbers to a single contact, and they OFTEN call from spoofed numbers I've never seen before - so that really doesn't solve anything.