This might even be fixable via OTA software as far as I know, but is there a method available to reduce the amount of apps you must choose in order to share something on your device? Its just annoying when you don't even use 2/3 of the apps for sharing, most of which aren't used at all. I know I can delete the bloatware and it will reduce some.....
Attached a screenshot in case clarification is needed. Even if you are sharing a widely know method and want to toss in a smart comment, I deserve it if a fix exists and I am missing it. TIA
very simple, apps that you dont use, get rid of them. or go into the main settings, choose apps, now disable the system apps that you dont use. or, if you have root, delete those apps that you dont use.
simms22 said:
very simple, apps that you dont use, get rid of them. or go into the main settings, choose apps, now disable the system apps that you dont use. or, if you have root, delete those apps that you dont use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are some obvious apps I know I can delete without system harm. I guess I can pretty easily search for what is 'safe' to delete, such as below.....
Apps I don't use:
Messenger (I use Messaging for SMS/MMS)
Bluetooth
Hangouts
Google+ (I'm sure I can delete)
Photos (Picasa/Google)
Kindle (I'm sure I can delete)
AT&T Locker
But here is the real twist........
Apps I use but would never send via:
Audio Manager
Tapatalk
Convert to PDF
Android Beam
AirDroid
ES File Explorer 'Send by LAN'
ES File Explorer 'Save to'
In a word, no.
Related
I apologize if this has been answered earlier.
I use a stock N1 with ADW.Launcher and a bunch of other apps. I recently noticed that even when I uninstall an app from my phone, there are some directories / files that remain on the phone.
Is there any reason why these do not get deleted when the app is unistalled.
May be the same answer as installers written for windows. If the developer didn't do a good job with cleanup, you get trash leftover you need to manually clean.
i agree with both above. i found devs dont do good with uninstalling and leaving folders left behind, i wonder if there is an app that clears them?
The best way is to realize what should and shouldn't be there and manually take care of it. To write an application to clean up after 50,000+ other applications that are messy. Would be a programming nightmare and I would not want to support such an application.
or someone could make some sort of app similar to those on pc, montors what and where files are being installed to so if uninstall doesnt take em out alteast you know where to look exactly.
Edit: better yet, the app itself can uninstall everything on the users request! now that would be an app i wouldnt mind paying a good buck for.
I agree, apps itself should uninstall everything with user consent.
Also I don't think a lot of us mind taking the manual route as long as we know what to delete ..
Any way to find out what files belong to what apps?.... or is it the same as on any unix/linux platform.
thats what i was trying to say. windows has a simple app that makes a txt file of all files being installed including registery. launch the app to monitor first, install like normal. in this case, the app itself will make a database of the app then the user can use that app to delete everything catched that was installed. that would be very nice. i find myself doing google search to see where files came from and when i see i uninstalled that i have to delete it myself. this would save me lots of time. i dont really worry about it though i have a list of apps i must install and with all the froyo i keep wiping the os to try new roms. until everything is stable ill worry then but for now im good.
garryvirdi said:
I apologize if this has been answered earlier.
I use a stock N1 with ADW.Launcher and a bunch of other apps. I recently noticed that even when I uninstall an app from my phone, there are some directories / files that remain on the phone.
Is there any reason why these do not get deleted when the app is unistalled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean the directories on the sd card?
Yes directories and files on the SD card.
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Sent from my Nexus One
garryvirdi said:
Yes directories and files on the SD card.
-------------------------------------
Sent from my Nexus One
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could have data that could be reused if you decide to use the app again. Settings, preferences, keys, notes, photos etc..
I do hope that the default folder for apps defaults to something like /sdcard/appdata/ instead of the root folder /sdcard/ (unless explicitly set)
Say I download an *.apk file from some site or I get one from a friend, could it potentially harm my phone, cost me money etc.? Basically what I'm wondering is, when I install an app it generally says what the app has/wants access to, is this "warning" coded by the programmer to tell the user what it's accessing or is it determined automatically by built in functions? I don't want to install and app that has access to stuff that I'm not aware of.
Regards,
B
Edit: On a second note. Say I do download some harmful application, would uninstalling it solve the problem or could there be remaining harmful files still at work? The whole Android OS is sorta worrying me...bad experiences with Windows is making me cautious.
if you can think of it
there can always be a chance of happening
yes, a malicious hacker could do something like that
yes, a pissed programmer might including something like that into their apps to stop people from sharing their apps without buying it
yes, the apk might be legit but might have been corrupted some how
yes, you might be able to uninstall if lucky
but worse case scenario if i were a malicious hacker i wouldn't code a way to uninstall the app, instead i'll probably code a way to lock the user out of all access forcing you to Flash the phone from scratch
You didn't really answer my one major question, or maybe you did but I didn't understand. Are the services that the app is able to access programmed or are they determined by a function?
Well when installing I've resorted to checking a few things:
1) Make sure the app that I've downloaded is the same size as the one in the market (for equivalent versions...obviously)
2) Compare the system permissions when installing with those found at www.androlib.com
This way seems pretty safe to me. If the size is the same and the permissions are the same...you can be quite (not 100%) certain that they are legit/the same.
Ok heres the deal. Apps have 2 types of access.
1. Standard permissions
So if u don't do adb-install (where u dont see an app's permissions), then market / copy to sdcard and install from there u'll see the permission screen. An app cannot do something w/o permissions. If an uninstaller is askin for email permissions u know somethings wrong.
2. Root
Most dangerous. An app will ask u for 0 standard android api permissions. But when u run it, u will be asked for a superuser allow/deny request. From their its up to you. An app could do anything behind the scenes from tht point.
So read reviews/ user comments before trying root apps. Standard apps, just look over the permissions thts all.
FYI : The permissions are read by android, they're not user defined. Any permissions will always show up when installing it using the native package manager.
To be honest I wouldn't advise downloading an .apk from a non-trusted source. If its on the market, you're near certainly ok, and if its from a trusted developer (say from these boards, or some other similar dev portal) then again, you are likely to be ok. In the second case, you are unlikely to be getting a finished app if you get a straight apk from boards, because when they are finished or at least solid, they go to the app store anyway, so harm in that case is more likely to be of the force close variety rather than bricked variety.
Outside of that, I can't see why you would get an apk from a friend rather than downloading it yourself, simply because that way it makes certain you get a clean, non-corrupted version. If apps don't show up in the market for you, its mostly because your device can't run them, in which case, again, force close.
Uninstalling it is possibly too late. All smartphones suffer this issue though.
As mentioned, if you get the files from market though, you are likely to be safe..
Also, not all melicious programs are obvious..
Daneshm90 said:
Ok heres the deal. Apps have 2 types of access.
1. Standard permissions
So if u don't do adb-install (where u dont see an app's permissions), then market / copy to sdcard and install from there u'll see the permission screen. An app cannot do something w/o permissions. If an uninstaller is askin for email permissions u know somethings wrong.
2. Root
Most dangerous. An app will ask u for 0 standard android api permissions. But when u run it, u will be asked for a superuser allow/deny request. From their its up to you. An app could do anything behind the scenes from tht point.
So read reviews/ user comments before trying root apps. Standard apps, just look over the permissions thts all.
FYI : The permissions are read by android, they're not user defined. Any permissions will always show up when installing it using the native package manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you.
Btw, just because security on App store says an app can do stuff like make phone calls etc, doesn't mean it's malicious.
A few people were misled by an article that stated that apps with such extreme permissions were malicious, but it's untrue. It isn't always the case, but if an app uses functionality you don't believe it should, it's possible it is dodgy
andrewluecke said:
Btw, just because security on App store says an app can do stuff like make phone calls etc, doesn't mean it's malicious.
A few people were misled by an article that stated that apps with such extreme permissions were malicious, but it's untrue. It isn't always the case, but if an app uses functionality you don't believe it should, it's possible it is dodgy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aye, I know. Thanks for the advice. I've actually been comparing any app I download off the internet to the actual ones on the market (size and permissions).
Hi everyone im a noob member to the site but have read some interesting threads before membership but as usual joining when i have a problem that needs some of your help
I have had a .apk file download to my htc desire running 2.2.2. I was browsing pics of the fake kind when it started downloading. i did see some letters and numbers before the file ext. It is not an official .apk that im sure off. I have searched for it on my phone but cannot find it to delete .
can anyone help please
After hooking up htc to my pc by usb lead, I have managed to locate the file by searching. It was in the download folder, I deleted it via the pc and then did a factory reset on htc.
Would this get rid of it safely
I don't know if anyone voted for new features for WP8, but if you did, you should get mail from admins that file manager is now available.
Check it here:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...ons/3365632-add-file-manager-to-windows-phone
Also I've got mail for disabling auto rotation:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...tions/suggestions/2282917-disable-auto-rotate
Anyone know what is all that about? If it's on some new update, it wouldn't say it's available now.
head0 said:
I don't know if anyone voted for new features for WP8, but if you did, you should get mail from admins that file manager is now available.
Check it here:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...ons/3365632-add-file-manager-to-windows-phone
Also I've got mail for disabling auto rotation:
http://windowsphone.uservoice.com/f...tions/suggestions/2282917-disable-auto-rotate
Anyone know what is all that about? If it's on some new update, it wouldn't say it's available now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great news.
In addition to the update on uservoice (http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/)
there is a report that it will be coming in WP8.1 in Q2 2014 http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/
I'm on android but I will definitely check back on WP when this happens.
CSMR said:
Great news.
In addition to the update on uservoice (http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/)
there is a report that it will be coming in WP8.1 in Q2 2014 http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/file-manager-coming-to-windows-phone-8-2-12-2013/
I'm on android but I will definitely check back on WP when this happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And what you gonna do with the jpg file, move/copy where if only the hubs can open it? Useless feature.
djtonka said:
And what you gonna do with the jpg file, move/copy where if only the hubs can open it? Useless feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If MS implemented this feature so that the file manager would only show "hubs" and only allow you to move things in folders within these hubs, they would have to be real idiots.
A file manager means having user documents accessible by programs. Pretty much if you have one, you have the other. And ordinary people understand what a file manager is, so the request is always for a file manager, even though having a user documents folder accessible by programs is more important.
CSMR said:
If MS implemented this feature so that the file manager would only show "hubs" and only allow you to move things in folders within these hubs, they would have to be real idiots.
A file manager means having user documents accessible by programs. Pretty much if you have one, you have the other. And ordinary people understand what a file manager is, so the request is always for a file manager, even though having a user documents folder accessible by programs is more important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I have previously stated to all the QQ threads on this forum, windows phone does not need a file manager like windows 8 has.
As long as third party apps can asociate with the files they need to open, we will be fine, because developers can detect files on the phone very easily using the Microsoft API. The biggest problem is not the lack of a file manager, is the lack of permissions to allow third party apps to open files which are restricted by the system, like mp3 files.
If apps had full access to SD cards and the user file system, everybody would be happy.
Given how the API seems to be building around, this file manager will be restricted to hubs and third party apps will still not be able to open whatever files they want to.
On the other hand, they might give us a SDK update, but there are no news on the developer site...
Oh, I still disagree with that, quite a bit in fact.
Even leaving it limited to the "user" parts of the phone, there's lots of obvious cases for a file browser / manager.
* A simple one would be to provide an easy way to correct problems like duplicated files, renaming documents, copying a music file to the "ringtones" folder, and so on. Plus of course the ability to categorize and organize files using folders. Basically, the stuff you can do from a PC over USB.
* A little bit more advanced, but still pretty useful and obvious, would be the ability to open files (into whatever app the user wants) from a central location, rather than needing to go to the app first and hope that the app has a way to open the file. This is especially obvious when one considers downloaded files, which currently can only be opened once (by the app that you select at that time, which must then copy the file locally if it wants to keep it; no other app will be able to access that file unless you download it again).
* Another important need is to provide something that functions like the SD card for phones which don't have one. For an OS that doesn't require the presence of such a card, WP8 has a number of features which you can only use if you *do* have one. Example: using the standard MTP over USB access, if I want to add ebooks to my phone, I have to copy the ebooks to the SD card, then go into the e-reader app and tell it to load the books from the card. If I don't have a card, I'm screwed; there's no other way except to open them one at a time as email attachments or something similarly stupid. A universally accessible folder (even if it was read-only to third-party apps) for such content would make a lot of sense.
For those of you who say this feature would be useless, go and find a particular ringtone on your phone and share it with someone via Bluetooth, message, email or however you want heck use Skydrive and then come back and tell me if you can even navigate to the ringtones folder using Xbox Music.
---------- Post added at 06:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:40 PM ----------
sinister1 said:
For those of you who say this feature would be useless, go and find a particular ringtone on your phone and share it with someone via Bluetooth, message, email or however you want heck use Skydrive and then come back and tell me if you can even navigate to the ringtones folder using Xbox Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any one
From what I read on WPCentral, this was a mistake being marked as complete, so false alarm regardless.
P.S. I am in the camp of wanting a file manager/explorer.
Sadly, true. You can see that on the uservoice site directly... :-/
They will probably give a full file manager with windows phone 9 or something.
That's right.
The forum admin says that the thread's were mistakenly marked as accomplished.
Way go MS.Nice idea for fixing problems. ;(
Sent from my Windows Phone 8S by HTC using Tapatalk
I take it that no response to my question above means it's not possible to do on WP, Okay how about downloading a pdf file from an email or SkyDrive? The reasons for a native file explorer on WP is so obvious. Not everyone carries a tablet or laptop computer with them at all times just to be able to explore, rename, save or copy files on their phone.
Okay, so we all know that when we launch Samsung's Gear Manager, it instantly wants to restore the Gear and clear out all our apps and setting. What to do?
I have read up on the different backup services and apps and I want to know what everyone is using?
It seems like Titanium Backup is popular but the paid app. for the unrooted phones is expensive, when so many free apps are available. What makes it better? Any apps that batch restore all your apps possible?
I am using Google Drive to backup my APKs that I cant just download from the Google Play Store, but are the services and specifc apps any better? Hell, they seem to be backing up the data on Google Drives (GD) anyways. Seems like me just putting them on GD in the first place just saves me the space and time of downloading yet another app.
Have also read a little about some people hiding the APKs in subfiles and then just opening them up and installing them again. That seems like a useful idea but would love to know exactly where to hide the files.
Hi All,
I haven't had much luck with the questions I've asked, it's a shame these forums aren't more active but I'll try my luck again (and thanks in advance to all those who read).
A lot of us newbies who want to debloat our phones are unsure what apks to delete and what needs to stay. I've found various lists of apks that others have deleted, but with no indication of what they are exactly are. Some are obvious but others are not.
I, for instance, can't figure out which apk produces Video Unlimited, Smart Connect or Xperia Care Support from looking in system/app with the root browser. Is this even the only place I'd need to delete each apk from to remove it? But I digress.
So there surely must be a way to read each package and view or extract the user-friendly name that appears to the user in the Apps list or in the home screen. Can anyone tell me what it is? I would be very happy to go through each apk and list it out for people to then use as a reference, and we'd have one more resource for newbies to draw on, instead of us just deleting them blindly and/or at random.
Cheers as always,
schnidex
Use ES File Explorer and check the "App" menu. You will be able to see the apps by its user-friendly name, and clicking on each one you will see its package name.
- Install ES File Explorer from the Play Store (it's free)
- Press the hamburger menu (located up-left -> Library -> App)
- You will see user apps, then you can click on the menu and check system apps or all apps installed.
If you are rooted, you may uninstall system apps from there (long press, uninstall located down-left).
BarajaVLC said:
Use ES File Explorer and check the "App" menu. You will be able to see the apps by its user-friendly name, and clicking on each one you will see its package name.
- Install ES File Explorer from the Play Store (it's free)
- Press the hamburger menu (located up-left -> Library -> App)
- You will see user apps, then you can click on the menu and check system apps or all apps installed.
If you are rooted, you may uninstall system apps from there (long press, uninstall located down-left).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
¡MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS, MI AMIGO!
:good:
The problem is not in knowing which APK belongs to which app (and sometimes one APK is several apps at once - like Google+, and you need to know it, and sometimes you don't see an app at all for the APK, like for most system APKs). The problem is knowing what the app actually does, which parts of the system rely on it being present, and how well will these parts behave if the app is removed (vs disabled, which is a normal way to deal with unwanted apps). And this is where "debloating" can do more harm than good.
Jack_R1 said:
The problem is not in knowing which APK belongs to which app (and sometimes one APK is several apps at once - like Google+, and you need to know it, and sometimes you don't see an app at all for the APK, like for most system APKs). The problem is knowing what the app actually does, which parts of the system rely on it being present, and how well will these parts behave if the app is removed (vs disabled, which is a normal way to deal with unwanted apps). And this is where "debloating" can do more harm than good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True in many ways, but my primary concern was removing the apps that appear in the app drawer. This seems to handle that perfectly.