Super N00b with some basic questions GAAHH! :) - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
I was told this is the place to come for everything related Galaxy S III from several people. Please excuse me if this is the wrong place or section.
I'm completely new to the Galaxy 3 and Android in general.
I'm on sprint and I've had the Palm Pre since launch, I just got my GS3 yesterday (amazon $149 no tax, free 2 day shipping) :victory:
As you can imagine coming form the Pre, my mind is blown. It's a bit overwhelming, I'm a pretty tech-savvy dude (pre was hacked to its limits) so I down to tinker. But before I even get started with that I have some basic questions.
1. Is there a way to only use a password unlock once per phone power-on instead of every time the screen locks?
1a Even better would be able to use a simple pin for screen unlock but still have the SD/Internal encrypted with a long password. Is that possible?
2. When I press back, how do I know if an app has been killed? I keep getting the feeling it still somehow running in the background?
3. Is the application manager like the Windows process manager? How do I know what are essential system apps and what can be stopped?
4. What is the best way to get rid of bloatware?
5. What are the diffrent system updates? PRL, Profile, Samsung Software, Firmware?
6. Why is there "com.sec.sprextension.phoneinfo.D..." under Device administrator? Do I need that? Is that a security hole/risk?
Again, sorry for so many questions, just trying to wrap my head around all of this. If there is a better place to be asking question please let me know.
Look forward to being part of the community! :highfive:
BR

1) not by default, maybe an app could aid there, not sure, but on stock "out of the box" the answer is "no"
1a) nope, if you want to use encryption, it's password all the way
2) Settings -> Application Manager -> "Running" tab
3) Kind of. It also warns you when you try to kill off a system app, but you can't really damage anything by doing that. I tend to kill just everything I don't want at the moment (which is usually everything but the widgets and app I am intentionally running) and all is well.
Stuff that REALLY needs to run, restarts automatically anyways (and some that don't have to, do as well....)
4) Settings -> Application Manager -> All -> Tap on app -> "Disable"
5) You will find an uncountable number of ROMs / Firmwares here. Stock as well as custom. What the best one is, is personal preference.
6) might be something added by the carrier. try to disable it, see what happens
7) ( ) .... ( ) whoops, no 7 xD
Hope that helped a bit

I'm on sprint and I've had the Palm Pre since launch, I just got my GS3 yesterday
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You most certainly are in the wrong forum. This one is for the international S3 which doesn't feature LTE. There's a Sprint forum right above/below this one =)
Is there a way to only use a password unlock once per phone power-on instead of every time the screen locks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would make password unlock more or less redundant. Anyone could still access the phone.
When I press back, how do I know if an app has been killed? I keep getting the feeling it still somehow running in the background?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're correct. Well, partially. It's still "alive" in terms of being in the memory. But it doesn't use CPU anymore which is all that counts.
However you don't want to kill it. Cached processes take up no space (the RAM is emptyed whenever the capacity is needed), no resources and allow you to multi-task right back to where you left off.
Is the application manager like the Windows process manager? How do I know what are essential system apps and what can be stopped?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't want to stop anything. Refer to the prior question for this. Well... you may want to kick off some bloatware but to get rid of thm the phone needs to be rooted. There are threads listing which apps you can safely remove.
What is the best way to get rid of bloatware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As said, you need to be rooted. Use TItanium Backup to freeze the bloatware. It's still physically "there" on the disk (doesn't take up much space) and you can defrost it whenever needed but as long as it's frozen it cannot be started.
What are the diffrent system updates? PRL, Profile, Samsung Software, Firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
App updates are always delivered through their corresponding market. Usually the Google Play Store, but as for Samsung apps they have their own update mechanism.
Firmware and ROM are updated either OTA or through Kies on the computer. They can also be manually flashed through Odin.
"com.sec.sprextension.phoneinfo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like some carrier bloatware and from the name of it is supposed to open some file extension called '.spr' for the phone.

Thank you for the info! Mods could you please move to correct forum?

Related

The quest to re-enable legacy permissions...

Okay, digging deep into Android's source.... not for the feint of heart, and not for those whose coding skills are somewhere just above, "Hello, world!" (Me)
Here's the deal. We all know, with Froyo, Google disabled task killers. No app can kill another app. I for one am happy, because killing all apps when your screen goes off is stupid, pointless, and all kinds of harmful. Well, happy but for one little thing....
Killing other apps still does have a purpose! Specifically, in my case, I want to replace my long-press home option with a cool app switcher that also gives me the ability to kill a running app if I know I am done with it for the day and it refuses to die naturally. I'm sure there are other legitimate uses for it, such as killing everything before a benchmark. Sure, these are very specific, uncommon uses, but a thousand apps on the Market exist for specific, uncommon uses, and I think that most hackers/modders with su here would know better than to let a task killer run rampant. Anyone wanna discuss re-enabling this on 2.2?
Edit: I should correct myself. I keep saying "app," what I mean is "service." I know you can still stop (most) apps, but not services. Which keeps a lot of apps running, despite your best efforts. Forgive me for misusing the words
wait task managers dont actually kill in 2.2? This is news to me, as one I have downloaded seems to work fine..
stuff said:
wait task managers dont actually kill in 2.2? This is news to me, as one I have downloaded seems to work fine..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ditto.......
stuff said:
wait task managers dont actually kill in 2.2? This is news to me, as one I have downloaded seems to work fine..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Taskiller will show the app was killed. I'm sure many others will too. But kill an app, then go to Settings>Applications>Manage Applications>Running, and you'll see that it's still running.
Edit: I should correct myself. I keep saying "app," what I mean is "service." I know you can still stop (most) apps, but not services. Which keeps a lot of apps running, despite your best efforts. Forgive me for misusing the words.
Forgive the obvious question but can't the services just be killed by a root request/process? If so, creating an interface for this should be easy as pants.
Of course, root is required but that shouldn't be a constraint.
djmcnz said:
Forgive the obvious question but can't the services just be killed by a root request/process? If so, creating an interface for this should be easy as pants.
Of course, root is required but that shouldn't be a constraint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. But wouldn't it make more sense to allow the dozens of non-root apps that already exist to do this, rather than have to re-write an app that does the exact same thing, but has to use su? It would be safer, too. Running everything as root all the time runs contrary to the whole idea of Linux. It's better to give apps the permissions they need, rather than give everything unlimited power.
carnegie0107 said:
True. But wouldn't it make more sense to allow the dozens of non-root apps that already exist to do this, rather than have to re-write an app that does the exact same thing, but has to use su? It would be safer, too. Running everything as root all the time runs contrary to the whole idea of Linux. It's better to give apps the permissions they need, rather than give everything unlimited power.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I see. It might be useful but that's the essence of the Froyo changes... it can't be done now without root. You've have to compromise the security model... probably not a feasible route...
I think you are mistaken, maybe in Manage Applications it still shows it as "stoppable", however... I just did a test.
1. Opened DDMS on my PC.
2. Took note of an app to test with (speedtest) that was currently running.
3. Opened Advanced Task Manager.
4. Killed speedtest with task manager and watched it disappear from the running process list in DDMS.
Obviously ATM was able to kill the task. And, just so you know, it did not start running again. Also, it was removed from the "Running" tab in Manage Applications, so you are double wrong.
And, in case you were going to further the argument that you meant to say "Services", I just killed the PhoneFusion VM service with ATM, and it was removed from the running process list in DDMS.
djmcnz said:
Oh, I see. It might be useful but that's the essence of the Froyo changes... it can't be done now without root. You've have to compromise the security model... probably not a feasible route...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or create something that uses su to kill these processes for third-party apps, without the need for them to have su. Similar to superuser apk, but on a more specific level. Or, we could make it even better, and have superuser hand out specific, user-approved permissions, rather than permit root access as a whole to any app.
Apparently there's not a lot of interest in this, but I thought it would make an interesting discussion.

[Q] (Rooted) Safe apps to uninstall?

My phone is rooted and i would like to know which apps are safe to uninstall that are slowing down my phone so I can speed it up. ? I have root explore and would like a guide on how to uninstall these apps that are slowing my phone down. Thanks to anyone willing to help.
The answer is in here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1254140
lordmorphous said:
The answer is in here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1254140
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank u uncle fester but there's no answers to my question in that link.
Please see this thread. I wouldn't remove the Package checker apps as noted in this thread. ( PackageChecker.apk [com.oem.packagechecker]
PackageUpdate.apk [com.oem.packageupdate])
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1245381
Try looking here
At the bottom of the OP is a link entitled List of Apps Safe to Remove From Stock ROM. Its there...look again.
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium
lordmorphous said:
At the bottom of the OP is a link entitled List of Apps Safe to Remove From Stock ROM. Its there...look again.
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Morpheus you should already know he's partially illiterate, were he not, then he would have been able to find the answer and not be spoon fed from his high chair
Chirunavvutho said:
I wouldn't remove the Package checker apps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why?
/10char
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Why?
/10char
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Click to collapse
Because, I don't think removing them did any good. Does anyone know what is their exact purpose?
Again, why?
Ok...let me rephrase. Why don't you think removing them did any good?
The apps are listed in the "safe to remove" section of the post as they do not affect the operation of the ROM. If Manii believed those apps shouldn't have been removed, he wouldn't have put them in that list. Regardless of that, if you're going to make a blanket statement that you don't believe those apps should be removed, be expected to provide a better explanation than "because" when someone asks you "why".
Manii likely would know what they are for. Ask him.
They're mainly for ota updating to my knowledge, as custom roms cant ota update they functionally dont do anything.
I've had them uninstalled for a while and i dont believe anything changed.
The only thing that shouldnt be removed that isnt a core android app is dell settings and internet provider.
TheManii said:
They're mainly for ota updating to my knowledge, as custom roms cant ota update they functionally dont do anything.
I've had them uninstalled for a while and i dont believe anything changed.
The only thing that shouldnt be removed that isnt a core android app is dell settings and internet provider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why Dell Settings? I have blindly been removing it from every rom I install.
I cant recall why exactly, i know stageui partially depends on it and something else does in android core.
dell settings and internet providor are the only things in com.dell and not com.oem for a reason
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Again, why?
Ok...let me rephrase. Why don't you think removing them did any good?
The apps are listed in the "safe to remove" section of the post as they do not affect the operation of the ROM. If Manii believed those apps shouldn't have been removed, he wouldn't have put them in that list. Regardless of that, if you're going to make a blanket statement that you don't believe those apps should be removed, be expected to provide a better explanation than "because" when someone asks you "why".
Manii likely would know what they are for. Ask him.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please check the revised list. They are in the possibly not safe to remove zone now.
Manii provided his justification in favor of removing those two apps. I'm waiting for your justification in favor of NOT removing those two apps.
In simpler language, you still have yet to answer my question. Manii placing those apps into a gray area "Possibly Not Safe To Remove" does not render the question invalid.
Most of the list is self-explanitory just by the names:
It falls under:
Stuff you can download outright on market
Non-system apps that are not available on market
StageUI
engineering mode apps
logging apps
the 4 borderline cases
those are:
Calibrator.apk [com.oem.calibrator]
DisplayVersionInfo.apk [com.oem.mode]
PackageChecker.apk [com.oem.packagechecker]
PackageUpdate.apk [com.oem.packageupdate]
Last two are pretty obvious, they're used to ota update, removing it breaks it. Custom roms cant ota update to begin with so it's ok for them. If you're on a stock rom it depends on weither or not you consider being able to ota update important. (updating from recovery mode is something entirely different)
I really dont know what calibrator and displayversioninfo do (besides what their name obviously is), but they're not com.oem.engineeringmode.* so they could be important. But as many roms without them seem to run properly they might not be critical.
I left all 4 in since they dont really take up that much resources (rom wise and ram/cpu wise).
The last com.oem.* app that isnt com.oem.engineeringmode.* is
PreLoadNetworkSettings.apk [com.oem.prenetworksetting]
which is used to load new APNs when switching carriers/sims. If your apn is already properly loaded you COULD remove it, but if you need to auto-load new APNs for whatever reason removing that will break that function
Those 5 apks are every com.oem.* that isnt the mentioned com.oem.engineeringmode.*
Technically you can remove the majority of the apks and the system will still boot, just that every other apk has a defined function and removing it will break that functionality.
ALSO, the list is not and never will be perfect, unless someone on the rom team wants to come forward and document them clearly it's all though trial and error. The borderline cases are the only ones that need any real testing as I know for a fact that the majority of the com.oem.engineeringmode.* apks are never active as dell disabled eng mode in retail roms. You CAN manually activate functionality in them but they're more or less dorment code in the roms.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Manii provided his justification in favor of removing those two apps. I'm waiting for your justification in favor of NOT removing those two apps.
In simpler language, you still have yet to answer my question. Manii placing those apps into a gray area "Possibly Not Safe To Remove" does not render the question invalid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just wouldn't remove them and wouldn't recommend someone to do it if I wasn't comfortable to do so in the first place.
Whatever floats your boat..
What would float my boat is for you to answer my question. There must be a reason behind you saying what you did or else you would not have said it at all.
What is that reason, or do you even have one?
Freeze
If you are worried about it, just use an app freezer, run it a few days with the apps you want off the phone frozen. Then if no ill effects, remove them.
That's what I did.
I was a bit more daring. I simply deleted them and called it a day. I figure that if I truly had an issue I could just run my backup. At worst, reinstall 360.

[Q] what to do????

Ok help!! I finally broke down and bought an unlocked zoom on the net. It is a great phone, we love it. I use ultrame for a carrier, now it comes down to this> The phone originally is ATT, I read all over here and am confused, if I root it is there a way to remove the ATT software?? will it really mess with the GPS?? will I loose other functions on the phone??? I am confused and yes I talk to myself at times. But I am getting fifty responses all different as to what to do, or just leave the phone alone? It works great, camera is beyond belief. any opinions?????????thanks red423
red423 said:
Ok help!! I finally broke down and bought an unlocked zoom on the net. It is a great phone, we love it. I use ultrame for a carrier, now it comes down to this> The phone originally is ATT, I read all over here and am confused, if I root it is there a way to remove the ATT software?? will it really mess with the GPS?? will I loose other functions on the phone??? I am confused and yes I talk to myself at times. But I am getting fifty responses all different as to what to do, or just leave the phone alone? It works great, camera is beyond belief. any opinions?????????thanks red423
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you root with kingoroot nothing will happen to your gps.. Mine works just fine. After root, use titanium backup to delete the att bloat and you will have no worries.
red423 said:
Ok help!! I finally broke down and bought an unlocked zoom on the net. It is a great phone, we love it. I use ultrame for a carrier, now it comes down to this> The phone originally is ATT, I read all over here and am confused, if I root it is there a way to remove the ATT software?? will it really mess with the GPS?? will I loose other functions on the phone??? I am confused and yes I talk to myself at times. But I am getting fifty responses all different as to what to do, or just leave the phone alone? It works great, camera is beyond belief. any opinions?????????thanks red423
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your worries but as the above member said, you have nothing to worry about. I have the International unlocked version (Not AT&T's) and I rooted it with 'Kingo Root' 2 weeks ago and everything is fine.
So, by acquiring root, you can use Titanium Backup to disable/freeze or delete AT&T apks. Now I suggest you only freeze them first, reboot your phone, use it a bit, make sure there are no errors happening since some APKs are needed by the system for your phone to function or else it will crash and not boot-up properly. So freeze first, test your phone, if all is good, delete them. I personally only delete apks that I am sure I don't need or those that I can re-download from the Play Store if need be. The rest, I just freeze them and forget about them. They can't act on their own if they're frozen =).
Btw, you can still disable/freeze apps without root by going to System settings - More - Application manager, and swipe to "All" category, and find the ones you don't want, click on them, and then click on "Turn Off". (I still prefer Titanium Backup since it shows me all apks and freezes all of them)
got the root
Ok I got the root, so the titanium says no freeze without donating, there are a few ATT apps that show up, on the zoom which ones have you guys just removed forever???? or is there another program like titanium to remove att bloat ware???? AND A BIG THANK YOU FOR REPLYING!!!!!!!!! I am all rooted now and want to make sure if i erase apk's they are the correct ones I cant freeze. red423
Ramsey said:
I understand your worries but as the above member said, you have nothing to worry about. I have the International unlocked version (Not AT&T's) and I rooted it with 'Kingo Root' 2 weeks ago and everything is fine.
So, by acquiring root, you can use Titanium Backup to disable/freeze or delete AT&T apks. Now I suggest you only freeze them first, reboot your phone, use it a bit, make sure there are no errors happening since some APKs are needed by the system for your phone to function or else it will crash and not boot-up properly. So freeze first, test your phone, if all is good, delete them. I personally only delete apks that I am sure I don't need or those that I can re-download from the Play Store if need be. The rest, I just freeze them and forget about them. They can't act on their own if they're frozen =).
Btw, you can still disable/freeze apps without root by going to System settings - More - Application manager, and swipe to "All" category, and find the ones you don't want, click on them, and then click on "Turn Off". (I still prefer Titanium Backup since it shows me all apks and freezes all of them)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
red423 said:
Ok I got the root, so the titanium says no freeze without donating, there are a few ATT apps that show up, on the zoom which ones have you guys just removed forever???? or is there another program like titanium to remove att bloat ware???? AND A BIG THANK YOU FOR REPLYING!!!!!!!!! I am all rooted now and want to make sure if i erase apk's they are the correct ones I cant freeze. red423
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I am using the International version so I don't know which AT&T to remove. I didn't get any carrier bloatware with my phone.
You guys rock!!!!!!
Well I have disabled several of the old ATT apps. and the phone screams, very impressive. If go to samsung will it update to kit kat ????
Got this far why not go all the way????????????? thanks red423
red423 said:
Well I have disabled several of the old ATT apps. and the phone screams, very impressive. If go to samsung will it update to kit kat ????
Got this far why not go all the way????????????? thanks red423
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! glad it worked out. I had an S4 prior to this and this Zoom is quicker and smoother I just miss the bigger screen + resolution and thinner body.
There's no kitkat update yet but apparently they announced it and should be out in the coming months hopefully!

[Q] remove apps without turning on device?

im getting tired of a program on my phone called com.skymobi.lockfram.iphone, as it keeps installing junk, and i have very little free space at the moment. but attemting to find the program will result in a fail, as i cannot locate it, however, using terminal emulator, i can find it, but im unable to remove it, because its in use. so my question is, is there some way, to remove apps/stuff from the phone, while its connected to usb, and not being turned on with android IE some recovery mode, or similar.
the phone is a fake galaxy s5, and i cant remember the features in its very low level recovery menu.
as well as a "factory mode" menu, with debug functions.
Factory reset - I would be careful about which apps I install next time. There is probably some kind of app in the App Manager that looks like a system app or something which you would otherwise not remove... it's a sneaky piece of software, kind of like an Android "virus" if you will. Just err on the safe side, wipe your phone and start over. And stop installing crap, ie. read disclaimers, double check permissions, etc. A flashlight app shouldn't need access to the Internet, just sayin'.
Pesoen said:
im getting tired of a program on my phone called com.skymobi.lockfram.iphone, as it keeps installing junk, and i have very little free space at the moment. but attemting to find the program will result in a fail, as i cannot locate it, however, using terminal emulator, i can find it, but im unable to remove it, because its in use. so my question is, is there some way, to remove apps/stuff from the phone, while its connected to usb, and not being turned on with android IE some recovery mode, or similar.
the phone is a fake galaxy s5, and i cant remember the features in its very low level recovery menu.
as well as a "factory mode" menu, with debug functions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good antivirus for android malware https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity&hl=en
JayR_L said:
Factory reset - I would be careful about which apps I install next time. There is probably some kind of app in the App Manager that looks like a system app or something which you would otherwise not remove... it's a sneaky piece of software, kind of like an Android "virus" if you will. Just err on the safe side, wipe your phone and start over. And stop installing crap, ie. read disclaimers, double check permissions, etc. A flashlight app shouldn't need access to the Internet, just sayin'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
problem is, i have had it factory reset, and the program is installed from the start, its there after a factory reset, where the only thing i installed was terminal, to use pm list packages to check for it.
Pesoen said:
problem is, i have had it factory reset, and the program is installed from the start, its there after a factory reset, where the only thing i installed was terminal, to use pm list packages to check for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way you could flash an image of sort? Like wiping the entire phone and reflashing the ROM or stock image... I could probably help you more if I knew the exact model of your phone as you mentioned it's a fake S5. Anyways, if the app in question installed itself in /system (/system/priv-app for instance) then a factory reset from within your phone won't cut it. You need to "reinstall the operating system", if you will, in order to get rid of it for sure.
toolhas4degrees said:
good antivirus for android malware https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have allready tried antivirus programs, it finds it, but cannot do anything with it, cant remember the name, but i think it was avg, where it said, virus removed, but it still installed apps at random, and the com.skymobi.lockframe.iphone was still there.
toolhas4degrees said:
good antivirus for android malware https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JayR_L said:
Is there a way you could flash an image of sort? Like wiping the entire phone and reflashing the ROM or stock image... I could probably help you more if I knew the exact model of your phone as you mentioned it's a fake S5. Anyways, if the app in question installed itself in /system (/system/priv-app for instance) then a factory reset from within your phone won't cut it. You need to "reinstall the operating system", if you will, in order to get rid of it for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have asked the guy i bought it from online, for a new rom, since he states it has been updated, but the installer wont work on anything other than windows xp, which presents a problem, i have no windows xp computers. as well as the fact, the software version, it states to install, is the same as it already has(looking through factory menu) and i dont have another rom to put on it, as its a fake S5, i doubt a proper S5 rom would work. and would rather then wait, and save up enough for a real phone, not a replica of one.
i just wanted to know, if there was some way, to try to remove it without turning on the device, since i think its unable to remove, because its running the app on startup. but if i can get someone a rom to work on, could someone try to find some way for me to install it from a windows 7 or never system?
As I said in my previous post, it would help to have your exact model number. "Fake S5" isn't very helpful. You would find this in "Settings -> About". Or you can post the first 6 digits of your IMEI (not the whole thing), that might help.
JayR_L said:
As I said in my previous post, it would help to have your exact model number. "Fake S5" isn't very helpful. You would find this in "Settings -> About". Or you can post the first 6 digits of your IMEI (not the whole thing), that might help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
model number, taken from settings: SM-G900H
Baseband Version: G900HVZNU1AND1
Kernel Version: [email protected]#1Wed Apr 02 15:17:34 KST 2014
Build Number: KOT49H.G900HSKSU1ANCE
Custom Build Version: 1409757535
it shows 2 IMEI numbers, when looking in the factory mode, so listing both and 8 digits, just for fun..
IMEI1:35523603
IMEI2:35262106
hope this helps.
if not, then just ask for whatever info, you may need.
Are you sure its not a real S5... If not its such a good clone I wonder if a regular S5 ROM would do...
JayR_L said:
Are you sure its not a real S5... If not its such a good clone I wonder if a regular S5 ROM would do...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not really sure, but since it has 1 GB ram, and octa core cpu, and a MTK core, i doubt its real, it does have all the features, and all works, except air gestures, and NFC. so im not sure if a stock S5 rom would work, since its different CPU's. so would rather get the most compatible rom out there, and try that. not sure if one excist, that works with ANYTHING in any device.
also a real S5 would not have such bad antenna's as this one, i can hardly get a signal out on the country, but it gets full signal as i near a city, of some size. but i might be able to fix that later, after i see what antenna it has, and the price of one.
but im ready to install a custom rom, so long as it works fine after.
also a small note, its a very high quality fake, the case is allmost believable, the headphones are same look, and almost same quality. the only thing thats bad, is the functions that dont work, and the antenna quality, it can easilly multitask, with chrome, and poweramp. so it does the job it was bought for, and that job was to save up money for an actual phone, maybe a S5, but i might do a Xperia Z2 or Z3.
Its just that your device, if incompatible with S5, means that its so rare and niche that no one probably developed a way to root it and much ROMs... Anyway, your rogue app is installed as a system app and is immune to factory resets, you have to find a way to get it out of there. The way you suggested won't work, also, to clarify. You can't play with the phone's memory when its off. The problem is that the rogue app is in /system and you need root to even tinker with that. Ideally you could just flash a new image that would overwrite /system completely.
Edit -- I'm astounded by how they can almost completely replicate a phone and the intellectual property contained within it.
here is the rom, i got from the guy who sold it to me, i have NO clue how to edit it, or remove things, and add other things to it, so if someone could either teach me, or remove the items containing "com.skymobi" i would really appreciate it.
ROM Download
So, wait. Having in mind that you can track the app means that your phone is rooted. Or does it? The question arises: why don't you just delete the damn app, if you're already rooted, with Titanium Backup? I mean seriously. If it's a FakeS5 woth an octa core chipset, it's probably with the MTK6592. If you're not rooted, then just find a tool that can root this chipset, you don't need a device-specific root-tool to do that. I am currently on my phone so I can't currently search, but God, this is just a simple fix. Google MTK6592 root, root your phone, install TiBU, freeze or delete the pesky app. Titanium Backup doesn't care if the app is "in use or running"
Sent from my LG-P990 using XDA Free mobile app
NoDze said:
So, wait. Having in mind that you can track the app means that your phone is rooted. Or does it? The question arises: why don't you just delete the damn app, if you're already rooted, with Titanium Backup? I mean seriously. If it's a FakeS5 woth an octa core chipset, it's probably with the MTK6592. If you're not rooted, then just find a tool that can root this chipset, you don't need a device-specific root-tool to do that. I am currently on my phone so I can't currently search, but God, this is just a simple fix. Google MTK6592 root, root your phone, install TiBU, freeze or delete the pesky app. Titanium Backup doesn't care if the app is "in use or running"
Sent from my LG-P990 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clearly you know a bit more than me about those clones, I never used one... I guess there's a thing called "droid tools" for MTK chipsets.
NoDze said:
So, wait. Having in mind that you can track the app means that your phone is rooted. Or does it? The question arises: why don't you just delete the damn app, if you're already rooted, with Titanium Backup? I mean seriously. If it's a FakeS5 woth an octa core chipset, it's probably with the MTK6592. If you're not rooted, then just find a tool that can root this chipset, you don't need a device-specific root-tool to do that. I am currently on my phone so I can't currently search, but God, this is just a simple fix. Google MTK6592 root, root your phone, install TiBU, freeze or delete the pesky app. Titanium Backup doesn't care if the app is "in use or running"
Sent from my LG-P990 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my phone is rooted, its the first thing i do to any new android phone. the problem is, i cant "see" the app anywhere, i can only see its folder, where it places the .apk files before installing them, and going by that name, i used terminal, to see it is an app running, but no matter what i use, other than terminal, it cannot find the program, trying to use terminal to remove or disable the app, results in a fail, since its allways running.
so its not as simple as you stated. though i wish it WAS that easy, then i would not need to go to a forum, to ask for help.
and before you ask, yes i run terminal with root acces, and SU. so thats not the problem.
JayR_L said:
Clearly you know a bit more than me about those clones, I never used one... I guess there's a thing called "droid tools" for MTK chipsets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just researched the droid tools, it seems straight forward, and easy to create a backup of the rom, and even easier, to select what to install from said rom. going to try and see if i can get it working, will post results here, as soon as possible.
Good. Hopefully you will have some conclusive results for us. I'm sorry I couldn't point you in a better direction, I honestly never dealt with MTK phones - nor I do I ever wish to! Hahaha
JayR_L said:
Good. Hopefully you will have some conclusive results for us. I'm sorry I couldn't point you in a better direction, I honestly never dealt with MTK phones - nor I do I ever wish to! Hahaha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fair enough, i will say, its a decent phone, for the price, but otherwise, i would also steer clear of them. but just found out how to remove it, on the device, using root app delete. it was under system apps and OS components, hidden as something called system locker, just thought it was weird it was there, so now the task comes in, trying to remove it from the backup i have made, using mtk droid tools, and see what happens. but for now, problem solved.
now the only thing, thats not working on it, is the smart cover app, it crashes if i try to unlock it, while the smart cover is on, but i bet its just a matter of finding, and updating it, or possibly, remove it fully, and reinstall it.
You should have frozen the app first rather than removing. The former has the benefits of the latter except that it is not uninstalled. This way, you could check if the device encounters any problem.

Advice about malware

Hi Folks.
I've done something a bit silly and hoping some Android expert on here may be able to help me.
I stupidly installed an app from an external source using a link that was given me for a specific app.
I am now freaking out about malware/spyware and all the rest of it.
At this point, I must point out that there is nothing to immediately suggest the app is bad. I only installed it a few hours ago on my phone but there hasn't been anything suspicious like extra battery use, heat, unknown apps in the list of battery usage or pop ups or anything like that. It could be that it's absolutely fine (and probably is.)
What I'm more concerned about is that there may be some nefarious background process running that means I suddenly wake up and find my bank account has been drained, or I'm being blackmailed by some Russian hacker that has hold of my emails and photos etc.
TWO IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS (before anybody states the below:
- Yes, I know it was a stupid thing to do and I don't know what came over me. But it is done now.
- I know that a full factory reset is the best way to clear all but I'm desperate to avoid that. It took me two days to setup my new S21 Ultra and hate the thought of going through all of that again!
I know that Google Play Protect helps with apps from the GP Store, but I assume this is not relevant here because it came from an external source. Is there any kind of facility where I can upload the app and it scans it? Or am I screwed?
I also know you can download Norton etc but I read that they may not be effective on things like this. FYI, I am running the January 1st Android security patch (the most recent available.)
Thanks in advance.
Scan the apk file with online Virustotal.
Meh... show us the apk in question.
I have a few side loaded apps, so what?
Playstore is no sure bet either... load what you need, disregard the rest and toss the bad ones.
A badly written app can cause headaches even after it's uninstalled. Not as common with Android as in Windows but it happens.
On a clean load I'm careful what I install ie known good apps.
blackhawk said:
Scan the apk file with online Virustotal.
Meh... show us the apk in question.
I have a few side loaded apps, so what?
Playstore is no sure bet either... load what you need, disregard the rest and toss the bad ones.
A badly written app can cause headaches even after it's uninstalled. Not as common with Android as in Windows but it happens.
On a clean load I'm careful what I install ie known good apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I've attached the apps. Thanks for your help and advice. I've scanned them on VirusTotal and they appear to be clean..
If you are worried about this, then you need to flash the phone. Then install the app to protect your phone from the official source.
philliplavelle said:
Thanks. I've attached the apps. Thanks for your help and advice. I've scanned them on VirusTotal and they appear to be clean..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did the reload go well?

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