[Q] Android Market not listing all permissions? - EVO 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Just noticed recently that in some cases there are differences between the permissions that Android Market app lists prior to installation/upgrade and what local application list/manager provides.
For example, I'm looking at the "Display Shot (light)" app by Webxit in Android Market. I have the most recent version currently available installed - 2.2.8. When I check Menu > Security, I get:
Network communication
full Internet access
Hardware controls
control vibrator
Now, if I look at Settings > Applications > Manage applications > Display Shot
I get the same version 2.2.8:
Storage
modify/delete SD card contents
Network communication
full Internet access
Phone calls
read phone state and identity
Hardware controls
control vibrator
I'm just wondering if anyone has seen this, or knows what the problem might be. The big issue of course is - if the locally reported permissions are right, then users could easily be deceived into installing rogue apps with misreported permissions.

Don't have an explanation for you, but I was able to duplicate your issue.

Thanks for taking time. I've noticed there are other apps as well:
Electric Shaver (Webxit), Spark (Diota Soft), SchottGunn, Ruger, Glow Puzzle, Flight Stats, Ethereal Dialpad, Arnold Sounds, etc., etc.
The permissions that seem to be the issue (i.e. missing from Market's security screen) are:
- modify/delete SD card content
- read phone state and identity
It has nothing to do with the ability to move to SD card - the above apps are a mix.
What worries me is that Market may not be displaying all the permissions given to an app; or that there may be a way to hide some of them from the Market app. I posted this question on Google's Android market forum as well, but no answer there either.

Related

JM6 update: remove DMService "Software Update" (and other auto-starting apps)

JM6 update: remove DMService "Software Update" (and other auto-starting apps)
I don't remember seeing this background service in JK5, so I removed it (I think it's for OTA updates, probably a carrier-specific thing that should be in the CSC). Anyway, I don't like apps like this that run with full permissions.
I first spotted it using "Advanced Task Killer" (in the "Running Services" section), and I used "AutoRun Killer" to prevent it from starting at boot time. Now I decided to just moved a few APKs out of /system/app to my SD card, although one could also use Titanium Backup's "Freeze" feature to achieve the same thing.
Here is the list of files I moved:
* syncmldm.apk/odex
* syncmlds.apk/odex
* wssomacp.apk/odex
* wssyncmlnps.apk/odex
A related discussion thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=811567&page=2
I will report if things get unstable, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be ok.
I went one step further by removing the background OmaDrmConfigService from /system/app:
* EDIT * DO NOT REMOVE THESE FILES ! (read on to the next post, music and video playback crashes if this service is removed)
* DrmUA.apk/odex
* SisoDrmProvider.apk/odex
I also removed com.sec.android.app.samsungapps.una:
* UNAService.apk/odex
Based on what I read on the subject, I will probably get a few Force-Close when using the Samsung media player (which requires DRM for some media types), and it seems that Quadrant fails on H264+ video decoding...never mind, I'll see how things develop over time.
I should point out that this is not exact science, I am just experimenting based on feedback from other users, with similar Samsung Android devices. I may well make my Tab unstable in the future.
I should also explain that some self-restarting "start-at-boot" processes cannot be killed by "Autorun Killer", which is why I choose to move the APKs onto my SD card (backup...just in case). It is important to understand how "Autorun Killer" works by checking aLogCat output (apparently: 9 passes/attempts to kill the specified auto-run apps/services). For example, there's no point trying to kill unstoppable processes, as it wastes CPU cycles at boot time, and it may actually end-up generating instability in the initialization phase of the device. The "Autorun Killer" User Interface displays a list of running services, so from there you know that there is no point marking them as "disabled", because there is nothing the process killer can do about it => the solution is to uninstall the offending app.
GMail is a particularly annoying one, because I use the K9 email client in IMAP/Push mode, so I couldn't care less about GMail's Pull abilities, and I don't need it to run in the background. Maybe it handles contact synchronization, I don't know. At any rate, all of my device synchronization is configured to be run manually, I don't like automatic processes that launch arbitrarily in the background.
EDIT: well, I forgot to re-configure GMail notifications since I flashed JM6 (I wrongly assumed I had restored my old system settings using Titanium Backup). So hopefully this will cure it
As for SMS messages: I had to manually disable notifications in the "Messaging" system app, and enable them in "Handcent SMS" (which is the app I use for SMS/MMS purposes).
daniel.weck said:
I went one step further by removing the background OmaDrmConfigService from /system/app:
* DrmUA.apk/odex
* SisoDrmProvider.apk/odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
* WARNING *
My music playback was crashing consistently each time I would move to the next song. I restored these 2 files (well, 4 really) and it is now working fine.
Yep, it looks like DRM is anchored deep into the system. Yet I couldn't find any relevant crash information in the LogCat, so it is effectively near-impossible to debug properly (I just read on forums that the DRM framework seems to be a prerequisite, so I tried that).
Oh well, not a big deal after all, I don't think the DRM services eat a lot of battery.
Dan
daniel.weck said:
My music playback was crashing consistently each time I would move to the next song. I restored these 2 files (well, 4 really) and it is now working fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I had to do the same.
So far JM6 seems very quick, the web browser has faster page scrolling after you give it a few minutes. I like it.
rotohammer said:
So far JM6 seems very quick, the web browser has faster page scrolling after you give it a few minutes. I like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I quite like JM6 too.
With cleverly-configured DroidWall and Autorun-Killer (and a dash of AdFree for good measure), the whole experience is very smooth indeed.
Although the stock keyboard is improved I still much prefer the overall feature-set of SmartKeyboard Pro (and of course I've paid for it, so I might as well continue to use it )
I currently use a mix of web-browsers, including the stock app, Dolphin HD, xScope and Miren. I have yet to find the perfect combination of features, and I am particularly picky with regards to text layout and zooming (I read a lot of online content). The pinch/stretch + double-tap zooming that automatically adjusts the text column width (fit-to-screen), and that centers the page properly, is *very* important in my book. I like the built-in touch gestures in Dolphin HD to quickly scroll up a long vertical page (and other navigation features), but unfortunately the pinch/stretch zoom is broken at the moment !
Anyway, I digress ! (off-topic)
Cheers, Dan

Google maps navigation with voice outside US

As the title says this is a mod to enable google maps with voice navigation outside US. If this has been discussed in the SGS2 thread,please delete it but i tried to search and none found in this forum.
all credits are due to all the people that have made this into a working mod
This is the original thread where i got all the info from :
HTML:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1007132
Basically i just followed the instructions from original forum and here is the summary of how i did it.
1. made a backup of google maps using titanium backup.
2. in manage application settings, cleared data and stop maps as well as streetview applications.
3.using root explorer navigate to system/app and move the map.apk and streetview.apk files to my backup folder in the external sd card.(just as alternate backup since titanium already made a backup)
4. using root explorer, Installed the maps5.5.0-ownhere.apk which i got from the original forum to the system/apps folder.
5 reinstalled the streetview app from the market.
6. Rebooted and started the maps application everything was running fine.
when i was driving just to test the app..i found out i did not have the voice guidance...
so for voice guidance this is what i did.
1. Go to settings/voice input and output/text to speech settings
found out default engine was on samsung TTS...i changed that to pico TTS
2. Language for spoken text select English UK( to make it same as my
language&keyboard settings)
3. in the text to speech setting i checked the always use my settings box.
Did another test drive...on the phone, i selected the NAV app from the app drawer and voila!...google navigation (beta) successfully launched and was able to give me turn by turn voice guidance.
Pros and cons:
pros:
Alternative free navigation app with voice guidance for people outside us.
Cons:
Needs a working data connection
Obvious battery drainer if not plugged in to power source.
phone gets pretty hot( i guess this app is not optimized for dual core and while it is running..probably both the cores went into high gear) anyway my car dock is located at a position where the aircond can cool the back of the phone pretty well..so mine was not hot when using it in the car.
when exiting the nav app...found it is still running in the back ground and draining battery( got to manually kill it from task manager)
If you guys decide to try this...usual disclaimer: Do this at your own risk

OLD bugs - status in Bada 2.0

Hello,
We've seen quite some bugs in bada 1.0 und 1.2. I was interested if Samsung took care of them in bada 2.0 since some of the bugs have a long history. Here's a list of collected bugs and also the current status in bada 2.0 beta up to KH1. I started the list in badaforums net, took it to badanation com and now I want to finish it here.
Some mentioned user names are from these other forums. I try to add a link to badaforums (also English) for you to read details in posts.
If you feel like a bad OLD bug is missing here, let's talk about that. I considered a bug when:
Really buggy, most other (old and new) phones do better:
GPS Slow SatFix due to aGPS and Almanach issue (especially after some hours/days or position change)
--> not fixed, due to user FreundBlase (ex Aliminium) still the same issue in KH1
--> Bada Support team reported "it's being worked at"
Dolfin Internet Browser wastes display space, especially in landscape orientation
--> fixed, URL bar on top scrolls away when page down scroll, so it's not in the way anymore. Navigation bar on bottom stays. In landscape mode it's slimmer, so wasting less space. Also text reflow so less zooming necessary. I consider it fixed.
Music Player ignores album grouped music when sorting by interprets, genre, ... without special tagging
--> changed/fixed, 1. seems to be able now to at least play per folder (due to handy-faq forum). 2. Due to user Foxs, Player now uses Album as headline and groups its titles under the Album. When selecting first title, Album plays in correct order. No tagging necessary. (KG6 and later)
--> Bada support team forwarded this issue to developer team and hopes for solution in bada 2.0.
email no real IMAP support: no "add IMAP folders", no "move mail to folder", etc.
--> most fixed, many improvements in IMAP. See post of waveboy below and handy-faq de. And also this post (link not allowed) for details down the thread.
email delete bug Bada 1.2: deleted emails keep download again.
--> fixed, emails are not downloaded anymore. Need details if that works both on POP3, IMAP (and sync?)
alarm clock: just re-activating an existing alarm isnt enough to engage it
--> fixed, in 2.0 8500XPKG5 (due to handy-faq forum)
Max 1300 SMS issue: 1.x could not hold more than overall 1300 SMS messages (from all folders added)
--> fixed, limit gone or higher
Phone reboots when syncing calender with Hotmail via Exchange ActiveSync and Serial Schedule is involved. At least a series like "Mo-Fr, not Sa, Su".
[*]Birthdays dont go to Kalender when Contact synced in (also from Kies?)
--> changes reported, seems to be fixed.
Music Player: Trying to exit, the Music Player still remains unclosed and must be manually shut down in Task Manager.
--> not fixed, still not closed after selecting "Back" to exit. (KH1)
Vcard (virtual business card) can not be send as sms, only possible as mms and email
--> not fixed, reported by waveboy.
Bluetooth battery impact: even after switching off Bluetooth (i.e. after using car handsfree) battery drains faster than normal. Rebooting Bada necessary to normalize battery consumption.
Music Player no equalizer with frequency bands
--> not fixed, still no classic equalizer in KH1.
--> Bug opened for Bada Team
No shortcuts to functions (kind of favorites across all bada functions/entries/numbers ...)
--> new: shortcuts to "anything". Can a second person confirm and be more detailled, pls?
no speed dial (like shortcut from home screen to dial top numbers)
--> fixed, keypad long press a number enables assigning/dialing a number
transmit/delivery report from message not integrated into original message (at least configurable)
--> not fixed, still comes back only as separate message. (KH1)
--> Bug opened for Bada Team
memo's cant be sent to other devices (PC, other phone brand) as text or in popular format
--> not fixed, still only .vnt Format can be sent (via BT/MMS/email).
no fast access to sound profiles (switch between meeting/outdoor/normal mode)
--> not fixed, sound profiles do not appear in QuickAccess Bar on Top, long way through menu>settins>sound profiles necessary. (KH1)
--> Bug opened for Bada Team
Number of bada-Apps is limited by number of 10 homescreens. All other Platforms don't impose limit
--> possibly not fixed, number of homescreens larger or extensable by folders, still a limit is reported (unconfirmed)
And a list of somehow less drastic issues:
no different font sizes in GUI (menus, lists)
--> new: at least in calendar, contacts, email, logs, memo's and messages font size can be changed
no addon fonts
No backup/restore or complete import/export available between Phone and PC
-->fixed Bada 2.0 now supports most things to be backed up/restored (verified by 1 user)
Java Programs: Security Notifications like "you now connect online" or "Allow App to access Phone storage", ... - selection cannot be persistent (permanently saved). We are missing a "Don't ask again" tick.
--> not fixed, selection still must be done every time, or delete settings.bin with sTunes.
Media (now Gallery?) function shows unwanted files, because it from all folders (ringtones, app icons, app maps), no way to exclude files oder certain folders from gallery
size of GUI elements (buttons, ...) cannot be resized to give more room for content
resorting in list of JAVA Apps not possible (could be worked around by homescreen shortcuts)
--> not fixed, Resorting still impossible, shortcut in Homescreen to JAVA Apps NOT possible.
Java Apps not user configurable to run in background, to rotate into landscape without sTunes. Missing setting likewise to bada 1.2 "Virtual Keyboard" or "Screen Resize"
--> changed, to run in background: pressing menu button in Bada 2.0 leaves Java App running in the background. rotate to landscape: status unknown.
Java Apps: Keyboard Click active even if clicksound is silenced in main Bada
-->fixed, no click sound anymore.
Java Apps (at least Opera): If network changes from WLAN to/from Mobile Internet (GSM/UMTS), App cannot access Internet until exit and starting again.
carrier-info widget only with fixed 4 lines, should be 2 lines or configurable or scrollable
Any new reports about status in 2.0 from testers???
Thanks for any contribution
Ray
So those were brought to Samsungs attention once, and 3 or 4 of them I reported as formal bugs at developer.bada.com.
Before presenting that again to Samsung, we should first add more findings - or even more bugs not yet listed here. Please note it's NOT the thread for new Bada 2.0 Bugs (Bugs in new functions), there's already another Thread going on here!!! It just for the most annoying old bugs, since I feel it's REALLY REALLY time to have them fixed now. And Release of 2.0 is not far away so let's hit the road collecting and then reporting them
Feel free to ask me if one or the other list item is not clear to you. I also hope some listed as "fixed" might be interesting for you.
Ray
Ok, seems there's no more wide-known bugs of bada 1.x that we forgotten. If you remember any now, just post it.
Some of the listed bugs are not really confirmed as fixed/not fixed. Look, it's mainly these:
email no real IMAP support: no "add IMAP folders", no "move mail to folder", etc.
--> most fixed, many improvements in IMAP. See post of waveboy below and handy-faq de. And also this post (link not allowed) for details down the thread
... it was not clear if bada's IMAP support now fulfills ALL expectations. It was only one user reporting, a second confirmation of somebody with knowledge was nice
email delete bug Bada 1.2: deleted emails keep download again.
--> fixed, emails are not downloaded anymore. Need details if that works both on POP3, IMAP (and sync?)
Can anybody test if that bug is gone both in POP3 AND IMAP accounts? With synced/acticeSynced accounts? Pushed emails?
Phone reboots when syncing calender with Hotmail via Exchange ActiveSync and Serial Schedule is involved. At least a series like "Mo-Fr, not Sa, Su".
relatively new 1.x bug report, still there in 2.0? Can somebody test?
Birthdays dont go to Kalender when Contact synced in (also from Kies?)--> changes reported, seems to be fixed.
Not sure if it also works when contacts are synced via Kies, via facebook, ... Anybody willing to test?
Bluetooth battery impact: even after switching off Bluetooth (i.e. after using car handsfree) battery drains faster than normal. Rebooting Bada necessary to normalize battery consumption.
No report of bada 2.0 so far
No shortcuts to functions (kind of favorites across all bada functions/entries/numbers ...)
--> new: shortcuts to "anything". Can a second person confirm and be more detailled, pls?
Shortcuts to any "menu" level icon is confirmed. How about shortcuts to an individual contact, submenu, file like mp3, java program, memo, ...?
Okay, so I hope there's bada 2.0 gurus's that can judge if it's good now or if there's still room for improvement.
Ray
Trace/Swype bug
Swype/trace is functional even when you are searching for a contact or typing an email address. Really buggy.
It should only be used for text fields that are meant to be for sentences.
shekharsom said:
Swype/trace is functional even when you are searching for a contact or typing an email address. Really buggy.
It should only be used for text fields that are meant to be for sentences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, I dont have bada 1.2, so I need to ask:
Was this bug already existing in bada 1.2? Here I only collect OLD bugs to keep the list handy and focussed. And to list things where it's REALLY TIME to get fixes and not have these forgotten.
THX for reporting anyway, Ray
Apps Installation Limit
A few users have posted that the limitation for apps installation
(max of 10 pages for apps) has been removed in Bada 2 but then i heard in this forum that there are still limits on the number of apps that can be installed if they are installed on the memory card...
is this true?
bong4316 said:
limits on the number of apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here it's the question if it's seen as a bug or if it's seen as a design desicion of bada team. To answer that better, we should know how other Smartphones handle that. If bada is the only one with limit, then it's at least a disadvantage that an amount of people critisize.
So, what's the limits in iOS/Andoid/WP7?
Ray
So quiet here ...
I hope we don't miss to finalize the list in time - before bada 2.0 rolls out.
Ray
Apps Installation Limits
On iOS you can install as many programs as you want and make folders for the apps.
Same for Android 2.1 and up.
Dont know about wp7 BUT oldtimer winmobile 6 even the old winmo 5, smartphone 2001 platforms all allowed unlimited apps installation even supported folders within folders.
So does Symbian. In fact both winmobile and symbian supported unlimited text and contacts too.
ok, added as unconfirmed in first block, last item.
Thanks, bong
during the call is missing the 'background noise reduction application
DevilM said:
during the call is missing the 'background noise reduction application
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, today I was checking in-call. bada 1.0.2 has an option during call, to reduce noise. So DevilM's seems to report a NEW bug in bada 2.0, not an annoying old bug. Anybody can confirm bada 1.2 also has this option?
Ray
still following bugs needs to be fixed...
1. gtalk needs to be kept running in background otherwise it just signed out... In bada 1.2 it was not like that instead even if you come out it would keep you online on gtalk and everybody can see you and send you the IM.
2. Exchange emails should be like iphone or android in that you don't need to go into company's directory to search the address book. It automatically searches while you type address in "To" field. In bada 2.0 you have to get into company option and then there you have to type and then press search and then select the contact and then it will come in "To" field....very painful process.
3. opera mini native app is still not available.
4. Angry birds and talking tomcat missing. (my 5 year old son still asks me why it is not there in such a expenssive mobile phone? He has seen it in lower end android phones.)
5. contacts sync does not happed two way. It only updated from outlook to mobile but not vice versa...)
6. Why music player settings are not present in music player itself. Same with internet browser. They should provide the setting in the application itself. we have to go to main menu and settings to change the equalizer settings and internet browser settings. it was not the case with bada 1.2.
Samsung please look into it.
maricoforum said:
still following bugs needs to be fixed...
1. gtalk needs to be kept running in background otherwise it just signed out... In bada 1.2 it was not like that instead even if you come out it would keep you online on gtalk and everybody can see you and send you the I'M.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What gtalk are you referring to?I am not able to find any gtalk at all.
No Noise Reduction?? that really sucks... Samsung replaced Call Recording feature on Bada 1.0 with Noise Reduction feature in Bada 1.2
I was expecting the availablity of both the features on Bada 2.0
Can anyone please confirm if these features are available on latest Bada 2.0 beta release?
Two bugs are not mentioned yet:
EASync for mails with GMail stopps working after a while and the email-profile needs to be deleted and added again for working...
If the shuffle function is activated in the music player and you go back to the list view, the player starts from the first song again.
I hope these are fixed in 2.0
new exlusive bug in official 2.0 is automatic time update.
bada 2,0 is not able to update the phone time from the sim network whic bada 1,2 did flawlessly

[Q] permissions manager vs ApOps

I am currently using the app called "Permission Manager". I got it since I'm rather frustrated by all the permissions that the apps claim. Why on earth would the Power app - I guess that's the system app controlling the battery - need to know my location? It certainly does not need it to work - I know that since I have all possible location-related settings on my phone switched off. And that's just one example. Every other app wants to read my contacts. And what's up with the "phone identity"? Does a task list really need that? I can scribble a to-do list on a piece of paper and it won't ask for my pen's identity, right?
Anyways, the Permission Manager integrates itself into Settings->Apps. If I click on any app, it would say "App ops" on top of the screen. I have read however, that App Ops have been disabled. Now, this manager is only able to change some of the permissions, not all of them. And it misses the most important one - net access. Perhaps there is a logical reason for the flashlight app to need net access and location information, but I'm not seeing it. That's why I'd like to have an app that will have a white list of things that are allowed to use the network.
So, is there anything more advanced than the Permission Manager? Mind you, my phone is completely stock, not rooted, locked bootloader, etc.

Amazon fire storage full

I have moved all apps over to sd card that I can. I only have 650 megs left on local storage. I have used esfile explorer to scan and clean files and recycling bin. I do not have pictures , music etc as those directories are empty? Any ideas where to look to cleanup more files.
Thanks
maybe this nice howto from aftvnews is something for you
Thanks but there are no files in /sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files
enable view of hidden files !
inside /sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.kodi/files is the folder .kodi
folders which have a dot at the beginning are hidden
And then what..?
First, cybero2912 is right - that all of Kodis data in those folders is stored in subfolders that are hidden (using the .dotname folder naming convention).
But. Kodi, over time amounts quite a large number of images/thumbnails and stores them in cache. Especially if you use streaming Addons in Kodi. There are tutorial out there on how to do that. If your Kodi databases aren't stored on the device locally anymore, you will experience more latency in Kodi overall.
If you don't - and the Kodi image cache gets huge, f.e. because you have a very large amount of Movies that you manage via Kodis collection feature - the solution is to move this data to a NAS (or if you were using the AFTV, a connected USB stick f.e.).
If your image cache has grown largely because of your use of streaming addons, you cant delete those images via a filebrowser either, because Kodi references them in internal databases and as soon as you delete them they point at blank - causing Kodi to not show thumbnails anymore --
so the way you actually tackle this is - is with the use of some tools.
The first one that is widely used to clear the image cache and then reset the database entries is called "Raw Maintanance". You can find it on google.
The one I mainly use for this purpose is texturecache - which is a command line tool - that deletes images and entries - if you use it with the (P)rune command option. You can find it by typing texturecache.py into google. Be adviced, that if you have Intagrated a NAS into Kodis sources, unplug it (power it down), before running texturecache - otherwise it has the tendency to time out.
If you are not sure that Kodi's image cache is responsible for you problem - use apps like "Storage Analyser" and "SD Maid" (root) first, to check what is taking up your discspace.
Another popular issue many people have brought upon themselves is to increase Kodis Videostream buffer via advancedsettings.xml "tweaks" they had no understanding on, what that would do. Some "use this setting" tweaks that were shared on reddit and these forums even forced Kodi to cache entire movies - before starting to play them -- so if you are one of the people that fell for those - well, undo it. Default settings are fine. If you have a decent network/internet connection. If you don't well - fixing those "in Kodi" isn't the best idea either.
So the overall lesson here is - "if your storage is getting full" find out why first - then use the appropriate ways to deal with it.

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