Develop Bugs

[25 Dec][FAQ] Xperia Play for Dummies

Hi everybody,
I just get my Xperia Play but I don't really know where to start.
It's been 4 days that I'm reading threads to know how to get the best from my phone. Unfortunately, most interesting tips are dispersed here and there.
So, I will try to ask the good questions so that everything can be available in a single thread. It will be a newbies FAQ!
Let's go then!
1. I just bought my Android phone. What should I know first?
- Knowing the phone code names will help you searching for the good information. Every phone has his commercial name (Xperia Play), his model name (R800) and his "nickname" (Zeus).
- Check the Android and ROM version as it will be often asked when you look for something about your Android. To do this, on your Phone, go to Settings -> About the Phone
- Do you plan to subscribe to a DATA plan with your phone provider: if not, it's better to disable some features to avoid bad surprises.
- Some say that rebooting the device helps in many cases
- there are NO VIRUS with Android, antivirus tools are all useless
- Wireless, Bluetooth, GPS : if you don't use them it's better to disable them. You will spare battery and you won't see advertises in the free progs
2. What should I do first?
- If you still don't have it, you will have to create a Google account so that you can backup and manage your contacts, for example
- RTFM !
- If you don't plan to use a custom ROM (alternative software not develloped by the manufacturer), you'll have to see if a newer version of the official ROM is available. This can be done through the official tool PC Companion, available on the manufacture website. ( http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/sup...s/subject/pccompanion/xperia-play?cc=ph&lc=en )
- Learn the lexicon : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1253127
3. Should I hack my phone immediately? (Root, boot unlock, flash, unbrand, ...)
- You will have to if you want to : remove unwanted software installed by the provider, change the internal software with a custom one, ...
- Some applications will require to have more access to work: ex: MyMobiler needs Superuser access, available by rooting the phone
- Learn more about root and bootloader here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1076720 (thanks Logseman)
4. Are these hack methods reversible?
- Yes (thanks Jordanooo)
5. Do they void warranty?
- As they are reversible, they shouldn't void the warranty
- For Sony-Ericsson, it's important to notice that they support custom development and helped the FreeXperia team. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1281349)
6. I found many ways to root my phone: which one is the best?
- DooMLoRD method is a popular one : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1321582 (don't forget to thank him if you use it)
- you can check this link too : http://lifehacker.com/5789397/the-always-up+to+date-guide-to-rooting-any-android-phone
- for Xperia, there is the Xperia Easy Rooting Toolkit by DooMLorD : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1320350
7. Once rooted, can I remove applications I don't want anymore?
- Yes, this is possible. These applications are called "Bloaters". You can use Titanium Backup as Jordanooo suggested. This seems to be the best one around. There is also Android Mate o SystemApk Manager too. They're all available on the market
8. Where can I find generic/stock ROMs?
- Some are available on this forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1093
- for Xperia Play you can have a look at Logseman list of downloads http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18226603&postcount=2 (thank to him)
- there is also the Wotan website ( http://www.wotanserver.com/ ) for SE and Samsung but you have to register.
9. Where can I find good custom ROMs?
- Here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1093
- see 2nd point of previous question
10. OK but what is a custom ROM?
- Custom ROM are not official customized version of the Android software made by common developers (not by manufacturer). In general, they offer more functionality and sometimes pre-installed software. Or they get rid off default applications nobody needs, to save memory.
11. What is the best method to flash my phone?
- As Jordanoo said, it's better to use the method suggested by the author of the ROM. The procedure is usually explained in the related post.
12. Can I use Sony PC Companion to upgrade my phone after I hacked it?
- You will have to unhack your phone to do this. (Jordanoo)
13. What are the must-have applications?
- File browser: Astro File Manager
- Alternate market: AppBrain App Market
- Remote display&input : MyMobiler
- Web browser: Dolphin Browser HD
- Video player: QQPlayer or MX Video Player
- Mp3 player: PowerAmp
- Wifi tool: Wifi Analyzer
- Remote control: MyPhoneExplorer Client or AirDroid or File Expert
- Contacts management : Go Contacts
14. What is the best tool to manage Android contacts from the computer?
- There is an add-on for Thunderbird but I didn't tried it yet ( https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/thunderbird/addon/google-contacts/ )
- It is very easy using MyPhoneExplorer as mentionned in the previous question
15. Are they offline navigation application available?
- Sygic seems to be the best now (available on the market). Maps are downloadable from home Wireless.
16. What are the must-have games?
- Angry Birds (of course)
- Bubble Blast 2
- Live Hold em Poker Pro
- Mame4Droid emulator (ALL working roms can be found here : http://sentinelgames.com/documents/mame.html or here : http://lostsite.altervista.org/wiz/?page_id=2368 )
- GenPlusDroid: a Genesis/Megadrive emulator
- SNESDroid: a Super Nintendo/Famicom emulator
- Xperia Play optimized ones :
-- ***** : Drag Racing, BLOOD & GLORY
-- **** : Diversion, GUN BROS MULTIPLAYER
-- *** : Guns'n'Glory WW2, Pocket Legends (3D MMO)
-- ** : Super Dynamite Fishing FREE, Greedy Spiders Free, ETERNITY WARRIORS, Guns'n'Glory FREE
-- * : Aporkalypse FREE, Crazy Snowboard, Princess Punt, Townsmen 6 FREE , Earth And Legend
17. I tried to install an application but my Xperia said that there's no more place on internal memore. And now?
Yes, unfortunately, Sony didn't provide Xperia phones with a large internal memory (+/- 380Mb). This is indeed not enough to enjoy all what you Xperia can offer. The tool App2SD can help you free some space but many apps will remain unmovable.
There are 2 methods to emulate a part of your SD card as the internal memory: the ADB method (ADB for dummies) and the Link2SD method (Link2SD Guide). The first one don't need your phone to be rooted, the second well.
I hope there's no mistake in what I wrote, as it's only my personal experience. I apologize to the gods of XDA for this. (and for the rest too)
Of course, if someone has something interesting to ask, you can do this here! ;-)
Thread will be fed every time I got a question without a good answer.
Hope you will help! And I thank you in advance.
Popodom

popodom said:
Hi everybody,
I just get my Xperia Play but I don't really know where to start.
It's been 4 days that I'm reading threads to know how to get the best from my phone. Unfortunately, most interesting tips are dispersed here and there.
So, I will try to ask the good questions so that everything can be available in a single thread. It will be a newbies FAQ!
Let's go then!
1. I just bought my Android phone. What should I know first?
2. What should I do first?
3. Should I hack my phone immediately? (Root, boot unlock, flash,
unbrand, ...)
4. Are these hack methods reversible?
5. Do they void warranty?
6. I found many ways to root my phone: which one is the best?
7. Once routed, how can I remove applications I don't want anymore?
8. Where can I find generic/stock ROMs?
9. Where can I find good custom ROMs?
10. What is the best method to flash my phone?
11. Can I use Sony PC Companion to upgrade my phone after I hacked it?
12. What are the must-have applications?
13. What is the best tool to manage Android contacts from the computer?
14. Are they offline navigation application available?
15. What are the must-have games?
Of course, if someone has something interesting to ask, you can do this here! ;-)
Thread will be fed every time I got a question without a good answer.
Hope you will help me! And I thank you in advance.
Popodom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Its an android.
2. Turn it on.
3. Its up to you. You decide if you want to so soon or not.
4. Yes, read other topics
5. ...reversable
6. The one where everyone comments 'works great'
7. With an app, titanium backup is good
8. Development section.
9. Development section
10. Erm, read the post of the rom you are flashing.
11. After you un-do things, yes
12. See themes and apps section
13. Seems pointless, but use google.
14. Google it
15. See themes and apps section, or the full games list in general
Sent from my GT-I5500 using Tapatalk

There really should be an autoban feature when a 5th identical subject is posted.

Its almost like someone is making new accounts and asking the same questions over and over again to annoy us

Deleted original post as not being nearly as funny as I first though it was.
Popodom, you just need to take your time and learn about Android before you make too many changes. This forum has some good tips, but unless you're already a genius with programming, linux and Android, you're better off not asking anything simple. This is a very unfriendly forum, and it tends to bring the meaness out in people. The know-it-alls have little patience for us n00bs. However, they -are- extremely knowledgeable, so it just takes patience and a LOT of reading. Don't worry, we'll get there, someday.

Gosh.
To skip all the hassle u are getting I suggest:
1. Turn on the phone
2. Play with it.
3. Come to xda and read like the rest of us.
4. Start doing your "hacking" and other things when /you/ feel comfortable and no sooner.
5. Don't ask any more of these questions if u don't want to get flamed and end up with 3rd degree burnage.
Sent from the future using the nexus prime (squared) 4, using XDA ultra premium lambskin App

People on this forum are very rude. If you don't want to answer the question don't post anything or look at the post. You can you can tell by the topic what the questions will be on this one. I came from a iPhone and had no idea about android. Had many questions but never asked because I would be put on blast. The iPhone forums were very helpful and I never saw rude and sarcastic replys to posts. They were always willing to help no matter what the question. Just thought I would throw that out there. And the searching on here sucks maybe the desktop version is better.
Sent from my R800x using XDA App

I'm sorry but I can't delete this thread myself.
Is there some Admin out thre who can do this for me ?
Thanks !

Flag the thread.
By the way, the search function sucks in both the desktop version and Tapatalk. VBulletin search functions tend to suck quite a bit in general.
Oh, and BTW, in any forum, not only this one, no one likes to do people's homework. See it from this point of view: someone who's never contributed anything to this forum (not because s/he's a bad person or whatever, simply because s/he's new) starts up with post which is basically "gimme gimme gimme". Do you think it's rude to tell someone you've never seen and who starts talking to you by saying "gimme gimme gimme" to get lost?

Hello brothers.
Excuse the ignorance. But is there any way to run the gamepad? or control games with this rom? I installed it correctly. I could not make it work in games.I'm new to XDA, I hope I can still contribute a lot to the forum. Whenever I join others in my tongue. And now I want to collaborate on international forum.
Well here we go ...
I installed the rom JB Paranoid in my xperia play. Works great, besides using a clean configuration, the level of battery lasts much. I used the Turbo Kernel, which also surprised me with such ease.
I am available to help those who have difficulties installing this rom on xperia play. But I have a problem. Jellybeam with the gamepad, or control simply does not work. Anyone have any way to make it work?
grateful

[Q] Hello @ all ...need help with my defy

Hi @ all,
1st i have to say thx, that i can reg me on that forum . Now to my actual question, im new in the android world, im very good in iOS stuff but now thats my 1st steps in the android world. I bought a used Motorola MB526 (i hope its a defy), and i think its tmo sim locked, because when i put my sim in i have the message "pin to unlock the sim network" on my display, i dont have any sim-pin or sim-lock on the sim itself.
And cause im new with that, i dont know what steps i have to do now :/ I have some specs from it :
Code:
SystemVersion:
45.0.1251.MB526.T-Mobile.en.DE
Modell:
MB526
Android Version:
2.3.5
Baseband Version:
EPU93_U_00.60.00
Kernel Version:
2.6.32.9-gbdd614e
[email protected] #1
Build Number:
4.5.1-134_DFP-1251
I hope someone can help me out, thx alot in advance

there are serveral ways:
1. you pay a "service" to calculate your unlock code by giving them your imei, country and net-provider
2. you can have a look at the links in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1464645
-root your phone
-install cm7 (which of course i would only do after reading a LOT of stuff here in this forums of course)
-install the software from the external links
-run it
both ways are somewhat risky and you might have a chance to loose some money (1. way) or your phone (2.)
if you have not done it already i would also recommend some searching. there are quite some topics around on this.
cheers

Thanks alot for the reply . I surfed the tmo wepsite, and on it there is a "sim unlock" section where i can enter my imei, i did that and became an unlock code directly on their homepage. And it works
Now i can with my eplus carrier with that defy . Now i have another question, can i update the oS that is installed on the device ? You see my specs above Android Version etc. is that okay or can i go higher ?

j0k3r0815 said:
Thanks alot for the reply . I surfed the tmo wepsite, and on it there is a "sim unlock" section where i can enter my imei, i did that and became an unlock code directly on their homepage. And it works
Now i can with my eplus carrier with that defy . Now i have another question, can i update the oS that is installed on the device ? You see my specs above Android Version etc. is that okay or can i go higher ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you could always go higher and higher by rooting
Sent from my MB526 using XDA App

Root rulez!
You do even own a Defy+.
Since I own the same phone i would recommend rooting the phone, install MS2Ginger 2.1 with all the patches you like and even V6 Supercharger, which is really a must-have! My Defy+ got considerably snappier with this script.
But regardless what you do: Do a NANDroid backup first after root!

[Q] Change Device Name after root

Hey
I've managed to root and upgrade my device to 4.1.2, and keep the signal (network discovery)
now, since I live in Japan my phone's model is Acro HD SO-03D (and not Acro S LT26w/i).
After rooting and flashing (excluding the baseband)... my phone details says its LT26w, I didn't mind much but it kinda restricts me from using various applications, I wanted to use HULU (Japan) and I've got a proper account but it says it can't play the videos on this device. (works fine on the PC)
I've check the site and Acro HD is on the list of playable/supported devices.
I think that because HULU doesn't recognizes the new device name, it doesn't play anything.
Is there a way to change it ? just the name of the device.
I've tried this:
http://www.droidiser.com/2012/11/change-device-name-android-version.html
but it didn't work. it just changes the name in the ABOUT PHONE section.
Thanks in advance :angel:
EDIT:
I found this but it didn't help me much
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2226181&highlight=device+name
I don't want to just see the name in the ABOUT page, I actually want to fool applications into thinking I have SO-03D.
Can I just make HULU ignore the phone type and play it anyways ?
EDIT:
Here's the reply I got:
Thanks for your prompt reply. I have confirmed that the latest Android version for Japanese Docomo Xperia acro HD SO-03D is (Android 4.0. / Build number: 6.1.F.0.128). And build 6.2.B.0.211 does not seem to be supported here in Japan. If you have made any changes personally like rooting, this won't be supported for viewing.
I am sorry for the inconvinience but please let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with this issue.
How can I fool the application into thinking I've got a downgraded version ?
beside changin' the stats in the ABOUT DEVICE page...

[Q] Z1 Compact Chinese version M51w - google services not available but needed

Dear all,
desperately I am looking for a solution for a kind of very stupid and annoying problem:
I bought my Sony z1 compact in China. Model version: M51, Also called "colorful" in China
This Phone has a for China modified Android version installed. Nothing related to google works.
Well, sure the search engine in the browser. But I need the calendar, play store, etc.
Now I am thinking, has anybody experience with this device? ( only find posts to D5503)
Would it be possible to just update it with an international version? (Android 4.4 firmware 14.3.A.0.681)
Do i need to root, unlock Bootloader, or should a "normal update" work was well?
Or any other suggestions how to proceed?
I come the Apple world, where a jailbreak is one download and one click, I rooted a Xiaomi 2s with some small difficulties, but this looks way more complicated with this phone.... So any help would be appreciated..
Thanks,
mic

solved!
Well, developers,
forums are something strange. I really thought that anybody had a suggestion, a thought, an idea or whatever... 70 views and not a single answer.
Interesting.
Sure i could figure out that a root would help of course, but for a newbie like me, all of the descriptions have gaps and require much more knowledge about it, so that there is still a huge risk to screw it up and to maybe not destroy the phone, but to make it not usable until another solution is found.
Since I needed the phone, for receiving calls and SMS, i needed to go the less risky way and in the end - risk was still there ( is the M51w restricted to china and will not handle the firmware of the D5503) I followed the guide on the
"xperiafirmware" page called "Sony XPERIA Z1 Compact D5503 - Android 4.4 - firmware 14.3.A.0.681" ( sorry, cannot post links yet)
I just flashed the Android 4.4 - firmware 14.3.A.0.68 made for the d5503 (according to the guide "1. how to install the newest Android 4.4 for Sony XPERIA Z1 Compact D5503") it worked with out any problems.
One thing that might be misunderstanding is the Flashtool.
After downloading the flash tool its not called "Xperia flash tool", it looks the same as the "androxyde flash tool", and there is a second one which is the " Sony flash tool that is called "Emma" but the flash tool.
So,... just use the one this author linked in his guide, and don't get confused by the names..
Now I have my problems firstly solved. But have to say that, with that some others come...
- Google account sync seems to be not really under my control
- two google accounts even more hard to handle
- and further settings very limited, so that I sometimes even have the feeling i was free with iOS. And the Xiaomi of course let me taste the complete taste of freedom.
- SD card management
- Walkman
- album folders
...
Well , I will figure that out as well.
Hope this post will help somebody!

Just my 2 cents... Downgrade back to android 4.3 I'm pretty sure some of those problems will be solved. And another is Chinese version of Z1C doesn't have LTE support and since you flashed an international version of the ROM LTE might show up in the settings but there's a huge chance it will not work or possibly cause errors. Phones made for chinese market doesn't have google installed because google is blocked in their country. Just a FYI Never noticed your post so I didn't get to assist you before this but seems like you made the correct choice on solving your problem.

mic001 said:
so that I sometimes even have the feeling i was free with iOS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you get fully up and running, you'll LOL like the rest of us reading that. In this kind of situation you are kind of on your own because until you've tried you'll never know and most of the People reading wont advise you to do something that could potentially hard brick your Phone. You've done what I would have done which is grab an ftf and tried it, not much more you can do.

Same problem
Hi Mic,
I want to follow your example with my Chinese Z1 Compact. Are you still around, in case I have some questions? Have you tried to fix the other problems you mentioned? Any new comments? I am going to try to understand the procedure but I would feel better if I could pick your brain in case I get stuck.
cheers
Zibo

[Q] Alps H900 (Google says...)

Hi all!
I bought a china clone mobile phone.
It has body of s4 and camera of s5.
Specific device model is Step Fly (sf-) H900f , but google knows it as: Alps H900
Os Android 4.4.2, MTK6592, baseband: MOLY.WR8.W1315.MD.WG.MP.V35.P6, build: ALPS.KK1.MP1.V2.11
Well, my questions are:
- have yet anyone rooted il?
- and installed a custom rom instead of default one?
- can anyone publish/send me some helping links?
I've base Rom in chinese; an english one, downloaded from it's site, for changing the chinese one, but no instructions on how load it; so I found many post on how modify it, but with chinese I'm a little bit unsufficient...
I hope You can help me.
Thanks anyway!
Cheers...
M.

Nothing Is Impossible
Hey ive got the the same phone ive rooted it it took me a long time to figure it out but this is how
use root genius and root the phone after that open the playstore and download busybox install it
than open MTK DROID TOOLS and click on the ROOT button in down right corner.
Congratz youve got yourself a rooted Alps H900