Related
So, I'm well-aware that the reason icons can't be changed easily on the Android home screen is because the icon image is stored in the APK file, and editing that image is, essentially, near impossible.
However, I had an idea that could potentially fix that problem, and I'm just curious how realistic the solution is:
As most G1 users know, AnyCut is a great application that can allow a user to create a shortcut to any number of actions on the phone. These shortcuts are customizable by name, and, for the time being, have a limited number of icons, one for each shortcut type.
I also recall using an app several months ago to change the icons of bookmarks (Bookmark 2, I believe it was called). With this app, a user could choose exactly what their icons would look like on the home screen, except, of course, that these icons could only link to bookmarks.
By combining these two applications, wouldn't an icon changer be quite possible?
Using this same methodology, wouldn't it be possible to create "shortcuts" to applications on the home screen, and thus, allow the user to rename apps and change their icons, at least on the desktop? I know that the icons would not be changed in the pull-out drawer or elsewhere on the system, but wouldn't this be a temporary workaround, until a better solution is reached? I have quite a few programs with horrendous icons, and it really takes away from the aesthetic of the home screen.
Again, all I'm asking is if there's a way to place a shortcut to an APK on the desktop, and preferably to customize that shortcut's icon, not the actual apps.
It is possible to edit .apk's and change the icons. Just look at the forum for theams.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=450
soundwire said:
It is possible to edit .apk's and change the icons. Just look at the forum for theams.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=450
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I know that the icons can be edited in a theme, but can non-stock icons be edited as well?
And also, my concern with that is that it seems like a lot of work to update a theme everytime a new app appears on the market. I'm a little OCD, so if I were able to change all the icons on my home screen, I would want them all to be absolutely uniform (like the themes' icons are). However, if a new, super-useful app were to appear on the market, and I absolutely needed it on my home screen, it would seem much easier to simply add an image to my phone, and make a shortcut using that image, than to have to edit an APK, resign the entire package, and reflash the phone each time. While I know my way around the G1, and I'm comfortable with basic rooting, I am by no means a developer, and just like most G1 users, I would probably be more comfortable making shortcuts than updating firmware.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
I too, would also like to know how to change "non-stock" app icons. Bump.
jayaustn said:
Well, I know that the icons can be edited in a theme, but can non-stock icons be edited as well?
And also, my concern with that is that it seems like a lot of work to update a theme everytime a new app appears on the market. I'm a little OCD, so if I were able to change all the icons on my home screen, I would want them all to be absolutely uniform (like the themes' icons are). However, if a new, super-useful app were to appear on the market, and I absolutely needed it on my home screen, it would seem much easier to simply add an image to my phone, and make a shortcut using that image, than to have to edit an APK, resign the entire package, and reflash the phone each time. While I know my way around the G1, and I'm comfortable with basic rooting, I am by no means a developer, and just like most G1 users, I would probably be more comfortable making shortcuts than updating firmware.
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have yet to try this, but (provided you have root), you should be able to use adb to pull the apk for an app off your phone, edit it as described, and push it back to the same place. I will give this a go tomorrow, as I'm rather sleepy, and it's probably not a good thing to mess about with superuser stuff when I can't think straight.
If there's any flaws in my theory, I'd be happy to hear them.
RE: Changeing Icons!
I have a video on you tube on how to change icons. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnV_d9b22E
Hope you enjoy and your able to Change Your Icons.
Good Luck!
bms122223 said:
I have a video on you tube on how to change icons. Here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjnV_d9b22E
Hope you enjoy and your able to Change Your Icons.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Video doesnt show you how to change "non-stock" app icons, only icons for the original apps.
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
I have used astro as well, I even signed the apk the same way I sign themes and no luck.
ultra spikey said:
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're real close; once you replace the icon you need you need to delete META-INF folder then zip it back up, rename file extension to .apk and sign it with the test keys like the stock .apk. The META-INF is where the signature info is kept from the original author, you need to delete this so it doesn't conflict with the test keys.
Geo411m said:
You're real close; once you replace the icon you need you need to delete META-INF folder then zip it back up, rename file extension to .apk and sign it with the test keys like the stock .apk. The META-INF is where the signature info is kept from the original author, you need to delete this so it doesn't conflict with the test keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will that a try. So this also mean that if author updates .apk file we will not be able to install update? Similar to google RC30 updates, we have to wait for JF to modify it.
johnowa636 said:
I will that a try. So this also mean that if author updates .apk file we will not be able to install update? Similar to google RC30 updates, we have to wait for JF to modify it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed; this might be a problem.
I mean, opening up the APK files is definitely a start, but it seems the shortcut approach I mentioned earlier is just so much easier. Shortcuts would allow basic users to change icons effortlessly and without fear of ruining the app, and the process could be just as easy as Bookmark 2, if a developer took charge, no?
ultra spikey said:
Well, I kind of figured out how to change the non-stock icons. But got stuck at the end...here's what I did...
1) Install/Open Astro.
2) Back up the app you want to change the icon for.
3) Grab that backup apk file off of your sdcard and put it on your computer.
4) Open it with Winrar.
5) Go to the proper folder and drag your new icon into the folder.
6) Close Winrar and move the apk back to your sdcard.
...this is where I get stuck, I know the icon changed because I can see it when I TRY to install the app. But the app doesnt want to install, it says "install unsuccesful". I'm guessing it needs to be signed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would like to verify that this method works to change non-stock apps without pushing files or inserting apps into updates. i used 7zip but i'd imagine winrar will work fine as well. just remember to delete the entire metainf folder, not just its contents. once you have your .apk, re-sign it using stericson's auto-sign utility and you'll be able to install the app through astro.
i should also note that i deleted all instance of the unmodified app from my sdcard. i uninstalled it and deleted the backup on my sd card. this may or may not be necessary, but i just wanted to take precautions.
I've given this method a try, and it seems simply too complicated for a moderate user like me. Wouldn't the shortcut method I mentioned be so much easier to quickly change home screen icons? Would any of the developers on this forum be interested in throwing such an app together? I'd gladly donate some money if a good app was able to take care of this problem.
what are you having trouble with, exactly? i'm far from an advanced user myself, but this is probably one of the easier things to do on the g1, probably second to flashing themes.
though i will say that there are a few apps that i can't change icons for. chomp and cubik have installed but force close when opened.
i have a feeling it's something to do with the signing the apk's, but like i said, i'm not an advanced user at all.
TruLuvNvrDies said:
what are you having trouble with, exactly? i'm far from an advanced user myself, but this is probably one of the easier things to do on the g1, probably second to flashing themes.
though i will say that there are a few apps that i can't change icons for. chomp and cubik have installed but force close when opened.
i have a feeling it's something to do with the signing the apk's, but like i said, i'm not an advanced user at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened up the APK using WinRAR, replaced the icon.png with my icon of choice, and then I'm stuck. I known I have to auto-sign the APK, but am not exactly sure how. I have Stericson's auto-signer tool, and used command 4 to manually enter the APK path, but once I do that I get a bunch of errors. If need be, I can copy down the exact error I get.
ultra spikey said:
Video doesnt show you how to change "non-stock" app icons, only icons for the original apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice video!
jayaustn said:
I opened up the APK using WinRAR, replaced the icon.png with my icon of choice, and then I'm stuck. I known I have to auto-sign the APK, but am not exactly sure how. I have Stericson's auto-signer tool, and used command 4 to manually enter the APK path, but once I do that I get a bunch of errors. If need be, I can copy down the exact error I get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you probably need to delete the contents of the meta-inf folder. there should be three files in there, delete them all. if you extracted the contents of the .apk, zip them back up with an .apk extension. if you didn't extract them, you're at the last step, which is to re-sign the .apk. you don't actually need to manually re-sign the file through the console on stericson's re-signer. just right-click the .apk file and at the very top, there should be an option that says "resign .apk". click on that and your app will be re-signed and ready for an install attempt.
though, as i said before, this method is not 100%. of the 6 apps that i modified so far, i was only successful with 4 of them. even if you do all of the steps correctly, you might not have a working app at the end. the apps will install but will automatically force close when launched. i don't know what causes this, actually, and any suggestions would be appreciated.
I agree with the OP, while it is easy enough to edit the apks, resign them, copy them back onto your phone it would be far more elegant (IMHO) if you could have an application that allowed you to copy "Icon Packs" onto your SDCard, and then add links to applications on your home screen giving you a choice of icons from the aforementioned "Icon Pack".
Theme developers could then distribute the "Icon Pack" with the theme, and end users could easily add custom icons to your home screen from your phone without having to mess about on a PC.
liamw said:
I agree with the OP, while it is easy enough to edit the apks, resign them, copy them back onto your phone it would be far more elegant (IMHO) if you could have an application that allowed you to copy "Icon Packs" onto your SDCard, and then add links to applications on your home screen giving you a choice of icons from the aforementioned "Icon Pack".
Theme developers could then distribute the "Icon Pack" with the theme, and end users could easily add custom icons to your home screen from your phone without having to mess about on a PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what everyone wants is Anycut that can do custom icons.
I installed the stock MMS.apk file on my de'odexed stock rom (rooted of course). Everything worked well and the app runs, but when reading text threads there is an ugly white border around the edge of the screen, its strange. Its not present when viewing the list of conversations, only in the thread view. I'm not sure if that's how its supposed to look or not, but if not, anyone have any idea how to fix this?
I'll get a screenshot up as soon as I get home.
I first obtained the MMS.apk from the cyanogen rom, then thinking that it might be modified and thus creating my problem, I grabbed the AOSP version from this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=789493
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE:
Found another thread where people are experiencing the same issue, apparently its a problem with how sense handles the application:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=752604
I attempted to open up the Mms.apk (AOSP version) with APKtool and play around with the xml files for the UI, but wasn't able to get it to recompile and test any changes I made, the app would just crash on launch. I simply made a few changes to the colors, but I admittedly don't really know what I'm doing and it wouldn't run. If anyone who's more experienced in this area could offer some advice I'll try again.
That's a picture of the issue, it appears in both landscape and portrait mode.
Texts were blacked out just for privacy sake.
Well after a few hours of messing around in the XML files for the AOSP messaging app, I was able to find a solution to this issue. I modified the XML file to have it correctly display the black color background when using the black theme. I was not able to eliminate the border entirely, but by changing the scrollbar type from Inset to Overlay I was able to make it uniform and far more visually pleasing.
I have attached my modified Mms.apk file, feel free to test it out.
For the specifics of what I did for those who are interested:
Two files were modified in the apk
- /res/layout/compose_message_activity.xml
- /res/layout/compose_message_activity_black.xml
In both files I changed the scrollbarStyle propery to "insideOverlay", in addition to removing the reference to always show the scrollbar track.
In the black xml file I changed the background color to "@android:color/black".
The original XML files were extracted using APKTool and Recompiled to their binary format, then reinserted into the original apk without resigning.
This is awesome! ... Except it doesn't filter out the VVM message streams that come through. :|
I haven't encountered this problem though I use google voice so I'm not really sure what it is you're referring to.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
ty!
beautiful ty!!!!!!!!!
Imma cry
I cant send mms!
Try turning off wifi while sending/receiving mms
no wifi
i don't have wifi on when i do this i just have 3g on so i can send mms!
i zipped the file with the one that had the white outline .is there a way to make this new apk. file into a .zip file for me ?
I'd imagine you could simply replace the APK file in your zip with my modified one and install that way. Use a program like winrar or 7zip to replace the apk within the zip.
tehpsyc said:
I'd imagine you could simply replace the APK file in your zip with my modified one and install that way. Use a program like winrar or 7zip to replace the apk within the zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but i cant find either of thoses programs u mention to replace the APK file in my zip with your modified version .is there another program or a manual way of doing this process ?
how do i install this? since it's an APK, i thought i'd just install it from Astro but it says it's already installed and asked if i wanted to uninstall.
To install this you need to either delete or rename the Mms.apk that's already on your phone in the /system/app directory (I just rename to Mms.apk.bak) and then copy the modified one into that same directory followed by a restart of the phone. Because its a system app you cant install it the same way you would a regular apk, at least from my understanding.
You will need to get write access to the system directory to accomplish this (I used an app on the market called root explorer, though you can also do all this through the ADB shell)
hey guys.
i'm having a frustrating issue when editing framework-res.apk to include the rectangle battery mod.
this is a long post...please DO NOT POST GENERIC ANSWERS WITHOUT READING THE POST FIRST!!!
i'm used to editing framework-res.apk and all other .apks on my phone for various purposes. i use a combination of 7zip and apkmanager 4.9 to extract, replace, decompile/recompile, etc. depending on what i'm doing.
at this point here's what i'm trying to do:
DaGunn provided me with a modified framework-res.apk which includes a buttonized power control widget (from JsChiSurf's thread). this is v2.0 (on the 3.29 ota). previously i had v1.0 which I had fully customized to my liking.
the file provided to me by DaGunn has the buttonized look, and some smooth sense elements, as well as the super circle battery meter.
i opened framework-res.apk he provided with 7zip and replaced all the 901 images in res/drawable-hdpi with my own 901 image files from my existing framework. these files all have the same exact name and same exact extensions. (hence when I drag and drop into the new framework-res.apk in 7zip i get a direct replacement rather than having extra files).
this has worked countless times in the past. as a matter of fact, it worked 99% of the way this time. all the framework images went back to my customized images. except the battery disappeared.
i narrowed it down to the battery images. if i leave his 101 circle battery .pngs and replace every other file in framework-res, it works just fine. all my images show and the battery shows up in the circle style. if i then just replace his 101 circle battery .pngs with my 101 matted blues rectangle battery .pngs, which are the same exact names (i checked!) and extension, and after I optimized them almost exactly the same file size as well, everything goes to crap. the battery doesn't show up at all in the title bar.
if i plug in the phone, the rectangle charging animation works, the download animation works, all other smooth sense animations that I have replaced with the mattedblues files from my previous framework work. except for the battery.
now, if his .pngs work, and mine replace his directly with the same exact name and extension, why would the battery display suddenly disappear?!
I'm being told it has to do with resource IDs, but here's the problem. I was provided a "guide" on how to properly modify framework-res by one of the guys involved in MattedBlues (beatblaster). in it I was told that I only need to recompile framework-res after adding NEW .pngs, that if the .pngs were already accounted for in resources.arsc then trying to recompile would throw errors and instead I should replace those .pngs with 7zip. that's what i'm trying to do but as I said, then the battery meter doesn't work.
if i decompile DaGunn's original file, I'm able to recompile it just fine. keep in mind this file already has a lot of modifications on it as it is. but if i decompile his framework, and I replace his .pngs with mine, and try to recompile, I get thousands of lines of error in the log. all having to do with public.xml, which I'm being told goes back to resource IDs.
what am i missing here? i know how to remove the battery display from the title bar so I dont have that empty space, but I do enjoy my percentage battery and I would like to get this to work!
any input will be greatly appreciated...
+5 points for you if you read this far!
I'm not clear if you are recompiling or just dropping the images in, but if you are recompiling try making all your xml changes without adding the new images. Then after its compiled drop your new images in.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
i'm not modifying any xmls. only replacing .pngs. it's specifically clarified in the OP.
the existing framework, with its modified .xmls and .pngs as given to me decompiles and recompiles just fine. if i decompile, then replace the .pngs with my own, and try to recompile, then it gives error. if i just open it in 7zip and replace the .pngs with my own, the battery disappears, but no force closes or error messages.
anyone else?
Are any of the .png files you are replacing have the 9.png extension? I know modifying these is very tedious and requires a more difficult process. Also can u post the errors in the apkmanager log?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
nope. the files are stat_sys_battery_0 through stat_sys_battery_100. all .png not a single one in any other extension.
i can't post the apk manager log because it is literally thousands of lines of errors.
what I can do is give you the framework as I have it, working with his battery .pngs and a separate .zip with my battery .pngs, so you can try to do it yourself and see the problem/compile errors.
it really is weird...or stupidly simple!
Firstly you SHOULD NOT be decompiling just to swap images, even .9 pngs. You only need to decompile if you are editing xml files which by reading your post you aren't. To change pngs only, you should use option 1 (extract) in apk manager. Then change all your pngs you want changed. Use option 3 to recompress your framework. Make sure to tell it that it is a system apk, and then use option 12 to resign. You should be good to go.
t3project said:
Firstly you SHOULD NOT be decompiling just to swap images, even .9 pngs. You only need to decompile if you are editing xml files which by reading your post you aren't. To change pngs only, you should use option 1 (extract) in apk manager. Then change all your pngs you want changed. Use option 3 to recompress your framework. Make sure to tell it that it is a system apk, and then use option 12 to resign. You should be good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
The reason I was confused about what you were trying to accomplish is because you don't need to decompile unless changing xml's.
Thats what I do for non system apps. I'll give it a try in the morning and see if it makes a difference.
Swyped from my HTC Evo 4G on the MetroPCS 1X network!
Ok first if you go to recompile something and you get errors usally the first error is the one causing the problem. Look and see what the first error is and fix it, like has been said what you are trying to do using 7 zip is a good way to do it, not decompiling. You said this is how you prefer way to do it anyway so that's good.
Second I have found at times that 7 zip does not properly replace threw images so weird things happen, only happens sometimes. With that said try using apk manager to unzip the apk replace the images and rezip it do not sign it. See if that works
Third. If all else fails download nijamorph from the market. Put the images you want on your scard where I can find them easy. Open nijamorph and start a new project navigate to your framework-res.apk.from here you can do two things first you can press existing project and find what you are looking for and change one at a time or the easy way. Close the app open your favorite file manager find the pngs you are going to use, copy them, then navigate to android themes/workspace in there you will find the framework-resapk folder, in there is everything just like the apk so paste the files were they go (that last step can all be done on the computer if that is easier for you.) Next open your nijamorph app and press finish project follow the prompts and let it do its thing. If your phone does not reboot reboot it.you should be good to go.
Like always do a backup before doing these steps
Good luck
Sent from my unrEVOked using xda app
Max_Pain said:
Thats what I do for non system apps. I'll give it a try in the morning and see if it makes a difference.
Swyped from my HTC Evo 4G on the MetroPCS 1X network!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it works the same way when replacing pngs. compiling and recompiling is only needed if making xml/code changes. i had to learn this the hard way too. just make sure you sign system apps with option 12 instead of option 4 like you would with a non-system app.
t3project said:
To change pngs only, you should use option 1 (extract) in apk manager. Then change all your pngs you want changed. Use option 3 to recompress your framework. Make sure to tell it that it is a system apk, and then use option 12 to resign. You should be good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this worked!
dont know why I would have to extract, replace, compress, as I've NEVER done that with framework-res.apk, only when editing apps that need to be resigned. oh well, it worked
I think you misunderstood what I told you in the guide I gave you which is you only need to decompile/recompile when you are making XML code changes as stated above in a previous post. When I wrote that guide for you I wrote it thinking you wanted to add more features to the original power control widgets (such as smooth mods). If you want to simply replace PNGs, as stated previously, all you need to do is replace the PNGs without decompiling and recompiling.
In this instance, the problem you're running into is that you're trying to compile the framework using already-customized PNGs which will not work (another point that was stated in the guide as well )
So, in conclusion, if all you want to do is change the PNGs all you gotta do is (and you probably already know this but I'm including it to be thorough):
- Open archive (framework) in 7-zip
- Navigate to framework-res/res/drawable-hdpi
- Add your desired PNGs into the 7-zip window
- Close the 7-zip window and answer yes when 7zip asks if you want to update the archive
- Flash framework onto your phone
- All should be well
- When using this method there is no signing necessary!
Again, as stated previously, the only time you need to decompile/recompile is when you're going to edit an XML (or make any other code changes). So, for a final example of this, let's say you wanted to take DaGunn's power widgets framework but you wanted to change the "text highlight" color. What you would do then is this:
- Decompile DaGunn's framework in APK manager (option 9)
- Navigate to /projects/framework-res.apk/values/styles..xml
- Search for for "<item name="textColorHighlight">" and change the color HEX code
- Save the changes to styles.xml
- Compile the framework in APK manager (option 11)
- When asked if this is a system apk answer Y for yes
- When asked if you want to copy additional files to reduce the amount of errors answer Y for yes
- When prompted about the "keep" folder, open a file manager and navigate to /<apk_manager_folder>/keep and DELETE the resources.arsc file
- Go back to the APK manager window and press any button to finish the compile process
- Back in your file manager, go back to /<apk_manager_folder>/place-apk-here-for-modding/ folder, grab the unsignedFramework-res.apk, rename it to framework-res.apk and flash it however you flash it.
- Test your changes (in this example, the text highlight color)
This concludes my post.
thanks for the clarification beat.
but the problem was I was just opening framework-res.apk with 7zip, doing it like you're saying to do in the first part of your post above, and the battery meter would disappear instead of showing the mattedblues battery images instead of the circle ones.
if i left his .pngs in, the battery would show. if i replaced his with mine using 7zip, the battery would disappear.
this confused me because this is exactly the way that I've been integrating mattedblues into every framework i get. i open in 7zip, replace existing files with my own, and bam, everything works. this time it didnt!
this got fixed by extracting, replacing, and compressing again in apk manager 4.9.
i tried decompiling/recompiling simply because I was so out of ideas as to how else to go about it. I don't need to make any .xml changes to DaGunn's file because he had already integrated most of smooth sense with the percentage battery and v2 of the power widgets
anyways, thanks for the clarification.
beatblaster said:
So, in conclusion, if all you want to do is change the PNGs all you gotta do is (and you probably already know this but I'm including it to be thorough):
- Open archive (framework) in 7-zip
- Navigate to framework-res/res/drawable-hdpi
- Add your desired PNGs into the 7-zip window
- Close the 7-zip window and answer yes when 7zip asks if you want to update the archive
- Flash framework onto your phone
- All should be well
- When using this method there is no signing necessary!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
max, not sure why this wouldnt work for you.
t3project said:
max, not sure why this wouldnt work for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no. this method is SUPPOSED TO WORK, as I said in the original post. this is how I've done every single change to framework-res.apk in the past. that is why I felt the need to ask for help. because the same thing that has always worked, suddenly wasn't working anymore!
for some reason, using 7zip WAS NOT WORKING to replace the battery .pngs....but ONLY those files. every other file was replaced using 7zip and they all worked. the only files I ended up having to replace through apk manager extract/compress method you gave me were the battery images.
thanks everyone
Max_Pain said:
no. this method is SUPPOSED TO WORK, as I said in the original post. this is how I've done every single change to framework-res.apk in the past. that is why I felt the need to ask for help. because the same thing that has always worked, suddenly wasn't working anymore!
for some reason, using 7zip WAS NOT WORKING to replace the battery .pngs....but ONLY those files. every other file was replaced using 7zip and they all worked. the only files I ended up having to replace through apk manager extract/compress method you gave me were the battery images.
thanks everyone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ohh i know. i use the way i told you because i just like to see the images while im playing with them. that way i know for sure whats up.
I am trying to change certain images for my XDA premium app but I cannot seem to get my version to install...
I am backing up via "My Backup Root", then placing the modified images in the drawable-hdpi folder inside the app WHILE my SD card is mounted on my computer. I am overwriting all of them (using the same names and keeping the sizes the same). And then I tried installing the modified version through ES file explorer in the my backup root folder, no dice. Then I tried installing it by restoring a backup via my Backup root, but no matter what, my XDA App will not install with the modified images. I am using 7zip to replace images.
So you need to find a way to backup a non-system application while still being able to edit it?
Have you tried going straight into data and pulling the app with ADB? Using Super Manager, Root Explorer or ES?
Hell maybe you have resign it!
If you want to send over the files I'd love to play with it.
How would I pull it using adb pull? I've got ES File Explorer, but it's a non system app.
Using root explorer goto data/app and copy the apk to sdcard. Put sdcard in your pc and pull the apk and modifie. Then install
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
In ES there is a root explorer right?
Go into settings and at the bottom are root options. Enable them.
Then click the SD button at the top left hand corner and you should see your phones root folder. Then data -> app and find the XDA application. Long press and select copy, then paste it to your SD card. it will be named something like com.somethingXDA.apk, or net.somethingXDA.apk, or even org.somethingXDA.apk.
Also try renaming your MyBackup modifyed file to its actual filename. So for example "SetCPU" to "com.mhuang.overclocking.apk" or "XDAPremiumApp" to "com.somethingXDA.apk". I know for some Swype mods you had to do that.
This is my first time using ES File explorer! And I really like it!
I don't understand, I did exactly as Mystery said, and app still not installed. For some odd reason, my edited .png files are smaller less kbs than the original APK. Does changing colors only alter data size?
Overstew said:
I don't understand, I did exactly as Mystery said, and app still not installed. For some odd reason, my edited .png files are smaller less kbs than the original APK. Does changing colors only alter data size?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to put it in /system/app now, because modifying the APK's contents in any way will invalidate the signature. You could also resign it, but it won't update.
Ok, I'm getting farther and farther, but how do I fix the permissions to paste it in System/App? It's a non system app, shouldn't it be copied into Data/app?
Overstew said:
Ok, I'm getting farther and farther, but how do I fix the permissions to paste it in System/App? It's a non system app, shouldn't it be copied into Data/app?
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Click to collapse
Im not sure how to do it in es , but in root explorer you long press the app and click permissions and put checks in all three of the first column and just the top one in the 2nd column and leve the rest unchecked. Its ok to put it in system/app.
GituSum said:
Im not sure how to do it in es , but in root explorer you long press the app and click permissions and put checks in all three of the first column and just the top one in the 2nd column and leve the rest unchecked. Its ok to put it in system/app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give Root Explorer a try.
Are you decompiling it or just opening it via 7zip and swapping images?? If you aren't decompiling then the signature is fine to run, but not install.. just put it in /data/app.. permissions won't matter.. if you are decompiling, that's a different story.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Hi all,
Is there a list of LG apks/odex files that we can delete without causing problems on LU6200. I really can't use most of them and it makes my drawer messy especially with korean captions which I can't read.
Thanks.
Yeah. Same for the AT&T P930.
Sent from my LG-P930 using XDA
I managed to get rid of unnecessary apps by obtaining root. Then I enabled root explorer on ES file explorer. I then renamed those apks whose icons match those applications that i want to get rid of. At first I just try to rename them then if nothing bad happens after I reboot, I delete them. I use ES file explorer as it shows the icons of the apps so it is easy to associate the apks with the application. I still have 3 or 4 apps that I want to get rid of but I can't find the corresponding apks.
dyurdz said:
I managed to get rid of unnecessary apps by obtaining root. Then I enabled root explorer on ES file explorer. I then renamed those apks whose icons match those applications that i want to get rid of. At first I just try to rename them then if nothing bad happens after I reboot, I delete them. I use ES file explorer as it shows the icons of the apps so it is easy to associate the apks with the application. I still have 3 or 4 apps that I want to get rid of but I can't find the corresponding apks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i use titanium backup to remove all the bloat and unnecessary system apps !
works fine for me all the time !