I am posting here because I own this particular device, in case any solutions posted are specific to the phone.
What I am looking for is an app that is capable of making different kinds of notifications depending on the app that issues them. Now, I am already aware that apps like GMail and Handcent have their own internal options for notifications, but other apps like CNN and so on have no such option. What I am aiming for is an app that will intercept the notifications sent by other apps and, guided by rules, play particular sounds and so on, such as when the Play Store finishes installing a new app (I already have the means to make custom notification sounds accessible to the system).
I have heard of the app NotifierPro, but it uses the Accessibility API to do its work, which means it can run afoul of the TTS API, and it's aware of it. This makes me leery of paying for the upgrade needed to allow per-app custom notifications.
I'm wondering if there is a more elegant solution available for users like myself who have rooted their phones and can therefore dig a little deeper into the Android system. I have already done some considerable searching both here and through Google without finding a hit, but I wanted to know if anyone here has found a solution that isn't well-discussed.
Related
Hello all!
First off. Long time IOS user that just purchased a GN. More specifically - I just came from an iPhone 4.
Love the GN.
I can't seem to figure something out. In IOS I can selectively set whether or not to allow location to be ascertained by apps individually. The only thing I found that I can do is turn off location services for everything. There's some things that I would rather leave on i.e. google maps etc.
Can you do that on an individual basis?
Other than that I'm digging Android. There are some things that are worse compared to IOS, but there are also some things that are executed better on Android.
Aloha!
kapolani said:
Hello all!
First off. Long time IOS user that just purchased a GN. More specifically - I just came from an iPhone 4.
Love the GN.
I can't seem to figure something out. In IOS I can selectively set whether or not to allow location to be ascertained by apps individually. The only thing I found that I can do is turn off location services for everything. There's some things that I would rather leave on i.e. google maps etc.
Can you do that on an individual basis?
Other than that I'm digging Android. There are some things that are worse compared to IOS, but there are also some things that are executed better on Android.
Aloha!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible if you are rooted. It requires that you revoke the gps permissions for the apps you don't want to have that access.
The problem is that this may cause the apps to force close if they can't get that access.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Herman76 said:
It is possible if you are rooted. It requires that you revoke the gps permissions for the apps you don't want to have that access.
The problem is that this may cause the apps to force close if they can't get that access.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that sucks.
Not that I have to be rooted (I will eventually) but that it may cause the app to force close. That doesn't seem like an elegant solution.
I don't want to be visible (via location) to apps such as FaceBook etc.
I wonder if there is an opportunity for a developer to make some money providing this type of functionality. I may have to look at this to see how easy it is (or if even possible) to implement something like this.
Thank you for the response!
kapolani said:
Well that sucks.
Not that I have to be rooted (I will eventually) but that it may cause the app to force close. That doesn't seem like an elegant solution.
I don't want to be visible (via location) to apps such as FaceBook etc.
I wonder if there is an opportunity for a developer to make some money providing this type of functionality. I may have to look at this to see how easy it is (or if even possible) to implement something like this.
Thank you for the response!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, per-app settings for location would be awesome for apps that don't explicitly offer an "off switch".
We can only hope this becomes a stock feature in the future...
Very poetic I know...
I am incredibly overwhelmed at the amount of apps that I can disable to auto start on Rom Toolbox and I simply dont know what some of the instances are. Can someone suggest a general rule of thumb on which apps to disable the auto start of? Any help is greatly appreciated. Oh and I just discovered the lower density settings. Pretty nice.
Only general rule of thumb I know, is do not disable unless you know what it is. Other than that, google will answer your questions if you are actually curious.
You'll know the apps you've installed. Most /system apps are self explanatory, the underlying frameworks will be the only unknown left to understand, and you shouldn't disable most of them anyways.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-2
mdsevol said:
Very poetic I know...
I am incredibly overwhelmed at the amount of apps that I can disable to auto start on Rom Toolbox and I simply dont know what some of the instances are. Can someone suggest a general rule of thumb on which apps to disable the auto start of? Any help is greatly appreciated. Oh and I just discovered the lower density settings. Pretty nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, basically I disabled lots of startups.
If you are using rom toolbox, there are two types of startups displayed - Events and Applications.
Events - My recommendation is, do not touch any system related events like phone, exchange service (if you use email), etc. But beside of system apps, you may disable the custom apps if it doesn't need to be updated on the event of system boot. I disabled lots of events, something like XDA premium, triangle away, Telenav gps, talk, tango, screenshot it, rom manager, email, gmail, +++
Applications - Only the part that I usually change is the 'widget updating'. All other parts are related to boot/shutdown, connectivity, state changes. So, to keep the application working, these parts need to be untouched. But widget part is a little different. I believe most of users are partially using the widgets. Even some people don't like the widget at all. So, for the widgets, you don't use, you can disable the widget updating. If you disable the widget updating, then the disabled widgets will be disappeared from the widget menu and those cannot be used for widget. The difficult part of disabling widgets is, it's hard to find which one (widget updating) on the applications is corresponding to which actual widget (if there are multiple widgets under one application).
The benefit of disabling the startups is, we can save the memory and battery by eliminating unnecessary events or applications.
But the difficult part is, it's taking long time and there's no tool to backup your startup configuration. So, if you flash the new rom, you have to re-configure the startup settings unless if you use the no-data option during the flashing (this is what I'm doing everytime when I flash the rom).
-my two cents -
Remembering this from the old EVO boards, doesn't it end to starting anyway? Just doesn't start at the actual bootup? Same issue with task managers that close things that can't stay closed and end up restarting.
If this is (still) true then there is no reason to stop them from starting. Though I could be way wrong in which case just do what my wife does and ignore me.
LudoGris said:
Remembering this from the old EVO boards, doesn't it end to starting anyway? Just doesn't start at the actual bootup? Same issue with task managers that close things that can't stay closed and end up restarting.
If this is (still) true then there is no reason to stop them from starting. Though I could be way wrong in which case just do what my wife does and ignore me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao. Well that why I ask because I have no idea what I am doing and do not want to cause any more problems for myself but it seems as if alot of unnecessary apps start when I boot.
I want to be able to granularly set the permissions for each app. From what I understand my options are:
Cyanogenmod - except CM10 for SGS2 is missing this at this time
Pdroid for GB
Pdroid 2.0 - running CM10 only
LBE (from China)
I have had Pdroid 2.0 running on CM10 for a few weeks but CM10 isn't stable - just had it auto-reboot in the middle of a call. Does anybody have any other ideas / suggestions?
On a related note - I'm wondering why it seems that most people aren't bothered with apps monitoring their use and even more important archiving all the data compiled on them?? The only thing that I can think of is that most cell phone / XDA users are really young and just don't know any better??? Didn't they pay any attention in history class?? What am I missing here?
Mrktmind said:
On a related note - I'm wondering why it seems that most people aren't bothered with apps monitoring their use and even more important archiving all the data compiled on them?? The only thing that I can think of is that most cell phone / XDA users are really young and just don't know any better??? Didn't they pay any attention in history class?? What am I missing here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because phone security is generally easy to manage. Most apps make a good name for themselves. And many people check the security of an app as soon as it were to hit the Play Store. It doesn't mean we are young it means that we aren't dumb and know how modern technology works.
hrffd said:
Because phone security is generally easy to manage. Most apps make a good name for themselves. And many people check the security of an app as soon as it were to hit the Play Store. It doesn't mean we are young it means that we aren't dumb and know how modern technology works.[/QUOTE
I highly doubt that anyone on XDA, regardless of age, is dumb. I do believe, however, that there are quite a few younger members who could be a bit naive due to a lack of experience. Younger folks tend to take most things at face value. Just because something is free monetarily doesn't mean it isn't costing you something. Just because an app is on Play Store doesn't mean it is "secure" - especially since the Play Store (as well as Android, Google, et.al.) operate on the same business model as the apps!
Just a random example - Why would Angry Birds need my Sim Card Serial number to operate properly? Why would it need to know the phone numbers of all my incoming calls? Answer - it doesn't - in fact it doesn't need ANY of the permissions it asks for to operate properly. So why does it ask for these permissions? Answer - it is data mining your phone.
Ok, so I think most XDA members are aware of WHAT these apps are doing. My original question is WHY don't more people seem to care?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mrktmind said:
I want to be able to granularly set the permissions for each app. From what I understand my options are:
Cyanogenmod - except CM10 for SGS2 is missing this at this time
Pdroid for GB
Pdroid 2.0 - running CM10 only
LMB (from China)
I have had Pdroid 2.0 running on CM10 for a few weeks but CM10 isn't stable - just had it auto-reboot in the middle of a call. Does anybody have any other ideas / suggestions?
On a related note - I'm wondering why it seems that most people aren't bothered with apps monitoring their use and even more important archiving all the data compiled on them?? The only thing that I can think of is that most cell phone / XDA users are really young and just don't know any better??? Didn't they pay any attention in history class?? What am I missing here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe MIUI is also a viable option for this, no? You can set app permission on a "per-app" basis with MIUI security I believe.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
I tried this app a while back and it basically does what you want but it got annoying https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite
I don't use these because I am very selective about what goes on my phone.
Thanks Luke!
Not very familiar with MIUI ROM's will have to look into them.
someguyatx said:
I tried this app a while back and it basically does what you want but it got annoying https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite
I don't use these because I am very selective about what goes on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is the app I listed above - just had the initials wrong! :silly: It is a lot like pdroid but, like you, it scares me.
I have my own small business and run most of it from my phone, in the beginning I used the standard flip phone then graduated on to a touch pro 2 with Windows Mobile 6.5 as I began to accumulate massive amounts of data on my Windows Mobile phone, for some reason I still felt secure in the applications like ActiveSync that I was in control of my data.... A year ago last October I upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy s2.. this was my first real experience with Google's Android operating system. in the first few minutes of using the new phone I could see how deeply the hooks were being placed to data mine my information. I resisted at first but then came to realize if I wanted all the bells and whistles Google was offering I had to play the game... I use the security program mentioned above... maybe they should have an app were you sign a consent of exactly which data you would like to keep on your phone and not share with other people. then when you visit the play store apps that request more of your private data than you're willing to share won't show up? I would like to have an open sourced built firewall that monitors traffic, letting me choose the permissions per app as I see fit.
Mrktmind said:
Thanks Luke!
Not very familiar with MIUI ROM's will have to look into them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've ran both Adhvanlt's and Lens's JB MIUI Roms, and they're both amazing! The standard MIUI launcher feels a bit like the iphone, and there is no app drawer, but that's easily fixed by downloading [insert favorite launcher here] if you don't care for it. There's hundreds of options for customization. They are literally the most customizable ROMs you'll ever run; All of this on top of the fact that it has the security features I believe you are after baked right in to it.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
Looked at two MIUI ROM's for the E4GT. Both of them have issues with Google Voice. I need Google Voice.
I am also going to try +AF (Droidwall fork) firewall tonight to see if it will work on FK23. It apparently has issues with some ICS/JB ROM's. That will at least give some protection from apps that don't need network access at all. But for apps that need network access to do their intended job it's useless. Just read last night that the developer has added profiles to +AF - that should be really cool.
I guess I'm spoiled a bit with Pdroid - it works so well and is very detailed.
Thanks for all the replies! Other suggestions, ideas, thoughts, opinions welcomed!
Mrktmind said:
I want to be able to granularly set the permissions for each app. From what I understand my options are:
Cyanogenmod - except CM10 for SGS2 is missing this at this time
Pdroid for GB
Pdroid 2.0 - running CM10 only
LBE (from China)
I have had Pdroid 2.0 running on CM10 for a few weeks but CM10 isn't stable - just had it auto-reboot in the middle of a call. Does anybody have any other ideas / suggestions?
On a related note - I'm wondering why it seems that most people aren't bothered with apps monitoring their use and even more important archiving all the data compiled on them?? The only thing that I can think of is that most cell phone / XDA users are really young and just don't know any better??? Didn't they pay any attention in history class?? What am I missing here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As an app developer, I can tell you that there are some shady apps, but if you download from good devs, the permissions are *usually* necessary. Here's some examples that people question the most:
Access to contacts... Assuming it's not a contact or sms app, if any app has a "share" feature needs this permission.
Access to sd card... Any app that saves anything or lets you change a background needs this.
Read phone state... So the app can properly call the "onpause" method when a call comes in.
Access to location... Assuming it's not a location app or game like ingress or zombies!Run!, you'll typically see this on free apps that have ads. Ads allow developers to get paid for their work while keeping the app free. They don't have access to the ad data, though. They just put in the api and the ad company handles the rest.
On top of that, large organizations will seek phone specific permissions like sim card numbers for analytics.
Google makes most of its money from ads, so it reads your usage to better target ads. Google also uses location data to improve location services like maps.
If you're worried about security, don't download a random app that only has 100+ downloads. If an app has 50000+ downloads, you can rest assured that it's already been vetted.
Also if you're downloading pirated apps, you're just a moron who is opening up his world to who knows who. Many (not all) pirated apps have added data mining code.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
I've recently released an app that uses Google's new multi-user accounts feature to share apps between the different users on your device (without each of them requiring a separate Google account).
It's called AppShare(+) and you can get it here (requires root):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spectrl.appshare
You can download apps on your main user account as usual, and then use AppShare to simply select which users you want to have access to the app.
This also works for "unsharing" (disabling) apps for users. For example, you could disable the Gmail, or Play Store apps for a 'Guest' user account.
As a bonus, you can also use the app to disable (but not uninstall) system or user apps on your main account, freeing up resources and potentially speeding up your device.
It was designed and optimised for tablets (tested on a Nexus 7), however it will also work on phones that have multi-user support enabled through a custom ROM.
Even though I am using the same method that the Android system uses to enable/disable apps, some system apps react in a weird way to being disabled and sometimes re-appear.
I have found that disabling certain system apps works best on a "fresh" account – i.e. A new user which hasn't had a Google account previously set up on it.
There are a couple more limitations, but I would suggest that you read the Play Store description for the full run down...
I have tested it as thoroughly as I can, but please let me know if you run into any problems.
I'd love to hear what you think and get some feedback.
Thanks!
I've been getting a fair amount of crash reports lately and it looks like the cause is a missing file related to Google's multi-user implementation which I assumed would be on everyone's device, in the same place.
It appears that it is not there on some devices, causing my app to crash, so I would really appreciate it if I could get a few people to check and confirm that they have the file /data/system/users/userlist.xml on their device?
You can check using any file explorer with root, or using the adb shell terminal if you know how!
Thanks for your help in making the app better.
I do have userlist.xml in that location; running 4.2.2, updated OTA from 4.2.1.
Currently using "Multi-User App Share" for this feature without problem, but I'll keep and eye on this project and see if it's worth the change.
Psoulocybe said:
I do have userlist.xml in that location; running 4.2.2, updated OTA from 4.2.1.
Currently using "Multi-User App Share" for this feature without problem, but I'll keep and eye on this project and see if it's worth the change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that.
My app seems to be working great for the majority of users (myself included) but there seems to be a handful of people running into problems because the app can't find that file...
I'm struggling to figure out why though?! The only explanation I've got so far is that they could be using custom ROMs which messes with multi-user in some way.
You should try out AppShare, its free so you've got nothing to lose!
G'Day,
To make a long story short.. I was wondering if there were applications that can actually seek out and tell you what permissions other applications that you installed on your phone are asking for, and then ask you if you would like to modify or deny certain permissions within that application you have on your phone? (I know Android tells you the permissions by default..lol)
I was reading on paranoid android how android works and how it all fits to different files .. with this in mind.. I also noticed that some applications you see posted on google play, seek extreme permissions.. (for example to be able to send text on your mobile ect.. or to find other known accounts on your phone)
This kind of thing concerns me as I dont like other information to be known to others ect. .specially if you use for phone for transactions like google play and email accounts.. Hence the question above.
If no one knows of any..an application that can change the permissions of an app without interfering with the normal running of a game or program on the phone, does anyone know of someone that might be willing to make something like that?..
What are your thoughts on that?
If you have the Xposed Framework installed, the Xprivacy module for said framework will tell you what you want -- every permission used by a given app -- and let you selectively disable those you don't want.
iCurmudgeon said:
If you have the Xposed Framework installed, the Xprivacy module for said framework will tell you what you want -- every permission used by a given app -- and let you selectively disable those you don't want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that, I am looking to Flash the galaxy s2 more so, to start learning more about smart phones.
The Jellybean 4.1.2 that i have on the S2 gets social hub errors and becomes unresponsive sometimes. so was looking at playing around with it and trying paranoid android or something else and then try that xposed framework..
Thanks again for that.. am looking into it. :good: