Develop Bugs

[DEV] HERO21 - Community release v1.8 (24-12-09)

We are not responsible of any damage of any sort, data loss, nuclear war or anything. Alway do a nandroid backup before updating
HERO21 Community (version 1.8) GSM
by Lox & Behnaam
Current release: 1.8 [Download]

The only reason I'm not using this rom is that no protected/paid apps show in the Market.
When I rolled back to a Modaco 3.0 for some reason (maybe Googles copy protection) I can not even use apps that I have paid for.
The only way I can see protected/paid apps in the Market is to change my Google account but then I would have to buy the apps again.
hope this gets sorted soon.

The Clock doesnt Work in this Version. Maybe its because I set the locate to German but no idea it just keeps crashing everytime.

I can see protected and paid apps by the looks of things.

ritdaw said:
I can see protected and paid apps by the looks of things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the BUG list it shows protected and paid apps missing from the market. BTW have you ever paid for an app? It seems that its only stopping peeps who have paid for apps.

I've paid for apps (Better keyboard and camera zoom pro), but paid apps (as well as ones I've bought before) still appear in the market

kwiksand said:
I've paid for apps (Better keyboard and camera zoom pro), but paid apps (as well as ones I've bought before) still appear in the market
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is with copy protected apps. Non-CPed paid apps will show up, but apps with copy protection is hidden due to some filtering sh*t in the Market.

raskall said:
The problem is with copy protected apps. Non-CPed paid apps will show up, but apps with copy protection is hidden due to some filtering sh*t in the Market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know of an app you can't find in the market and I will see whether its missing from mine.

ritdaw said:
Let me know of an app you can't find in the market and I will see whether its missing from mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GeOrg Geocaching organizer.

raskall said:
GeOrg Geocaching organizer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope can't see that, oh well!

ritdaw said:
Nope can't see that, oh well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's there in MoDaCo 2.9. So I guess we will have to wait for HTC to get copy protected apps.

lol needs login for download that's a pitty because that will stop me from trying it

jaapschaap said:
lol needs login for download that's a pitty because that will stop me from trying it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what if a fully working 2.1 shows up in that site which needs login? still wont u login to try it? LOL

jaapschaap said:
lol needs login for download that's a pitty because that will stop me from trying it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you'll find that most of the Hero developers (modaco, lox, benhaaam, tekno) are only releasing to other sites now (htcpedia, modaco, etc), what you're seeing on xda-dev is mostly second hand information, and when the information finally does get here it relies on a back link back to these forums for a download.

what if a fully working 2.1 shows up in that site which needs login? still wont u login to try it? LOL
Pretty simpel, i just won't register, i try several ROMS if i had to register for every dev that brings out a ROM (when i was on G1) i think my fingers would die of typing the same over and over If there is a fully working ROM then i will wait till someone uploads it or an other dev who doesn't upload in a registered area and maybe customize it al little
For now only 2/3 things won't work @ the ROM i'm right now, i think it will work fully in this month
A lox al respect for you and deving it's just a fact that i don't like to register to every forum on the planted to get what i want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

jaapschaap said:
what if a fully working 2.1 shows up in that site which needs login? still wont u login to try it? LOL
Pretty simpel, i just won't register, i try several ROMS if i had to register for every dev that brings out a ROM (when i was on G1) i think my fingers would die of typing the same over and over If there is a fully working ROM then i will wait till someone uploads it or an other dev who doesn't upload in a registered area and maybe customize it al little
For now only 2/3 things won't work @ the ROM i'm right now, i think it will work fully in this month
A lox al respect for you and deving it's just a fact that i don't like to register to every forum on the planted to get what i want
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah now i understand. it actually depends how crazy you are about it. like me..i cant wait 1 minute after a rom gets released to try it. and a friend of mine actually doesnt even bother to come to xda. if i flash him a rom myself he will use it or otherwise he wont bother.
just personal choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Any fix for the protected apps bug yet? Does everyone who has used Android 2.x loose protected apps?

robboy said:
Any fix for the protected apps bug yet? Does everyone who has used Android 2.x loose protected apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not a bug. Google is filtering the out from Custom ROMs. Read about it here:
http://android.ranitos.de/2009/12/05/milestones-and-google-market-woes/

robboy said:
The only reason I'm not using this rom is that no protected/paid apps show in the Market.
When I rolled back to a Modaco 3.0 for some reason (maybe Googles copy protection) I can not even use apps that I have paid for.
The only way I can see protected/paid apps in the Market is to change my Google account but then I would have to buy the apps again.
hope this gets sorted soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had exactly the same problem coming back to Modaco 3.0 Rom from Lox 2.1 Rom. I found that a reinstall of the rom and a wipe along with Market Enabler allowed me to download my paid apps once again.
EDIT: Market Enabler itself might solve the problem

burgess_boy said:
Had exactly the same problem coming back to Modaco 3.0 Rom from Lox 2.1 Rom. I found that a reinstall of the rom and a wipe along with Market Enabler allowed me to download my paid apps once again.
EDIT: Market Enabler itself might solve the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Market enabler + what country do you have?

Market 3.1.5

This is the new Market upgrade. Speed has been very much improved. 3.1.3 was slow.
But 3.1.5 has improved on speed.
Download link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1272152
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

I like the new market, but it can be slow to load and updates often get stuck on the loading screen which sucks. Grey loading screens also have a yellow tint on my device. A work in progress I think.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I was having some problems with downloads on the new Market but luckily it has been resolved.
I have to agree the interface is quite smoother now.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

The new market is fast, but search is crap. It rarely shows anything.
Update: Search is working fine now

marcadam said:
I like the new market, but it can be slow to load and updates often get stuck on the loading screen which sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on newest version, but updates often get stuck here too.
Have to use FastBoot and then problem always is solved ...
Do we have to wait for new (non beta) version or did you find a solution?

When I use the new market, apps are missing from the installed list.
Eg, Facebook is not listed even though i have it installed, when I search for it, it says installed.
Also it thinks Maps isn't installed....

psp888 said:
When I use the new market, apps are missing from the installed list.
Eg, Facebook is not listed even though i have it installed, when I search for it, it says installed.
Also it thinks Maps isn't installed....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Delete data and cache and all apps installed from the market will appear in the list. I also do the same when my apps list loads forever and hangs, after that it's faster for some time. This new market is kinda poorly optimized, hope they release a new version to be as fast as the old skool market.

In my opinion the android market app sucks in any of his versions and with any rom, stock or mod.
It's often slow, sometimes i see an update available for an app but when i click on it there is no update button. When perform a search 80% times it find only porno-nudegirls-related things, and also not so related...
I think google really should have to put a lot more attention and start developing an app that is fast and functional and not the crap we have now... And maybe have more respect for all the serious developers here who post their applications in the market and see theirs accounts gone for no reason as appened to Leo...
Sent from my Gingabishonen I9100

gotetrunks said:
In my opinion the android market app sucks in any of his versions and with any rom, stock or mod.
It's often slow, sometimes i see an update available for an app but when i click on it there is no update button. When perform a search 80% times it find only porno-nudegirls-related things, and also not so related...
I think google really should have to put a lot more attention and start developing an app that is fast and functional and not the crap we have now... And maybe have more respect for all the serious developers here who post their applications in the market and see theirs accounts gone for no reason as appened to Leo...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to work perfectly for the majority of people. I suggest you may have issues with your device if you find it slow. Also, if you keep finding "porno-nudegirls-related things" then I suggest you stop searching for them
In summary, it works perfectly for me. My only beef would be that it just doesn't have a download button, rather than telling you an app is not compatible.
Also, the Honeycomb Market is sooooo much better, so ICS will clearly have a better version as well.

Wow amazing. It's blazing fast. Worth a shot.

I also got the problem that installed apps are missing in the market(Facebook too and about 20 others). Tried clearing data and cache + reboot didnt help.
Has anyone a clue how it can be solved?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Search bug
when i for example search for "weather" in Market it writes .>> Number of results: 2040 but the list only contains 20 items and there is no possibility to see the rest ...any idea ? fix ?

chiirz said:
I also got the problem that installed apps are missing in the market(Facebook too and about 20 others). Tried clearing data and cache + reboot didnt help.
Has anyone a clue how it can be solved?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Market Doctor in Titanium Backup fixes that.

I have already 3.1.5

Ty, but market dr. didnt help because he doesnt recognise the links as missing, also most apps in the market are telling me that my phone is not compatible - my guess is that the market also thinks that my installed apps are not compatible and therefor not shown..
Can anyone help? I have no clue what to do.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

johncmolyneux said:
Seems to work perfectly for the majority of people. I suggest you may have issues with your device if you find it slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe we have different idea of what is fast

gotetrunks said:
In my opinion the android market app sucks in any of his versions and with any rom, stock or mod.
It's often slow, sometimes i see an update available for an app but when i click on it there is no update button. When perform a search 80% times it find only porno-nudegirls-related things, and also not so related...
I think google really should have to put a lot more attention and start developing an app that is fast and functional and not the crap we have now... And maybe have more respect for all the serious developers here who post their applications in the market and see theirs accounts gone for no reason as appened to Leo...
Sent from my Gingabishonen I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes ... it's often slow.
Yes ... often there is an update available for an app but when i click on it there is no update button
And nearly every time there actually is an update button present ... update will hang due to some kind of connection error (never start downloading app)
Removing new Market update or (fast) rebooting phone solves this problem until new Market update re-install itself again.
My phone NOT faulty ... new Market or maybe something behind the walls of Goggle is buggy ...
Anybody found a prober solution working on not rooted phone

Hating the new search, If say, 5000 results are found, it'l only show about 200-300, wtf?

Does anyone have the Google Maps .apk from BEFORE they updated the layout?

The new Maps is very buggy and missing a lot of features i use. (not talkin about Latitude. i don't use that)
edit:
Maps (old layout) 6.14.4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/pjsv96

Lieu10ant said:
The new Maps is very buggy and missing a lot of features i use. (not talkin about Latitude. i don't use that)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont have it off hand, but just download any rom older than a few weeks and extract it from system/app. Just make sure the play store isnt set to auto update your apps though

i've been running liquid smooth and it didn't come with maps apk in the rom, I had always downloaded it from the play store...
I would really like the apk for maps as well

Go to team blackout's website. They have an inverted version.
[email protected]'$ [email protected]@XY

Or just Google "Google maps apk" I'm sure an older version will show up.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Is the new one THAT bad? What do y'all think?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using xda premium

I've got a pretty recent one. I'll try to remember to post it when I get home.
A lot of people have had several issues with this latest update. Google was forced to revert at least one change within a couple days of its release.
Sent from my SGH-T999V using xda premium

Maps 6.14.3
Here you go. Google Maps 6.14.3. Pulled from the latest T999V update released a week or so ago. Extract it first!

Lieu10ant said:
The new Maps is very buggy and missing a lot of features i use. (not talkin about Latitude. i don't use that)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree bro..
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Just go in to settings> application manager> all tab> Google maps then uninstall update
So simple...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

yeah. that option isn't available on my phone.
my sister hated the new update, but the "uninstall updates" WAS available on her phone. wonder why it's not avail on my phone.
but anyways, thank you SO MUCH for the link!
most roms don't come with google based apps, they all use the "gapps"

Edit: found a newer version. i think this was the most recent version before the new layout
6.14.4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/pjsv96
oh how beautiful the UI looks. thank god i have it back.

Fyi guys, someone around here said google released another update that fixed a lot of issues people had. Cant remember who or where, but figured I'd mention it.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

I uninstalled it completely ..and refused the update. The new update was very buggy and seem to constantly send data back . But just the fact that a force feed us this version pissed me off . One of there main things Google did was removing Latitude (as of Aug. 1st ) . Which I used a lot to keep track of my kids and family, the technology is still there but can only be used on Google Hangout (very buggy). But who really knows why it is they do this things like this...Just buggy.

I have just reverted it on the desktop as well, such a relieve to have the old stuff back.... at least while they let us.
I came looking here to revert the phone apk (blackout is the easy way and awesome). Google messed up sooo bad on this one. Like I search for a chain, and it shows me them one at a time with me having to swipe through them (in seemingly random order as some are up to 40mi away sandwiched in between others that are 2-4mi away, and the one that is only 0.7mi away is 10 swipes away). The old maps just shows you a map with YOU in the center and pins for the 10 results closest to you. When I am "on-the-go" why would I want to instead have the map of the first result you choose at random, which may or may not include my location, and then have to swipe through results while I mentally figure out where each one is in relation to me??? It is just ludicrous! The new maps may be great for casual browsing at home, but I use maps for location-based productivity, there are plenty of other apps for Where should I go / eat / buy. Make the new Maps for tablets and leave my phone and desktop Maps alone (or make them more productive, not less!!!)
Other examples of failure:
- I tell it to navigate somewhere and it shows me a full screen route-list, even if there is only one. Then, after I select that route I want, it shows me that route and I have to click Go before the navigation actually begins. The old version: I instantly get navigation and can choose alternate routes if I want. The new version is dangerous to use while driving. The old one is 100% hands free. WTF Google?
- You used to be able to use Google Now to say "Map of ..." or "Navigate to ..." which does not work correctly anymore.

Have you reported all of this to google?
Sent from my SGH-T999L using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

DocHoliday77 said:
Have you reported all of this to google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, through multiple different PCs/Apps. I just did a survey they sent to me for switching from New to Old on Desktop.

Cool, hopefully enough people will complain and they will fix it.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

DocHoliday77 said:
Cool, hopefully enough people will complain and they will fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to see that, but I doubt it. Likely they'll look at us and ask why we havn't updated our phones.
Really wanted to thank the folks on here who pulled the APK, Maps 7 just doesn't work at all on my EVO 3D, it flickers, the prompts are scrambled, it can only function in landscape mode... this is on top of the, slower, feature hidden, beauty update nonsense. So thanks again.
Dogan
I've played beta games with less bugs than this ****e.

I have the old Maps, and I've tried multiple copies of Google Now, but still when I say "Navigate to Target" it shows me Google results for that search instead of opening Navigation and auto routing to the nearest Target.
I really, really miss "Map of [...]" and "Navigate to [...]". I want to be able to do this from google now which is always one button away, not have to open the map program first, click search, then click mic, then say "Target", then click the nearest one, then click navigate. (at least it is not 4 more steps anymore like it was with the new maps)
Please, can someone figure out how to get this simple command working as it used to?
-------------------
Edit: Nevermind I guess... mine just started working again. I complained here and in one other thread, then I tried "Navigate to Texas" as I was going to post a screen shot of how that same search that worked for another didn't work for me, and to my surprise it worked. Now it is working every time just how it used to. Very strange. I swear it was not working for me from like 2 months ago until 30min ago. I'm just glad it is back.

[Q] Any way to "OK, Google" from any screen but Google Now?

I don't get the point of having the "OK, Google" if I can't use it on any screen except when I actually open Google Now. I was hugely let down by the lack of "always listening" but what is the point of having this if I need to open up a specific program just to set an alarm with my voice?
How do I "OK, Google. Set an alarm for 30 minutes" without actually opening up the god damn Google Now?
I am so disappointed in this lack of feature or my lack of knowledge.

Purchase a Moto X if you want always listening.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

jmill75 said:
Purchase a Moto X of you want always listening.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, for being a great help and an asset to the community.
I am asking about how to get Google to use voice recognition without actually opening up the program and wasting time..
But thanks again............

murf43143 said:
I don't get the point of having the "OK, Google" if I can't use it on any screen except when I actually open Google Now. I was hugely let down by the lack of "always listening" but what is the point of having this if I need to open up a specific program just to set an alarm with my voice?
How do I "OK, Google. Set an alarm for 30 minutes" without actually opening up the god damn Google Now?
I am so disappointed in this lack of feature or my lack of knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't really know how to do it on sense, but you can install the Google Now Launcher.

murf43143 said:
Thanks, for being a great help and an asset to the community.
I am asking about how to get Google to use voice recognition without actually opening up the program and wasting time..
But thanks again............
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey smurf..... That is a feature of the X...... Not the One.
And your welcome.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

xReaper7x said:
Don't really know how to do it on sense, but you can install the Google Now Launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not able to do it.
"This app is incompatible with all of your devices." on the web play store, and the Google Now Launcher doesn't even show up in the play store on the phone.

jmill75 said:
Hey smurf..... That is a feature of the X...... Not the One.
And your welcome.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also a feature on the Nexus 5....(not talking about always listening but how to access Google Now from a home screen) but thanks again for being whatever it is that makes you feel like you need to be a ****.

murf43143 said:
Also a feature on the Nexus 5....(not talking about always listening but how to access Google Now from a home screen) but thanks again for being whatever it is that makes you feel like you need to be a ****.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro you lost me when you started talking about "god damn google now"...is it really that serious of an issue to bring your lord and savior into it. So I figured I would really get you riled up Smurphy And it worked lol.
Anyway see my thanks meter compared to yours before you bash for not helping the XDA community. Bye now....

Anyways, I had to put that guy above on the ignore list for both wasting this threads time and just being rude.
If you hold the home button, then swipe up it launches Google Now, so that will be how I access it until active listening from the home screen when the phone is on is one day enable or someone does an extension.
Thanks to anyone but the guy I had to block.

murf43143 said:
Not able to do it.
"This app is incompatible with all of your devices." on the web play store, and the Google Now Launcher doesn't even show up in the play store on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do a google search for the apk. You should be able to side load it.
You can then use ok google on the home screens, but still nowhere else.

You can download the Google now Launcher (googlehome.apk) from numerous threads here on xda, any gapps zip download for aosp, and many places on the internet. That's the only way to do it and you won't get BlinkFeed either :/ otherwise gotta deal with the home buttoness
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

HolyAngel said:
You can download the Google now Launcher (googlehome.apk) from numerous threads here on xda, any gapps zip download for aosp, and many places on the internet. That's the only way to do it and you won't get BlinkFeed either :/ otherwise gotta deal with the home buttoness
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you both kindly! I may do that if I find the "hold home, swipe up" can be improved upon.
Have a great day, and if I do side load it and test it I will replay back and edit my original post to include that and state how it works.

murf43143 said:
I don't get the point of having the "OK, Google" if I can't use it on any screen except when I actually open Google Now. I was hugely let down by the lack of "always listening" but what is the point of having this if I need to open up a specific program just to set an alarm with my voice?
How do I "OK, Google. Set an alarm for 30 minutes" without actually opening up the god damn Google Now?
I am so disappointed in this lack of feature or my lack of knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an application called open mic +. It is still in beta I think but it works amazingly. Check it out.
Edit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.RSen.OpenMic.Pheonix
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

As far as I'm aware, it could only be done with certain apps (like the mic+ app linked in the above post) or from installing the Google Now launcher. That means you won't be able to run Sense though so if you really want to carry on using Sense you'll need to use one of the aforementioned apps instead.
It's a shame that HTC didn't implement such a feature to be honest, especially considering they made it possible to use Ok Google commands once on the Google Now app. I guess it's officially limited to certain Nexus devices though.
Sent from my HTC One or Note 3 via XDA Premium 4

ayo234 said:
There is an application called open mic +. It is still in beta I think but it works amazingly. Check it out.
Edit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.RSen.OpenMic.Pheonix
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for this. I tried installing it and messing with it in many ways, but it only recognizes my "Okay, Google" about 10% of the time (I tried both engines) and even when it does recognize my "Okay, Google" from a home screen it takes about 5-10 seconds for it to launch, thus by the time it launches I have either thought it failed since it took so long or I said "Okay, Google" 3 times already by the time it launches.
Thank you anyways, it just doesn’t work well with this phone maybe. Pretty disappointing since the processor it has is able to do always listening or at least home screen listening.

xposed module
Not sure if you have root, but there is an xposed module for this. just search "ok google" in the xposed app and you'll find it.

Pure+ said:
Not sure if you have root, but there is an xposed module for this. just search "ok google" in the xposed app and you'll find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or simply use Nova Launcher which has added the ability to use "Ok Google" from any home screens in the latest update.

Ruxin said:
Or simply use Nova Launcher which has added the ability to use "Ok Google" from any home screens in the latest update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or some people actually like sense and don't want to cover it up. Thanks anyway
Sent from my vR:M8

How to go GApps-less with this ROM?

Long story short, Google's blocked in China and my dad will be commuting back and forth to and fro from there, so he just wants to be able to use OOS but without GApps, like in China. Searched but couldn't really see any OOS-based ROMs that supported going GApps-less. Help?

I think I am missing the problem? If Google is blocked in China that just means he needs to sideboard his apps while he is there or wait till he is home to install. Why would you not install them? It's not like the phone won't work if Google services get blocked. Just use different search engines and/or browser and you should be fine.

xDark_ said:
Long story short, Google's blocked in China and my dad will be commuting back and forth to and fro from there, so he just wants to be able to use OOS but without GApps, like in China. Searched but couldn't really see any OOS-based ROMs that supported going GApps-less. Help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant you use a vpn in china to use google?
Sent from my OnePlus3 using XDA Labs

bonham1988 said:
Cant you use a vpn in china to use google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't want to pay for one and it's annoying , plus he doesn't use Google Services a lot so what's the point of keeping the bloat
Sent from my Samsung SM-G930T using XDA Labs

Sowdiyeah said:
I think I am missing the problem? If Google is blocked in China that just means he needs to sideboard his apps while he is there or wait till he is home to install. Why would you not install them? It's not like the phone won't work if Google services get blocked. Just use different search engines and/or browser and you should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's travelling back and forth a lot. And sideload apps do work, but **** like backup and the stuff that happen in the background won't work. Plus he just doesn't want the bloat or battery drain of GApps
Sent from my Samsung SM-G930T using XDA Labs

xDark_ said:
Don't want to pay for one and it's annoying , plus he doesn't use Google Services a lot so what's the point of keeping the bloat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're rooted you can uninstall them and if not just disable them from apps settings.
Sent from my OnePlus3 using XDA Labs

bonham1988 said:
If you're rooted you can uninstall them and if not just disable them from apps settings.
Sent from my OnePlus3 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't help with the background stuff. I've tried disabling it on his Note 3, and it resulted in a loop of "com.process.google.gapps has crashed" and I want to avoid that. And I might as well just go without if I'm going to disable it.

How about flashing the Chinese ROM (Hydrogen OS)? Surely that one won't contain any of the Google services/apps. I'm based in China and have gone google-less for quite some time (even in Europe actually, those services are a huge drain and alternatives are available). There's 2 ways to get apps on the phone without using Google's Play store, 1) install Xiaomi/Huawei/... app store or 2) use Raccoon (search on XDA) to download apps from GPS on your PC and then side-load them on the phone. An even better solution is to install Raccoon on a server, have a script download the latest versions once a week, have a script erase the older versions and share the apk's through Nextcloud/OwnCloud/... with your phone (grats you've got your own app store )