Develop Bugs

[Q] could someone explain systemui.apk?

So I've been cruisin' around the threads here and on rootzwiki looking to mod my newly rooted Gnex and I see most of the mods are using lingo I'm not familar with. Like systemui.apk dropping files here and there. I've used root explorer and I know how to mount r/w or whatever but I don't understand what to do and how to flash these mods. is there a tutorial somewhere?

First - an .apk file is just a compressed container that contains files just like a .zip file. In fact it is a zip file with certain Android specific folder structures, files, and "signatures".
Disclaimer - I don't mod or code on the Android platform and the following is based on my understanding of how Android works.
The SystemUI.apk is an Android system file that contains Android system ui code, layouts, and ui related content such as images and etc. What the modders have done is made changes to these code, layouts, and images to modify how the Andoid UI looks.
This SystemUI.apk file resides in a specific location on your phone. What most of the modders have done is made it easy for you and packaged this file into a zip file (which is usually what they give to you as a download) that you can flash via ClockworkMod recovery to automatically replace your stock SystemUI.apk copy with their modified copy.
If you are not familiar ClockworkMod recovery is the standard for flashing Mods, ROMs, and kernels onto your phone. Since you are rooted and want to tinker with your phone you should flash the CWM recovery to your phone if you haven't already. You can look up the many guides that show you how to do this.
To flash most of the mods you would download the .zip file to the internal storage on your phone. Then you would boot into CWM recovery (there are a couple of ways to do this - do a search) and choose the "Install zip from sdcard" and navigate to the file you downloaded. Flash the zip file and the mod should be installed for you.
Note: Many of the modders that make changes to the SystemUI.apk will have packaged this file into flashable zips. By flashing these zip files they overwrite the current SystemUI.apk on your phone. What this means is that if you flash a mod on top of another mod they will overwrite each other.

ok that clears some things up for me. I do have CWM flashed (currently sporting the touch version which is sweet by the way). So when a modder talks of the systemui.apk they are not asking for the user to do anything with the files, they are just explaing how the .zip file works? I guess I got confused because I thought that's what the modder was wanting me to do (change the Systemui.apk). I would simply flash the .zip then on reboot something crazy would happen like I'd lose my softkeys or the status bar would disappear. Thank God for Nandroid but after a while you get tired of trying to flash different mods because I have to go back and restore. I am currently running Android Revolution 2.1.2 but I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

automaddux said:
ok that clears some things up for me. I do have CWM flashed (currently sporting the touch version which is sweet by the way). So when a modder talks of the systemui.apk they are not asking for the user to do anything with the files, they are just explaing how the .zip file works? I guess I got confused because I thought that's what the modder was wanting me to do (change the Systemui.apk). I would simply flash the .zip then on reboot something crazy would happen like I'd lose my softkeys or the status bar would disappear. Thank God for Nandroid but after a while you get tired of trying to flash different mods because I have to go back and restore. I am currently running Android Revolution 2.1.2 but I don't know if that makes a difference or not.
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They probably want you to change the systemui.apk and then push it to your phone. If this is not done correctly your system ui will disappear. Happened to me when I was trying to mod my softkeys.

automaddux said:
ok that clears some things up for me. I do have CWM flashed (currently sporting the touch version which is sweet by the way). So when a modder talks of the systemui.apk they are not asking for the user to do anything with the files, they are just explaing how the .zip file works? I guess I got confused because I thought that's what the modder was wanting me to do (change the Systemui.apk). I would simply flash the .zip then on reboot something crazy would happen like I'd lose my softkeys or the status bar would disappear. Thank God for Nandroid but after a while you get tired of trying to flash different mods because I have to go back and restore. I am currently running Android Revolution 2.1.2 but I don't know if that makes a difference or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most modders will not ask you to modify the SystemUI.apk yourself. This requires knowledge of how to package and sign the apk so it will work with Android. Most likely if the modder gives you specific details about files in the SystemUI.apk package they are just distributing information about how the modification works.
The current rom you're on is 4.0.2. I suspect the mod you flash is only compatible with 4.0.3 (most people tinkering with their phones have flashed to 4.0.3 ROMs now) and that's what caused your issues.
You don't necessarily have to nandroid - although it is very good practice. Before you flash mods if you either know files are being flashed or use a zip utility (i highly recommend 7zip) to inspect the .zip file provided by the modder you can use Root Explorer or ADB to backup the files that will be replaced. This way it would be an easy restore if something screws up. Note that this isn't 100% bulletproof since it really depends on what the mod is and what it's changing in the Android system.

silow said:
Most modders will not ask you to modify the SystemUI.apk yourself. This requires knowledge of how to package and sign the apk so it will work with Android. Most likely if the modder gives you specific details about files in the SystemUI.apk package they are just distributing information about how the modification works.
The current rom you're on is 4.0.2. I suspect the mod you flash is only compatible with 4.0.3 (most people tinkering with their phones have flashed to 4.0.3 ROMs now) and that's what caused your issues.
You don't necessarily have to nandroid - although it is very good practice. Before you flash mods if you either know files are being flashed or use a zip utility (i highly recommend 7zip) to inspect the .zip file provided by the modder you can use Root Explorer or ADB to backup the files that will be replaced. This way it would be an easy restore if something screws up. Note that this isn't 100% bulletproof since it really depends on what the mod is and what it's changing in the Android system.
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Click to collapse
Well i guess im gonna hafta upgrade then wont I

[Q] Stock SystemUI

Can someone load up a stock GSM 4.0.4 systemUI? I put this mod on my phone last night that was suppose to ONLY be a battery percentage mod but ended up changing all my UI buttons. I hate it. And like a dumbass, I didn't backup before I flashed it.
So if anyone can upload a zip file of the stock 4.0.4 systemUI that I can apply via CWM would be great. ( I have the GSM nexus so I need the systemUI from it a verizon or sprint UI wont help me)
Thanks!

Hi,
Here it is:https://rapidshare.com/files/500812190/Stock_SystemUI.zip

Sweet! Thanks so much. I shouldn't need the systemui.odex file should I? If I do could you load that up for me as well?

Re,
Heu...You're on a stock rom rooted?Or a custom rom,which one?
Because,yes the SystemUI.apk I've posted is from a stock rom but deodexed...

Awesome. It works. I gave you some thanks.

Re,
Ah ok,good to hear!
I answered,but were answered at the same time ,but it works,so...

Im on stock rom. So it should have been an odex. But i flashed it in CWM and everything works fine. I had always though that if you flashed a deodex on an odex ROM it wouldnt boot, but it seems eveything is fine.

Re,
In case of issue,maybe test this:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1514576&highlight=odex...
Just for re-odex your SystemUI.apk?I've tested this on a deoxeded rom with no issue,but on also an odexed rom with just an app deodexed,I don't know...Backup before,if you want to test
I do not know if I was clear...?

Instead of trying to re-odex the file, why not just grab it directly from the stock image?
Download the factory images from here, extract the system.img from within, convert it to an .ext4.img by using this and then (for Windows users) use this to mount the .ext4.img and extract the file.
Know you've learned how to grab any file from the stock images in case you mess up any of your files...

[Q] settings.apk removed how to restore

i have arc s rooted official ICS 4.0.3 i deleted the settings.apk by mistake
after reboot i didn't find the settings icon i try to install settings.apk that i get from another ics rom but alway application not installed
please help

mo_3taz said:
i have arc s rooted official ICS 4.0.3 i deleted the settings.apk by mistake
after reboot i didn't find the settings icon i try to install settings.apk that i get from another ics rom but alway application not installed
please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
place the settings apk file in "/system/app/" using root explorer or any such thing.. but remember the settings apk file must be from the same rom
the enter recovery and wipe cache.. that would do the job..

thanks alot i backup the rom then flash new firmware take the settings.apk then restore & put the setting.apk clear cache install and it works fine

AOSP MMS on UVDLI8 leak

Anyone know how to replace the stock mms on UVDLI8 with the AOSP mms? I tried the following (and a couple different variants) steps:
1. Uninstall secmms.apk (both with TB and deleting the apk in system/app)
2. Reboot
3. Copy mms.apk to system/app and set permissions
4. Reboot into recovery
5. Wipe cache
6. Fix permissions
...but no go. I get sms to work but mms causes the phone to crash and reboot. This worked with the stock ICS rom, but not the JB leaks. I tried all this with the mms.apk files from both the CM10 and AOKP roms. Neither worked.

__McB__ said:
Anyone know how to replace the stock mms on UVDLI8 with the AOSP mms? I tried the following (and a couple different variants) steps:
1. Uninstall secmms.apk (both with TB and deleting the apk in system/app)
2. Reboot
3. Copy mms.apk to system/app and set permissions
4. Reboot into recovery
5. Wipe cache
6. Fix permissions
...but no go. I get sms to work but mms causes the phone to crash and reboot. This worked with the stock ICS rom, but not the JB leaks. I tried all this with the mms.apk files from both the CM10 and AOKP roms. Neither worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you rename it?

No. Left it named Mms.apk. That is what I did on the stock ICS rom and it worked fine. The only difference here is I am using a 4.1.1 version of the apk whereas with the stock ICS rom I used a 4.0.4 versions of the Mms.apk.

__McB__ said:
No. Left it named Mms.apk. That is what I did on the stock ICS rom and it worked fine. The only difference here is I am using a 4.1.1 version of the apk whereas with the stock ICS rom I used a 4.0.4 versions of the Mms.apk.
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Click to collapse
well the thing is that with the new li8 leak a lot of files changed trust me any little tweak that the system doesnt like it rejects completely, there fore reboots and vibrations or FC's. try the ics.apk if that doesnt work rename the jb.apk to secmms.apk

Thanks! I'll give it a try when I get back home in ~2 hours and let you know. Thanks again!

Well I couldn't get 4.1.1 working no matter how I tried to install it, but I did get 4.0.4 to work. 4.0.4 worked by installing it the same way I did in ICS (steps I outlined in OP). Confirmed I am able to send and receive MMS.
Not sure what differences there are between the two versions but all appears good for me. Thanks for your help and the 4.0.4 suggestion!

Need 4.2.2 apks (+VTS) Inhibitor

I accidentally wiped 4.2.2 apks contacts/dialer (non Samsung) for JB AOKP. Anybody willing to share these will be appreciated by me. And probably The King of Spain as welll)

magnusaaa said:
I accidentally wiped 4.2.2 apks contacts/dialer (non Samsung) for JB AOKP. Anybody willing to share these will be appreciated by me. And probably The King of Spain as welll)
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Click to collapse
Just reflash the zip without wiping anything, the easiest way, wont lose anything, might have to reflash gapps but also you have nothing to lose
OR go into the zip /system/app, should be one of those starting with contacts then just copy it to system/app then change permissions to rw-r--r--

AssToast said:
Just reflash the zip without wiping anything, the easiest way, wont lose anything, might have to reflash gapps but also you have nothing to lose
OR go into the zip /system/app, should be one of those starting with contacts then just copy it to system/app then change permissions to rw-r--r--
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right! I wonder what kept me from getting that idea bit anyways your suggestion is superb. Thanks a lot!!