Develop Bugs

[Q] Best Google Docs App?

What is the best google docs editing app in your opinions?
im currently using GDocs and it works good although i wish the UI was better.
any suggestions?

I know ThinkFree office supports google docs, never tried it.... you should check it out.

funkadesi said:
I know ThinkFree office supports google docs, never tried it.... you should check it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be nice to have a program that actually allows you to edit Google Docs from the site rather than download them, change stuff, and upload them, or worse like GDocs does, just links you to them and opens up your browser. I have bookmarks if I want links! Useless apps, seriously.
I don't know if ThinkFree office seamlessly integrates with Google Docs or not, but it would be nice.

Have you guys tried going to Google Docs on the phone's browser? They updated the site a few months ago to allow on-phone editing...

Documents to go is supposed to have excellent Google Docs support. I just can't bring myself to pay that much for it. Wish the trial supported it but that feature is locked. I don't need a full featured office app on my phone or I might consider purchasing.
Same thing with Quick Office, but I haven't heard if that one is good or not.
Google is well aware that we want an Android editor for Docs.
But until then I'm stuck using GDocs, which isn't very good, or stable.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

facebook with contact app problem

Hello
I want to synchronize my facebook contacts with my galaxy nexus contact app. So I go to "add an account" in the contact app, and "facebook", but nothing ... no window for add my acount appear, I return on the before window and I can't add my facebook account.
Have you an idea please ?
Thank's

Google disabled this option with a previous version of android. Other manufacturers such as HTC are allowed to add workarounds though which is why it will still works on their phones. There's several topics on this already. I agree though, it's a pain.
Rik.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Ive synced my pics with "SyncMyPix" which works ok (not very HD)
Will Google fix this? I mean they still got it in the option menu, doesnt seem like they stoped working on it?!

Oh yeah since Gingerbread on nexus s I think. But it's crazy because Facebook is a choice in "add an account" so ....
So, no alternative ?

I just used FriendCaster instead to sync Facebook with my contacts. It doesn't show their status updates in the People app, but the profile pictures work fine.

Agree
Yeah, I was confused and thought my GN was playing up when I clicked on facebook and nothing happened!
Google trying to force thier crappy google+ circle thing...
Friendcaster worked ok for me as an alternative but unfortunatly it adds ALLLLLL my firends, most of which I never would want to call

marc.tulley said:
Yeah, I was confused and thought my GN was playing up when I clicked on facebook and nothing happened!
Google trying to force thier crappy google+ circle thing...
Friendcaster worked ok for me as an alternative but unfortunatly it adds ALLLLLL my firends, most of which I never would want to call
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has nothing to do with Google. Facebook refuses to comply with Google's terms for portability of data. Google thinks you should be able to export your friends contact info. Facebook does not allow this.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

matt2053 said:
It has nothing to do with Google. Facebook refuses to comply with Google's terms for portability of data. Google thinks you should be able to export your friends contact info. Facebook does not allow this.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hilarious, given that FB doesn't seem to care about its users' privacy or handing out their info in anything else FB does.
But yeah, they're the problem. If you want to see it integrated, complain to Facebook, not Google.

So this issue is directly with the facebook .apk??? or is in the ROM we have in the galaxy Nexus??

I would think the ROM we have, as FaceBook isn't using the new API Google supplied from what I'm reading here.

So, when CM9 came out for our Nexus, with that ROM we should be fine? i think..
We need to find a solution for this, Friendcaster is crap and we should not need to use another app for this, it only consume more ram and battery...

rolear8 said:
We need to find a solution for this, Friendcaster is crap and we should not need to use another app for this, it only consume more ram and battery...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't understand this statement. It's not as if you are entitled for the data to sync. They haven't promised it to sync and it doesn't. Facebook data is Facebook data, if they don't want you to sync it with their app they don't have to.
It hasn't done it on android for a while, and it is hit and miss how well it does it on sense and other work arounds. Facebook can do what Facebook want to do at the end of the day.

GR36 said:
I really don't understand this statement. It's not as if you are entitled for the data to sync. They haven't promised it to sync and it doesn't. Facebook data is Facebook data, if they don't want you to sync it with their app they don't have to.
It hasn't done it on android for a while, and it is hit and miss how well it does it on sense and other work arounds. Facebook can do what Facebook want to do at the end of the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excuse me but, 1 week before i had a Motorola atrix until i lost it, and with the ROM it came i was able to sync all my contacts from Facebook, then i instaled CM7 and again i was able to sync everything from Facebook, this can be fixed to work in ICS or i hope will work in CM9.

Modaco ROM has fixed this, i will try it and i will let you know.

Android Without Google

There have been posts about this here and there, but most of them are just asking for advice on how to do it. I plan to follow through and document the solutions I find.
Why, you ask? I don't like Google having so much data on me. I used to not care but in today's environment with SOPA and new NSA data centers and whatnot, well... maybe I'm paranoid but I don't necessarily want anyone to so easily have such a complete profile of all my searches, contacts, location history, etc. Anyway, if you think it's dumb, ok, got it, move along please.
So if I don't like Google then why use Android? Well, a couple of reasons. First of all, Google is not Android. Android is maintained by the Android Open Source Project, which in turn is made up of members of the Open Handset Alliance. Yes, Google is the lead member of the Open Handset Alliance, and yes most of the developers working on the Android Open Source Project are Google employees. But I've been following Android for long enough now to know that Google and Android are for all practical purposes separate entities.
The second reason is because Android is simply the best mobile operating system on the planet right now, and it is free open-source software. I use Ubuntu on my laptop, and I'm not interested in switching to Windows or Mac, so that pretty much rules out iPhone or Windows Phone right there.
But isn't Android really Google's OS? Yes and No. As I mentioned, Google does pretty much run the AOSP, along with device manufacturers. But AOSP is very "provider agnostic." Much of what you see on your phone is not from AOSP. The Galaxy Nexus is a GOOGLE device, not an AOSP device. Gmail, Maps, Market, Location Tracking, etc are all GOOGLE ADDITIONS and are NOT a part of AOSP! When you build AOSP from source (or Cyanogenmod), you end up with an agnostic, neutral device that has practically no mention of anything Google whatsoever.
But what about what you DONT have in AOSP? No Market??? No Gmail??? How can you possibly use Android without these things? Well that is exactly what I intend to find out.
Please feel free to contribute to the discussion with ideas and questions. Hopefully this thread can eventually be helpful for someone else who comes along and wants to do something similar.
More posts to follow as I progress....
EDIT: I should add, I also will try to avoid other "free" services like Yahoo! and Hotmail-- basically anyone who wants to run bots through your mail to sell you ads or sell your data to others who want to sell you ads, etc. I will be trying to use open-source or for-pay services where possible (if it's "free" then YOU'RE the product!).

I commend your ambition, but this is nothing new. There are already non-Google Android handsets an tablets on the market. The Kindle Fire, for example, is non-Google.
You can do the same with a GNex. Just don't add a Google account or use a ROM without the gapps. Install the Amazon App Store, change your default search, and away you go.

please...stay safe

Personally the only Google apps I use are Gmail and the Play store, with an occasional use of maps and goggles.
Having a market is really just for convenience, you could install with APKs like on Windows you have to install from EXEs or MSIs. And if you're that against google you could just use the Amazon marketplace for stuff, though I've heard they take longer to receive updates.

In all honesty I don't know what to suggest except flashing 100% and not signing into Google services in any way or form. What you are asking is not possible unless you use apks from non market source and using Hotmail or something.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus expect possible typos.

If somebody figure out how to use Calendar, without creating google account for at least one time, or tell me the alternative calendar (not just widget) that will not sync with google, it would be nice. For example Smasung TW Launcher has it's own calendar, that you can choose, without google, but pure ICS does not have.
I have tryed many alternative, such as Jorte, Pocket Informant, etc, but they are far away from stock ...

I use:
1mobile.net
4shared.com (You also get 15gb cloud space free)
appbrain.com (get app from 4shared)

I absolutely love Google and all of their services. You're crazy! Good luck with it though.

Somebody needs to come out with a tinfoil hat edition ROM.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

sashavegas said:
If somebody figure out how to use Calendar, without creating google account for at least one time, or tell me the alternative calendar (not just widget) that will not sync with google, it would be nice. For example Smasung TW Launcher has it's own calendar, that you can choose, without google, but pure ICS does not have.
I have tryed many alternative, such as Jorte, Pocket Informant, etc, but they are far away from stock ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS is the point of the thread. Replacing Android Market with Amazon App Stores is completely simple and obvious. Getting contacts and calendar syncing, things like that are not so obvious. Mainly because I am not only going to avoid Google, but other services like Yahoo! or Hotmail, etc (anything that's "free" so they can monetize your data).

Stay off the grid bro
Sent from my francoPhone

ChongoDroid said:
Stay off the grid bro
Sent from my francoPhone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly! Lol.

Once you're connected to the internet, you're pretty much open to everyone... You can go offline if you don't want any of these... It's not only google... There's ways you can go anonymous like using proxy.... Using search engine that don't track search data... Google has an option for you to opt-in or opt out... Just like the previous responses, you can use amazon but don't think amazon doesn't track you also... How would they know what to recommend you... Google don't force users to stick only to them... And that's why I like google for this reason only...
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio

matt2053 said:
THIS is the point of the thread. Replacing Android Market with Amazon App Stores is completely simple and obvious. Getting contacts and calendar syncing, things like that are not so obvious. Mainly because I am not only going to avoid Google, but other services like Yahoo! or Hotmail, etc (anything that's "free" so they can monetize your data).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be some third party app that will do these things, well you use linux, you should know that there's a lot of alternatives... Try if the software you use in ubuntu are available for android
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio

Try this one, if you use thunderbird. Seems decent...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callicia.birdiesync
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio

AndroidNeophyte said:
Once you're connected to the internet, you're pretty much open to everyone... You can go offline if you don't want any of these... It's not only google... There's ways you can go anonymous like using proxy.... Using search engine that don't track search data... Google has an option for you to opt-in or opt out... Just like the previous responses, you can use amazon but don't think amazon doesn't track you also... How would they know what to recommend you... Google don't force users to stick only to them... And that's why I like google for this reason only...
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point isn't really to be 100% anonymous. That would require a dumbphone with prepaid sim or VPN/Proxy setups etc, and that's not what I'm look at. The point is to make an experiment and see how "non-Google" AOSP really is and how useful it is as a mobile OS on its own, without Google proprietary add-ons. Many people say you "have to have a Gmail account to use Android," or "you have to sync your contacts through Gmail" etc and I want to show people how they can do it without Google if they so choose.

AndroidNeophyte said:
Try this one, if you use thunderbird. Seems decent...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callicia.birdiesync
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I saw that one and I plan to try it out. I do use Thunderbird, thanks!

AOSP + open source Exchange alternative for syncing Calendar/Email/Contacts hosted on your own server (ie Zimbra)
Sideload all apps
Voila!

matt2053 said:
THIS is the point of the thread. Replacing Android Market with Amazon App Stores is completely simple and obvious. Getting contacts and calendar syncing, things like that are not so obvious. Mainly because I am not only going to avoid Google, but other services like Yahoo! or Hotmail, etc (anything that's "free" so they can monetize your data).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XDA monetizes your data. Every website does; that's how they pay for hosting and bandwidth.
Use a different calendar app and sync your contacts to Outlook, or just back them up somewhere.

Alright, but you should really start off removing the antenna from your smartphone. Then compile AOSP, don't flash GApps, sideload all APK files.
There, now you're off the grid. Enjoy boredom and next to no convenient functionality.

[Q] New Rom / missing features of basic apps

Hi!
I just installed the KITKANG rom (cf. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2549776) and a the first glance, it is pretty nice. But then I noticed a few things I really dislike such as
- The Web Browser does not reformat text (to make it fitting on the screen) if you zoom in manually by gesture. The browser I had on my previous image (caynogenmod 7) did this. And I don't want to miss that feature anymore.
- The contacts application seems to work by syncing contacts tothe Google cloud, only. My old contacts app had the choice to store contacts locally on the phone without Google sync.
I have no idea how to get this missing features back, again. Any comments / pointers?
I.

- Install another browser that has this feature
- The newer 'people' app may not have the option to store locally, but why do you want this? The whole point of an Android phone is to sync with your Google account.
It is dangerous to only store your contacts on the phone, because if you ever lose the phone, you lose all your contacts.
If you sync your contacts to your Google account and you lose your phone, your contacts are still safe :good:

eddiehk6 said:
- Install another browser that has this feature
- The newer 'people' app may not have the option to store locally, but why do you want this? The whole point of an Android phone is to sync with your Google account.
It is dangerous to only store your contacts on the phone, because if you ever lose the phone, you lose all your contacts.
If you sync your contacts to your Google account and you lose your phone, your contacts are still safe :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@ browser issue: I meanwhile learned that the issue cause by a change of the the rendering engine in Android to WebView. So, almost all browsers are affected by this. (For details, google "Text Reflow Removed From WebViews In KitKat, Probably Not Coming Back"). Opera is an exception, because it comes alone with its own machinery. However, I tried Opera and is is slow on my HTC Desire. As many, many other people complaining, I cannot understand why the Android development folks dropped such a fundamental feature. The Android Browser of Kitkat tends to be unusable now! And I consider a smartphone without a proper browser as unusable as well. Which at the end might prevent me from buying another Android smartphone...
@ contacts: I totally disagree. Well, yes, from Googles perspective, your statement might be true. But for the user, Android is at first just an operating system to run your smartphone. Think about why Google wants your data...! - I want to *own* my data, so I don't want to use cloud services. Strange that you think syncing of data is equivalent to syncing to Google! Of course I sync all my data. To my own PC. If I'd loose my phone, I won't loose my data, just re-install it to my new phone from my PC.
It is nice that Google offers syncing. But enforcing to sync *is* evil...

inmado said:
@ browser issue: I meanwhile learned that the issue cause by a change of the the rendering engine in Android to WebView. So, almost all browsers are affected by this. (For details, google "Text Reflow Removed From WebViews In KitKat, Probably Not Coming Back"). Opera is an exception, because it comes alone with its own machinery. However, I tried Opera and is is slow on my HTC Desire. As many, many other people complaining, I cannot understand why the Android development folks dropped such a fundamental feature. The Android Browser of Kitkat tends to be unusable now! And I consider a smartphone without a proper browser as unusable as well. Which at the end might prevent me from buying another Android smartphone...
@ contacts: I totally disagree. Well, yes, from Googles perspective, your statement might be true. But for the user, Android is at first just an operating system to run your smartphone. Think about why Google wants your data...! - I want to *own* my data, so I don't want to use cloud services. Strange that you think syncing of data is equivalent to syncing to Google! Of course I sync all my data. To my own PC. If I'd loose my phone, I won't loose my data, just re-install it to my new phone from my PC.
It is nice that Google offers syncing. But enforcing to sync *is* evil...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see this descending quickly into a rather philosophical debate, but on the basis of your reasoning I wonder whether an Android smartphone is suitable for your needs in the first place. I didn't know your stance on personal data from your first post.
I agree with the text reflow browser, a really useful feature. Opera has it like you found out, though the Desire is just an old phone now which struggles to run it. Plenty of newer Android devices will run it just fine. The depth of the Play Store is such that you'll almost certainly find an alternative suitable for your requirements, so perhaps test and consider that for future smartphone purchases.
As for syncing with cloud services, it comes down to user trust and needs I guess. You're right you don't have to use Google, but an Android smartphone really does work best if you use their services.
No, I don't think that syncing of all my data is equivalent to syncing to Google, I use other other accounts too and don't sync everything. In my opinion I think it's possible to find a reasonable middle ground between paranoid tin hat and being ignorant about all personal data. For me, I disable all location tracking stuff and usage stats for any apps (not just Google ones), as I don't need them and feel uncomfortable sending this data. But I do sync other google services like Gmail / contacts because I find they work and are convenient for me. You believe it's evil, I believe it's useful and convenient, just a difference of opinion.
For your workaround, if you don't want to sync contacts, you could disable contact sync within the settings. Would be equivalent to local storage. Or install a different contacts app to manage and store contacts locally.

To avoid this philosophical debate, I'll try give a short answer.
I am using Android for about 5 years now. Without using Google cloud services. And have been a happy Android user. Sounds quite funny to me if someone wonders if Android would be the right thing for me.
Using cloud services is not really a matter of trust. I.e. I am not afraid that Google looks into single items and makes use out of it. But if you have heard about "big data", you can imagine what the result can be when all the data of some many people gets available for ... things you cannot even imagine..
I tried to add a contact with Google sync switched off. It just don't work. The app hangs...

inmado said:
To avoid this philosophical debate, I'll try give a short answer.
I am using Android for about 5 years now. Without using Google cloud services. And have been a happy Android user. Sounds quite funny to me if someone wonders if Android would be the right thing for me.
Using cloud services is not really a matter of trust. I.e. I am not afraid that Google looks into single items and makes use out of it. But if you have heard about "big data", you can imagine what the result can be when all the data of some many people gets available for ... things you cannot even imagine..
I tried to add a contact with Google sync switched off. It just don't work. The app hangs...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're revealing more about your preferences and Android experience to date with each post...it's not just me wondering whether Android is right for you, in your second post you said so yourself
Anyway each to their own.
Have you tried installing a completely separate contacts/dialer application? You could sideload or use a different app store to find one. A few I know of:
- Contacts+
- Ex dialer
- RocketDial
- Go contacts ex
I'm certain at least one of them will be able to create phone contacts only.

Google fit on Tizen 4.0+

Dear Amazing Tizen Developers,
I have had a quick look on here and am very enthused to see projects for porting google propriatary apps onto the samsung galaxy watches. (For example the google assistant app project)
I have a samsung galaxy watch active and I would like to see google fit reading the sensor data from my watch.
My android phone has both google fit and samsung health installed, however google fit integrates with a large number of apps, whereas samsung health barely integrates with anything.
Therefore I would like data to be taken directly from my watch to google fit.
I cannot sync data from samsung health to google fit as the data is recorded as 'not originating from google fit' and therefore cannot be used by the integrated apps.
I do not require google fit to run fully on the watch, only for the API to be sent the watch steps (and preferably heart rate) sensor data.
Have any of you attempted a project of this nature? Would anybody be willing to give it a go?
I am very happy to test and promote heavily when complete as there are many people like me who need google fit data for reward based apps.
Thank you very much in advance,
Anya

Hey! Great idea. I wondered the same about Google Fit and searched around. I came across this app called Health Sync. I just installed today and trying it out.
The app is in the Google play store.
"Sync between Samsung Health, Google Fit, Fibit, Polar, Garmin, Health Mate
Sync your health data between Google Fit and Samsung Health, or with Fitbit, Garmin, Withings (Health Mate) or Polar. Every 10 minutes or just a few times per day, you choose how often."

johninsf said:
Hey! Great idea. I wondered the same about Google Fit and searched around. I came across this app called Health Sync. I just installed today and trying it out.
The app is in the Google play store.
"Sync between Samsung Health, Google Fit, Fibit, Polar, Garmin, Health Mate
Sync your health data between Google Fit and Samsung Health, or with Fitbit, Garmin, Withings (Health Mate) or Polar. Every 10 minutes or just a few times per day, you choose how often."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, thank you so much for replying and for giving this some thought. Unfortunately, HealthSync what what i was alluding to when I said we cannot sync data from samsung health across to google fit. This is because the data is marked as 'not originating from google fit'. Interestingly, this is exactly the same as other apps that send data to google fit, the data comes in with this mark and therefore cannot be used by apps that take data directly from google fit. (My example is the Vitality Insurance app, there's also a post on here which mentions the pokemon go app which does the same thing)
I don't know why they have this restriction, it's certainly very annoying because the HealthSync app is great and very reasonably priced.
Therefore we need something that hooks directly into the google fit API and sends the sensor data from the wearable directly into google fit, the app on the phone should then detect it as google fit activity data and allow it to be stored and transferred to other apps.
Looks like we really are looking at a development project.
Thanks for your interest anyway, hopefully we can find a resolution for this.

anyahope said:
Firstly, thank you so much for replying and for giving this some thought. Unfortunately, HealthSync what what i was alluding to when I said we cannot sync data from samsung health across to google fit. This is because the data is marked as 'not originating from google fit'. Interestingly, this is exactly the same as other apps that send data to google fit, the data comes in with this mark and therefore cannot be used by apps that take data directly from google fit. (My example is the Vitality Insurance app, there's also a post on here which mentions the pokemon go app which does the same thing)
I don't know why they have this restriction, it's certainly very annoying because the HealthSync app is great and very reasonably priced.
Therefore we need something that hooks directly into the google fit API and sends the sensor data from the wearable directly into google fit, the app on the phone should then detect it as google fit activity data and allow it to be stored and transferred to other apps.
Looks like we really are looking at a development project.
Thanks for your interest anyway, hopefully we can find a resolution for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want google fit support on reading data from galaxy watch, I think you should write the letter to google fit team for the support.

torickray said:
If you want google fit support on reading data from galaxy watch, I think you should write the letter to google fit team for the support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First place I went. The big companies - Google, Samsung - don't care. That's why I reached out to the developer community in the hope that someone else would find this need as well and who would have the knowledge and experience to have a go at solving it. I'm a developer myself, I'd love to work on this. But I only have experience in desktop development so would need a lot of help from someone experienced in mobile and wearables.

Any updates on this idea? Did anyone work on this?

aaseida said:
Any updates on this idea? Did anyone work on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody got back to me on it. I've not had any success with any route so far. It's definitely a challenging development project.
I know people would be happy to pay for the feature though if someone was willing to try it.

Try the Health Sync app again. There might have been updates which should work for you.
I use this app to send my Galaxy Watch workouts/steps to Google Fit, which in turn is picked up (from Google Fit) to a few other services (e.g. Oura Ring). I don't see the indicator suggesting the info did not start at Google Fit.
I've only used this app for 3 months but it's been exactly what I need. Hopefully, this will work w/ your Insurance app.

Turnilemikus said:
Try the Health Sync app again. There might have been updates which should work for you.
I use this app to send my Galaxy Watch workouts/steps to Google Fit, which in turn is picked up (from Google Fit) to a few other services (e.g. Oura Ring). I don't see the indicator suggesting the info did not start at Google Fit.
I've only used this app for 3 months but it's been exactly what I need. Hopefully, this will work w/ your Insurance app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the thought, I installed it and tried it again for a week, several days running I did more than the necessary number of steps to be picked up by my insurance app, and healthsync transferred them to google fit.
But as before, they did not come through into the insuarance app.
So healthsync has not had sufficient updates to make this work yet
Still looking for ways to get samsung watch to directly send steps information to google fit API.

Did you try emailing health sync developer to see if they would consider syncing with your insurance app? They do a few 3rd party syncing. Probably not a big market for your insurance app but maybe not that hard for them.