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[Q] Cross-tablet apks

Hi all...
I was wondering if and how could be possible to port apks built for one tablet to another of different brand, i.e. I liked a lot the email client of the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 (with multiple email selector and recycle bin emptying feature), but many others are worth a try...
When I try simply to push the email.apk to my Iconia, it won't work (the icon diasppears from apps), if I try to install it I obtain an error (app not installed) probably due to a signing mismatch... I'd like really to learn how to do this, if possible. This knowledge will complete and accomplish any further request about personalization of our tablets, could be a great improvement being capable to get out the "system" you really want...
I tried to figure out how to use apk manager, but it's quite really difficult without some good suggestion, the thread is more than 200 pages long, and I got stoned before simply find out any usefull info about "system apks"...
TIA

I would like to know also. I want the Facebook account integration from the Galaxy.

Some apps are license by that manufacurer and would be considered wares.its a gray area please be careful. And make sure the Dec of all apps you use get paid

simple answer
couple of APK for galaxy are using CORE framework of the galaxy tabs firmware itself
that will not be possible to just install those apk.
such as
touchwizUI
status bar overlay (I mean the minimode menu with quick access), the quick access settings...
Email and Social things
It's their "Marketing Strenght" so they didn't make it easy to be "stolen" by other brands
I run just the dual clock, the memo, and eReader from samsung but I am running a custom firmware so that change many things
At this moment only 1 custom firmware does use Samsung as base, Virtuous Galaxy... but I have to warn that using custom firmware without following backup steps strictly or knowing the consequence is to AVOID.

sanaell said:
...
At this moment only 1 custom firmware does use Samsung as base, Virtuous Galaxy... but I have to warn that using custom firmware without following backup steps strictly or knowing the consequence is to AVOID.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first of all, thanks for your answer, and your warn...
I'd like to go deep in the question, as you correctly affirmed, virtuous galaxy's based upon Unity v5 kernel, but virtuous picasso also lays on the same structure, doesn't it?
right now I'm running m-dj's picasso 1.1.0 rom, wouldn't be possible, with any required modification, to run elsewhere coming apks?
I mean, think about having two different pcs, both with the same hardware and the same linux distro and kernel, wouldn't seem wierd that on one pc you could run an application that won't run on the other?
I'm thinking, if they wanted to protect their components why they didn't simply wrote hardware oriented kernels? Therefore, its a fact that on my iconia I can run either a Samsung or an Asus based rom, according to this, where is the cross-platform limit? I mean, is there some sort of documentation defining which part of these Android system is "really" open, under GPL, GNU or whatever structured property info list? I can't find any browsing the net... or maybe I've found too much, its almost impossible to understand what you can and what you can't...

I do not know the whole answer to this question.but I do know this much.if you have any.apk application that is for sale on the market or was installed for free on any device that it was not pre installed on. I would thing it would be considered pirated. As you did not buy it.nor did the developer give permission to run the API on your device.thou some apostle you buy can be installed across the devices you have registered with Googler
if im wrong people please correct me.I just think that developers that fallow rules and write great software MUST BE PAID.

erica_renee said:
I do not know the whole answer to this question.but I do know this much.if you have any.apk application that is for sale on the market or was installed for free on any device that it was not pre installed on. I would thing it would be considered pirated. As you did not buy it.nor did the developer give permission to run the API on your device.thou some apostle you buy can be installed across the devices you have registered with Googler
if im wrong people please correct me.I just think that developers that fallow rules and write great software MUST BE PAID.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right and Wrong
if the application is a paid application and wasn't preinstalled on your tablet it is not really legal
if the application is free but cannot be installed from the market and you install it from other sources it's ok
if the application is from another tablet, and exclusively on this tablet do not expect run it on the stock firmware of your tablet, you have great chance to cannot run it simply, or get some random FC (such as from GALAXY because they use another structure on the file directory... so some application try to get the path and it's return an error, Or they are implemented and integrated with the kernel and that... you can't pass throught)
On my tablet I do run
ASUS widget
Galaxy widget (dual clock)
and some other application not from ACER.
now to get back to the OP
. you are on a virtuous... why not go on the virtuous Galaxy !!! if you want galaxy application... I don't get it...

sanaell said:
now to get back to the OP
. you are on a virtuous... why not go on the virtuous Galaxy !!! if you want galaxy application... I don't get it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree to this explanation of yours, when I flash a rom different from the original, aware that's coming from a different brand, I'm more or less conscious that I'm doing something wrong. mmmf... that's philosophy... won't lose your time
The point is, I've tried the Galaxy rom, I don't like the interface, I don't like the extra bar functionalities, in short I mostly appreciated the Email.apk, most of all because it has a convenient "select all" function, even in the recycler bin (I can't stand with an email client stupid like the one embedded in the Acer version). In any case, given the impossibility to get the Galaxy Email, I'll buy a new one on the market...

Why does Samsung remove features?

Okay so i noticed that Samsung has removed a few features such as: automatic time (using internet to adjust time), webpage view (switching between Android and desktop view but it's okay because I can change it using "about:debug"), and the labs feature in the web browser. Will any of these be availabe in the upcoming touchwiz update?

Interestingly, all 3 of these options are (still?) available on the 4G/LTE version from Verizon. I wonder if it they haven't been removed yet from the VZ version, or if they may be coming back to the Wifi version (or if this will always be a difference between them)?

Yes it will.
TouchWiz is a revolution in tablet computing. The features and experience completely blow away any other honeycomb tablet out there. There is no doubt samsung tablets are going to be a huge success and TouchWiz is going to play a major role.

Time sync
I read a post where someone said that the time update is from the cell towers, not the internet- so maybe it makes sense that it works on the vzw version but not the wifi version? Someone else might have more knowledge in this realm and tell us for sure? Also in the post I read, someone asked if there was an app that might sync with the net, but no one replied...

Calibob2001 said:
I read a post where someone said that the time update is from the cell towers, not the internet- so maybe it makes sense that it works on the vzw version but not the wifi version? Someone else might have more knowledge in this realm and tell us for sure? Also in the post I read, someone asked if there was an app that might sync with the net, but no one replied...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most Android devices can sync via NTP, which can sync over any data connection.
The LTE version does have the additional benefit of NITZ from the radio.

My guess on whether a OEM enables or disables OS features has to do with time to adequately test with their hardware. These non mainstream functions can be hidden and most wont miss them. They can then later enable via an update once they verify they function without breaking popular functions and apps.
I had the Asus Transformer which had all these functions enabled, including browser navigational thumb controls. But i noticed the keyboars lag and force closes / random kills to home screen compared to the Galaxy Tab. Now could be completely unrelated. But it does seem peculiar.
Just my $.02
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

Removing/disabling features of GS4 without rooting/flashing ROM

Hi all,
I am part of an IT Client team and we are trying to prep for the deployment of the GS4. The S3 is our current standard and was received pretty well, but some of the features are overwhelming to our sales force. Is there any way that we can disable some of these features perhaps even automatically via ADB and a USB cable?
Also, we are wanting to have our company app preinstalled. Currently it resides in the marketplace but apparently some of our sales force don't understand the Play Store and that they actually have to go find the app and install it. Is there a way to automatically sideload our app? We were also discussing a launcher like launcherpro with an xml file included that contains default locations for icons, data, etc.
Has anyone tried this before? Please advise with ideas/suggestions. We don't want to flash a ROM generated by our company because that would require too much overhead on our part to manage because thousands of phones need to me maintained. We also don't want to root the NatureUI/Touchwiz stock rom that comes with the S4.

metroidnemesis13 said:
Hi all,
I am part of an IT Client team and we are trying to prep for the deployment of the GS4. The S3 is our current standard and was received pretty well, but some of the features are overwhelming to our sales force. Is there any way that we can disable some of these features perhaps even automatically via ADB and a USB cable?
Also, we are wanting to have our company app preinstalled. Currently it resides in the marketplace but apparently some of our sales force don't understand the Play Store and that they actually have to go find the app and install it. Is there a way to automatically sideload our app? We were also discussing a launcher like launcherpro with an xml file included that contains default locations for icons, data, etc.
Has anyone tried this before? Please advise with ideas/suggestions. We don't want to flash a ROM generated by our company because that would require too much overhead on our part to manage because thousands of phones need to me maintained. We also don't want to root the NatureUI/Touchwiz stock rom that comes with the S4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite sure about disabling features on the stock ROM. I know there's an Easy mode that can be used for first time smartphone owners. As far as preloading your company app, you can write a script to do so. However, that requires you to manually enable developer mode and USB debugging on every single phone. I'm not sure how practical this is, considering you have so many phones. A better way might be to send a mass text message or email to each of the phones with the play store link to the app. Once again, considering the employees might be unfamiliar with the phone, a text would probably be the simple way to go. I would use side-loading as a way of installing your app in the event that someone had an issue with the text. I believe you'd run into the same issues with preinstalling LauncherPro and associated xml files. It doesn't seem there's a way you can properly deploy what you need to w/o going hands on on all units.

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Depending on what functionality you would like to disable, you can go to the App Manager heading in the Settings menu, and disable system apps you don't use. In terms of disabling parts of functionality in certain system apps, that probably wouldn't be possible on stock unrooted devices.

metroidnemesis13 said:
apparently some of our sales force don't understand the Play Store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...
I'm not sure how to solve your problem. I was going to say once you are willing to ADB and USB debug you might as well cook up the ROM the way you want it and blast it on with Odin.
However, one thing to be concerned about is the OTA software updates that you probably want your users to be able to receive. If you mod the stock software (either with ADB or a modded ROM) in such a way to make the phone status 'Custom' your users won't be able to get updates and bug fixes from Samsung.
I would just try to hold their hand through getting the app installed (ie. email them a link to it when they get a phone so all they have to do is tap the link and hit install) and leave the rest of the phone alone.

Enabling multi-user functionality?

So just got my hands on one of these. One thing I noticed/realized that would be a big deal for my intended usage is being able to enable multi-user functionality so each person that uses it can log in to their own profile.
So far on researching I have seen very little discussion on this matter. At best I see no option in the stock rom and no mentions in third party roms. If this is indeed available in third party roms I would not be averse to giving them a shot. I have also seen build.prop edits to enable that and they seem to be the same edit across devices so I'm assuming it is a standard android thing. I haven't had a chance yet to root my Player but is there a chance adding these build.prop options could also work on the stock rom?
Thoughts? Btw, I have already updated to Marshmallow however I did find a post around here that seems to indicate it is still relatively easy to root so once I get time today I am going to go down that route regardless.

I've seen a workaround that has you side-load gmail apk onto the nexus player, which in turn lets you add an account. Then, there are some apps that check for multiple accounts. Haven't tried yet, I think it might no longer work with YouTube like it used to.
Let's get this escalated to google - star this issue to get it some attention.
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=170121

I would really like some info on this! cr08 if you are going to mention builprop edits please at least consider linking the info you refer to haha thanks!

Where are "restricted profile" on my SM-T585

Hi guys,
Although I usually switch to a more vanilla experience on my devices, I'm testing a Galaxy Tab A for a work project I'm putting together. It's a clinical study and investigators will use tablets for data entry, so I need to make the tablet fool-proof and prevent most users from installing anything, browsing etc to preserve battery.
In Settings > Users, clicking "add user" only proposes to add a normal user, and not a restricted one. Did Samsung really ditch the "restricted profiles" from their rom ??? I hope it's just me and I'm missing an obvious place to look at. The tablet is running 6.0.1 MMB29K build.
Thanks !
edit: I just ran on this topic: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/47Qffy996As that states that Restricted Profiles are only available for "tablets". Since there's a 4G port on my tablet, is that it ?? That's just plain stupid ??