Database Users

Android Location Services on Custom ROM

Phone - Alcatel 918D rooted
Software - 2.3.5 running Custom Andread 3.2
Build is generally great and fixes the apps memory issue on the phone.
Main issue is that location services do not work at all well.
Gets a GPS lock when outdoors relatively quickly, but does not identify location when indoors (unlike the original ROM) and connected to WiFi.
Leads me to believe that the WiFi location services are not working properly....
Any tips on fixing this.
(I have tried downloading various GPS Fix apps form Google Play) and AGPS data, but I think the issue is deeper than this
I have found a thread about this but as a noobie I can't post there (as it is in a developers forum)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1730979&page=10
--
Other minor issues with this ROM:
Old version of Weather forecast that can't be updated due to certificate errors and doesn't work
The installed jigbrowser+ won't pass commands (eg. to download custom dictionary, or twitter auth to cheepcheep)

[Q] [REQ] App Ops (permission manager) from 4.3?

Hi,
I read about the new App Ops (hidden) feature in the stock 4.3 that Google recently released to their Nexus devices. With the S4 that we have, I suspect it will be a while before we get 4.3 from Samsung/Sprint.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...ager-control-permissions-for-individual-apps/
App Ops basically lets you selectively disable some permissions for your apps.
I know that XPrivacy does something very similar - maybe even better because instead of just denying that permission (that may cause the app to fail), it feeds dummy data (like dummy GPS coordinates, or empty contact list etc). Unfortunately for me, the XPosed Framework that is required to make XPrivacy work causes one particular app on my device (Q-see) to misbehave (screen doesn't render correctly), and I really need that to work.
Yes, I realize that it is probably a bug in the Q-see app, but I can't seem to get Q-see to fix it. (I did contribute to the XPrivacy developer regardless because it was a very impressive app)
Anyway, back to my request
Can a developer take a look at the 4.3 code and see if there is a way to extract the code for the App Ops functionality and build an apk (or a flashable mod) that will work on the stock rooted Sprint S4? (I really like some of the features that the stock ROM offers - else, I would have tried CM and used their privacy guard options instead)

[Q] Nexus 4 (or Android in general) Privacy from Google

Hi,
Is it possible to completely stop information leakage to google from my telephone, such as contacts or even aps purchased?

Oxy20 said:
Hi,
Is it possible to completely stop information leakage to google from my telephone, such as contacts or even aps purchased?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
some options:
work without google apps! most custom roms come without it! GApps package is a additional zip!
many custom roms included privacy manager from cm. you define what the app is allowed to. for example read contacts yes or no
In AOSP Android (I think since 4.3 or 4.2) is app ops included. It's like privacy manager with detailed options.
hope it hepls. What rom you are using?

carepack said:
some options:
work without google apps! most custom roms come without it! GApps package is a additional zip!
many custom roms included privacy manager from cm. you define what the app is allowed to. for example read contacts yes or no
In AOSP Android (I think since 4.3 or 4.2) is app ops included. It's like privacy manager with detailed options.
hope it hepls. What rom you are using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on 4.3 stock ROM. The phone is unlocked and rooted.
I tried CM Rom as part of 2 way call recording patch trial but had to revert back to ROM due to stability problems. But the problems were due to the trial nature of the patched ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=45730852&postcount=47 I tried rather then general CM problems. So I suppose could try a stable, up to date version of CM ROM.
I suppose without Google Play I can not have paid apps like skvalex call recorder? If I have to leak some info to Google can I ensure no call details, contacts, calendar etc are shared / backed up etc to Google?

Oxy20 said:
I am on 4.3 stock ROM. The phone is unlocked and rooted.
I tried CM Rom as part of 2 way call recording patch trial but had to revert back to ROM due to stability problems. But the problems were due to the trial nature of the patched ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=45730852&postcount=47 I tried rather then general CM problems. So I suppose could try a stable, up to date version of CM ROM.
I suppose without Google Play I can not have paid apps like skvalex call recorder? If I have to leak some info to Google can I ensure no call details, contacts, calendar etc are shared / backed up etc to Google?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try a look at here:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...ager-control-permissions-for-individual-apps/

Technically yes, but practically no. Even if you stop now, you probably have used Google services in the past and they already have those info. Even if you do not use Google apps, there are lots of way for your phone to connect to Google server (various core Google apks). Lots of apps and websites use Google Analytic as well, although that info is supposed to be anonymous, or apps that utilize Google services in some way or purchased apps that required verification. You basically have to micromanage the permission of every app and this isn't exactly easy and is time consuming, slips up are easy too.
My recommends are:
Most effective: Be lke Richard Stallman, stop using internet completely, except for devices that isn't your. Don't use telephone at all. Have no WiFi running in your house and remove your address from Google Maps, then move to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
Less effective: Don't use 'gapps' and Google apps at all. You can use Amazon AppStore to download apps. Or use Firefox OS or Ubuntu Touch instead.
Less effective alternative: Use permission management. There are many ways to do this. Android 4.3 have AppOps and there are shortcut apps to let you access to the hidden menu, however it's not very convenient to use. It's better to use CM or SlimRoms which in addition have the Privacy Guard toggle feature (Settings -> Security-> bottom of list). SlimRoms let you turn it on for installed apps by default. It blocks access to contacts and location. I'm not sure if it block network and phone IDs info though.
For more refined permission management, there is the Xposed Framework module called XPrivacy. It has a high learning curve and blocking the wrong permission will cripple your apps or make it not working. There is also LBE Security Master and OpenPDroid, but I much prefer XPrivacy.
You can also use AFwall+ which modify the Linux kernel's iptables to block internet connection, this is the most assured method to block internet connection access for apps imo.
If you still need to make use of Google apps or services, such as facelock and photosphere, but want to avoid installing 'Google services framework', you can use these gapps packages and not install the core package. Keep in mind, 'Google services framework' is important for connecting to Google server and without it some 'find your phone' apps won't work like Cerberus.
You can see if your phone is connected or syncing to Google server by the color of the WiFi icon color, gray means no, and blue means yes.

I have always wondered about why someone would buy a smartphone, Android or iOS and then worry about security? Why not just buy a simple TracPhone or something similar?
Not trying to knock on anyone, just wondering.
Sent from the Far Reaches Of The Earth!

[Q&A] [ROM][Mako][Lollipop][UNOFFICIAL] OmniROM 5.1 Nexus 4

Q&A for [ROM][Mako][Lollipop][UNOFFICIAL] OmniROM 5.1 Nexus 4
Some developers prefer that questions remain separate from their main development thread to help keep things organized. Placing your question within this thread will increase its chances of being answered by a member of the community or by the developer.
Before posting, please use the forum search and read through the discussion thread for [ROM][Mako][Lollipop][UNOFFICIAL] OmniROM 5.1 Nexus 4. If you can't find an answer, post it here, being sure to give as much information as possible (firmware version, steps to reproduce, logcat if available) so that you can get help.
Thanks for understanding and for helping to keep XDA neat and tidy!

Google Now in China
kldoc said:
I see in your nicknane that you are located in Shanghai. Google Now is not available in China. You need to trick the gps and the playstore into thinking you are in a supported location to enable Google Now launcher. I am in China myself, that's how i do to force enable Google Now.
If you need help regarding this, just tell me, i can't provide any link (market unlocker), but i can guide you through the procedure if you need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello!
Am living in China and I tried enabling Google Now but no luck so far with anything i tried.
Am not rooted, Nexus 5, Android 5.1.
Would you be able to help? Am thinking to get the Huawei Watch soon but am worried that it won't work properly if my phone doesn't have Google Now enabled.

EvilCuLT30 said:
hello!
Am living in China and I tried enabling Google Now but no luck so far with anything i tried.
Am not rooted, Nexus 5, Android 5.1.
Would you be able to help? Am thinking to get the Huawei Watch soon but am worried that it won't work properly if my phone doesn't have Google Now enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I have both, good and bad news. The good news is you can activate Google Now, the bad news are, it doesn't work without a vpn, it will only display schedule reminder's, custom reminders, weather cards, location reporting being unavailable in China, most cards aren't accessible. You should definitely NOT BUY a Google Now based smart watch if you live in China, it will be more or less useless ... Yes, looks appealing, but I renounced, until some chinese services actually clone Google Now WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUPPORTED, one can't use a smartwatch in China, not like we would do in any other country anyway.
IMPORTANT: You must root to be able to force Google Now activation.
you need this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lexa.fakegps&hl=en
you also need market unlocker, but I can't provide a link, a search on Google will solve this.
You also need a vpn link to a country that fully support Google Now.
First thing to do, switch the location mode to device mode only, since we're gonna fake our location, we only want GPS to report that location.
Then you need to switch to airplane mode, this in order to disable the country check from the phone operator sim card.
Activate your wifi, launch your vpn connection.
Launch the fake gps location, and set it to a supported country location (would be wise to chose the same location than the play store and the vpn connection)
Launch market unlocker to set Google play store on a supported country (this step wasn't needed before last Google service update).
Launch Google play store, to actually validate the new location.
Then go to Settings->Accounts->Google->Search->Account and Privacy
from there, click on Google account to actually logg off from it.
Clear data from google search, google play store, and google play services.
In theory, you're done, if the location if fully faked, logging in again into Search will set you to the supported location you chose, and let you enable Google Now. From there you actually can disable the gps fake location app and market unlocker, although those are very useful.
No idea how long this is going to work, the need to fake market location is actually recent, wasn't needed before.
On daily usage, i get the Google Now schedule cards, weather cards, some cards related to my personal search, and any card that isn't location based (sports competition results etc ...).

Google Now in China
kldoc you have provided detailed instructions which I will definitely try to follow - at least to honor the time you spent to reply me.
I will come back with any news - hopefully soon. :good:
PS. I could not quote your message in my reply as am new here and I cannot include links in my messages for now.

Notifications and Quick Setings problems
Hi there, and first of all many thanks for all the work you're putting into making Lollipop/Omnirom available on the Nexus 4.
I've had a slight issue with the ROM, and I'm not sure what information is relevant so I'll post what I know and you can let me know if there's anything else you need.
The problem is that I don't get any notifications in the notifications bar and I can't access the quick settings bar. Any ideas what might be causing this?
I installed the latest (18/04/15) version over the top of an Omnirom 4.4 installation. I haven't wiped data, because it didn't seem necessary according to your post. I can do a full wipe as a next step if necessary, but I'd obviously prefer not to!
I'm running Google Apps Minimal Edition (http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/gapps-google-apps-minimal-edition-t2943330/), which basically has just the play store and libraries. One of the reasons I use Omni is that I don't use google services (aside from to buy apps from the play store) and don't like to have all the extra stuff hanging around on my phone. I'd be willing to try a different minimal package if it is possible that this is the problem, but I'm not really very keen to install a full gapps package such as Banks.
Many thanks once more,
Dave
---------- Post added at 01:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------
davepwsmith said:
The problem is that I don't get any notifications in the notifications bar and I can't access the quick settings bar. Any ideas what might be causing this.
I'm running Google Apps Minimal Edition (http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/gapps-google-apps-minimal-edition-t2943330/), which basically has just the play store and libraries. One of the reasons I use Omni is that I don't use google services (aside from to buy apps from the play store) and don't like to have all the extra stuff hanging around on my phone. I'd be willing to try a different minimal package if it is possible that this is the problem, but I'm not really very keen to install a full gapps package such as Banks.
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ended up wiping /system, reflashing Omni and flashing a new build of the PA GAPPS. I guess you could flag the package I was using before as not working in your OP to avoid more questions about things that aren't due to your ROM!

Random reboots
I am experiencing random reboots up to various times a day and I don't have anything strange installed.

Excellent!!
I've been running this 5.1.1 build on my N4 since Saturday - because the stock 5.1 update DESTROYED my battery life. So far, this build has been rock solid stable, my battery life has returned to where it was under 5.0.2 (which was great), and I have found zero issues. Thanks for the EXCELLENT build!!

Hello folks, I want to apologize for not following this thread as I should have, thing is actually didn't have any notification about activity here, that's the reason why.
For those still on builds that were done before 5.1.1, I highly recommend you flash latest 5.1.1 build, I experienced the same issues with battery on builds prior 5.1.1, and so far, 5.1.1 seems to runs really well on Nexus 4. 02/05/2015 should be the build to flash.
I'm actually running mini gapps package from Slim, on which I add a google now launcher flashable zip (restrictions due to the country where I live makes it too complicated for me to install Google now from the store). I prefer having most apps updated from Google play store than through a flashable zip.
@julope334 I don't have those random reboots on latest build, but if you still get those reboots on latest build, please provide a logcat so I can see what is going on.

Anonymize your S10+

Hallo!
I've recently heard about ROMS,degoogling your Phone etc. and I bought this S10+ Phone. Is there a safe was to delete all bloatware,google Software and so on?
I've heard about GrapheneOS but unfortunately it's only for google devices so I was wondering what kind of solutions exist for this case. There are also phones with hardware kill switches but I'm a little bit skeptical about them.
Please tell me everything you know about this or the best pages to get an idea how to do so. I will be forever grateful
Science

This might help you:
Galaxy S10/S10+ Debloat / bloatware removal list
Please see my original post from the Galaxy S8 to see the XDA article on how to do this. https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/s8-debloat-bloatware-thread-t3669009 New phone, new list! I've compiled a list of most of the bloatware...
forum.xda-developers.com

I feel you. The only google crap I (want to) use is Gmail and occasionally gmaps.
Unfortunately all of Android is created to serve its master... how can you separate the two?
Lol, Apple?
Proof that unlimited power corrupts ultimately.

Thanks for your replys. I will try it out

I've been using this for 3 years.
Home - Package Disabler
The only NON-root solution that let’s you disable any unwanted packages that come pre-installed / installed with your phone / tablet.
www.packagedisabler.com
Karma Firewall (Playstore) stops the leaks and reduces battery drain by shutting Google, Samsung, etc up.

sciencebitches said:
Hallo!
I've recently heard about ROMS,degoogling your Phone etc. and I bought this S10+ Phone. Is there a safe was to delete all bloatware,google Software and so on?
I've heard about GrapheneOS but unfortunately it's only for google devices so I was wondering what kind of solutions exist for this case. There are also phones with hardware kill switches but I'm a little bit skeptical about them.
Please tell me everything you know about this or the best pages to get an idea how to do so. I will be forever grateful
Science
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your s10+ is using an exynos cpu you can install lineage os. Lineage won't work on the snapdragon variants

sciencebitches said:
Hallo!
I've recently heard about ROMS,degoogling your Phone etc. and I bought this S10+ Phone. Is there a safe was to delete all bloatware,google Software and so on?
I've heard about GrapheneOS but unfortunately it's only for google devices so I was wondering what kind of solutions exist for this case. There are also phones with hardware kill switches but I'm a little bit skeptical about them.
Please tell me everything you know about this or the best pages to get an idea how to do so. I will be forever grateful
Science
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there sciencebitches,
I realize your original post was from 2020 and its now March 2023 so maybe this is not something your interested in anymore... maybe you have a new phone, etc. But....
The Samsung phones that are sold in North America (either Canada or US) have locked bootloaders that cannot be unlocked. So you are stuck flashing Samsung firmware that is digitaly signed by Samsung.
However, if you get an international model then you can unlock the bootloader and load custom firmware. You have a couple of choices.
LineageOS​When loading LineageOS, you can choose to load it with or without GApps. Loading it with GApps gives you all the same Google stuff, a library known as Google Play Services, as on normal Android. Loading LineageOS without GApps gives you no Google stuff whatsoever. This is what I am running on my SM-G975F – LineageOS without GApps.
LineageOS for microG​This gives you LineageOS with a substitute library called MicroG. The MicroG library is a reimplementation of the Google Play Services that some (a lot?) of Android apps require. So, if you need to use some apps that require Google Play Services but don’t want to be overrun with Google again, then MicroG is recommended. With “pure LineageOS” (sans GApps) you get no Google Play Services whatsoever.
/e/OS​This is another implementation of LineageOS with MicroG. It is fairly polished but tries to look like iOS and so feels somewhat un-Android like. I have no first-hand experience with /e/OS.
GrapheneOS and Calyx OS​There is also GrapheneOS and Calyx OS but I have no experience with those either. My understanding is they are along the same lines. I think that GrapheneOS comes with no Google Play Services and no MicroG (i.e. like “pure” LineageOS) but gives you the option of installing real Google Play Services (not MicroG) as a normal app as opposed to as a system app.
If you live in Canada I can help you get an international phone that you can install LineageOS or one of the others listed here.
Best regards,
The Fish