text:
"[app name] appears to be infected. Immediate uninstallation is advised" pop-up on Huawei devices
I just got a pop-up on my phone, Huawei P30 lite running Emui 10.
It was approximately:

Asana appears to be infected. Immediate uninstallation is advised.

I do not use Asana currently so uninstalled to be safe, but it made me wonder:

Is there actually an infection?
Where does the message come from, I have never seen one like it
Where would I go to confirm the official message, I just went to the Asana main page and didn't notice anything unusual, but suppose these things may be placed in a corner somewhere

If someone has the exact message I can update the text for searchability, also I found some page where someone noticed the same thing today but without insights https://forum.asana.com/t/virus-warning-regarding-the-asana-app-on-my-huawei-smartphone/150361/1

I updated the message after doing quick research (btw, the screenshot on the Asana forum actually shows the exact message).

This is an alert pop-up from Avast Antivirus that is integrated on some Huawei/EMUI devices.
Regarding the actual infection, it's hard to say, but based on online reports about the pop-up, looks like most of them were false positive:

MIT App Inventor Help - Why My Compiled App With Trojan / App has virus (and its linked discussions)
PiunikaWeb - [Update: Lloyds Bank & others too] Halifax Bank app 'Security threat' pop-up issue on Android gets acknowledged (22 Jan 2022)
Monzo app “appears to be infected” (21 Jan 2022)
Reddit:

Security Threat, App appears to be infected (22 Jan 2022)
No, your phone does not have an infected app. It is a weird bug with Huawei devices going on right now. (22 Jan 2022)

Also on Reddit, there was a suggestion to update the virus database.

Open the "Optimizer" app, that should have shipped by default with any modern Huawei smartphone. Tap the gear icon in the top right corner to open the settings dialog.
The last option in that list is called "Online Virus Scan". If the last update was many days ago, you can manually update by tapping "Online Virus Scan" and selecting "WLAN only".

As to how to confirm the official message, unfortunately, Avast does not seem to provide any more detail other than only letting the user choose to ignore/uninstall the app.

One way is to contact them by any means, like public forums (preferable, so other users can give more input), or even call their customer support directly.

Another way is to cross-scan the app with multiple scanners (e.g. VirusTotal). One can retrieve the APK file by downloading it from reliable alternative sources (e.g. APKMirror), then uploading it there.
Here is the scan result for Asana 6.84.3 (20 Jan 2022).

Just saw this pop-up out of the blue for the first time, "Swift Backup appears to be infected. Immediate uninstallation is advised". I hadn't updated Swift Backup in months, so it seems that the antivirus signatures got updated very recently. BTW, I've been using this phone since 2019, and had no idea there was an "antivirus" bundled in EMUI.

Same story, "Google infected...", downgraded, full scan with free versions of Avira and AVG found nothing, updated Optimizer, update Google again, popup immediately back. Android 9.10, Huawei y6 2019.

me too just today


text:
How to screen mirror Android to non-smart TV?
I bought a USB C-HDMI cable to mirror my Samsung Galaxy M11 to my non-smart TV, but I get no signal. The TV has 3 HDMI ports and with every single one, I get no signal.
Is it a setting that I have to change on the phone or maybe on TV?

Most smartphones are not able to output HDMI in their USB-C port. Not sure about your phone.

Look at what this guy is saying:https://youtube.com/watch?v=HLE_Qcy3z50

That video is on a different phone so it is not relevant for you. If an Android phone has the capability to output HDMI over USB-c depends on the phone. Also there two types of cables, activate with an own converter and passive where the phone has the provide all the necessary signals.

Ok. I Understand.Thank you for your answers.

The cable you bought is an MHL cable using the USB Type-C (MHL Alternate Mode).
For such a cable to work the phone needs to include special hardware. Additionally the TV has to support MHL, too as it's HDMI socket has to be MHL-enabled.
The MHL web site contains a list of devices that support MHL. There you can filter for Samsung devices.
In my opinion MHL is today an outdated technology originally developed for phone with Micro-USB socket. You can also see that on the list of supported devices. The last Samsung galaxy phone that supported MHL is the Galaxy S5 released in 2014. The last Samsung device with MHL support I recognize was released in 2015.

The Tv does not support MHL,maybe i will buy a Smart Tv in the future and i will mirror my phone wirelessly,idk .Anyway thanks for clarifications.

source: Stack Exchange

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

sort: votes


text:
How to trace a drive-by download?
I was using the default Android browser and I noticed a drive-by download.
The file is sexplay-r8.apk MD5 (sexplay-r8.apk) = 61ec2c6dab14c53ca323ee0dbcad112e
It looks very much like a malware to me:

What should I do now ? How can I find what triggered the download of this file ?
I'm interested in triggering the download again, but I can't find a way to consult the history of the browser. Android isn't very forensics friendly.

To access the browser history, tap the "tabs" menu. (Looks like the tabs of a file folder and is next to the overflow menu, which itself looks like three vertical dots.)
Once you can see your open tabs plus the blank one to add a new one, tap the overflow menu.
You should see four options

New incognito tab
History
Saved pages
Settings

(I think you know what to do.)
This is on a Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.1.1.

It kinda works, except that the date of the visit is not displayed, and I couldn't find a list of downloaded files either. This is very frustrating, but I guess that's the best I can do with the default browser..

Very first thing I'd do is removing that app ASAP from my device (Settings→Applications→Manage Applications). One never knows what it does!
Second, it helps to disable "unknown sources" (you always can enable them again when needed), to prevent such apps from being installed. With "unknown sources" (in Android 4.0.x you find this option in Settings→Security) disabled, only Google Playstore is permitted to install apps.
I have no idea what this app does, and whether it maybe installed (and hid) some Trojan stuff. If you want to be 100% sure, you can do a factory reset -- but that way you'd lose all your data and all apps you installed (it will, however, by default not touch your sd card). This option might sound a bit paranoid -- but even if I'm paranoid, that doesn't mean they are not after me! ;)
Of course, this is fully up to you. Uninstalling that app is definitly a must -- the other steps are IMHO optional. But I'd at least look around in the App Drawer to check if there are other suspicious things which not belong.

The app has not been installed. It's just there, in my Download folder. It was so obviously malicious that it made me laugh..

And I already wondered why you might have OK'd the permissions -- man, now you make me laugh! :D So just delete it, and you should be fine.

You might want to use a packet sniffing apps for android.
I recommend Shark for Root. This is like Wireshark but for android. It does not have a gui for viewing logs. You will need another application like Shark Reader.
This of course requires you to trigger the drive-by download again while the app is running to track where the rouge apk is coming.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/


text:
Lock down 'receive text messages' setting
I recently got a shock on my phone bill when it showed over a hundred texts received by the standard text messaging app. I had been receiving these solely through Google Voice, specifically to avoid such charges.
I checked the Google Voice settings, and somehow the 'Receive text messages' setting had been switched to 'Via the messaging app'. Ack! I switched it back. But: Is there a way (or a utility app) that will lock this setting in place?
[EDIT] All right, I was a bit vague in the original description of this problem. Let me walk through this step by step:
Last month, my phone bill was about $25 more than the month before. Comparing it to the previous bill, I found that the difference was due to over 100 texts having been received on the phone through the carrier.
I checked my phone settings, and found that in Google Voice, the setting under Sync and Notifications >> Receive Text Messages was set to Via the messaging app. All the recent text messages were listed in the standard messaging app. I changed the Google Voice setting to Via the Google Voice app, and had a friend send me a new text message. It appeared in Google Voice, but not in the standard messaging app.
What I seek is a way to lock down that Google Voice setting so that it cannot be changed. (I suspect that it was altered somehow by a recent Google Voice upgrade.) Does such an app exist, or is there a way of doing this that I am overlooking?
Thanks...
JGB

I'm not sure how viewing them in a different app would result in a charge, is it actually forwarding them to your number?

Yes, I think we need more detail on your setup here. Are you using some kind of carrier integration, like the one from Sprint? Are you having Google Voice forward your SMS messages to your phone? Unless your phone and your GV number are the same (which would require carrier integration) they should be completely unrelated to one another. If someone texts your GV number your phone won't receive an actual SMS unless you have forwarding or integration configured, GV will just get the message.

I would double check to see if the "Receive text messages on this phone" setting on the voice.google.com website is checked.

I've updated the problem description with additional details. Please see above.

If you don't want to receive text messages on your actual phone number and only receive them via your Google Voice number, just call your carrier and tell them to disable text messaging.
I used to do that, back when I had a plan that charged for messages. Just tell them to disable incoming and outgoing text messages, and you won't have to worry about any future charges.
The Google Voice app sends and receives text messages as standard data, and it doesn't use the carrier's texting abilities. So disabling texting through your carrier won't inhibit your ability to use Google Voice for texting.

Be sure that Google Voice isn't configured to also send text messages you receive to your mobile as a text message (SMS charges apply) in addition to showing up in the Google Voice app (SMS charges don't apply). From Google Voice help:

With Google Voice for Android, text messages are sent through your
  data plan, as opposed to your text messaging plan, so there won't be
  any text messaging charges for messages that you send to numbers in
  the US or Canada.
Note: If you have your mobile phone listed as one of your forwarding
  phones in your Google Voice account, replies will come to the Google
  Voice app, but will also be duplicated in the Android Messaging app.
  Depending on your carrier, you may be charged for your received text
  messages. To disable this and only have messages sent to the Google
  Voice app, sign in at voice.google.com, then go to Settings > Voice
  settings > Phones > (your mobile number) > Edit > Receive text
  messages on this phone > Uncheck and Save.

If it helps, I've drawn a flowchart for a previous answer that helps illustrate the difference.

I agree with this as being the most likely cause. And it is still likely causing extra charges. The dual display (in both apps) is in appearance only. The Google Voice app still receives the message and then sends out a broadcast to other apps that an sms was received. Those that have the correct permission (like messaging apps) will get the message. This is all handled on the phone after the message is received by the Google Voice app.

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text:
Boot into specific Hangout with one person
I would like my tablet to boot up into the Google Hangouts app, and open the conversation with a specific person.
I'm able to open the Hangouts app easily with this app (or one of the many like it), but I need to open the conversation and this leaves me at the list of people page.
Resources that haven't quite gotten me there:
Similar question on Reddit
Similar discussion for the Tasker app
YouTube tutorial
When I try to use AutoContacts and log the %achangouturi variable it doesn't work. Many people say they needed to enable contacts syncing in G+, but the menus have changed and it does not work. That's the most common issue. But it's not mine.
Using the Automate app I was able to finally log the URI for the contact, and therefore have a unique ID with which I can one day hopefully open a conversation.
The way I got it was by using "Pick Contact", setting the output variable to contactURI, and then using log to log {contactUri}.
However, I am not able to open the hangout chat yet.
Using Automate, I choose launch app and choose hangouts.
I've tried using:

ACTION: android.intent.action.VIEW
DATA: content://com.android.contacts/data/xxxx

as well as DATA: content://com.android.contacts/contacts.lookup/xxxx

MIME TYPE: vnd.android.cursor.item/vnd.googleplus.profile.comm

In the Reddit answer, I don't understand and can't find the options to set the flags he did in either Tasker or Automate:
FLAGS: FLAG_ACTIVITY_FORWARD_RESULT FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_WHEN_TASK_RESET FLAG_ACTIVITY_PREVIOUS_IS_TOP
I've also tried using and not using com.google.android.talk - com.google.android.apps.babel.phone.BabelProfileActionActivity in the activity field.

I don't think a premade kit of this nature exists.

If the conversation always stays at a particular position then you may have some success using AutoInput

If someone explains how to use the app Automate to do what I've described, I will mark this as answered.

I also should say that Touchless Chat might solve the problem, but it's not compatible with my device.

@Firelord Autoinput isn't supported on my device.

AutoInput not supported? Are you using an Android below 4.3? Also, is your device rooted because in that case, you can simply use a shell command to pass the flag.

Give that he wrote he used the code, it is very likely he used a Java function. Here is an example: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/tasker/lqlCpcLf-J4 and you can add Java functions task using Code -> Java Function.

The device is not rooted, and I can't update past 4.3 because it will break 4G. Asus hasn't pushed a patch and probably never will.

If a solution is offered using MacroDroid would you consider ? Asking so that I can attempt

@beeshyams Yes.

I have done this using tasker. You are completely on the right track, instructions below.
SQL to find contact ID
Find the unique contact ID from the contacts database (which it seems you have already done). In case you have the wrong ID you can check with the SQL instructions. I had a few issues with this given I was only entering the first name when looking for the contact, and for some reason it wasn't being found. Anyway, this SQL query should work on the file: /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db
You can use a SQL app/program, browse to that file, and enter the SQL query:
SELECT _id FROM data WHERE raw_contact_id LIKE (SELECT _id from raw_contacts WHERE display_name LIKE "Contact Name" ORDER BY _id DESC LIMIT 1) AND DATA4 LIKE "10" ORDER BY _id DESC LIMIT 1

Or you can enter this command into the terminal provided you have sqlite3 on your specific device (often not included in production release devices):
sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db 'SELECT _id FROM data WHERE raw_contact_id LIKE (SELECT _id from raw_contacts WHERE display_name LIKE "Contact Name" ORDER BY _id DESC LIMIT 1) AND DATA4 LIKE "10" ORDER BY _id DESC LIMIT 1' | sed s/\"//g

Just replace "Contact Name" and put the contact you want to open inside the quotes. The full contact name preferably.
Unrooted phone
I was working on a solution for this, but app backup is explicitly disabled in the contacts app manifest. Try the solution below and let me know if it works. I wasn't able to test it without root.
Install Tasker and AutoContacts. AutoContacts is paid, but you can get a in the next 15 minutes after buying the full version if you just want to test it.
Setup a task in tasker, name it, then add a new action Plugin > AutoContacts > AutoContacts. Then in the configuration type in "Contact Name or Nickname" the name of the desired contact. Press the tick. Press the back button in Tasker to get back to the list of actions for that task (you will have 1 now). Add a new action Alert > Flash. Press the button on the right of "text" that looks like a label and select "Autocontacts: 01. Hangout Uri ... %achangouturi". Press back to go to the action list. Press back again to save the task. Go back into the task and run it. The ID that you need for the contact you want will be at the end of the string that flashes up and will usually be 5 digits long. Run the task again if you didn't catch it in time.
Creating Tasker task
Once you have the ID copied down, you need to go into Tasker to create the task that will open hangouts to the conversation. You have the right idea to use an intent, it is just a little different from what you already have. In the new task create a new action "+" select System > Send Intent. Create the intent in the following format:
Action: android.intent.action.VIEW
Cat: None
Mime Type: Leave blank
Data: content://com.android.contacts/data/#####
Extras/package/class: Leave blank
Target: Activity

Where ##### is the contact ID you found earlier. Mine were all 5 digits long.
Now you should be able to use this task for whatever your heart desires. Give it a test by pressing the play button in the task in Tasker.
A quick note, I mainly use mine in conjunction with AutoVoice in order to open a message I just got sent. I found it very useful to be able to launch hangouts back to the main screen and actually found this quite difficult as the Tasker "kill app" wasn't completely restarting hangouts. I found the way to do this is create an action "Launch App" and select the "Always launch a new copy" checkbox. This will always open hangouts to the main threads list.
Most of this is from this Google Groups discussion. Good luck, let me know if you run into any troubles.

The same should work in automate. I would just try leaving Mime blank and formatting the rest as it is above.

None of the SQL apps I've used have access to that database/folders. I've tried using adb, but I don't have permission to pull. Is there a way to do this without root?

hmmm... I have root. I'm not sure if you can. give me one sec.

Have you tried using the ID you already have with my method?

I just used automate on my own phone and compared the ID I got back from your process to the ID I got using the db file and unfortunately it's not the same. The Automate ID was 4 digits (with quite a but of information before that) and the string in SQL has always been 5 digits for me.
I did note though, that the automate ID is actually the same as the contact ID in the raw_contacts table, but the ID hangouts needs is the ID from the data table.
In theory you could try many IDs and you may eventually get the one you want. Because after much research it doesn't seem possible to get it un-rooted

Aha, I may have it. See update to test it for yourself.

I just tested this in Automate. It works excellently. Just pick the activity and select hangouts. Set the action to view. In the data URI put the exact same as the tasker "data" one above content://com.android.contacts/data/##### and replace the hashes with the contact ID that can be found in the un-rooted instructions. Leave everything else as it is and run the flow.

I don't have access to the %achangoutsuri using AutoContacts. I talk about it in my question. The string %achangoutsuri is sent rather than a 5 digit number. The most common reason why is G+ contacts syncing is not set up. Look at the last item of this faq. However, the settings for my tablet do not line up with what he suggests. There is no Google+ top level setting. The closest I can find is Google > Choose my account > Contacts. I think Google has rolled contacts syncing out of G+. Thanks for your help, but it isn't quite working.

Try looking in the accounts and sync settings. You should be able to tick google+ which should sync the contacts from there. It is quite a lot easier I think and more reliable to root and get access to the db, but if you really are unable to do that just make sure the contact you are searching in AutoContacts has the EXACT NAME of the contact in your contacts that has a G+ profile listed under their contact. They must be listed in your contacts with a G+ profile linking, and you must use that exact name, otherwise it will not show up in autocontacts.

The crucial piece was making sure the contact name and G+ name matched exactly! Thanks a bunch!

That's OK, I'm glad I could help resolve it.


text:
Remove notifications sound (add "silent notifications" setting on Android)
I have a Pixel 3a with Android 11 installed on it.
I have a lot of notifications, like SMS, Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc... all beeping all the day. I would like to remove just the sound of all these notifications, letting them vibrate, flash... whatever other things it does...
However, the calls should not be muted, I would like to have normal sound when someone calls me (via normal call, or via WhatsApp, Messanger, Viber, etc).
I can't believe at this day is not possible a thing like this on Android 11...
The idea is not to manage all the possible applications individually, but to mute all NON-call sounds in general on the phone, except "long calls" (phone and messengers calls, wake-up alarms, all calls that are waiting the user to 'finish' them).
I suppose there should be a more standard solution than this tricky one. I think there should be a setting like SilentNotifications On/Off, if such thing is not present, it should be (Google tracker issue created)

have you seen the options for settings - notifications (i don't use such apps do they have call function implememented as notification)?

@alecxs the idea is not to manage all the possible applications individually, but to mute NON-call sounds in general on the phone

there is something like a solution here https://nerdschalk.com/how-to-allow-call-ringtone-while-keeping-notifications-on-silent/ but is still tricky usage of "do not disturb" mode...

ok that came to my mind next - so do not disturb settings is no solution?

@alecxs, I suppose there should be a more standard solution than that tricky one. I think there should be a setting like SilentNotifications On/Off, if such thing is not present, it should be.

In modern versions of Android, you can simply set the default notification sound to silent.

Open system settings
Sound and Vibration
Default notification sound
Silent, none, or similar
Save

Depending on your device, step 4 may look different. On my Pixel 6a running Android 15, the steps are actually

My Sounds
None
Save

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
What is this weird app on the homescreen of ColorOS 11? Is this a malware?
My device is an Oppo F11 Pro that I bought in 2019 and it has ColorOS 11.1 / Android 11.
Recently, this weird app popped out on my phone.

I tried to remove it, but when I tap on it, it says that it wasn't able to open the app, and when I hold the icon, I only get "see the details of this app" which leads to nothing. I found nothing on the app manager, so I thought that my phone was compromised and I reset it to factory settings and changed my passwords using my laptop (which I'm sure isn't compromised because I just got it and only has Firefox on it).
After the resetting, I installed some apps from the Play Store (as you see, Citymapper for example) and I noticed that for some apps (Messenger, Google Podcasts, Forest, and Reddit), this weird icon appears before the apps' icons; while for other icons (Citymapper, Instagram, McAfee Security), nothing happens. And since I got the McAfee 30 days trial, I decided to put it on the phone and it found nothing during its analysis.
I may have randomly found a hint about the app. I was checking the authorizations given to my apps and I noticed that an app called "DMApp" with the same weird Android icon had the authorization for making and managing phones calls. I removed it and there is no way to find that "DMApp" again, but the icons kept multiplicating.
TL;DR: A weird-looking icon keeps popping out in my phone with no way to find its origins (even after factory reset). Device: Oppo F11 Pro (bought in 2019). OS: ColorOS 11.1 | Android 11
I hope you can help me figure out what all this is about. Thanks!

This is a Color OS bug with Android 11. Me too facing this since a few days so can confirm.

Oh ok thanks man that's really reassuring. So it's nothing dangerous ^^' Do you have any official source please? I can't seem to find it on their website.

actually that's happening because of partially downloaded apps.. and something is just wrong with play store and color os so those apps remain as that in home screen. You're seeing them only on the homescreen but not in the main apps drawer right?

Yeah only on the homescreen nothing in the main apps drawer. That's why I got suspicious haha.

@Daviiid i dont have any official backing but trust me there's nothing to worry unless you have installed some modded apps from external sources. If not, it's the play store bug as i said above.

thanks a lot! That's reassuring. Hope they fix the bug quickly before we have an army of these icons on our homescreens haha.

understandable.. For now, to avoid that, always make sure any application you're installing has been fully installed- in simple words, DON'T cancel any app that you've started to install from Google play. If you don't want those icons but still don't need an app, wait for it to fully install and then uninstall it.

Oh okay that totally makes sense, I'm having a really bad connection (no Wifi and at best I'm having H+, otherwise it's 3G) so it happens that I have to click on the install button in the app's page on the PlayStore many times. Thanks for everything!

You're welcome !

Go to Settings - Homescreen and lockscreen, and turn off and on the icon autofill. It will clear off all those.


text:
Recovering contacts from APK file
I have backups made using OAndBackupX from my Android phone and would like to recover my contacts from there. From looking around, I see that I have a directory called com.android.contacts which has a Contacts.apk file and a data.tar.gz file (which has shared_prefs/com.android.contacts.xml, which does not appear to be that useful) inside it.
Is it possible to get my contacts (name and phone number) from this apk list? If so, how?
The Contacts.apk file opens into a bunch of folders and files:
AndroidManifest.xml  classes.dex  META-INF/  resources.arsc
assets/              com/         res/       shared_prefs/

Which, if any, of these would have the data I am looking for?

The APK file is just the application, you won't find your contacts in it. Contacts are not stored with the contacts app but with the contacts provider – so you have to search your backup for that. Btw it might help if you'd [edit] your question and include what you used to make this backup (sounds a bit like Titanium Backup?).

After mucking around a bit, I have been able to get enough information to reconstruct my contacts information. Thank you to @Izzy for pointing it out to me.
I obtained my ContactsProvider.apk from my backup and also data.tar.gz and device_protected_files.tar.gz.
I then unzipped my  ContactsProvider.apk using unzip ContactsProvide.apk and got:
databases/  files/  shared_prefs/

The databases
calllog.db          contacts2.db  profile.db
calllog.db-journal  profile.db-journal

It  would perhaps make sense that contacts2.db would have this information, so I looked into this sqlite3 file (as it is what I found below):
$ file contacts2.db
contacts2.db: SQLite 3.x database, user version 1400, last written using SQLite version 3022000

$ sqlite3 contacts2.db
SQLite version 3.36.0 2021-06-18 18:36:39
Enter ".help" for usage hints.
sqlite> .tables
_sync_state               phone_lookup              view_data_usage
_sync_state_metadata      photo_files               view_entities
accounts                  pre_authorized_uris       view_groups
agg_exceptions            presence                  view_metadata_sync
agg_presence              properties                view_metadata_sync_state
android_metadata          raw_contacts              view_raw_contacts
contacts                  search_index              view_raw_entities
data                      search_index_content      view_stream_items
data_usage_stat           search_index_docsize      view_v1_contact_methods
default_directory         search_index_segdir       view_v1_extensions
deleted_contacts          search_index_segments     view_v1_group_membership
directories               search_index_stat         view_v1_groups
groups                    settings                  view_v1_organizations
metadata_sync             status_updates            view_v1_people
metadata_sync_state       stream_item_photos        view_v1_phones
mimetypes                 stream_items              view_v1_photos
name_lookup               v1_settings               visible_contacts
nickname_lookup           view_contacts
packages                  view_data

Carrying on  with the above, I did the following:
$sqlite contacts2.db
sqlite> .separator , # to get the information in a CSV file with comma separation
sqlite> .output raw_contacts.csv #Where to save the file
sqlite> select * from raw_contacts; # Get it from raw_contacts in in the table above
sqlite> .exit

Then the file raw_contacts.csv has the information I want. There are several tables that have this information, and I just think that this one is fine from the ones I tried. Perhaps there are others that are better.


text:
How do I get a stable LineageOS build?
It seems like all LineageOS builds are marked as nightly, which makes it impossible to pick out more stable builds from the not-so-stable ones.
How do I find a stable build? Is there a plan to mark some builds as stable, or make snapshots as CyanogenMod used to? Should I hold off before moving to LineageOS until those appear?

The only info I could see is this old post, which doesn't mention stable builds.

I've been running CyanogenMod nightlies for years and LineageOS nightlies since a couple of months now. I haven't experienced any problems. Having said that, it's going to take a while before they mark a nightly as stable so if you're prepared to wait that long, go for it. Just know that the experimental builds for migrating from CyanogenMod to LineageOS are going to disappear soon, which means you would have to do a clean flash (something I would recommend doing once anyways for good measure and a fresh start).

@famdekk If you can backup your apps' data, then skip the experimental and directly go for the weekly, I'd say.

@DeathMaskSalesman Well yeah, of course. That should be the first thing you do when flashing ROMs.

Stable is just nightlies branched at a certain time, and thus might still have problems (even fatal ones), just not as likely. Also, there has been no stable build ever since CM12-ish.

On LineageOS, there is no "stable" build, but despite the naming, "nightly" builds are considered stable.
There was a discussion on Reddit, Why are all downloads of type "nightly"? where it was revealed that that is just how LineageOS went with the naming since it is always built from the latest commit automatically (i.e. "nightly"). An official answer by a mod of the subreddit said,

LineageOS is a "rolling release" software. It means that new builds are continuosly produced (every week for each device since it takes a long time to get through all the devices builds without abusing the hardware) and there's no "stable" / "recommend" release.
All our official builds are meant to guarantee you the hardware will be working (from 15.1 onwards this is enforced, but most 14.1 builds should be fine too).

Another reply by user 'goosnarrggh' also explained the distinction from CyanogenMod's nightlies,

As you correctly inferred, the nightlies are produced automatically using the most recent commit on the currently-supported branch of development for each component of the OS. That's all that officially exists. Despite the word "nightly", however, each device receives a build once per week (all things being equal) due to limited build hardware resources.
Every device listed with downloads from LineageOS's website does have an active maintainer, and those devices do provide a minimally complete functionality as spelled out in an informal process that will be formalized soon through the project's charter. However, bugs can and do crop up occasionally from one build to the next; sometimes they're device-specific and sometimes (but more rarely) they may be project-wide.
In LineageOS's predecessor, CyanogenMod, there used to be a distinction drawn between the bleeding edge of development, "nightlies" and feature-frozen builds which had been manually judged to be of adequate stability, labeled as "snapshots". The snapshot builds would have been proposed for points in the OS's development in which the feature set was considered reasonably functional, and then each device which was demonstrated to be in proper working order would receive a build based on that snapshot. LineageOS has not continued this practice; at least in part, this is due to the demands that workflow would have imposed on the project's volunteer maintainers.

This is unlike CyanogenMod which has "snapshots" for stable builds, where "nightly" can be considered unstable.


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How to use Nearby Share to send files from an Android phone to a Windows PC?
I occasionally need to transfer files from my phone to my PC. Connecting a wire is much hassle and Bluetooth transfer is slow. It seems Nearby Share allows sharing over both Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, whichever is available. Both my PC (Asus Windows 10) and Android device (OnePlus Android 12) are connected on the same Wi-Fi network, so I should be able to take advantage of it for fast file transfer.
Both my PC and phone are running Nearby Share. Yet, when I try to send a file from the phone to the PC, it is stuck on the "scanning" step. The phone does not detect my PC as a possible recipient, even when my PC is set to "I can share or receive content from: Everyone nearby". I am not sure what other setting needs to be changed.
Question: How to transfer a file from an Android phone to Windows PC using the built-in Nearby Share feature over Wi-Fi when both devices are connected over the same Wi-Fi network?

Android just launched the exact feature I needed as a new dedicated application for Windows: The New Nearby Share Beta App for Windows | Android
It requires a Google login which I'm not a big fan of. But at least this is an answer to the original question in case anyone is looking for something similar.

You can't. The Nearby Share in Android (made by Google as a system utility in latest versions of Play Services) and the Nearby Share in Windows are two different software utilities.
An alternate way should be using MixPlorer to set up an FTP server from Android and connecting it to Windows File Explorer (make sure to increase the FTP timeout in MixPlorer since the default is 5 mins afaik)


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How to update Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 from Lollipop to Nougat Android 7.0 version?
How to update the Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 from Android 5.0 Lollipop to Android 7.0 Nougat (without Root)? Currently not getting or not showing any updates either with Software Update or from Samsung Smart Switch/Samsung Kies in Galaxy S4 device.
Additionally, I do not see Android 7.0 Nougat version updates in SamMobile website with respective to the firmware.

It's simply not available, and likely will not be due to S4's age (3+ years - most manufacturers won't support beyond 2). See how it doesn't even get Marshmallow yet?
There is much 3rd-party development for the device, however, and an AOSP-based Nougat ROM is available. You do need to dive into the world of flashing custom ROMs (*) which could take some time, there will be bugs in the beginning, and you will lose many Samsung-specific features should you decide to do the switch, but it's the only way out if you want to stay on the cutting edge.
*: On Samsung devices, flashing a custom ROM usually doesn't require root, but custom ROMs often come with root.

http://www.resurrectionremix.com/ is currently on Android 6, based on CyanogenMod, and I imagine they'll take it up to Android 7 at some point.

@Tim AOSP is the base for all else. When AOSP is near perfect, CM/Omni will follow suit, then RR/AICP/etc. which are based on one of the two.

Yep agreed, I was just pointing out a ROM that generally works well.


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How to update Galaxy S4 to Lollipop or Latest Android version?
How to update this Galaxy Not rooted S4 GT- I9505 from Android 4.3 to Android 5.0 or 6.0?
Currently not getting or not showing any updates either in this device or from Samsung Smart Switch/Samsung Kies.

Additionally, Not showing latest android version in SamMobile website (Firmware for GT-I9505) against the above device specifications. Currently it is still showing Android version as 4.3 Now how can we update it to Lollipop version?

My query is not duplicate. Please note that we struggled to get update the current jellybean version to kitkat itself. Still the phone is using in Jellybean without any update to kitkat or any other new released supported android versions for S4 GT-I9505 model.

Samsung UK or India customer care has confirmed us to wait till the phone receive any updates and no other alternate way unless Smart Switch or Kies display any updates. So far I've not seen any updates with the both softwares. Till date no updates are received with the model GT - I9505

You can easily update your Galaxy S4 to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop without root. As you have shared the screenshots, it shows your device is up-to-date but your region might have not received the latest update yet.
But you can check the sammobile firmware page over here.
It clearly shows that Lollipop 5.0.1 has been released for those regions, Now If your region is listed over there or not. You can simply download the firmware and flash it using Odin3. (If you don't know how to update using Odin, I've written a step-by-step guide on my blog).
I hope that the above instructions helps you to update to Android Lollipop. Now You also have said about Android Marshmallow, Now officially it is not available for your phone model and I am pretty sure it won't be in the near future as Samsung does not support their models too long and Galaxy S4 is now quite old.
But doesn't mean you can't have Android Marshmallow on your phone. In order to have it, you need to root your phone and install Custom ROM such CyanogenMod 13.
Let me know if you want to know more in details and I hope you've found my answer useful.

I updated the question. As we couldn't find the released Lollipop version against above phone version and specifications in sammobile firmware site. Kindly help!

At @Imran: Can we discuss this concern over Chat room

Why not sure, just let me know.

Invite me to chat room.


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How to get data (text and pictures) from server via http get request using a NFC Tag (NFC tools)?
On my Android phone I use NFC Tools pro and I want to do following:

get text from my server (i.e. to show it in a popup or text-to-speech)
get picture from my server and show it

I found the "HTTP GET" request task but couldn't find out, how to use it.
(It is similar to following post/request: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?s=21b5d890966b165096d73b83bd07cd9a&p=57083540&postcount=41).
I also can show pictures, but only those which are located on the local phone.
So the question is, how can I set up the tasks in the Android app "NFC Tools" (or maybe another app), to realize the above mentioned points?

server:port

Server is HTTPS
Port is the site address like //www.google.com
Path - starts without the forward slash "/"
Example for image downloads
Server - https:
Port - api-assets.clashofclans.com
Path - badges/200/NVwKVgJpNPNfeRvB7imM_nD5kD3RVzy1kkoXwT_wrx0.png
Mime type - image/png
Output file - download/test.png

Example to download any type of file
This is excel sheet
Server:port - https://www.clashleaders.com
Path- request-n-leave-yyclqyjl.xlsx
Mime type - xlsx
output file - download/excel.xlsx

Create a test task and run it where Tasker and file manager in split screen view


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Red exclamation mark when trying to update Nexus 7.
Every time I go to update my Google Nexus 7 to Android Jelly Bean 4.2, it fails and shows the Android logo on it's side with red exclamation mark (!) on.
Why won't it let me update to Jelly Bean 4.2?
Has anyone else had this issue before?

How much free space do you have on your device?

I have over 23gb free of a 32gb model

Any idea on what the problem is?!

Am I the only one having this issue with updating the Nexus 7 Jelly Bean to 4.2.1?

Any other salient details? Is it rooted? Have you flashed a custom ROM? What country are you in? Does it have 3G? (Please add this information to your question.)

I had this problem because I manually (via titanium backup) uninstalled one of the system apps: the korean keyboard (which, for me, is rather pointless). Somehow that caused the upgrading process to fail, maybe because my system was not "intact". After I restored the app it worked flawlessly. Did you make any modifications like that? If so, try reverting them.


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Does the Kindle Fire original have a camera?
It may be too late to ask for such a thing... I checked my Kindle Fire 1st generation model and found a camera on the top left of the device. At least, it just looks like the camera on any phone or camera enabled device.
The listing of features on original Kindle Fire shows that there is no camera. Is this something any others have experienced?
Or is it something different from a camera?
I have not tried to download any app to use camera on the device. Any interesting info would be helpful.

Are you sure that this is camera? It is more likely a light/proximity sensor...

Thanks, I just found this on a blog that describes how to check for the sensor. Your answer is much appreciated.


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APN Settings Don't Save - Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4.2
I'm trying to setup my APN settings on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus, running Android 4.2.
The APN list is currently empty, and every time I try to add one (menu -> add -> fill out form -> save), nothing new appears.
I'm trying to connect to H2O wireless, when I fill out the instructions, I get a warning saying to enter the MCC and MNC (which H2O says to leave blank), the phone says the MCC and MNC are required, so I add in the MCC and MNC using sumac's instructions.  After I add the settings and click save, no new item is added to the list of APNs.
I think that there should be an item already in the list, as others mention the default settings, but there definitely should be an item after I add the APN.
Has anyone else dealt with this before?
People have suggested online to others that it may be a firmware issue.
Please let me know if there is anything else to add, this is the first time I have tried to get help with my phone.
Edit:
I've talked to H2O's support, and they said 310/410 should work.  They said the problem has been in Android since 4.0.2, and all they can suggest is a hard reset.  So now, it doesn't seem to be a problem with my carrier, my phone, or the settings.  Has anyone gotten around adding APNs on Android since 4.0.2?

Sort of embarrassed to admit this, but I rebooted the phone, and all of the APNs I had added were on the list.  Problem solved.

Your MCC and MNC are indeed required and must match the MCC and MNC detected by the phone.  I recommend using Market Enabler (requires root) to force set them if your phone isn't detecting it properly.  (It looks like ME has been removed from the Play Store and is now available here).

But even after I added MCC and MNC (that I found online), the APN wouldn't save.  Is this because I entered the wrong APN, or should it save either way?

@Rhino It should only not save if the MCC or MNC is wrong or not what the pphone thinks is correct.

Is there any way to find the MCC or MNC without root?  I looked on Wikipedia's list of MNCs, and the numbers that Sumac listed look possible.


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I can't find the /system/media/ folder in any root browser or TWRP File Manager
I'm running Evolution X 4.3 (official) for Samsung Galaxy S6 (zerofltexx) with MagiskRoot and a few Magisk Modules. I was recently thinking about getting a custom boot animation for my phone, so I installed a root browser and looked for /system/media/ but it wasn't there.
I also tried the file manager built into TWRP, but I couldn't find it there either. When I tried to use the "Boot Animations for Superuser" app, it ran into an error trying to backup the existing boot animation.
If the /system/media/ folder is missing, how am I still getting the default boot animation that comes with Evolution X? Anyways, I just need help on how to replace the boot animation.

You should read the detailed text of the Boot Animations for Superuser app. There you can find the following info:

Q: Is my device supported?
A: Your device must be rooted to install a boot animation. Some manufacturers, like Samsung, use a different boot animation format (QMG) which is not compatible with this app.

Therefore the app does not work for Samsung devices. You need an app that is specialized to Samsung devices or that supports the QMG format.
And keep in mind the next section:

Q: The boot animation doesn’t play. How can I fix this?
A: Some Android devices use different install locations. You should find your current boot animation location and change it in the app’s preferences.

This explains why /system/media/ does not exist. Again, Samsung seems to follows a different path that most of the other Android devices.

I had the same problem with a Nexus 5, couldn't find /system/media using the file manager in TWRP - 3.7.0_9-0.
I solved the problem by go to Mount in the main menu and select System.
After that, I was able to see the folder normally using the file manager in TWRP.


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Why would one phone be compatible on a network but another not?
I lost my Asus Zenfone 8.  I'm borrowing another one which has all the same specs per imei.info.
However, when I check the device's compatibility with the Cricket network, his phone shows as incompatible.  When I enter my lost phone's IMEI, the site says it's compatible.
I'd like to understand how this could be.  i.e. why would phones with the same hardware be listed with different compatibilities on any given network?

Have you read the section "Check Device Compatibility & Unlock Status" on the linked cricket site? Devices can be carrier locked or even SIM locked so they are bound to one carrier or contract. Such a lock is implemented on software level.

@Robert thanks for the note.  I'll check with my friend but as far as I know this phone was only available unlocked.  i.e. I don't think asus partnered with any providers to sell locked variants

After contacting both Cricket and Asus support, Asus mentioned my friend's phone was intended for use in Taiwan.  They determined this based off the serial number.
This doesn't fully make sense to me since I believe the phone has the hardware support that Cricket says is missing - specifically VoLTE/HD-voice.  I found when I restarted the phone and swapped my SIM card into it, I could use the unsupported Asus phone for around 5 minutes before some automated process disabled both 5G and VoLTE (the icons on top-right were there, then disappeared after ~5 minutes).
So although I'd like to understand the lack of support at a deeper level, hearing the phone was intended to be used in Taiwan works well enough for me as he did buy it off eBay.

It seems the carrier blocks foreign/unregistered IMEI on their side. This also happened to my imported phone on Indonesian carriers due to this regulation. The phone getting signal for about 30 minutes, then no signal since then.

Thanks for sharing your experience - good to know regulations like that exist since I didn't realize something like that would be regulated


text:
Connect Samsung tablet to ethernet and also to PC/laptop?
I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro (SM-T545) tablet. I'd like to connect it to the ethernet using an adapter having an RJ45 port. I would also like to connect the tablet to my laptop (in this case MacBook Air) so that I can access the logs.
I tried using the Type-C Hub (from UGREEN) that has an RJ45 port and the tablet connected to the ethernet successfully. However, when I try to connect my laptop using a Type-C to Type-C cable and later Type-A (from hub) to Type-C (to laptop), nothing happens on the tablet and laptop.
Is there any way I can connect the tablet to ethernet for the internet and also to my laptop to get the logs?
Note: The wireless option is not possible as the connection is very unstable.

To talk to the Ethernet adapter, the Android device has to switch its USB chip to host mode (USB OTG). The Android device becomes the USB master managing the USB bus, and the Ethernet adapter will work as a USB slave (usually USB Ethernet adapters can only work as a USB slave).
The USB chip in the PC is always acting in USB host mode (as USB master).
If you are connecting two USB chips both in host mode, it will not work, as in USB, there can be only one host (master) and multiple clients (slaves).
The only way I see to get a wired network connection and connect the Android device to your PC at the same time would be to use reverse tethering via adb.

I managed a workaround by getting a new access point. The connection from it is very stable and I connected the tablet wirelessly to the AP and through wire to my laptop. It solves the issue. Thanks for the advice.


text:
Can a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphone be connected to a 49-inch ultra-wide monitor?
I want to start using my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as a computer. I'm also planning to buy an ultra-wide 49-inch monitor that I want to display the Samsung screen on using DEX mode. I want to connect the phone to the monitor using a USB-C cable. I'm talking about a monitor having screen dimensions of 5120x1440 or something very similar, e.g. Philips 499P9H.
I haven't purchased the monitor yet because I want to know first whether the built-in video card of the Samsung Galaxy S21 is powerful enough to handle the resolution of a 49-inch ultrawide screen.
Does anyone know whether this smartphone can handle such a widescreen? It needs to be able to fill the entire screen, not just part of it.

According to the Samsung website it depends on the phone and the adapters wherpt resolutions and aspect ration are supported. May be you should first go to an electronic market and test it out with a 4k TV or other displays that are available if this works at all. Second check the spec of the used adapter regarding HDMI version and maximum resulution for the used HDM version.

@Robert it works with a 4K monitors and a usb C to HDMI cable. I know i could go to an electronics store as well. But i wanted to know if someone on here already knew whether using this smartphone with an UW monitor is possible or not.

It didn't work with my Samsung 32:9 1080p monitor. Specifically, invoice says

MONITOR SAMSUNG LED 49”
LC49J890DKUXEN

Monitor kept displaying Not optimal, use 3840×1080 60Hz. I tried both HDMI using dongle, and direct USB-C connection.
With traditional full HD monitors I'm getting lock screen displayed all right, tested on two, both using HDMI dongle.
This is only one data point, so it is possible that other pairs would work.


text:
I keep seeing a popup in Android: "Install now to control when your device updates" - is my phone compromised?
I am seeing this popup displayed occasionally over more than one app (in this image, it is appearing over my calendar app).

This appeared on a Google Pixel 6 Pro, which is updated to the latest Android 12. It appears without any prompting action on my part, which makes me suspicious. Furthermore, it doesn't identify itself as a system popup.
I'm extremely suspicious of this and I'm wondering if anyone else has seen it in the wild.

You can try this app and see if it is able to find out which app is creating that dialog. You'll have to set it up and wait for it to observe the dialog. Alternatively, you can setup [tag:adb] and whenever that dialog shows up use your PC to issue this adb command: adb shell dumpsys window windows > dump.txt. Share the file with us. Another alternative is to take a bug report whenever that dialog shows up and then from that report share only the relevant part with us (dumpsys windows).

Previously posted on Stack Overflow. Ryan M (who was an Android employee at the time of writing) commented that "these strings are present in the Google Play Services codebase for the update functionality, so while I personally haven't seen that exact screen, I would believe it's real."

Kind of related with similar looking dialog from Google Play Services: How can I disable the "Install update to keep device running smoothly" notification?

It may be true that these strings are present in the Google Play Services codebase, but if I was a clever malware writer, I'd use them for precisely that reason. The point is, the dialog doesn't tell me anything about what I'm being asked to install. It doesn't come up in the context of updating my device. It randomly pops up when I have regular old apps running. These three points make me very suspicious of this dialog.

@PatrickBrennan it's been over a year and I see no answers here. Did you get a satisfactory resolution? I'm seeing the same popup and my 2-minute Google search suggests it's probably nothing serious but I'm wondering if you discovered anything nefarious?

@YevgenySimkin I received a support request from a friend who has received the same message.  Interestingly, they received this poorly worded, cryptic, and suspicious message at approximately the same time as when you posted your comment.  That leads me to believe it is organized malware (triggered by a server or a specific date) or legitimate.  Completely different possibilities, of course.  And naturally, Google is of no help.  They have a Pixel 6 (non-Pro) with Android 13 and all current security updates.  They have not allowed a recent "Hey Google" model update.  Have you?

@YevgenySimkin Looking at a list of apps installed on their device, I only see 2 that aren't common.  One is Cube ACR, which was installed from the Google Play store, and the other is called Cube ACR Helper which was reportedly installed from the Cube ACR website.  Have you ever installed either of those apps?

@YevgenySimkin BTW, their device stated "Install now to control when your device updates.  In one day, your device will automatically install the update and schedule a restart."  Adding to additional suspicion, the font colour for all the text was wrong: it was all light text on a light background except for the Install now icon and string that was at the bottom of the cryptic and suspicious popup.

@RockPaperLz-MaskitorCasket I should have taken a screenshot - it came up twice and I *think your description of the text being "wrong" was what I saw but I can't swear to it. Both times it came up I was in WhatsApp. I don't have any unusual apps installed - I use almost nothing but Google products. I just looked and there *is a system update that is "paused". I'll let that run and see what happens next. Oh, and I'm on a pixel 6a

@YevgenySimkin Thanks for the further details Yevgeny.  BTW, in my friend's list of apps, they definitely do not have WhatsApp installed.

Google Play Services shows that popup.
Ryan M (an employee of Google/Android at the time of writing) commented:

[...] these strings are present in the Google Play Services codebase for the update functionality, so while I personally haven't seen that exact screen, I would believe it's real.

However, this doesn't really help the user to determine whether the popup they see is legit or not.

Eli Billauer posted a detailed explanation about preventing the Android system update on his website, including the popup. Quoting the relevant parts on how to check who is responsible for the popup (log output is trimmed for brevity):

Who’s behind the popup window?
The first step is to figure out what package initiates the request for an update.
[...]
Now some hands-on. When the popup appears, go
$ adb shell dumpsys window windows > dump.txt

That produces a lot of output, but there was this segment:
  Window #10 Window{28d0746 u0 com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.gms.update.phone.PopupDialog}:
    [...]
    mOwnerUid=10146 showForAllUsers=false package=com.google.android.gms appop=NONE
    [...]
    mBaseLayer=21000 mSubLayer=0    mToken=ActivityRecord{577992f u0 com.google.android.gms/.update.phone.PopupDialog t26}
    mActivityRecord=ActivityRecord{577992f u0 com.google.android.gms/.update.phone.PopupDialog t26}
    [...]
    WindowStateAnimator{9e9cbdf com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.gms.update.phone.PopupDialog}:
      mSurface=Surface(name=com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.gms.update.phone.PopupDialog)/@0x223f02c
      [...]

Also, in the output of
$ adb shell dumpsys > all.txt

there was a much more to-the-point section saying (pretty much at the beginning of this huge file):
Display 4619827677550801152 HWC layers:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Layer name
           Z |  Window Type |  Comp Type |  Transform |   Disp Frame (LTRB) |          Source Crop (LTRB) |     Frame Rate (Explicit) (Seamlessness) [Focused]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [...]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 com.google.android.apps.nexuslaunche[...]exuslauncher.NexusLauncherActivity#0
  rel      0 |            1 |     DEVICE |          0 |    0    0 1440 3120 |    0.0    0.0 1440.0 3120.0 |                                              [ ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [...]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.gms.update.phone.PopupDialog#0
  rel      0 |            1 |     DEVICE |          0 |   48  698 1392 2511 |    0.0    0.0 1344.0 1813.0 |                                              [*]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 StatusBar#0
  rel      0 |         2000 |     DEVICE |          0 |    0    0 1440  145 |    0.0    0.0 1440.0  145.0 |                                              [ ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 NavigationBar0#0
  rel      0 |         2019 |     DEVICE |          0 |    0 2952 1440 3120 |    0.0    0.0 1440.0  168.0 |                                              [ ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ScreenDecorOverlay#0
  rel      0 |         2024 |     DEVICE |          0 |    0    0 1440  176 |    0.0    0.0 1440.0  176.0 |                                              [ ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ScreenDecorOverlayBottom#0
  rel      0 |         2024 |     DEVICE |          0 |    0 2944 1440 3120 |    0.0    0.0 1440.0  176.0 |                                              [ ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is much better, because the window in focus is clearly marked. No need to guess.
Another place to look at is
$ adb shell dumpsys activity recents > recent.txt

Where it said:
  * Recent #0: Task{51b5cb8 #26 type=standard A=10146:com.google.android.gms U=0 visible=true mode=fullscreen translucent=true sz=1}
    userId=0 effectiveUid=u0a146 mCallingUid=u0a146 mUserSetupComplete=true mCallingPackage=com.google.android.gms mCallingFeatureId=com.google.android.gms.ota_base
    affinity=10146:com.google.android.gms
    intent={act=android.settings.SYSTEM_UPDATE_COMPLETE flg=0x10848000 pkg=com.google.android.gms cmp=com.google.android.gms/.update.phone.PopupDialog}
    mActivityComponent=com.google.android.gms/.update.phone.PopupDialog
    [...]
    Activities=[ActivityRecord{577992f u0 com.google.android.gms/.update.phone.PopupDialog t26}]
    [...]

This is interesting, as it says which Intent and Activity stand behind the popup, just by asking what the last Activity requests were. Even more important, if the popup was dismissed or disappeared for any other reason, it can still be found here.
So no doubt, it’s com.google.android.gms that stands behind this popup. That’s Google Mobile Service, and it’s a package that is responsible for a whole lot. [...]
Under the section “ACTIVITY MANAGER PENDING INTENTS (dumpsys activity intents)” there was
    #8: PendingIntentRecord{50a35f1 com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.gms.ota_base broadcastIntent}
      uid=10146 packageName=com.google.android.gms featureId=com.google.android.gms.ota_base type=broadcastIntent flags=0x2000000
      requestIntent=act=com.google.android.chimera.IntentOperation.TARGETED_INTENT dat=chimeraio:/com.google.android.gms.chimera.GmsIntentOperationService/com.google.android.gms.update.INSTALL_UPDATE pkg=com.google.android.gms (has extras)
      sent=true canceled=false

which I suppose indicates that com.google.android.gms has requested to run its own .update.INSTALL_UPDATE at a later stage. In other words, this is the indication of the recurring request to run the INSTALL_UPDATE intent.

Thus, if com.google.android.gms/.update.phone.PopupDialog appears in the log output, then it should be a legit popup from Google Play Services. Otherwise, the package name of the offending app will also be shown.

Thanks Andrew.  Is your conclusion that this intrusive popup is a cryptic message (incredibly bad UX by Google) indicating that the Google Play Services is planning to update itself (even though the message itself gives no such information to the user)? It still seems unclear what is actually getting updated.  Eli has demonstrated that the message likely comes from GMS, but as Eli mentions, "it's a package that is responsible for a whole lot". Can we conclude that it is planning on updating itself?

BTW, the second link in your answer goes to a deleted page on StackOverflow.  I checked on Wayback Machine, and the page is not present there either.  Do you know if that page is available elsewhere?

@RockPaperLz-MaskitorCasket based on the package name of the caller com.google.android.gms.ota_base and the download size (2.03 GB) from the screenshot on the blog, looks like it's about the Android system update OTA, not Google Play Services (GPS can and does update itself without the user's intervention). As for the deleted SO post, I'm not sure if there's an archive of it, but AFAIR that's the only comment that was related to this matter, before that question got closed and deleted (it's a cross-post that's off-topic on SO).


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Export photos from Galaxy Nexus (w/ Jelly Bean) to Win 7
I upload photos from my Galaxy Nexus (w/ Jelly Bean) directly to Google+, but I would also like to periodically export photos from my phone to my Win 7 desktop.
I tried Picasa 3.9, but it would always freeze and I would have to force quit Picasa.
I tried Windows 7's photo software (Windows Live Photo Gallery), but it would export every photo, including cached websites.
Is there a simple solution? Or will I need to manually move photos from my Galaxy Nexus to my Win 7 desktop? FWIW, the only feature set I really want is exporting photos/videos to folders based on date taken. Thanks!

I haven't tried it on Windows 7, but I expect Dropbox will work fine.

Good point... Do you mean by running the Dropbox client on my phone? Or still connecting to the desktop with USB?

Dropbox client on the phone and PC.  Phone will upload the photos, and PC will automatically sync them down.

Dropbox works great on Windows 7; I use it myself. If you don't want to leave your photos in the "Camera Uploads" folder, you can use something like Belvedere to automatically move them to, say, your "My Pictures" folder.

This works. I hoped that the Dropbox client worked better than the Win 7 import, but it doesn't (it doesn't import anything). I have to run the client on my phone and my desktop and move photos from my phone to my desktop via Dropbox, which is kind of a Rube Goldberg. I guess I will get used to managing my photos G+. :)

Can you not share a folder on your Windows machine and then use ES File Explorer or similar to copy the files across from the phone? Obviously whilst on the same local network.
It would cut out having to transfer them to a remote location and back again.

Thanks! Do you think this is better than a USB connection and manually moving? I think I will get used to managing my photos on G+.

I guess the advantage is only that you don't have to physically connect the Nexus 7 to your PC :)


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Android: POP3-only email clients without mandatory SMTP settings?
I have a few email accounts at a free email service (and all accounts are old but I prefer to use them as non-primary), and I'd like to connect them to my Android email client. In free mode, that email service only allows POP3 access so I use that for registering at message boards, services etc for really long time. When I was trying to add those accounts to my Android email client, I failed to do that because my client also requires SMTP settings. Sure, as a work around, I can use Gmail to import those accounts to my primary Gmail, but I'd like to keep them separated.
So, the question is: is there an Android email client that does not require mandatory SMTP access?
Thanks in advance.

@WalterMaier-Murdnelch oops, I was not aware of Android StackExchange. Thanks!

Found it myself:
K-9 Mail @ Google Play


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In Android Is it possible to access the physical layer of 2G/3G to transmit voice/data
I wanted to make an walkie talkie app in android, i know there are a lot of apps like these but they use the Wi-fi or they are just web services. But if we want to like transmit voice/data on 2G/3G frequencies, is there an option in android ? or "is it even legal ?" considering it will be a short range transmission.
i know that 2G/3G are not device-device communication systems but if we can directly access the physical layer of 2G/3G(the transmission hardware) of the phone then we can transmit data through it.

If you're looking for guidance on how to develop an app with this functionality then this is most likely outside the scope of our site. Development questions are handled on Stack Overflow whereas this site is for user questions.

It is already placed at stackoverflow.

Deja vu... saw that there on StackOverflow a while ago Oo

The short answer is No, the baseband firmware is not for public usage (read carefully, I am referring to the programmatic details of this, i.e. API's)
The baseband radio is isolated and proprietary and does not "exist" outside the realm of Android, rather, its using libraries which are closed source that interacts with the radio firmware.
If you are curious to know exactly behind the scenes in how Android works with the radio firmware, look at my answer on StackOverflow, it is technically orientated but will emphasize my previous paragraph.
And also, for consideration, to be honest, there is a grey area involved in using the GSM frequencies for short band transmission like as in Walkie Talkies, and furthermore, those GSM frequencies are explicitly reserved for the usage of GSM network traffic, 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, 2100Mhz.
Another aspect, you may have to acquire a license for this to be able to do so as far as laws are concerned within the jurisdiction of your country. - That I do not know!
Edit:
Radio FM apps that receives radio broadcasts of music, news etc, that is a different story, that uses a FM transmitter which is a S-o-C; this will vary depending on the chip-set used, so do not get that mixed up either with Radio firmware as far as 2G/3G is concerned :)
Disclaimer: I am not a legal expert, but if, and this is a big if this is possible, to do this - take heed and consult with your local laws.


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Tethering CM10 - high latency, high(ish) throughput
I am recently having an issue where tethering my PC (Arch Linux) to my Galaxy S2 has a very strange result.
While tethered, web surfing on my PC is painfully slow - not because of slow download speeds, but because the latency between fetching the page and the associated images/scripts can be minutes. I have verified this using Chromium's developer toolbox. This has the effect that badly designed websites don't show up for ages due to the browser waiting to download scripts (or time out) before rendering the full page.
Downloading large files, I can average >100KiB/s, so that is not the issue.
If I connect through WiFi tethering, then both the PC and my Asus Transformer tablet have the same issue, so it would appear to be an issue with the phone. Also, browsing on the phone is as I would expect, quite reasonable given that I don't have full signal, but not unusable as the tethered devices are.
I have also tried running a proxy on the phone to see if it was Three slowing me down (some of them apparently use the TTL count to see if you're tethering), but no luck.
This only started recently, and I didn't change anything on my phone at the time, though I have since gone from CM9 to CM10 to see if that would help. I may have changed something on the PC, though it was working fine on the WiFi broadband until that died (another story, hence why I'm tethering)
Hopefully someone can help me, I have a reasonable level of skill on Linux, so can help in possibly obscure ways if required. Just not sure where to start looking - the fact that both tethered devices have a similar problem points to it being the phone, but not sure how to diagnose what might be causing it.
Hopefully that's enough info, but if you need more just ask :)

BTW, I wrote this on my phone, so hopefully it makes sense due to reviewing it is difficult on a 4.5" screen :)

buffer bloat? you could cross check using USB and bluetooth tethering your mobile data plan. Additionally, do you get the same errors when tethering a wifi connection instead of 3G (via USB or Bluetooth)?

Yeah, I thought that too, but have rebooted the phone and cleared caches, and it still happens upon first boot so I don't think so. I don't have a WiFi connection to tether so I can't test that at the moment, though if it gets sorted soon enough I will.
Also, I've noticed Google searches are still quite quick, though this could be due to there apparently not being much supporting content to a page, and most of that seems to be coming from my cache.

Any progress so far? I hope it's not Three here not playing nicely. Oh: Does it only happen with http or also https? PS: have you tried using 2G only already, just to sort out if the problem is only on 3/4G?

Sorry, have been away for a few days in Strasbourg - I think I've figured it out, and it's Three killing me for tethering. Apparently they've been doing some upgrades to their network to crack down on this a bit,  and it seems I've been bitten. I get massive latency at a Three server when tracing from my PC, but not so much from the phone. Bugger - just gotta wait a couple more weeks for someone to flip a switch for our broadband connection :(

Thanks for the update! Some more ideas: Install openssh and use dynamic port forwarding or try DNS/IP tunneling (Element53) The latter adds a huge overhead and also latency, but it's worth a try to see if it's really Three.


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Removing files from & repackaging CyanogenMod ROM zip files
The current CM10 + GApps experience on Motorola Xoom is plagued by the size of the CM10 ROM -- there isn't enough space left after flashing the CM10 zip to fully flash the GApps zip. This results in gtalk force-closing while trying to video chat and some other issues.
I've been following a discussion about this on the XDA development forum for Xoom. Here's someone mentioning that he 'removed' some files from the CM10 ROM zip file to reduce it's size: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34462283#post34462283
Could someone guide me how to do this?
Is it simply unzipping the file, deleting certain files and re-zipping?
or is there more ? (like signing the file)
To remove apps from the ROM, should the .apk file simply be removed or do apps also have
associated files that need to be removed as well?
In the same discussion some people talk about moving certain files from the system partition to the data partition? How could this symlinks information be stored in the ROM zip file? or are they talking about creating the symlinks after flashing the zip?
Thanks

Just curious: How much storage do you need to free? GApps for CM10 are around 90MB or so, so that's the upper bound. Actually you could use TitaniumBackup to uninstall system apps (like Calc and such) or remove them manually using the usual steps (remount /system rw, then use any file explorer app do delete stuff). Be careful though.

@Puneet: Your link is broken.

@Izzy: sorry about the broken link, fixed it now.

Yepp, works now :)

There are multiple solutions available:
Re-Zip the Image
Advantage: You do it once, and can use the resulting image for multiple devices. That's what I did with CM7.2 for my Milestone 2. Easy enough to do:

create a temporary (empty) folder
unzip the zip file to it
remove unwanted *.apk files from /system/apps (be careful of what you remove, of course)
zip up the directory contents again

Using a graphical ZIP manager (like WinZip or the like), steps would be even easier:

open the zip file with the archive manager
remove the unwanted .apk files
if the ZIP manager requires it, save the manipulated zip

Manually cleanup after flashing, using the shell
This is what ce4 recommended in the comments. It requires you using a terminal emulator on your device:

Flash the image as-is
remove superfluous stuff from the system partition by hand (like rm /system/big/junk/example.mp4)

Manually cleanup after flashing, using other tools
Almost the same as the previous method, but a bit more user-friendly. Disadvantage: this won't do for superflous ringtones and the like:

Flash the image as-is
Use a tool like Titanium Backup or Root Uninstaller to remove unwanted system apps

Thanks. Do apps consist of only the .apk file or could they have other supporting files as well?

I don't know for sure, but IMHO usually not. In my case it was enough to remove the *.apk files.

Most apps only consist of .apk files (some also have .so files, like the camera app). Plus: Some .apk files are needed by others, so if you delete them you might encounter problems just like you had with talk). Stick to removing wallpapers, video samples, ringtones and visible apps you don't need (like Calc, the clock, video studio and such). But: You cannot do much harm; you just might have to re-flash if you mess something up.

@Izzy: You can also do the removal "on-the-fly" in the CWM recovery. Remove just enough stuff so that the GApps fit in place (using standard rm tool) and try flashing GApps. Might be even quicker.

@ce4 Sure (hm, never tried that: Does that happen before the real flash, as selecting the zip and mark what to remove?). You could even remove them afterwards with e.g. Titanium Backup. I just described how to do it beforehand, so it surely fits in itself :)

I ended up solving it by using this a mod that symlinks /system/app to /data/system.app after copying over all the files there: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2009911

@Puneet: Fine! @Izzy: I meant flashing the update.zip then removing superfluous stuff again from the system partition by hand (like rm /system/big/junk/example.mp4) or so and then flashing gapps.

@ce4 Ah, OK -- thought so. I skipped that option to provide a solution even in the case the image as such was too big to be flashed to the device. Should I update my answer with the additional options (yours plus TB/other removal apps) for completeness?

Just if you like to. Most users will do rezip. You need to be a shell lover to find that appealing.

I'm using a custom rom and I wanted to delete the AOSP browser. I simply unzipped the custom rom zip, deleted the browser apk. Then I re-zipped the rom image and flashed it as usual on TWRP.
WAY TO GO :D WORKS JUST FINE!!


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How can I block an app from accessing my contacts?
An app that has access to the list of contacts is capable, without further notice, to upload that information to a server. (If it has internet access, that is, but most do.)
I am concerned of the breach of trust to my contacts that this entails.
For example, someone on my contacts list may have gone into some trouble to remain unlisted in any phone book, and yet their phone number could become near-public, depending on the privacy policy of the app, which I, like many, never bother to read.
I'm here not even referring to app(s) that exist with the sole and express intent of making contact lists public.
Is there any way to be in control by choosing whether a given app has access to my contacts list, similar to how an app can have access to notifications, but I can disable its access to notifications while continuing to use the app?
To be clear, a messenger app becomes meaningless if it doesn't have access to contacts, but, for example, an app showing me the nearest grocer or coffee shop has no need to access my contacts. Please do not suggest "Just don't install an app that gratuitously asks for permission to access contacts." Doing so leaves users in the stone age. I'd like to be able to use any app, but to remain in charge.
Edit:
For comparison, here is a link to a companion question for iOS.

Yes.  Newer versions of Android let you easily select which permissions to allow.  You can also use the Xprivacy plugin for Xposed on older versions (requires root).

Could you provide details? Starting from which version, and under which path in settings?

Here a step by step guide working since Android 6.0+ (Screenshots from Android 7.1.1).

Go so Settings via the gear wheel icon
Select Apps
Select the gear wheel icon
Select App permissions
Select the permission of your choice
Disable the app's permission

By the time you do this, couldn't they have uploaded all your contacts already?


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Smartphone cannot read NFC tag I use to enter my building
I have a tag that I use to enter my building.

And I see someone else in my building using his smartphone instead of the tag.
I have downloaded the NFC tools app and it doesn't read the tag. It doesn't even show any response, nothing. Note that the NFC on my phone works without problems.
What is the problem?

Are you sure it's an NFC tag? It's quite possible that those are RFID tags working on a different radio frequency and that the door lock just has a multi-frequency reader. Do you know the manufacturer of the reader at the door, or the type of the tag itself?

Well, again, it's possible that the door lock has a multi-frequency reader that recognizes both RFID tags and NFC tags. (I don't know what's commercially available, as far as readers go, but I mean, that sounds plausible to me.)

@mikuzan - Most phones can’t as NFC is typically the only useful use case (I.e mobile payments)

The tag in your photo is not an "NFC" type tag; it's an 125 kHz RFID tag. (You can tell from the number stamped on it... which, by the way, is the entire "tag data" that's stored inside. Knowing the number is enough to clone the RFID tag!)
NFC "Mifare" tags also exist in the exact same shape, which might be why your building has a reader that's capable of reading both types. However, they work in completely different frequencies, and I don't think any phones support 125 kHz tags. (I'm not really good at this whole RF thing, but I suspect that it would need a somewhat larger antenna than a smartphone can fit.)
Try asking the other person (or your building's security) about the app they use.


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Syncing Facebook contacts to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean
I just upgraded to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and I was wondering if syncing my Facebook contacts could mess up my Google Contacts (which are very well organized compared to facebook), or if both services do keep isolated from each other.

No, they are run completely separate and exclusive from each other, not something that'll completely replace the data within your existing contacts... Although they can be merged so that it displays one contact instead of two (again, it still won't physically combine the data). That way, you can have their profile pic as a contact icon and even their birthday, phone number, email in one place if they have it on their profile. It'll try to merge automatically if the name + phone number or email from your Google contact matches what they have in Facebook, but it'll have to be manually merged if it doesn't.


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Android limited to 1 hour video recording?
At the moment, I am using the standard video recording app for video recording.  I have found that the recording automatically stops after just 1 hour.  Is this a deliberate limitation placed on the app, or is this an android limitation?
I have a 32Gb sd-card, so I don't think storage is a problem.  I am using Android 2.2.  I understand that this particular version of android has a 2.1Gb file size limit, but the videos I am recording are no where near 2.1Gb in file size.
So what is causing the video to stop after just one hour is my real question.

Most video recording apps are IMHO limited to 1h non-stop recording, as you can find with a simple Google search, which is probably a safety measure to not let you run out of battery -- as video recording is the biggest consumer (see What can I do to increase battery life on my Android device?).
However, a developer can have his app overriding this limit (see Max duration for capture video on android on Stack Overflow) -- so you might just have to find a video recording app which has this setting increased (as e.g. One Eye Browser in this linked pro-version).

There's also a EU tax regulation that classifies devices with >=30min recording capabilities as video cameras, maybe this is also a reason here? (source on dpreview and photo.SE)

That wouldn't explain a limit of 59:59 -- but AFAIK the Droid was limited to 29:59, which would be explained by that.


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Samsung pen sold separately
It seems that starting with the Galaxy Tab S3 (February/March 2017), Samsung has shifted to Apple's model: Sell tablets without a pen. Sell the pen as an optional attachment.
But something in the Note series (phones and tablets) used to be from Wacom. What is it, and is it still in the S3? And how does one navigate the future line-up? Does determining whether the words "capacitative display" appear in the tech specs settle it?

The Tab S3 has no dedicated slot for storing the S-Pen (unlike previous tabs equipped with the same tech) and the S line is not aimed squarely at content creators, which could be why Samsung opted to not include one in the sales package.
All S-Pens are backed by Wacom tech - the battery-free pens and their precise tips are a signature of Wacom's EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) technology. Meanwhile, most if not all modern phones have a capacitive touch screen. You have to explicitly look for "S-Pen" when you need a device with it.
As of now (Sep. 2017), most S-Pen-equipped Samsung tablets still start their model numbers with a common letter "P":

Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 is P60x (discontinued)
Note 12.2 is P90x (discontinued)
Tab A 2015 with S-Pen is P35x (8.0-inch) and P55x (9.7-inch)
Tab A 2016 with S-Pen is P58x (10.1-inch) — (discontinued)

(x for variant, e.g. 0 for WiFi, 5 for international LTE)
Tab S3 is a rare exception but it's marketed heavily around its S-Pen so you'd still know it easily.
Samsung once had a "C-Pen" denotation for a pen used on pure capacitive screens, although that's long obsolete.

Thanks! Weirdly, if I go to http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/tablets/ , click on "all other tablets", and then checkmark "S Pen support", only one tablet remains. The Canadian site http://www.samsung.com/ca/tablets/ is hopeless. The UK site http://www.samsung.com/uk/tablets/galaxy-tab-a/ has vague promise.

Not clear how the Galaxy Tab A 10.1 with S Pen 16GB (Wi-Fi) SM-P580NZWAXAR fits in your line-up. Could you mention the screen size for the two Tab A 2015/2016 models that are still on the market?

That's a P580 (it's right there in your string), aka Tab A 2016 with S-Pen. The 2015 models are a 8.0 incher (P35x) and a 9.7 incher (P55x), both with a more square-ish 4:3 screen.


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Is it possible to enter a lock code on a computer?
I locked my phone during a false "it's been stolen" panic using Google's device manager.
I chose a nontrivial password. I thought I was safe since I cut-and-pasted the password after first typing it in a text editor.
Now either something is wrong or my fingers are incapable of duplicating this password on the (now found) device itself.
Is there a way to cut-and-paste the password from a computer, rather than on the device itself? The device is in developer mode and is not rooted.
Update
Luckily I had the "Hacker's keyboard" as an option. The default Gboard keyboard does not give any feedback, but this hacker's keyboard flashes the last key pressed. Now I know with certainty that I've typed the password exactly as I had cut-and-pasted it. Hence entering the password on a computer may not help either. I wish they'd have added an "Unlock your phone" feature along with "Lock your phone" on Google's device manager page.
Update 2:
As a reference I'd like to mention here that entering a second password using the GDM is rejected. You're stuck with the first password you chose.
Having a GDM as flawed as this is still better than risking that your private information gets in the hands of random strangers, but be prepared to wipe your phone when you recover it. It may be the only option remaining.

I've read about this issue quite a few times here (see these search-results: the password set via Google Device Manager doesn't unlock the device in some cases). I have not followed it up, but with some luck one of the answers in the linked result set helps you out of the misery.

Sometimes when you cut & paste an extra "space" can be added, have you tried the passcode with an extra space at the end or leading space? Otherwise, try resetting the lock passcode on Google ADM again and wait about 15 minutes with the device booted up (assuming it has a network connection).

@Izzy If they don't properly debug the Device Manager lock/unlock procedure for a Nexus device (non-rooted, most recent official update, etc), it makes one wonder how much debugging has gone into the GDM before release. Thanks for the information and pointer. I'm going through them.

@acejavelin I used a text editor with which I'm extremely familiar (Emacs), and so I'd like to think that this is not an option, but then I have few other options than to try blindly. As I mention in the update, the "Hacker's keyboard" at least shows the characters as one is typing them.

@Calaf doesn't make me wonder. How long do we have that "Google backup", and the restore still doesn't work reliably? Somehow sounds similar: "backup works, restore not" vs. "locking works, unlocking not"…


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What is a canonical battery test that I can use before and after upgrading the OS version?
I am about to upgrade from Android K to Android L.
Right after, I will upgrade from Android L to Android M.
In a previous empirical experiment, with a now-demised device, I noticed (or seem to have noticed) that the battery life seriously degraded after upgrading Android.
Even after a good month of daily charging and discharging (from 0% to 100% and back), in the vain hope of properly recalibrating the battery, the lifetime was still down to about 8-10 hours from about 14-16 hours.
This time I would like to be able to prove it.
What is a canonical battery test that I can run (now and after upgrading) to determine whether upgrading deteriorated the battery life? I imagine that viewing a 6-hour YouTube video and noticing how far it goes would do the trick, but it's also very skewed to a single task. Is there an alternative that better represents the daily activities with an Android phone?
Update:
In addition to beeshyams's answer I'd like to point to Firelord's suggestion to use GSam, which does provide an ongoing "Averages Per Complete Charge".

Had your phone been rooted, I would have suggested to use BetterBatteryStats. However, for now, perhaps, GSam can help.

By now you would have long upgraded, but answering this hoping it may help anybody read it.

"What is a canonical battery test that I can run (now and after upgrading) to determine whether upgrading deteriorated the battery life? Battery usage depends on so many parameters. The list is possibly endless but few examples are highlighted below, leading to the conclusion that designing a canonical test is impractical from end user point of view

Device/ carrier specific -CPU (frequency range, governor, number of cores) , GPU( frequency range, Mali blobs), screen (LCD, AMOLED and it's variants, brightness), network (2G,UMTS,3G,4G,LTE etc)
Usage Specific - activating sensors (like GPS, proximity which drain battery faster), social network apps which keep the device on always, type of sites visited and how long (plain text, multimedia), upload/download (also depends on host server traffic etc)

Related to this, is that there seems to be no standard definition that defines average use. See my question How is an "average use" defined in terms of battery life. Answer to that question may help you in understanding how industry tests are carried out.
Even after a good month of daily charging and discharging (from 0% to 100% and back), in the vain hope of properly recalibrating the battery - Battery calibration is a myth, see answer here


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How do I unlock the bootloader on my Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro?
I own a "Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro" (model number SK17i) running Android 2.3.3 (Kernel 2.6.32.8-perf, build number 4.0.A.2.335). It's branded by Orange Austria. I'm looking for a way to root it, but all I could find doesn't help. I've read the xda-devel thread on rooting my phone and followed the xda-guide mentioned there. That doesn't work as planned.
The problem seems to be the branding. Fastboot won't recognize my device since I'm not able to unlock the boot loader. The phone just goes to normal charging mode, when I press [volume down] while connecting the USB cable (volume up will do nothing).
Hence my question: Is there a workaround to unlock the bootloader or an alternative way of rooting? I looked and found a method of unlocking the bootloader using the device's testpoint. According to one post there, the author succeded in unlocking his orange branded phone. For me the method described there results in a frozen s1tool and no effect on my Xperia.
Thanks for your help.
Edit:
Now it seems that nothing can be done if dial *#*#7378423#*#* -> "Service Info" -> "Configuration" -> "Bootloader unlock allowed:" says No.

Because your phone is branded by Orange Austria, the SIM card is likely locked.  SonyEricsson states: ... you can’t unlock the boot loader if you have a SIM lock protected phone
http://unlockbootloader.sonyericsson.com/which-phones#13182586887331&if_height=1139

I don't get it, why some people say phones cannot be unlocked. Some other people (in the other threads) are saying that if you give them a call and say that you are going overseas and need your phone unlocked, they would unlock it for us? So doesn't that mean that phones can be unlocked?


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How to uninstall PWA on Android Phone
I have installed a PWA on my Android phone and wanted to uninstall it by removing the icon from my home screen. However, this only removed the icon, but the app is still installed.
It should be possible to uninstall it by visiting chrome://apps, but this does not work on my mobile phone. Also, when I open the website in the browser, it automatically opens it up in full screen in app mode, so I can't uninstall it from there as well.
Seems to be like an ill designed system on mobile?

I was able to uninstall it not via browser, but by using the native phone search (the app was still listed).