Editing ROMs - Android

Hi all,
I am relatively new to the android community, so I don't feel confident playing around with large parts of ROMs, however I am interested in trying to edit a ROM so that it has as many of my apps and things as default to save room.
Idealy I would like my ROM to:
-Have only the apps I want and need, so I have started stripping out some I don't
-Have my background of choice and no others
-Have a custom launcher (I am looking at LauncherPro, although i understand this only works on android 2.0 and above so cant intergrate this yet)
I am using the stock T-mobile 1.5 custom ROM uploaded by Paul onto Modaco as the ROM I am editing (Sorry I cannot post a link as this is my first post)
Once I have completed this project I would like to create a tutorial to help other people new to the Android scene, who, like me, don't have the knowledge or confidence to edit the ROM majorly.
My first step is remove the unwanted apps and replace them with the ones I do want. So my first question is what apps are vital to androids running that I wont be able to delete. Also, where can I get the .apks of the apps I want to add in?
Any other help in this project will be greatly appreciated.
Thanx
Aaron

well you can check the wiki for refrence but i due know that you can remove apps like google apps gmail email market market updater .... just remeber not to delete them like remove them and move them to a safe folder on your desk top in case you removed a vital app ok thats what i do

djm25 said:
well you can check the wiki for refrence but i due know that you can remove apps like google apps gmail email market market updater .... just remeber not to delete them like remove them and move them to a safe folder on your desk top in case you removed a vital app ok thats what i do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx. I have a copy of the original ROM and the one im editing just in case. Is it just a case of trying it out to see if it works and what i can and cant delete then?
Thanx
Aaron

more or less but its better to know what your removing so check this site shttp://source.android.com/
http://forum.androidcentral.com/hacking/6037-general-rom-faq.html

You have to be careful what you are removing and changing. Removing google talk basically dissables the market which I am not sure why but it does. THere are other apps that are linked that you would not think about. You also must know how to resign the rom zip file. There is an app here called autosign and it works pretty good. Its for themers but it works for moding a rom too. If you want to replace the launcher simply delete the launcher.apk and add in the one you want. The wallpaper backgrounds are usually in the launcher.apk unless you are using a sense rom. Sense uses Rosie.apk and the wallpapers are all in htc.widgetpicker.apk (i think thats what its called).

Related

[help needed] stock Android apps on Hero

Hi,
In anticipation of the great work our devs are doing, like porting vanilla 1.6 to Hero, I wanted to put some stock Android apps on my Hero.
The reason for this is; I like the original Android UI better.
I made a list of which Android apps I would like to have on my Hero, I will update the startpost with added howto's, for the people interested.
Ofcourse, I am not capable of doing 'real dev' work, if that was the case, I would try to help port 1.6 to the Hero. But this is all I can do at the moment and I hope I can contribute this way to the community.
[done]
-Home app: download "home switcher" from the Market
[to do]
-sms application
-music player
-calendar
-browser
-cellphone /dialer application
-contact list
-camera application
-albums application
I think if we work together to make the original apps work, we have a viable alternative to a 'real vanilla' android Hero rom. Also I could be more easy to just modify the original Hero roms; when the HTC branded 1.6 and 2.0 will come out, we will know how to switch the apps, which I anticipate to be more easy than porting the kernel, and rebuilding everything, etc
The following stage would be to delete the old apps, and to make Android as clean as possible.
Ofcourse, only for those who want it. A lot of people love the Sense UI and the HTC apps, and that is good. Android is about choice
Also, I will look on how to change the apps, just comment if you know if a certain app can be restored, and even better, if you know how to.
Thanks in advance, everybody!
E2K said:
Hi,
[done]
-Home app: download "home switcher" from the Market
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah, it is way easier to set this through application preferences in the phones settings, nothing so special about that.
E2K said:
[to do]
-sms application
-music player
-calendar
-browser
-cellphone /dialer application
-contact list
-camera application
-albums application
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you check which of these are modified by htc anyway?
tbh i don't really care for a vanilla android, but afaik at least the camera application is the stock android one even in htc roms...
Yes, I checked all those applications:
In the Application properties you can see that it says "hTC Application" after you press the info key.
And in the application list (from the settings menu) it says "HTC corporation" under all the HTC rebranded apps.
edit: the HTC camera application has a different interface
so does anyone know how to get certain original apps back?
How can i remove the sense interface? I'm on modaco 2.8 but don't know for sure what i can delete
Just try that : http://android.modaco.com/content/h...7/13-08-1-0-modaco-hero-rosie-remover/#entry0
(you can download the zip and see in the rep MANIFEST what the update do and do it in adb shell)
delete SYSTEM:app/Rosie.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/Rosie.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htcbookmarkwidget.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htcbookmarkwidget.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htccalendarwidgets.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htccalendarwidgets.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htccontactwidgets.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htccontactwidgets.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htcmailwidgets.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htcmailwidgets.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htcmsgwidgets.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htcmsgwidgets.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htcsearchwidgets.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htcsearchwidgets.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/htcsettingwidgets.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/htcsettingwidgets.odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is what happens for the update.zip, just do a nandroid backup and try it?
i read in some forum that the camera app was identical, sry for that. did you find actual differences in the application, besides from the htc strings?
kendong2 said:
this is what happens for the update.zip, just do a nandroid backup and try it?
i read in some forum that the camera app was identical, sry for that. did you find actual differences in the application, besides from the htc strings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for what what the update.zip changes.
As you can see, it had widget next to everything, which means it only deletes the widget 'front ends' of these applications. It will not restore the stock android apps, like the browser or the music player.
I am trying to contact some Dream-developers/modders as they appear very capable and knowledgeable. They should be able to help us out.
Again, when we learn how to replace the HTC apps, we can have a 'clean' rom in notime, regardless of the android version. For example, if HTC released 2.0, but with sense and all that, we could just delete that, and change out the applications so we end up with a very fast, and clean rom.
I don't have a lot of faith in people porting over/ compiling a fresh, complete and fully working version for the Hero ..
any suggestions
Does anyone know if it is possible to replace the htc apps with the stock google android apps on Hero?
The list in the initial post contains all the apps I need.
I find it strange that this is not possible after such a long time. I would really have my Hero all stock Android. I dont like the HTC approach to things. Why is it so hard to replace the HTC apps with stock Android apps?
Fredriksen said:
I find it strange that this is not possible after such a long time. I would really have my Hero all stock Android. I dont like the HTC approach to things. Why is it so hard to replace the HTC apps with stock Android apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Partly because not all the stock apps are that easy to get, partly because HTC has stuck their brand on practically everything, and partly because if you replace one you have to replace others, else the apk signatures (especially with shared users and other dependencies) don't match. And if we're talking about the Sprint Hero, it gets even worse, because HTC had to modify the core framework beyond recognition, so that it would work with CDMA (so it's possible that just grabbing a vanilla apk, resigning it, and throwing it on there wouldn't work anyway).
All that is just conjecture though, as I haven't tried any of it aside from the Calendar app (gave up cause it didn't work immediately and I didn't have the time). Maybe I'll have time to try it this weekend and see how much can be replaced.
Great explanation, thanks. I miss Windows Mobile (Phone, whatever) where things like these were much easier to adjust without all this hassle.
If you manage to pull it of you will be my ...erm... Hero.
Yeah, the best of luck!
maejrep said:
Partly because not all the stock apps are that easy to get, partly because HTC has stuck their brand on practically everything, and partly because if you replace one you have to replace others, else the apk signatures (especially with shared users and other dependencies) don't match. And if we're talking about the Sprint Hero, it gets even worse, because HTC had to modify the core framework beyond recognition, so that it would work with CDMA (so it's possible that just grabbing a vanilla apk, resigning it, and throwing it on there wouldn't work anyway).
All that is just conjecture though, as I haven't tried any of it aside from the Calendar app (gave up cause it didn't work immediately and I didn't have the time). Maybe I'll have time to try it this weekend and see how much can be replaced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you find out anything?
greetings!

Configure Sense

Hello
I want to configure all of Sense tabs to use the widgets I want, in my rom after a hard reset or after a new flash, so I dont have to configure it over and over again.
I know that /system/customize/MNS/default.xml edits some of the favorites bookmarks and such, but I cant configure all tabs.
Coming for WM, all I had to do then, was to set sense as I wanted, export the reg entries, and cook it in my new rom.
Can I do something similar in Android?
Does Sense builds some XML file that I can cook in my kitchen?
Thanks for helping a noob cook.
madsurfer1 said:
Hello
I want to configure all of Sense tabs to use the widgets I want, in my rom after a hard reset or after a new flash, so I dont have to configure it over and over again.
I know that /system/customize/MNS/default.xml edits some of the favorites bookmarks and such, but I cant configure all tabs.
Coming for WM, all I had to do then, was to set sense as I wanted, export the reg entries, and cook it in my new rom.
Can I do something similar in Android?
Does Sense builds some XML file that I can cook in my kitchen?
Thanks for helping a noob cook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so far i know of a few settings that u can setup if u decompile some apk's.
settingsprovider is one of them...
u change some values bool.xml and recompile.
and yes... default.xml is an easy way to change up things... the only issue i had with that is that i can only switch around between htc apps... i could never get for example "fancywidget" to load instead of htc clockwidget.
i also setup the system to accept "non market apps installations" because that way u can basically get rid of everything stock and have everything else working instead. for example once u set it like that u can use any keyboard that u'd like instead of htc_ime by simply putting the app inside /data/app or system/app and removing clicker.apk and htc_ime.apk... then the sys will pick your keyboard and u wont get fc's and such.
there are a bunch of other tiny tricks u can do... u can basically setup the rom anyway u want by decompiling apk's and changing colors/bools(settings)/ringtone/notifications sounds/animations etc... it's not so hard also... but u gotta know what u looking for.
im not sure how much experience u got... but i would recommend apktools by brut... or lookup apkmanager which is sort of a gui for doing all that stuff and simply start experimenting with some stuff.
p.s.
the only way i got my sense to be exactly the way i want it to at first flash is by adding a bunch of files from /data/data in th update.zip and making sure to set permissions the right way.
since im not a linux or android specialist i figured that looking up the permission of the files and folders using rootexplorer and adding them to the update script will work... and they did.
u can also add a "fix_permission" script to your boot sequence that would take care of things like that.
a lot of things to explain... but i personally do things the hard way cuz i like to figure stuff out for myslef... so my insight is only from personal experience and probably not more than 50 pages that i had to read to figure some things out.
maybe someone else knows a better way to do things like what im talking about. so it would be interesting to see who else reply to your post.
Thank you for the info my friend
I'll try that an report later.
very thanks!

[Q] Noob questions..

Hi iam new to all this, and i try to read so mmany things that i can, but not all is easy to find.
1: When you port a rom from 1 phone 2 another, how do they do it, why is there so many problems with diff aps? If i see CM they seem to get things to work on diff models at the same time, why is that?
2: What does 9 png mean i know that png is a picture extension.
3: Why is it from what i read a pain in the *** to remake aps to another phone
4: I use the new rom with sence 2.1, i really love it, but i would like to remove the names on my aps/shortcuts (forgot the real word for it) like you can in adw launcher, is this possible and how.
Thx in advance, for this site and hopefully answers
Brian DK
As far as I know the hardest thing to do in order to make a custom ROM work is to make all the drivers working. They are usually developed by the hardware manufacturer and are available only as binaries so it is not so simple to make all the system work perfectly.
I know this explanation may not be complete, but I hope I have clarified the basis at least.
Thx, it was what i fugured, so thx for answer
The problems with remaking apps is they are usually for a phone with a higher resolution,so things dont fit properly
Ha ha... you can go read what ogo2 have been doing with the salsa rom on dev side to see what happening. I've been following that thread for quite some time.
Give his rom a test drive. Best way to know this issue is to experience it.
About rename or no name on app, I think it's a launchers function. I just learn that you can rename or leave the short cut blank in "go launcher ex"
Sent from my Legend using XDA App

[Q] Replace dialer on rooted phone

Hi, i'm using the Synergy ROM and love it. The only thing i don't like is the default screen that comes up when the phone rings (in this case it's a big VirusROM logo). I would like to change this to either the stock screen, or perhaps one from another ROM.
From what I can tell, I need to find the PHONE.APK file from the ROM I want and then add it to the phone. What I cannot find is instructions on how to successfully replace the file that is already on the phone. Based on some threads I've read, I assume a simple drag and drop won't work.
Or, maybe there is an easier way? I use GO Contacts as my dialer, the only thing i'm really looking to change is the large picture that shows up for any contact who does not have a pic associated (none of my contacts have pics, so it comes up for every call for me).
Any advice/suggestions appreciated. If I missed this information in an obvious place, I apologize.
Use Ninjamorph (on your phone) or apk tools on your computer to replace /system/app/Phone.apk/res/drawable-hdpi/picture_unknown.png with whatever you want.
Thanks! Is there a certain file size or resolution that the file needs to be?
badfish_23 said:
Thanks! Is there a certain file size or resolution that the file needs to be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. If there's a theme that has an image already made for it that you would rather have, you can just replace with it since it would already be sized appropriately. Otherwise, there should be several themeing guides that walk you through how to extract the apk, create the replacement images, replace them, and recompress. Just look for some good themeing guides. I don't have any links handy but they shouldn't be difficult to find.
Got it, thanks so much for your quick and thorough assistance

Which Apks Can I Remove from My Phone?

i got an inspire 4g running a sense rom called virtuous unity. i want to remove unneeded apks from my phone like, VoiceDialer.apk and Facebook.apk. which unneeded apks can i safely delete from my phone?
You can do a google search on each apk that your not sure about. Make sure you back up your phone first just in case you remove something you want to keep or you need. There are web sites that list all the apps on cm and tells what they are. I'm sure there is alot of info on your rom.
onlychevys said:
You can do a google search on each apk that your not sure about. Make sure you back up your phone first just in case you remove something you want to keep or you need. There are web sites that list all the apps on cm and tells what they are. I'm sure there is alot of info on your rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks.. if you can provide some links, i'd appreciate it.

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