[Q] AOSP Contacts on Tesla Coil ROM - Thunderbolt Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So, right off the bat, I would like you all to know that I'm extremely new to Android and the entire rooting/flashing/etc. practice. Coming from jailbreaking iPhones since the 3G, this is an entirely new concept to me.
The question I have is with regards to AOSP contacts in the Tesla Coil ROM (1.2). I have the ROM flashed and working properly, and I have the AOSP contacts .zip that kejar31 posted on his Twitter, but I'm not sure how to install this. Do I just click the .apk? I'm timid about doing anything without being sure for fear of effing something up
Thanks in advance!

Find the SLWM and you can install it from your desktop.
http://www.androidcentral.com/sideload-android-apps-all-you-want-sideload-wonder-machine

1234567188 said:
Find the SLWM and you can install it from your desktop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your help, I definitely hadn't seen anything about the SWM. One question about this method: the .apk file is located in the System-->Apps folder of the unzipped folder; there is also a META-INF file located in the unzipped folder; does this matter? I mean, this isn't a run-of-the-mill .apk, it's the contacts application for a ROM.

Oh, then my guess is its a flashable zip, just put the whole zip on the SDcard reboot to recovery select flash zip from sdcard and flash, and as always backup before you do this.

1234567188 said:
Oh, then my guess is its a flashable zip, just put the whole zip on the SDcard reboot to recovery select flash zip from sdcard and flash, and as always backup before you do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, yeah...this sounds right to me. I'd read about flashing apps, but wasn't sure how that was done. Sorry for being a noob I'll learn quickly.

Related

quick question, for the life of me i cant find this

just do i use my recovery image to install a theme? like rename theme to update.zip, power on holding home and end, click update.zip....
so im pretty sure about that but...
my rom/radio will still be there untouched right?
like this will only replace the image files or w/e is needed to make a theme?
thanks a bunch!
edit*
unlocked hero, modac. 2.9, not the permanent recovery image!
There are 2 ways to flash an image. When you go into recovery and choose "Flash update image" you will probably have 2 options.
1. Apply sdcard: update.zip
2. Apply sdcard: choose zip
Method 1. Move zip file unchanged to SD card and choose 2nd option then browse for the correct zip file.
Method 2. rename image file to update.zip , upload to your SD card and choose option 1
It doesn't affect your rom/radio etc.
Always best to do a nandriod backup before installing a theme, so that if you decide you don't like it or it doesn't run smoothly you can then do a nandriod restore which will put everything back to the way it was before you installed the theme.
thank you very much!
Goose247 said:
It doesn't affect your rom/radio etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i beg to differ. the rom is affected, as parts of the rom are exchanged with the parts modified to create the theme.
basically the images that are used to create the gui are altered and then repacked. if you extract a theme update file you will find several apk's of system apps inside, extract these and you will eventually find the images.
usually to create a theme the original app from the rom is used and only the images are altered, not the application code, so it won't make any difference for the functionality, but it leads to themes being tied to one version of a rom, and working only with that rom version.
thanks, yea i wasnt sure if i clicked update.zip, if it would erase the whole rom, and only put the alteered stuff on... leaving me without a functional rom
ahah but now i get that it only erases the parts being added!
thanks
kendong2 said:
usually to create a theme the original app from the rom is used and only the images are altered, not the application code, so it won't make any difference for the functionality, but it leads to themes being tied to one version of a rom, and working only with that rom version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's basically what I meant about functionality and images
if either of you know anything about creating themes could you check over into the dev section and answer my questions?
thankss
xsirhc6x said:
if either of you know anything about creating themes could you check over into the dev section and answer my questions?
thankss
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beyond my knowledge. But if I was to do a theme I would download a theme and have a look at all the image files and work from there
and your a genious.. lol it looks like someone who knows what there doing put together an apk with all the images, so all i gotta do is edit the colours.. then update it like the person who updated that theme did! thank youu

creating flashable ".zip" of my apps

hello everyone, i just wanted to know how to make a flashable ".zip" file, with all my apps that i want to install, in it. this is not because im lazy to install apps, its because my sd card is messed up and i cant install from my sd card, or market, so plz help, becuz this is the only way i can install apps, and i dont know how to use it.
please help me. thanks
dude no need to open a thread with the same text AGAIN
use the search button and stop creating threads with the same question
i did try searching couldnt find anythiung, if you can find a link plz post it here, thanks
haszan1172 said:
hello everyone, i just wanted to know how to make a flashable ".zip" file, with all my apps that i want to install, in it. this is not because im lazy to install apps, its because my sd card is messed up and i cant install from my sd card, or market, so plz help, becuz this is the only way i can install apps, and i dont know how to use it.
please help me. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
surely this makes it a moot question. but the answer is yes but you would have to flash it from your sd card with xrecovery.
edit: heres mine with the apps removed, open in 7zip and drag your apks into the apps folder.
away said:
surely this makes it a moot question. but the answer is yes but you would have to flash it from your sd card with xrecovery.
edit: heres mine with the apps removed, open in 7zip and drag your apks into the apps folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he was asking how to make it himself. Like how to properly make the things in that META-INF folder. I've searched too and come up with nothing. It'd be nice to be able to make a custom zip and flash back my arc phone apps, I flashed the honeycomb theme from that guy who's not go3asy, and I only hate its dialer/phonebook/calllog/favorites.
maybe you can try the HTC kitchen,which requiers your computer has a JAVA environment.

Is it possible/safe to do this?

I don't have enough posts yet to post in the Development Forum, but I have a small question.
There are some .apks in the .zip file for DroidTh3ory's new M0N0LITHTH3ORY ROM that I'm not going to use like AndExplorer and Terminal Emulator, can I delete these, and there are also some .apks from another ROM I'd like to add.
Is it safe to do this?
EchoX860 said:
I don't have enough posts yet to post in the Development Forum, but I have a small question.
There are some .apks in the .zip file for DroidTh3ory's new M0N0LITHTH3ORY ROM that I'm not going to use like AndExplorer and Terminal Emulator, can I delete these, and there are also some .apks from another ROM I'd like to add.
Is it safe to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good question...
kierandill said:
Good question...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, that's great! Except in the first line I said that I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POSTS YET
Read next time!
EchoX860 said:
I don't have enough posts yet to post in the Development Forum, but I have a small question.
There are some .apks in the .zip file for DroidTh3ory's new M0N0LITHTH3ORY ROM that I'm not going to use like AndExplorer and Terminal Emulator, can I delete these, and there are also some .apks from another ROM I'd like to add.
Is it safe to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can delete those apks and add apks from something else, no problem. You will have to re-sign the zip before it becomes flashable again.
The easy way would be to flash monolith, and use something like titanium or root explorer to remove the system apps. To add apps to a running rom, you can drop the apk in /system/app, and change the permissions to match everything else. (XX_X__X__)
Thanks! I did it this way, Open both .Zips on my PC, delete the ones I don't want, and just click and drag from another ROM. I take it that's bad?
EchoX860 said:
Thanks! I did it this way, Open both .Zips on my PC, delete the ones I don't want, and just click and drag from another ROM. I take it that's bad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's fine if you didn't extract them and zip them back up. I open the zips with winrar or 7zip and swap them that way with no problems, sometimes if your replacing an app delete the one you are replacing before you drag and drop the new/themed version.
If you completely unzip and re-zip the file will need to be resigned to be able to flash. The way you describe will work no problem.

How to zip a ROM to be flashed

Okay so I've spent about 2 days tweaking my stock deodexed Rom to my liking and It's super fast and responsive. Faster scrolling and speed hacks. Quadrants in the 2000s. And much more. How do I take this Rom and zip it so other people can flash it if they want?
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
youngpro83 said:
Okay so I've spent about 2 days tweaking my stock deodexed Rom to my liking and It's super fast and responsive. Faster scrolling and speed hacks. Quadrants in the 2000s. And much more. How do I take this Rom and zip it so other people can flash it if they want?
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
packaging up a ROM is fairly simple.
for a ROM .zip there are a few main components:
1) *required* /system directory (contains all your ROM files)
2) *required* META-INF/com/google/android/ with two files, updater-script and update-binary. updater-script file instructs the update-binary on how to process/install your ROM. the custom recovery will look for these two files and execute them.
3) *optional* a kernel in the .zip to be flashed
hope that helps! good luck on publishing your ROM!
joeykrim said:
packaging up a ROM is fairly simple.
for a ROM .zip there are a few main components:
1) *required* /system directory (contains all your ROM files)
2) *required* META-INF/com/google/android/ with two files, updater-script and update-binary. updater-script file instructs the update-binary on how to process/install your ROM. the custom recovery will look for these two files and execute them.
3) *optional* a kernel in the .zip to be flashed
hope that helps! good luck on publishing your ROM!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So could I just take a ROM and just change certain files and apps? And how do you make the Rom do cool stuff while flashing like spell your Rom name while it flashes? Sorry for all the questions but I appreciate ur help.
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
youngpro83 said:
So could I just take a ROM and just change certain files and apps? And how do you make the Rom do cool stuff while flashing like spell your Rom name while it flashes? Sorry for all the questions but I appreciate ur help.
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually, at least from what I know...
The more In depth stuff is done with the ROM Kitchen through a computer!
youngpro83 said:
So could I just take a ROM and just change certain files and apps? And how do you make the Rom do cool stuff while flashing like spell your Rom name while it flashes? Sorry for all the questions but I appreciate ur help.
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, you could take a ROM and only replace certain files / apps with the ones you've modified.
the ROM "cool stuff" while it flashes is all done in the updater-script file i mentioned in #2 of the required ROM files in my previous post above.
the ROM I maintan and publish for EVO 3D is 100% stock with root/su binary added, busybox and a bunch of linux arm developer binaries in /system/xbin.
my stock ROM would be a great base for you to start modifying and experimenting with!
1) swap out the apk/files in the .zip with the ones you've modified.
2) modify the updater-script file with your syntax
3) let us know how it goes!
[ROM] joeykrim-original-1.2.0 Odex *Stock Rooted 2.08.651.2* Aug 21st 2011
on windows, 7zip is a great GUI application for swap/editing files inside a .zip without having to extract the whole thing.
on linux, i'd just unzip the whole .zip to a directory and then swap out the files/edit the files in that directory, then zip up. also, i think ubuntu archive manager (default GUI for .zip files) lets you modify/edit files inside the .zip without having to extract the whole thing.
hope that helps!
joeykrim said:
yes, you could take a ROM and only replace certain files / apps with the ones you've modified.
the ROM "cool stuff" while it flashes is all done in the updater-script file i mentioned in #2 of the required ROM files in my previous post above.
the ROM I maintan and publish for EVO 3D is 100% stock with root/su binary added, busybox and a bunch of linux arm developer binaries in /system/xbin.
my stock ROM would be a great base for you to start modifying and experimenting with!
1) swap out the apk/files in the .zip with the ones you've modified.
2) modify the updater-script file with your syntax
3) let us know how it goes!
[ROM] joeykrim-original-1.2.0 Odex *Stock Rooted 2.08.651.2* Aug 21st 2011
on windows, 7zip is a great GUI application for swap/editing files inside a .zip without having to extract the whole thing.
on linux, i'd just unzip the whole .zip to a directory and then swap out the files/edit the files in that directory, then zip up. also, i think ubuntu archive manager (default GUI for .zip files) lets you modify/edit files inside the .zip without having to extract the whole thing.
hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. So ill experiment with ur base. What is syntax?
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
youngpro83 said:
Thanks a lot. So ill experiment with ur base. What is syntax?
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fancy word i used in place of code/text. you can open the updater-script inside of the .zip file with a text editor. the updater-script file uses the edify scripting language.
there are a lot of guides on how to use edify and what each phrase means. google the terms, "edify android guide" and there should be a bunch of results. one of the results which looks fairly decent - Edify Script Syntax Explained
hope that helps! good luck!
youngpro83 said:
Okay so I've spent about 2 days tweaking my stock deodexed Rom to my liking and It's super fast and responsive. Faster scrolling and speed hacks. Quadrants in the 2000s. And much more. How do I take this Rom and zip it so other people can flash it if they want?
Sent from my Beastly EVO.. And did I mention it has 3D?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool man! Good luck! Hope to see ya on the dev page.
Sent from my SPH-P100 using xda premium
Alright so progress is being made and its going very well. Only things Im stuck on now is:
1. How do I add certain apps like astro or ES file explorer WITHOUT putting them into the system/apps folder??
2. How do I change the background at boot so that its not the colorful flares that Sprint has on there.
3. How do I remove the 3D apps game apk?
Once I have those figured out I think my ROM will be ready for the public.
youngpro83 said:
Alright so progress is being made and its going very well. Only things Im stuck on now is:
1. How do I add certain apps like astro or ES file explorer WITHOUT putting them into the system/apps folder??
2. How do I change the background at boot so that its not the colorful flares that Sprint has on there.
3. How do I remove the 3D apps game apk?
Once I have those figured out I think my ROM will be ready for the public.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. android package manager monitors two locations for .apk files and will install them as soon as they appear in these two directories: /system/app and /data/app. if you want your rom to install .apk files to /data/app, you'll need to add the package_extract_dir command to your updater-script for /data and also create a data/app directory in the ROM zip file and put whatever apk files you want added in the data/app dir of the ROM zip file.
2. For Android boot animations the system looks in 3 locations in this order. 1) /data/local/bootanimation.zip, 2) /system/media/bootanimation.zip and 3) framework-res.apk . Since there are no bootanimation.zip files on our device, I'm assuming the sprint boot animation is stored in the framework-res.apk file. No worries, as placing any bootanimation file in either /data/local or /system/media will take priority over the Sprint animation in framework-res.apk.
3. 3D Games apk file is located here: /system/app/PGAWidget_HTCEvo3D_Sprint_v100.apk . Simply remove that apk file from /system/app inside the ROM .zip and it will not be loaded.
Let us know if you have any other questions. Hope that helps and good luck in the publishing!
joeykrim said:
1. android package manager monitors two locations for .apk files and will install them as soon as they appear in these two directories: /system/app and /data/app. if you want your rom to install .apk files to /data/app, you'll need to add the package_extract_dir command to your updater-script for /data and also create a data/app directory in the ROM zip file and put whatever apk files you want added in the data/app dir of the ROM zip file.
2. For Android boot animations the system looks in 3 locations in this order. 1) /data/local/bootanimation.zip, 2) /system/media/bootanimation.zip and 3) framework-res.apk . Since there are no bootanimation.zip files on our device, I'm assuming the sprint boot animation is stored in the framework-res.apk file. No worries, as placing any bootanimation file in either /data/local or /system/media will take priority over the Sprint animation in framework-res.apk.
3. 3D Games apk file is located here: /system/app/PGAWidget_HTCEvo3D_Sprint_v100.apk . Simply remove that apk file from /system/app inside the ROM .zip and it will not be loaded.
Let us know if you have any other questions. Hope that helps and good luck in the publishing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man you are the BOMB.COM!!!!
And for 2. I wasnt looking to replace the boot animation. I kinda like the Sprint one. I was trying to replace the actual wallpaper that the phone boots into. So at the home screen I can have my own wallpaper that I choose for my ROM.
Also for 1. Do I need to create a unmount script like the one for /system? Or do I just add the script you mentioned and that is it?
Thanks so much for your help man. I dont think I would have gotten this far without you!!
youngpro83 said:
Man you are the BOMB.COM!!!!
And for 2. I wasnt looking to replace the boot animation. I kinda like the Sprint one. I was trying to replace the actual wallpaper that the phone boots into. So at the home screen I can have my own wallpaper that I choose for my ROM.
Also for 1. Do I need to create a unmount script like the one for /system? Or do I just add the script you mentioned and that is it?
Thanks so much for your help man. I dont think I would have gotten this far without you!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I misunderstood for 2. For the actual wallpaper .. I did a few quick google searches and haven't come up with anything super helpful. Based on this blog post Appears there are two possible locations for the default wallpaper images to be stored, either in the Launcher.apk or in /system/frameworks/framework.jar. Unfortunately, I'm not able to experiment on the device and search more thoroughly. If nobody posts back a better answer I'll look into this tonight.
1. Yea, it would be best practice to mount data, package extract dir /data and then unmount data. You should be able to copy the mount/unmount commands used for system and change the mount points to data and for the mount command change the device point for data .. off the top of my head I think its one number higher, but not positive. cat /proc/partitions to see the exact device mount point.
Hope that helps!
joeykrim said:
Oh, I misunderstood for 2. For the actual wallpaper .. I did a few quick google searches and haven't come up with anything super helpful. Based on this blog post Appears there are two possible locations for the default wallpaper images to be stored, either in the Launcher.apk or in /system/frameworks/framework.jar. Unfortunately, I'm not able to experiment on the device and search more thoroughly. If nobody posts back a better answer I'll look into this tonight.
1. Yea, it would be best practice to mount data, package extract dir /data and then unmount data. You should be able to copy the mount/unmount commands used for system and change the mount points to data and for the mount command change the device point for data .. off the top of my head I think its one number higher, but not positive. cat /proc/partitions to see the exact device mount point.
Hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Helps a bunch!!! I will have to dig deeper because I tried flashing after creating those scripts and I got error 6 when trying to flash. Ill add the mount/unmount commands and see if that fixes it.
youngpro83 said:
Helps a bunch!!! I will have to dig deeper because I tried flashing after creating those scripts and I got error 6 when trying to flash. Ill add the mount/unmount commands and see if that fixes it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To debug flashing errors while in the recovery, open adb shell and type:
Code:
cat /tmp/recovery.log
The recovery log has more details and usually the exact line of code where it failed. Feel free to paste this into pastebin and link up here, or paste into the thread and we can help troubleshoot.
Another step deeper into troubleshooting and debugging land of ROM development! Hope that helps!
Joeykrim, learned more from this thread then searching chefs central..
life64x said:
Joeykrim, learned more from this thread then searching chefs central..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I Agree... This Thread could be on its way to being a little STICKY, Lol!
Nah but Good Thread guys!

Flash all your apps at one time (makes life so much easier)

Here is a .zip where you can flash all your apps in one fell swoop.
This is not my work but something Silesh made for me. I don't think he will mind me sharing it.
I use it all the time and it saves me tons of time not having to install my apps manually.
All you need is WinZip
Just put all your apk files into the data/app folder
and flash away.
What I do is flash the rom and fully boot it first,
then I go back into recovery and flash this .zip.
Boom, all my apps installed. Very nice!
I put just one apk in there. Clean Brower, just so it will work and I can post it here.
Another trick is, using Root Explorer on you phone, just copy your data/app folder from your rom
Then replace that app folder in this .zip and all your apps will be in there.
The advantage to doing this is even when you update or add new apps your apps from the playstore or other, the updated apks will end up in this flashable .zip.
Just make sure when using WinZip when you "add files" and add the app folder you drag it into the data folder. (first delete the app folder that is already in there.)
Again all credit goes to Silesh
Just thought I'd share this.
..
Thanks :good:
Nice to have. Thanks for sharing.
Very good!
Thanks for you. It really works.
Please, can you show, how I can use your zip for another devices? May be for I9000?
faorekh said:
Thanks for you. It really works.
Please, can you show, how I can use your zip for another devices? May be for I9000?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should work on other devices the same.
It flashes all your apps to data/app folder which is used on any Android device.
Obviously not for windows or apple.
Sent from my GT-I9205 using Tapatalk 2
Hi,
zcink said:
It should work on other devices the same.
It flashes all your apps to data/app folder which is used on any Android device.
Obviously not for windows or apple.
Sent from my GT-I9205 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zicnk, maybe you are interested in this app too:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zip.me&hl=en
treare said:
Hi,
zicnk, maybe you are interested in this app too:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zip.me&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes thanks.
I have a couple other apps that create flashable zips
But none work as good as the script Silesh has made.
One has an aroma installer but it also has alot of bugs.
Copying my data/app folder into Silesh's .zip works flawless for me.
Sent from Smoke Signals
Aroma Installer
Here is an apk that basically does the same thing.
You can use it to backup and reflash all your apks in recovery at the same time.
This one uses an aroma installer which is nice because you can check or uncheck only the apps you want to install.
It will also do system apps.
Not my work. Had this kicking around from a older phone.
Seems to work fine on the Mega.
Just sharing.
Sent from Smoke Signals

Categories

Resources