I had this issue, where all apps would run fine, but web pages would freeze. Moreover, this would only happen when using 4G. Unfortunately, the problem is due to adfree replacing the hosts file. I am not sure why, and even more confused why it only affects 4G, but it is definitely the culprit. Currently, the only solution I have is to revert the hosts file and deal with the ads. So what it comes down to, is enjoy 4G in the browser, and have ads, or no ads and no 4G in the browser.
Here is the fix, courtesy of RyteSyde:
Open up adfree and choose custom ip, in the box enter
72.3.232.220
Then let adfree do its thing. That is all it takes to have 4G and no ads. If you appreciate this, give RyteSyde a thank you.
It could be one or several individual entries in your hosts. I don't use adfree but use a hosts file I compile myself and use on my win servers, clients etc. No probs on 3/4g or wireless. Have you tried replacing the hosts yourself...ie without adfree?
RyteSyde said:
It could be one or several individual entries in your hosts. I don't use adfree but use a hosts file I compile myself and use on my win servers, clients etc. No probs on 3/4g or wireless. Have you tried replacing the hosts yourself...ie without adfree?
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I tried with some old hosts files I had, but still had issues. Could I trouble you to upload your hosts file? Thank you
cloverdale said:
I tried with some old hosts files I had, but still had issues. Could I trouble you to upload your hosts file? Thank you
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Sure thing. Here's a zip with the hosts in unix and win formats. You can remove/add to the list but if you make changes to the unix list be sure to convert it back to unix format after saving so the carraige returns are correct. I use dos2unix for that. Also, if you open the unix in notepad they will all run together, but wordpad will line item them.
RyteSyde said:
Sure thing. Here's a zip with the hosts in unix and win formats. You can remove/add to the list but if you make changes to the unix list be sure to convert it back to unix format after saving so the carraige returns are correct. I use dos2unix for that. Also, if you open the unix in notepad they will all run together, but wordpad will line item them.
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Click to collapse
I appreciate it, thanks. (I run Linux, so format should not be an issue, but thanks for the warning).
also just in case anyone else reads this...
To copy the hosts yourself, though there are several ways, put the unix hosts file on you sd card. I typically just email it to myself since I'll get it right away via exchange and I don't have to USB the phone. Then I save the att to the sd card. From there I use root explorer and Mount R/W mode and navigate to the hosts file on the sd card and copy the hosts file. Then navigate to the /etc folder on the phone and paste the hosts file. If you only have the original hosts there is ony one line in it (127.0.0.1 localhost) so it's not super important to backup the original (I don't). You can always rename the original to hostsX or the like if you wish.
After you've copied it, reboot the phone and you're good to go.
The win version goes in windows\system32\drivers\etc and there's no need to reboot. Just do a command prompt "ipconfig /flushdns" and then "nbtstat -R" to clear the cache. The win hosts can also be merged with your current one with notepad or your flavor of text editor.
This will block a large majority of the ads out there on sites like drudge etc.
HTH
cloverdale said:
I appreciate it, thanks. (I run Linux, so format should not be an issue, but thanks for the warning).
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Hey CD, just checking in to see if you've been able to resolve you 4g issue. Alls well?
RyteSyde said:
Hey CD, just checking in to see if you've been able to resolve you 4g issue. Alls well?
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Unfortunately no, when I pushed your host file, my phone started boot looping. I did nothing else, just pushed the file, then rebooted. I am really confused by this, as it would have worked fine with my G1. I need to investigate further.
well that's really strange. Perhaps dos2unix didn't do it's job properly or something. Can you open the unix hosts file on your linux box, save it and then try?
Strange it's boot looping because hosts is pretty low on the resolution stack and should just bypass if it can't read/find a hosts and move on to DNS resolution.
RyteSyde said:
well that's really strange. Perhaps dos2unix didn't do it's job properly or something. Can you open the unix hosts file on your linux box, save it and then try?
Strange it's boot looping because hosts is pretty low on the resolution stack and should just bypass if it can't read/find a hosts and move on to DNS resolution.
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That is what I was thinking. I will give it another shot after work tonight.
I got the same problem loading pages on 4G through the browser while using adfree. So I switched to Dolphin browser and that took care of it. That is a temp fix for now I guess but honestly Dolphin is a better browser to me anyway.
cloverdale said:
That is what I was thinking. I will give it another shot after work tonight.
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Click to collapse
I've confirmed this issue on my device as well and I'm about 99% sure I've confirmed what is causing it and it's not the structure or corruption of the hosts file but it has to do with it. Will post back when I have the update.
Okay got the fix for this. Sorry it took so long but my 4G at the moment won't hold a signal so I got in the truck, braved the 25degree temps and went and parked right next to my closest 4G tower so I could hold a signal and finally confirm this. It's not really a fix per-se, rather a correction. What AdFree does is use 127.0.0.1 to redirect domains away from their correct IP's. That's nothing new. When I modify hosts files, I never use 127.0.0.1 because it is an internal loopback designation. Will it work, yes but if 127.0.0.1 does not run a web server, your returns *can* be much slower vs. an actual web server that returns an immediate response, even if that response is "page not found" etc. Compare that to a simple wait for timeout for no response. So, for my setup here I have a domain controller, web/dns server etc. and all of my hosts files point to that server's LAN IP. Result...no ads (or very very few until I add them to the list) and pages are very fast to load. Actually, I just use the hosts file on the server and use that server as my primary DNS everywhere else so I don't have to update the hosts on multiple machines.
Obviously on the phone, it's not able to see my server's IP so I modified the hosts I uploaded to use 127.0.0.1, because we weren't having issues with timeouts. The problem comes with 4G and it's got to be because the 4G is going through a proxy server I'm not aware of yet (haven't investigated further) and when it tries to return back to 127.0.0.1, that is no longer *your* NIC. That's why some pages will load and others won't. If a page has content derived from any source that's listed in the hosts file, it will try to wait for the timeout before moving on to the remainder of the code. If you hit a page that doesn't have any references to anything in the hosts file, it'll load just fine.
So, the resolution is to modify the IP used in the hosts file. I decided to load up sprint.com and see what speeds I got from various derivatives and for *me* the fastest one was now.sprint.com, which resolves to 72.3.232.220. I replaced all of the 127.0.0.1 entries with 72.3.232.220 except for the first localhost, leaving that 127.0.0.1 and put that on the SD card. I went to the tower, fiddled around making sure it was doing the same thing and then loaded this hosts file. (FYI you don't need to reboot after replacing it). Now all the pages load like you'd expect.
So, I hope that drawn out explanation helps you and others. You can use really any IP you want for the hosts resolver, just try to make sure it's an actual web server to avoid the timeouts.
I'm uploading the hosts with the now.sprint.com IP for you and all to use. Let me know if it fixes your problem as it did mine.
Ryte
RyteSyde said:
Okay got the fix for this. Sorry it took so long but my 4G at the moment won't hold a signal so I got in the truck, braved the 25degree temps and went and parked right next to my closest 4G tower so I could hold a signal and finally confirm this. It's not really a fix per-se, rather a correction. What AdFree does is use 127.0.0.1 to redirect domains away from their correct IP's. That's nothing new. When I modify hosts files, I never use 127.0.0.1 because it is an internal loopback designation. Will it work, yes but if 127.0.0.1 does not run a web server, your returns *can* be much slower vs. an actual web server that returns an immediate response, even if that response is "page not found" etc. Compare that to a simple wait for timeout for no response. So, for my setup here I have a domain controller, web/dns server etc. and all of my hosts files point to that server's LAN IP. Result...no ads (or very very few until I add them to the list) and pages are very fast to load. Actually, I just use the hosts file on the server and use that server as my primary DNS everywhere else so I don't have to update the hosts on multiple machines.
Obviously on the phone, it's not able to see my server's IP so I modified the hosts I uploaded to use 127.0.0.1, because we weren't having issues with timeouts. The problem comes with 4G and it's got to be because the 4G is going through a proxy server I'm not aware of yet (haven't investigated further) and when it tries to return back to 127.0.0.1, that is no longer *your* NIC. That's why some pages will load and others won't. If a page has content derived from any source that's listed in the hosts file, it will try to wait for the timeout before moving on to the remainder of the code. If you hit a page that doesn't have any references to anything in the hosts file, it'll load just fine.
So, the resolution is to modify the IP used in the hosts file. I decided to load up sprint.com and see what speeds I got from various derivatives and for *me* the fastest one was now.sprint.com, which resolves to 72.3.232.220. I replaced all of the 127.0.0.1 entries with 72.3.232.220 except for the first localhost, leaving that 127.0.0.1 and put that on the SD card. I went to the tower, fiddled around making sure it was doing the same thing and then loaded this hosts file. (FYI you don't need to reboot after replacing it). Now all the pages load like you'd expect.
So, I hope that drawn out explanation helps you and others. You can use really any IP you want for the hosts resolver, just try to make sure it's an actual web server to avoid the timeouts.
I'm uploading the hosts with the now.sprint.com IP for you and all to use. Let me know if it fixes your problem as it did mine.
Ryte
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Your idea worked perfectly. Rather than push the file, I was lazy and had adfree use the ip you gave, instead of 127.0.0.1, and everything works. Thank you very much.
cloverdale said:
Your idea worked perfectly. Rather than push the file, I was lazy and had adfree use the ip you gave, instead of 127.0.0.1, and everything works. Thank you very much.
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My pleasure. I haven't used AdFree so didn't know it had the option to do that. Glad it worked for you.
RyteSyde said:
My pleasure. I haven't used AdFree so didn't know it had the option to do that. Glad it worked for you.
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I know my Linux, but am fairly ignorant when it comes to networks. I really appreciate the help.
On the topic of adfree, I like to use it since it updates the hosts file with no effort on my part. I realize it is just downloading a list, then concatenating to the hosts file, but it is just one less thing I need to worry about.
I am a mathematician, so if that can ever be of help to you, please let me know.
cloverdale said:
Your idea worked perfectly. Rather than push the file, I was lazy and had adfree use the ip you gave, instead of 127.0.0.1, and everything works. Thank you very much.
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This worked for me as well
Worked for me as well. Used adfree to push out the new IP.
Thanks, cloverdale and RyteSyde! Running Vin's Plutonium with cooked hosts file and this I needed this information. Wish I knew what makes me in the minority that needs a different IP, though.
solver404 said:
Thanks, cloverdale and RyteSyde! Running Vin's Plutonium with cooked hosts file and this I needed this information. Wish I knew what makes me in the minority that needs a different IP, though.
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Glad this thread helped someone else. No ads makes such a difference.
Hello All,
Can any one help me to download GlobalEnglish Lingo app. from android market and upload it or send to me, because I can't download any app from market google block me due to my location.
Thanks
Nothing.... Please help....
learn to proxy, and download apk's via your browser, and install manually on your phone.
Thanks, but can you tell me how to do this?
No obne Help.....
you could use other apps similar to this. im sure there are hundreds of them. even you've installed this, still, your country will be recognized.
how to proxy.
open browser.
go to google
type in 'socks 5 proxy <country here>'
assuming you're using windows, go to the options/settings bit for your browser, find the bit that references proxy, or 'internet settings/properties'
click on 'lan settings'
where it says 'proxy server'
check the box 'use a proxy server for your LAN'
ip goes in the first box, port goes in the second.
most sites will seperate the two when displaying proxies as you hunt for them
if they don't, it'll bein the format iport, eg 173.24.57.158:3450
sorry it took a while to reply, had forgotten about the thread.
but as long as the proxy you're using is located in a country that isn't blocked on the market, you should then be able to download apks via your browser to install manually, without having to resort to filehosting downloads.
make google as your friend; and google will do the rest for you....
I can't post in the ICScrewD thread in the Development section yet... Is there a way to disable the AdBlocking?
I just switched to ICScrewD from UnNamed. I use the Medscape medical app for school/work constantly, but ad blocking doesn't allow the app to connect to the internet. Is there a way around this like disabling Ad Blocking all together?
derekbro said:
I can't post in the ICScrewD thread in the Development section yet... Is there a way to disable the AdBlocking?
I just switched to ICScrewD from UnNamed. I use the Medscape medical app for school/work constantly, but ad blocking doesn't allow the app to connect to the internet. Is there a way around this like disabling Ad Blocking all together?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stuff like this is why I believe firmware developers should NEVER use ad blocking by default.
I believe most of them do so by using a custom /system/etc/hosts file. Check to see if yours has anything more than this:
Code:
127.0.0.1 localhost
Just checked mine for giggles and found exactly that... Just
127.0.0.1 localhost
Nothing more. So if it's ad blocking its doing it some other way.
I'm running the latest icscrewed with entropy DD.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
Rename host to host.bk for backup restart couple times. Should be good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
Thank you, but I'm lost...
Thank you for looking into this for me and posting the replies. I 'm not sure what I'm supposed to do though. I don't know much about this stuff and really just cross my fingers and follow what ever directions I find on these forums.
So using the File Manager that comes with ICScrewD, I went to /system/etc and opened "hosts" with the Text Editor and found "127.0.0.1 local host" and a a bunch of lines starting with "127.0.0.1".
So now I should rename "hosts" to "hosts.bk" and reboot the phone?
Thanks again!
127.0.0.1 is a loopback address known as localhost that refers to the same device that you are using (ie. your phone). What the hosts file on your phone is doing is rerouting any connection attempt to known ad servers to localhost, which then returns nothing and effectively blocks the ads. If the hosts file isn't there (or, alternatively, only contains the line "127.0.0.1 localhost"), then the adblocking feature goes away.
What Haas360 suggested is to rename the file with a different extension so that the operating system doesn't recognize it as being the hosts file anymore. The reboot is probably just to clear the DNS cache. It should achieve your objective.
Thank you
Thank you everyone for the help. I renamed the file like suggested and now Medscape is able to connect to the internet.
Now, a further question since I have learned something today. If I figure out which one of the servers Medscape is using, and delete that line from the host file, could I still block other ad servers and allow Medscape to connect?
I didn't see anything listed containing Medscape and a google searched also turned up nothing.
A quick search through my hosts file turned these up:
127.0.0.1 ads.medscape.com
127.0.0.1 adv.medscape.com
127.0.0.1 as.medscape.com
127.0.0.1 bi.medscape.com
You can try finding and deleting those lines in your hosts file (now hosts.bk I assume), then removing the .bk extension and rebooting. There's no guarantee that this will work since it's possible that there are other strings that don't contain "medscape" that are contributing to the app being blocked, but it's worth a try if you want to keep the adblocking functionality.
When I download a DRM free mp3 like from openbsdorg/lyricshtml, using a browser, it arrives in the Download folder. I can then see it with the included ap "Downloads". If I click on it, it plays just great.
When I sftp the same file into the Download folder with Turbo Client it shows up fine in the in the "local" view provided by that ap. I can also see other files that I previously downloaded normally (using a browser) sitting beside it.
However, when I exit the Turbo Client, and try to view the file name with the built in Downloads ap, the file name is invisible, and obviously I can't play it either.
What is the difference between the files in the two cases? Is there an additional info file parallel the mp3 data file when I use the standard download process? If I go back into Turbo Client, I can still see the file that was sftp'd into the folder. It is still there. That's why I suspect additional information needs to be stored somewhere.
Can I avoid learning a whole new operating system for what is supposed to be a consumer friendly device?
How can I create the additional information that is needed?
AustinHook said:
When I download a DRM free mp3 like from openbsdorg/lyricshtml, using a browser, it arrives in the Download folder. I can then see it with the included ap "Downloads". If I click on it, it plays just great.
When I sftp the same file into the Download folder with Turbo Client it shows up fine in the in the "local" view provided by that ap. I can also see other files that I previously downloaded normally (using a browser) sitting beside it.
However, when I exit the Turbo Client, and try to view the file name with the built in Downloads ap, the file name is invisible, and obviously I can't play it either.
What is the difference between the files in the two cases? Is there an additional info file parallel the mp3 data file when I use the standard download process? If I go back into Turbo Client, I can still see the file that was sftp'd into the folder. It is still there. That's why I suspect additional information needs to be stored somewhere.
Can I avoid learning a whole new operating system for what is supposed to be a consumer friendly device?
How can I create the additional information that is needed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried seeking help from the developer of Turbo Client? He seems very open to support requests according to his thread on xda (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023646). I feel like this issue you are having is more closely related to the app you are using and not so much the device, so this forum probably is not the ideal place to pose your question.
Download vs SFTP file visibility question
NasaGeek said:
Have you tried seeking help from the developer of Turbo Client? He seems very open to support requests according to his thread on xda (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023646). I feel like this issue you are having is more closely related to the app you are using and not so much the device, so this forum probably is not the ideal place to pose your question.
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Click to collapse
Thanks. I have now posted on his forum as well, however, I have the feeling it is a generic issue, relating to the move to more Apple like total control of use of the device. My HTC ONE X+ is Android 4.1.1 (I should have mentioned earlier). I only resorted to sftp because I couldn't mount it as an SD drive. I am coming from an HTC Desire running Android 2.2 where I could just mount the device like a memory stick. That was nice. Now under Jelly Bean it seems there is an intent to take away user control. This is rotten. I'm not a cell phone guru. I don't want to have to learn about "rooting" the device, reflashing the ROM or whatever, I just want to use what should be a consumer friendly device, but I suspect an attempt to redefine the meaning of consumer friendly, to make us jump all kinds of hoops to get straight forward access to the data it deals with.
I'm sorry you've been having such trouble, but your skepticism regarding MTP (this has been Android's internal storage standard since ICS) is quite unfounded. An Android engineer talks about it a little more in this reddit post, but the general idea is MTP was done to make things easier, not harder, and you should most certainly still be able to access your device's storage by plugging it into your computer. You should be able to do this "out-of-the-box" so to speak, without rooting or unlocking the device. You might, however, need to install the necessary drivers for your phone. Android is all about giving the user a healthy amount of control over their device and what files come and go from it (to a certain degree), though I'm not sure I can say the same thing for HTC Sense...
edit: upon reading your post in the other thread, I think I understand your issue. The developer's response was unfortunately not terribly informative for someone who is not well-versed with Android. In order to access your mp3 files you will need to download a file browser app from the Play Store (like this one ) and navigate to your sdcard/Downloads folder.
I probably should have read your post a little more clearly, particularly where you mentioned you were trying to view the files with the Downloads app