[Q] Are there untheme-able apps? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've noticed that some apps seem untheme-able. Usually these apps tend to be apps that require superuser permissions or run in the statusbar. After themeing them I get an instant force close upon trying to open the app. Am I doing something wrong when trying to theme them, or are some apps truly untheme-able?

Superuser apps aren't really safe to be themed. It's worth a shot though. I was never able to theme ROM Toolbox.

It must be something to do with the cache, because I just sucessfully themed an app that was causing a force close when complete. It took a lot of b.s. though.

Related

Remove default system apps

I'm in the process of trying to trim the fat from my phone. I've gotten it down to where my phone only has apps on it which I use and necessary system apps. No live wallpapers, no widgets or anything that I don't use.
Except for one glaring exception -- I can't seem to figure out what apk needs to be removed in order to uninstall the Power Control Widget. Any ideas?

superclean vs. just deleting apps?

like everyone else, there are a lot of icons or apps (depending on what we're talking about) that I don't use. what does superclean leave in, and how hard is it to just delete them.
SuperClean is much much more beyond just deleting apps.
This thread mostly details.
adrynalyne said:
DL30 super clean FROYO
Removed
-------
All bloatware
All verizon apps
All verizon framework
Touchwiz live walls and widgets
Touchwiz launcher
Touchwiz calendar
Touchwiz calculator
Memo and write apps
Flash
Nuance
Samsung keyboard
Startup animation
shutdown animation
startup sounds
market widget
setup wizard
backup assistant
Added
---------
2.2.1 launcher, modified to work with TW dialer. You need to set PHONE as default activity on the phone button for the first time use.
Musicmod
aosp calendar
aosp calculator
Google voice
Google voice enabled dialer (voicemail button)
aosp dock app
non binged car dock app
non binged browser
camera to include geotagging
latest market, search, voice, gmail, etc
resolv.conf
aosp ringtones
ad blocking hosts
aosp lockscreen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the changelog for any changes/modifications since the original. The latest SuperClean (2.6) is a hybrid of EB01 and EB16, as well.
Edit: And this should either be in the Super Clean thread, or in General- not a new thread in Development.
okay, thanks. I guess that rules out superclean. I like touchwiz too much. how do you delete stock apps?
m91-30 said:
okay, thanks. I guess that rules out superclean. I like touchwiz too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the post! There's a patch to add TouchWiz.
m91-30 said:
how do you delete stock apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remove the .apk by hand, or use something like Titanium Backup and remove it, or use Titanium Backup's Freeze feature. Be careful what you remove! If you remove some things, TouchWiz and other stuff could stop working!
i don't miss touchwiz at all. honestly what do you like about it?
and i am not being rhetorical, seriously why do you like it over a clean rom running launcher pro?
I like the effects, look, and feel of it. I've never had any speed issues with it, and I use the touchwiz apps like program manager, media player, weather clock, calander, clock, ect...
This belongs in general discussion.
upsidedownaaron said:
i don't miss touchwiz at all. honestly what do you like about it?
and i am not being rhetorical, seriously why do you like it over a clean rom running launcher pro?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dogma serves no one. Several touchwiz apps are more functional than their aosp counterparts. Now I do agree that the touchwiz launcher is meh, but there is a lot more to a ROM than just the launcher.
rigglemania said:
Dogma serves no one. Several touchwiz apps are more functional than their aosp counterparts. Now I do agree that the touchwiz launcher is meh, but there is a lot more to a ROM than just the launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, the launcher is the weakest part of TW, but even the launcher isn't so bad. As far as speed goes, the thing that really slows it down is the TW widgets. Those must be terribly bloated.
My biggest complaint is just the goofy app drawer with the seizure inducing app backgrounds, but the home screen setup isn't too bad. I've switched back to it from ADWex as EX was starting to exhibit some strange behavior (seemed like memory use was ballooning over time and the whole system was slowing down).
Why not just use titanium backup and freeze the apps instead of deleting. (you need the premium version though)
If you really want to know what files are different between ROMs, you can always download 2 zipped ROMs (such as stock deodexed EB01 and superclean EB01 for example), unzip them and use a program like WinMerge (Windows only) to compare the files between the two.
As far as TouchWiz is concerned, it's all personal preference. There was a thread on here where a bunch of people talked about liking the TouchWiz launcher - me included. I like horizontal scrolling, being able to re-arrange the apps to specific pages and I even like the backgrounds to all the apps in the drawer. It is visually more uniform and a lot easier for me to view/launch apps without all the dead space between the icons.
I don't like vertical scrolling and small icons the stock launcher provides. Part of the problem isn't just the launcher, it's the icons. Not all app developers follow the same guidelines for making app icons. Some are 2D, some are 3D, they're all different sizes. I guess the icon backgrounds from TouchWiz or MIUI give them all a uniform look that's appealing to me?
yeah. I'm not giving up touchwiz, or the touchwiz apps, I like how they work, I've liked it since my omnia 2 (even though, admittedly, it did slow that phone down). I also like the continuity it provides from one samsung phone to the next, as I plan on sticking by samsung as long as the phone works like it should for me from the git go (I never had any serious problems with my omnia 2, or fascinate). right now my only setback is only having a linux computer. I need to figure out how to hack android (linux kernel) from ubuntu (linux). you would think two linux OSs would play well together, oh well.
also, is there a list somewhere of .APKs you can delete without effecting touchwiz or android?
m91-30 said:
also, is there a list somewhere of .APKs you can delete without effecting touchwiz or android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are lists around, but there has been a fair amount of work put into the superclean ROMs. That is a good basis for what you can/can not remove to an extent.
I say to an extent, because there are some things left in, some things removed and some things added to the superclean ROM that doesn't "officially" make it "super clean" to me.
For example, the Memo app can be removed (it has been in superclean) and it won't hurt anything. The additional fonts can be removed, but they haven't been in superclean. There are some Google apps which typically come stock that can be removed - some that don't come stock have been added to superclean - all of which can be installed from the Market.
Sometimes the best way to test is from trial and error (if you do use this method, use ADB and rename files to test - don't delete). If you go asking questions, people will either tell you to Google it, try it yourself, or you'll get 2 different answers that conflict which will cause you to try it yourself anyway.
I don't believe in breaking core functionality.
If I remove the extra fonts in superclean, there is a nice fat force closing sub menu under display settings.
My OCD will not stand for it. This is the same reason Samsung Mms.apk was added back. No multi-part messages= broken, imo.
superclean is a name. If you want a truly SUPER CLEAN rom, then use blackhole, and customize to your liking. Although i think you wil find that in some respects, SC is cleaner.
Typically, apps added to superclean are there to increase functionality. Its not meant to be an aosp replacement/clone.
adrynalyne said:
I don't believe in breaking core functionality.
If I remove the extra fonts in superclean, there is a nice fat force closing sub menu under display settings.
My OCD will not stand for it. This is the same reason Samsung Mms.apk was added back. No multi-part messages= broken, imo.
superclean is a name. If you want a truly SUPER CLEAN rom, then use blackhole, and customize to your liking. Although i think you wil find that in some respects, SC is cleaner.
Typically, apps added to superclean are there to increase functionality. Its not meant to be an aosp replacement/clone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting.. I never noticed a FC sub menu after removing fonts, but I (like most others else here) trust your judgment 200% over my own.
I'm making a bit of an assumption that if you remove the fonts, then go to display settings and mess with fonts there, it will crash. I've not tested the theory, but thats the main reason I have left them in. That and they take little space, and don't run in the background xD.
adrynalyne said:
I'm making a bit of an assumption that if you remove the fonts, then go to display settings and mess with fonts there, it will crash. I've not tested the theory, but thats the main reason I have left them in. That and they take little space, and don't run in the background xD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just re-flashed MIUI so I can't give you the step-by-step, but I recall removing a total of 3 files with the string *EUK* and they just don't show up in the fonts list in display settings. The option to download fonts is still there - no FC.
can someone give me a list of some of the apps to avoid freezing/uninstalling to avoid locking up touchwiz and android?
Good discussion

Hiding and Deleting Apps - iKReaM ROM

I'm currently running the iKReam ROM for ICS on my razr. Safestrap 2.0, backup made, etc.
Is there any way to hide apps? In my case, I have a live wallpaper that's an app (live matrix wallpaper). I don't ever need to open that and if for some reason I do, I can get there by long pressing the background, so I don't want it taking up space in my app drawer.
Also, I'd like to remove some more things from the ROM. Is it safe (in regards to my ota sitting safely in the hands of safestrap) to completely delete apps? I know I can always freeze/quarantine, but I'm curious.
Thanks.

[Q] Some questions regarding custom Launcher

Hello,
I have started developing a custom launcher and i am in need of help/education. I want it to work like a sandbox, where user only has access to certain applications and is restricted from everything else. I have managed to get a launcher up and running with basic functionality, however i would like to add/edit more things to it:
1. Status Bar. I would like to create new, modify existing or even remove it. If i cannot remove it, can i at least disable it or make it invisible in all the applications? Where do i start? I have not found any information regarding customizing the status bar.
2. Lock screen. I would like to change this one as well. Is there any starting point where i could begin reading about modifying it?
3. Updating Launcher. Say if i install launcher from Google Play and i then want to update it, what will happen? Launcher updates and restarts? If i have 2 Launchers installed, will i see the second one will the first one restarts? Will i have to set default launcher again after update?
Note that solutions for rooted and unrooted devices fit to me so at least i know i can remove / disable the default launcher. I also fully understand that there is no way to restrict user from reflashing rom and such, but that is not a concern to me.

Your preferred launcher, widgets, apps, etc?

I'm curious what you guys would recommend for launchers, lockscreens, widgets, apps and such for the GN3. Paid or free, I'm open to all suggestions.
I like a simple, clean and intuitive setup.
My current stock setup is one home screen with apps categorized in 6 folders below the Pandora and weather widget.
Wallpaper is a static gallery image.
I would like more customization over the home screen/lock screen. Widgets on the lock screen would be nice as well.
Are any of the stock Samsung/Sprint apps more useful than 3rd party alternatives?
It would also be good to know which bloatware/stock apps are safe to remove from freeza's deodexed ROM and whether or not it is a good idea to install TWRP and start flashing away or wait for more testing. I almost jumped into it last night but decided stock and rooted is safest for now.
I just want to optimize battery life, productivity and customization options.
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Next Launcher (Check the Next Launcher Facebook page as they release betas to the public that are fully functional)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gtp.nextlauncher&hl=en
Android Weather Widgets
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devexpert.weather&hl=en
Kompster said:
I'm curious what you guys would recommend for launchers, lockscreens, widgets, apps and such for the GN3. Paid or free, I'm open to all suggestions.
I like a simple, clean and intuitive setup.
My current stock setup is one home screen with apps categorized in 6 folders below the Pandora and weather widget.
Wallpaper is a static gallery image.
I would like more customization over the home screen/lock screen. Widgets on the lock screen would be nice as well.
Are any of the stock Samsung/Sprint apps more useful than 3rd party alternatives?
It would also be good to know which bloatware/stock apps are safe to remove from freeza's deodexed ROM and whether or not it is a good idea to install TWRP and start flashing away or wait for more testing. I almost jumped into it last night but decided stock and rooted is safest for now.
I just want to optimize battery life, productivity and customization options.
Sent from my SM-N900P using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer NOVA launcher, highly customizable and very smooth. As for widgets the main ones I use as of now are Power Amp, TuneIn Radio, Pandora, APW Calendar, One-Weather.
I removed all Sprint apps including connection optimizer, and most Samsung apps except for the ones I may get some use from.
Some of my removed apps/APK:
ALL Knox related apk's
ALL Scloud APK's
ALL Sprint apps
Yahoo APK
Sfinder APK
STranslate [replaced with google translate]
Accuweather APK
Dual Clock APK
Samsung HUB
Samsung books
Samsung Apps
TW Launcher
Travel Service
Magazines
There's more I took off but I cannot remember, there's more I want to remove but not sure if they will affect other things. [For example: Bestface.apk]
I recommend Greenify, it is a great app that helps with apps running on their own.
tt281gt said:
I prefer NOVA launcher, highly customizable and very smooth. As for widgets the main ones I use as of now are Power Amp, TuneIn Radio, Pandora, APW Calendar, One-Weather.
I removed all Sprint apps including connection optimizer, and most Samsung apps except for the ones I may get some use from.
Some of my removed apps/APK:
ALL Knox related apk's
ALL Scloud APK's
ALL Sprint apps
Yahoo APK
Sfinder APK
STranslate [replaced with google translate]
Accuweather APK
Dual Clock APK
Samsung HUB
Samsung books
Samsung Apps
TW Launcher
Travel Service
Magazines
There's more I took off but I cannot remember, there's more I want to remove but not sure if they will affect other things. [For example: Bestface.apk]
I recommend Greenify, it is a great app that helps with apps running on their own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Excellent suggestions, will definitely give them a try!
I'm a bit apprehensive about installing TWRP and flashing freeza's deodexed ROM but I might ask well take a chance, would be great to have all that bloat removed.
Might I suggest you start a community thread regarding APKs that are safe to remove. Perhaps it'll speed up the process towards the perfect ROM.
Kompster said:
Thank you! Excellent suggestions, will definitely give them a try!
I'm a bit apprehensive about installing TWRP and flashing freeza's deodexed ROM but I might ask well take a chance, would be great to have all that bloat removed.
Might I suggest you start a community thread regarding APKs that are safe to remove. Perhaps it'll speed up the process towards the perfect ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am running TWRP and Freeza's De-Odezed ROM, all is good! So feel free to go ahead and flash, just make sure to always follow thread instructions.
I rather not make a thread myself about what apps to remove in case someones phone gets messed up lol.
Here is a link to a thread [Galaxy S4 though] of what apps are "safe" to remove. Keep in mind some of those apps may be needed for certain features within other apps, and some of those apps may be useful to YOU but not others.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40911004
Always have a backup [although right now I don't think you can restore nandroids] and have the rom in the sd card to replace removed apk's if removing them caused problems. If you run into trouble and are not sure what apk started giving you problems just boot to recovery, wipe cache/dalvik, and "dirty flash" the rom again [it will keep your data but replace all the missing apk's and so on]:good:
tt281gt said:
Always have a backup [although right now I don't think you can restore nandroids] and have the rom in the sd card to replace removed apk's if removing them caused problems. If you run into trouble and are not sure what apk started giving you problems just boot to recovery, wipe cache/dalvik, and "dirty flash" the rom again [it will keep your data but replace all the missing apk's and so on]:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wonderful, should I use TWRP to create a nandroid backup and just wait till we have a restore solution, or is there another backup method? I always did a nandroid backup in the past whenever modifying, better safe than sorry.
Kompster said:
Wonderful, should I use TWRP to create a nandroid backup and just wait till we have a restore solution, or is there another backup method? I always did a nandroid backup in the past whenever modifying, better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds like a good idea, setup your rom to your liking, backup [even if not possible to restore for now -- but when fixed you have a backup of your rom running great]. As far as I have read there is no way to restore backups [I have not looked into it since Sunday when I first rooted] but feel free to look in CWM and TWRP threads for up to date information.
tt281gt said:
I am running TWRP and Freeza's De-Odezed ROM, all is good! So feel free to go ahead and flash, just make sure to always follow thread instructions.
I rather not make a thread myself about what apps to remove in case someones phone gets messed up lol.
Here is a link to a thread [Galaxy S4 though] of what apps are "safe" to remove. Keep in mind some of those apps may be needed for certain features within other apps, and some of those apps may be useful to YOU but not others.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=40911004
Always have a backup [although right now I don't think you can restore nandroids] and have the rom in the sd card to replace removed apk's if removing them caused problems. If you run into trouble and are not sure what apk started giving you problems just boot to recovery, wipe cache/dalvik, and "dirty flash" the rom again [it will keep your data but replace all the missing apk's and so on]:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version TWRP did you use? Did you get the MJ4 update beforehand? I did the update and goomanager won't find any recoveries... I tried using Odin to install the latest version 2.6.7.3 and it worked for root and I made a backup, but if I try to install anything I get a "Fail" Any suggetsions?
I'm a bit surprised that nobody has mentioned Apex Launcher yet... I tried Nova - didn't care for it... Tried GoLauncher - didn't like it... Apex is the one for me hands down.
mybikegoes200 said:
I'm a bit surprised that nobody has mentioned Apex Launcher yet... I tried Nova - didn't care for it... Tried GoLauncher - didn't like it... Apex is the one for me hands down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have three launchers - ADW, Nova, Apex - and each one seems to work best with specific devices. I have Nova on my GN 10.1 and didn't like ADW or Apex on it. On my Evo I preferred ADW, and on my GN3 I prefer Apex. Look, settings and their results, and so forth, always seem to vary just a bit different with each device. Maybe it's just me. :silly:
i prefer Nova .. since i have mines set to 320dpi (240dpi on Note 2). I like the extra space and smaller icons.

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