Spoofing Google Play to download any app on Nexus Q - Nexus Q General

Hi,
When I go to gPlay on the Q and click on "Apps" I only get like 150,000 results available for download, only a small fraction of the total apps available. When I go there on my computer browser to try to download an app to the Q it says "This app is not compatible with this device" for 90% of the apps. So, no dice with either method.
I have been sideloading apps and most of them work just fine. So I want to get around this gPlay restriction on the Q so I can just download apps directly from gPlay rather than having to sideload them.
(I am fully aware that the reason why gPlay keeps track of which devices are compatible is to avoid more "broken" apps than necessary, but in the case of the Q their own system appears to be broken itself, so I want to get around it.)
So, I bought the Device Spoofer app for $1.50USD
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scheffsblend.devicespoof&hl=en
which, despite the reviews worked just fine for me on both the Nexus 7 and on Nexus Q. It changes your build.prop file to spoof Google Play into thinking you are a different device of your choosing. Note that, as it says in the instructions, you need to spoof the device using the app, reboot, go to gPlay, *download an app* (any app), and from then on gPlay will register your device as a different one.
That works for me -- I select for example "Galaxy Nexus", go thru the steps above, and voila, gPlay in my computer's browser has now replace "Nexus Q" with "Galaxy Nexus". Pretty cool.
HOWEVER, and I am now getting to the point, this doesn't allow me to download any more apps than I had access to before! It still says "This app is not compatible with this device ["Galaxy Nexus"]" for the same apps that were incompatible before. Browsing gPlay on the Q also doesn't yield any new opportunities for downloading apps.
I think what is happening is that even though the build.prop file is being changed, the Q is still reporting to gPlay that it doesn't have, for instance: GPS, phone functionality, etc etc, long list of items. And that means that any apps that require any one of those functionalities is "not compatible" (despite the fact that sideloading many of them means they work just fine).
So, my point is, does anyone know how to spoof gPlay so that the Q reports to gPlay that it has all of the bells and whistles? (GPS, phone functionality, etc etc)
Thanks

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I downloaded all the .xml files from my Q's /system/etc/permissions folder and compared them to those downloaded from my Nexus 7. There are about half the number of files and indeed many things are not supported, no surprise.
Is it safe to just copy all the .xml files from my Nexus7 to my NexusQ? (plus a few .jar files that are linked to in the .xml files).
And perhaps then gPlay will show more apps?

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OK sorry for multiple posts, but what the heck I just tried it. And can't see any more apps on gPlay. Tried downloading one that was visible as I thought it might only report its permissions at download-time, but nothing changed after the download. Drawing blanks here.

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FIGURED IT OUT!
That's right folks, you can now download any app directly onto the Q! No sideloading, no adb.
Followed these instructions for a different device. Basically I was on the right track but needed to change the .xml's file permissions back to rw-r-r and then clear gPlay cache, reboot, etc, then it worked.
Pasting the steps from this page http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/34849-guide-to-fix-market-to-get-more-apps-compatible/ below, with the small modification that I got my .xml files from my Nexus 7, not from his/her link, and I only loaded the tablet_core_hardware.xml so far (I have not attempted loading on any of the Nexus 7's other .xmls but most of them don't seem useful). Thanks go out to bosondehiggs of slatedroid.com. I have made a note in square brackets at which point my Nexus Q gPlay started suddenly showing all apps.
A. Backup /system/etc/permissions (just take a copy with ES file explorer or root explorer.recommended just in case)
B. copy the xmlfiles files into /system/etc/permissions (android.hardware.location.gps.xml, android.hardware.location.xml, com.android.location.provider.xml, tablet_core_hardware.xml) agree to over write all of them
C. Make sure the file permission are rw-r-r (with ES file explorer, long tap then change properties on each file..to help you out all files in that directory need to be rw-r-r)
D. Go to settings->apps->all and tap Google Play Store
E. Click on Clear data
F. REBOOT tablet
market still not working
Go to settings->apps->all Go to “Google Play Store” again
‘Clear Cache’ if it lets you then ‘Force Stop’ — DO NOT Clear data
back and Go to “Google Services Framework”
‘Clear data’ then ‘Force Stop’
REBOOT your machine. [After rebooting, the Nexus Q worked with gPlay just fine!]
Then after reboot market is still not working.. then go into..
settings->apps->all google play store again open it but this time clear data if it lets you..
thats it exit open market up, login and you should now have full market access....Youtube...Facebook....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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hey, this looks cool I want to give it a try.
do you mind posting the instructions from beginning to end?
and the xml file needed too?

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sonikot said:
hey, this looks cool I want to give it a try.
do you mind posting the instructions from beginning to end?
and the xml file needed too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, happy to. I'll include in greater detail than an expert hacker needs, so it's more noob-friendly.
First you need ES File Explorer app (get es_file_explorer_v1_6_1_7.apk or latest version from the publisher at http://www.estrongs.com/en/download.html).
adb connect to your device if not already. Type "adb devices" to check you are connected.
adb install the ES File Explorer .apk, and run it using the Trebuchet launcher.
Press "settings" (see my keyboard page to see how to do that). Scroll down and click Settings and enable "Up to root". Also enable "Root Explorer". OK we're done here for now, we'll use this app later.
Download this file: http://www.davidnhutch.com/tablet_core_hardware.xml. It's one of the .xml permissions files from the Nexus 7. You may also try other .xml files from other devices at your own risk. Or you can try mine, I guess also at your own risk.
Let's go back to adb. "adb shell"
"su"
"mkdir /sdcard/permissionsbackup"
"cat /system/etc/permissions > /sdcard/permissionsbackup"
"exit"
"exit". You should now be out of shell but still in the command window.
"adb push <path-to-that-xml-file>/tablet_core_hardware.xml /sdcard/tablet_core_hardware.xml"
"adb shell"
"su"
"cat /sdcard/tablet_core_hardware.xml > /system/etc/permissions/tablet_core_hardware.xml"
If you want, check it's there: "cd /system/etc/permissions" "ls"
"exit"
"exit"
Next we will change the file permissions for that file we just copied. Open ES File Explorer, click "Up" once to get to the root directory, click System > etc > permissions. Right click or long-press on tablet_core_hardware.xml. Scroll to the bottom of the list that comes up and select Properties. Click the Change button. Select the following boxes, and only the following boxes: User read, User write, Group read, Other read. Click OK, OK. The other files in that directory also need to be rw-r-r, but they should be fine.
Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store
Click Clear data
Reboot the Q by typing "adb reboot". If you did that using adb-over-wifi, then you'll probably need to do the "adb connect" thing again to reconnect.
Open Google Play. If it's still not working (still shows only a few apps), then continue.
Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store
Click Clear cache if it lets you, then click Force stop. DO NOT Clear data
Go back once and go to “Google Services Framework”
Click Clear data then Force stop
Reboot the Q again in the same way. After rebooting, my Nexus Q worked with gPlay just fine! However if you still don't see new apps, continue.
Go to Settings > Aapps > All > Google Play Store
Clear Data if it lets you
That's it! Now just Open Google Play, login and you should be able to see and download almost any app either directly on the Q or remotely through a browser on your computer. You may need to download just one app (any app) in order to be able to get the remote download via browser thing working, as Google Play appears to update its knowledge of which devices you have only when you download something.

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davidnhutch said:
Sure, happy to. I'll include in greater detail than an expert hacker needs, so it's more noob-friendly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have now put that list here: http://davidnhutch.com/sandbox/blog/how-to-make-google-play-show-you-more-apps/
I will attempt to maintain the instructions at the above link (in case there are errors, or in case the non-GoogleIO Nexus Q's behave differently to the GoogleIO NexusQ (which I have)).

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davidnhutch said:
I have now put that list here: http://davidnhutch.com/sandbox/blog/how-to-make-google-play-show-you-more-apps/
I will attempt to maintain the instructions at the above link (in case there are errors, or in case the non-GoogleIO Nexus Q's behave differently to the GoogleIO NexusQ (which I have)).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey step 3 isnt working on the assumption I know how to lauch trebuchet on Q.
How would I launch trebuchet?

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sonikot said:
hey step 3 isnt working on the assumption I know how to lauch trebuchet on Q.
How would I launch trebuchet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bump can somebody upload the file for trebuchet and explain how to run this launcher so we can run .apks
thanks

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UKROB86 said:
bump can somebody upload the file for trebuchet and explain how to run this launcher so we can run .apks
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I assume you have already followed the instructions by kornyone here to root and install a launcher:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28484300
There are other ways of doing this too. Some folks have gotten CM9 working on it.
I just made this quick video which shows Trebuchet and the Google Play showing most apps available, near the middle of this video.
What Can You Do with the Nexus Q? : http://youtu.be/6rb4iQDBom0

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Press "settings" (see my keyboard page to see how to do that). Scroll down and click Settings and enable "Up to root". Also enable "Root Explorer". OK we're done here for now, we'll use this app later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you provide us with the link to your keyboard page so I can mimic these steps on my Q. Also to navigate around on the Nexus Q does it still require a USB mouse to be plugged in to it? I rooted my Q but I'm in the process of trying to add AOSP's Jelly Bean ROM ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1776202 ) and use CM9's Trebuchet Launcher ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1410674 ).
I don't want to get in a position where its all on there and I can't navigate the damn thing. The goal is to use what you provided along with these other resources and work it wirelessly via an app like tablet remote or droid input type app.

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mrjaymillz said:
Can you provide us with the link to your keyboard page so I can mimic these steps on my Q. Also to navigate around on the Nexus Q does it still require a USB mouse to be plugged in to it? I rooted my Q but I'm in the process of trying to add AOSP's Jelly Bean ROM ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1776202 ) and use CM9's Trebuchet Launcher ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1410674 ).
I don't want to get in a position where its all on there and I can't navigate the damn thing. The goal is to use what you provided along with these other resources and work it wirelessly via an app like tablet remote or droid input type app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I mean the keyboard page on my website: davidnhutch.com/nexusq, click on Keyboard > Special Keys.
Basically, the "menu" button on android is mapped to the same keycode as the "menu" button on Windows keyboards, which usually has an icon that looks like a drop-down menu with a pointer hovering over it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menu_key)
You also can do all this from the command line without ES File Explorer, I'm just trying to make it a bit more visual, plus, ES is useful.
I am very interested in what you described you are working on, as I am hoping to try the same thing when I get some time. Please post your results and steps!

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davidnhutch said:
Sure, happy to. I'll include in greater detail than an expert hacker needs, so it's more noob-friendly.
First you need ES File Explorer app (get es_file_explorer_v1_6_1_7.apk or latest version from the publisher at http://www.estrongs.com/en/download.html).
adb connect to your device if not already. Type "adb devices" to check you are connected.
adb install the ES File Explorer .apk, and run it using the Trebuchet launcher.
Press "settings" (see my keyboard page to see how to do that). Scroll down and click Settings and enable "Up to root". Also enable "Root Explorer". OK we're done here for now, we'll use this app later.
Download this file: http://www.davidnhutch.com/tablet_core_hardware.xml. It's one of the .xml permissions files from the Nexus 7. You may also try other .xml files from other devices at your own risk. Or you can try mine, I guess also at your own risk.
Let's go back to adb. "adb shell"
"su"
"mkdir /sdcard/permissionsbackup"
"cat /system/etc/permissions > /sdcard/permissionsbackup"
"exit"
"exit". You should now be out of shell but still in the command window.
"adb push <path-to-that-xml-file>/tablet_core_hardware.xml /sdcard/tablet_core_hardware.xml"
"adb shell"
"su"
"cat /sdcard/tablet_core_hardware.xml > /system/etc/permissions/tablet_core_hardware.xml"
If you want, check it's there: "cd /system/etc/permissions" "ls"
"exit"
"exit"
Next we will change the file permissions for that file we just copied. Open ES File Explorer, click "Up" once to get to the root directory, click System > etc > permissions. Right click or long-press on tablet_core_hardware.xml. Scroll to the bottom of the list that comes up and select Properties. Click the Change button. Select the following boxes, and only the following boxes: User read, User write, Group read, Other read. Click OK, OK. The other files in that directory also need to be rw-r-r, but they should be fine.
Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store
Click Clear data
Reboot the Q by typing "adb reboot". If you did that using adb-over-wifi, then you'll probably need to do the "adb connect" thing again to reconnect.
Open Google Play. If it's still not working (still shows only a few apps), then continue.
Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store
Click Clear cache if it lets you, then click Force stop. DO NOT Clear data
Go back once and go to “Google Services Framework”
Click Clear data then Force stop
Reboot the Q again in the same way. After rebooting, my Nexus Q worked with gPlay just fine! However if you still don't see new apps, continue.
Go to Settings > Aapps > All > Google Play Store
Clear Data if it lets you
That's it! Now just Open Google Play, login and you should be able to see and download almost any app either directly on the Q or remotely through a browser on your computer. You may need to download just one app (any app) in order to be able to get the remote download via browser thing working, as Google Play appears to update its knowledge of which devices you have only when you download something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey David, the .xml file you linked isn't downloadable, can you take a look into this? Also can you provide some clarification on steps 6-15 above, do I enter ADB then type su and everything else as one command? Can you provide a command prompt code showing every entry step by step?
Also as a side not I can't open google play on the launcher or a matter of fact I can't even get a keyboard to show up on the screen to sign in to my google account. Any ideas? I am using a wireless mouse to navigate and tablet remote via my nexus 7 for other inputs.

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Like the previous post stated... The xml file isn't available. Can someone post theirs please?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
[Edit]
I went ahead and downloaded an AOSP Nexus 7 ROM and extracted the file for myself. I don't know what Box's limitations are, but here's a link to the tablet_core_hardware.xml
https://www.box.com/s/e5e0da606448340fd736

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xMemphisx said:
Like the previous post stated... The xml file isn't available. Can someone post theirs please?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
[Edit]
I went ahead and downloaded an AOSP Nexus 7 ROM and extracted the file for myself. I don't know what Box's limitations are, but here's a link to the tablet_core_hardware.xml
https://www.box.com/s/e5e0da606448340fd736
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the .xml file, box link works with no issues. By the way would you happen to have any ideas on how to get a keyboard to appear on screen for the nexus q? Currently I can't type/enter any information I can only navigate with my wireless mouse. Clicking on Gmail/Google Play/ Messages/ or anything else that requires a keyboard just seems to close the program within 5 seconds (almost like a force close just without the error message).

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mrjaymillz said:
Thanks for the .xml file, box link works with no issues. By the way would you happen to have any ideas on how to get a keyboard to appear on screen for the nexus q? Currently I can't type/enter any information I can only navigate with my wireless mouse. Clicking on Gmail/Google Play/ Messages/ or anything else that requires a keyboard just seems to close the program within 5 seconds (almost like a force close just without the error message).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't get a chance to play with it too much yesterday, I would imagine that if you install a 3rd party keyboard and set it to your primary input method it (might) work. I'm going to have a better chance to really look at the Q tonight here in a few hours, so I'll report back with what I can figure out.
[Edit]
I still have had no time to test this yet. The company I work for is at deadline with new software and we have been working 65+ hour weeks here recently, so my Q has just been sitting there. I'm still anxious to test it, but it might still be a few days before work slows back down and I can really get after it again.

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mrjaymillz said:
Hey David, the .xml file you linked isn't downloadable, can you take a look into this? Also can you provide some clarification on steps 6-15 above, do I enter ADB then type su and everything else as one command? Can you provide a command prompt code showing every entry step by step?
Also as a side not I can't open google play on the launcher or a matter of fact I can't even get a keyboard to show up on the screen to sign in to my google account. Any ideas? I am using a wireless mouse to navigate and tablet remote via my nexus 7 for other inputs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm, weird that two people have said the .xml file is not downloadable -- I tried today and yesterday and it was available both times. Maybe the hosting site was down or something. Anyway it looks like someone else offered the same .xml file at another link so we're all set. I'll leave the .xml file there for a year or so though.
Steps 6-15: Yes, enter everything as quoted. No extra "adb" or "su" or anything is needed, other than what I wrote there. Just follow one step at a time, typing each one and then hitting enter. Shouldn't need a command prompt code entry as it is already, just without the code tags and with extra double-quotation marks. Please let me know if there are any errors though.
As for your last paragraph, it seems there are two issues. 1) Not being able to open gPlay on the launcher. Can you please provide more info? What happens? Does it try to open then crash? Is the gPlay app missing? 2) Can't get a keyboard to show up on the screen. -- You will never have an on-screen keyboard on the Q. You need an external keyboard, plugged into the USB port. If you want mouse + keyboard simultaneously, you need a "unifying mouse and keyboard wireless receiver" -- just search amazon for that -- what it is is a mouse+keyboard with just one USB dongle that serves both.

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Don't think this will get off topic, but if Google updates the software to Jellybean and adds all the the things you can do in the video, will this method still work?
On a side note, dont think google will add all the functionality as you showed on the video.
Edit: Why is Trebuchet needed for this?
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

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300k said:
Don't think this will get off topic, but if Google updates the software to Jellybean and adds all the the things you can do in the video, will this method still work?
On a side note, dont think google will add all the functionality as you showed on the video.
Edit: Why is Trebuchet needed for this?
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, you technically don't need Trebuchet. It just makes life easier than launching everything (e.g. gPlay) via "adb shell am start ..." commands from your computer.
Regarding Google updating to JB, perfectly possible. Possible that everything will be standard in the next Q hardware release. However the real questions are, why was this functionality not included in the first place? Why was the hardware so very limited by the software? And the bigger question, why was the public release of the first Nexus Q sales indefinitely postponed? Presumably they are coming out with something better than what they showed at IO. Whether it's much better or just marginally better remains to be seen.
The best app/function in the video is being able to use OnLive (3D streamed games) in my opinion. Now, OnLive is expensive and I did have a few problems with the keyboard mapping, the mouse not working while OnLive was playing, etc, but it works and shows the potential for streamed games. The Q doesn't have to be the core device either, presumably a tablet would work too. I just think they should have done the hardware differently and made an Xbox competitor (Xsphere?) instead of a competitor to precisely no-one.

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On steps 8 and 9 I get
sh: cannot create /sdcard/permissionsbackup: Is a directory
I don't think that I am typing it in wrong and I have copied and pasted as well just in case...The directory is made correctly... Thanks for your help.
"mkdir /sdcard/permissionsbackup"
"cat /system/etc/permissions > /sdcard/permissionsbackup"