[Q] Edit Where A App Looks For Media Files - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello World. Yeah I started it there. I am still getting back up to speed on programming been out of the game for a long time Colbalt is where I started. Worked with some AS400's and some linix, unix boxes. I just need some guidance on where to start looking in the code. Already know how to root, decompile, and change some simple settings in an apk, but would like just a slight nudge in the right direction. I am currently wanting to edit where a particular apk "LG Stock Video player" looks for media files ie folder location on a device. I have a LG G2 Rooted on Kit Kat 4.4.2. I want to be able to have it look in the default file as well as an external USB connected via OTG cable. Where would be a good place to start looking in the decompiled code to edit this. Any help would be much appreciated. This is not for distribution just a fun little side project. If this seems a little too advanced please let me know and I will wait a few months till I get more versed in android style of code. Thanks for any and all help.

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[Q] Next Steps

Hi folks!
So I'm up and running with the new Vegan-Ginger. It was a bit of an ordeal because I'm new and I let the OTA updates go too far so I had to go the nvflash route first . Anyway, so far it's miles better than the stock roms. Things are good but now that I'm up and running I have some questions.
This is my first Android device - I sold my iPad. I don't expect a complete replacement (especially with this screen) but I think I can make this work if I can find my way around Android.
Here goes:
1. Is there an "android 101" or "Vegan 101" around? I've done some Googling but I'm not finding what I'm looking for. I'm still trying to get my head around the home-screen navigation paradigm. Maybe YouTube...
2. I feel dumb with this one -- how do I get USB to work? I connect to my system (OS/X), I see a USB and an android icon appear on the bottom line of my gTab but there's no prompt to open up USB (like TnT) and nothing appears on my computer. I know I'm missing something simple here...
3. Are there any synchronization programs out there for Android devices or is it all adhoc file transfers?
4. Suggested apps? No religious wars please just your favourite apps would help me get off the ground with this.
If I've missed an article or thread that covers this please link.
Thanks much!

[CLOSED] Export Q Function to Any Android Device

Sorry Guys,
As there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of interest in this project and as no one stepped forward to assist, I'm afraid I'm going to have to abandon this project.
Thanks for following.
___________________________________
OK Guys,
I've run into a bit of a brick wall and need some input from other developers. One of the required APKs from the Q needs a class not included along with my CM9 or Samsung stock roms. The class appears to be called "android.os.UpdateLock". So how do I go about ripping the class out of the Nexus Q rom and injecting it into CM9? Any help would be very appreciated!$!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello All,
The Project
I'm looking to embark on a project to rip out the cloud function from the Q and install it on any android device. I want the cloud streaming of "Google" music and movies without the $300 expense.
The Progress
As of today I have the Nexus Q Deodexed, ripped out several apk files including the Nexus Q "Launcher" HubBroker.apk. I've merged the apks along with the fonts and lib folders of /system and my Galaxy Tab now boots up and runs like a Q. Primary issue outstanding is, the Nexus Q app won't detect the "galaxy Q" through bluetooth. I assume that some functions of the Q are sitting either within the bluetooth libs or that the Nexus Q has a specific bluetooth address that the app needs to see before detection.
My next attempt will be to try taking apart the Nexus Q apk and either changing its bluetooth search criteria or removing it completely. Second to that if anyone out there has a Q and has it setup on their phone, I could use the /data/data folder to extract more information about how it works. Or even better if someone knows what config file is generated on the actual nexus Q when it's set up for that first time.
You can already do that on most android devices. The Q just takes it to the big screen conveniently.
The function of being able to control the Google queue of device A from device B, C, D etc does not exist. Or at least I'm not aware of an app that does that.
I believe that I've tracked down the apk that does it on the nexus but I need to deodex the apps and can't seem to find a tool that works. Anyone out there deodex this rom yet?
JoeJonnyBoy75 said:
Hello All,
The Project
I'm looking to embark on a project to rip out the cloud function from the Q and install it on any android device. I want the cloud streaming of "Google" music and movies without the $300 expense.
The Progress
As of today I have the Nexus Q Deodexed, ripped out several apk files including the Nexus Q "Launcher" HubBroker.apk. I've merged the apks along with the fonts and lib folders of /system and my Galaxy Tab now boots up and runs like a Q. Primary issue outstanding is, the Nexus Q app won't detect the "galaxy Q" through bluetooth. I assume that some functions of the Q are sitting either within the bluetooth libs or that the Nexus Q has a specific bluetooth address that the app needs to see before detection.
My next attempt will be to try taking apart the Nexus Q apk and either changing its bluetooth search criteria or removing it completely. Second to that if anyone out there has a Q and has it setup on their phone, I could use the /data/data folder to extract more information about how it works. Or even better if someone knows what config file is generated on the actual nexus Q when it's set up for that first time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a pretty nice project and there is nothing like this happening in Android now, besides the nexus Q. I'd like to see a future port of it to Google TV devices
auad said:
I'd like to see a future port of it to Google TV devices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would love to have this functionality in an APK for me Google TV. Don't see why it wouldn't work, well other then no bluetooth on the Revue....
Still very interested in this thread regardless of GTV. I will be following your progress. Thanks!
.
I'm looking for this as well.
I have 3 spare HTC EVO's, and they all have HDMI out. I would like to be able to just plug them into the TV and use my other phones to control them / play music / etc. Maybe even throw XBMC on them with the ability to control from another phone..
They're slower, and less memory..but it may be doable.
Did anyone dig into this? I'd like this for the latest port of Android for a Raspberry Pi and willing to do some of the (noob)stuff myself.
That would be awesome to use any HDMI equipped phone along with the Nexus Q functionalities. I'm really interested.
I guess the problem with the missing API is that the Nexus Q runs android JB and he tried with a cm9.
Vettekult said:
I guess the problem with the missing API is that the Nexus Q runs android JB and he tried with a cm9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true, Q runs ICS...
Let me know...
what I can do to help. If you give me a run down on what you would like me to try as far as pulling files from the q or my connected devices just shoot me a PM and i'll give it a shot. I too would love to add this functionality to my spare devices laying around.
I've been interested in this since day one as well. IT is what has me almost ready to fork out the money on more then one occasion. I have a party coming up and it would be fun to have my N7 as the Jukebox.
The Class issue, I'm not sure about. Here is some info that might get it started.: http://www.itcsolutions.eu/2011/08/...te-a-new-activity-class-with-manifest-editor/
AND:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5012004/adding-a-new-class-to-android-project
It looks like it is something created with the app. Since you cut/pasted the apk into system it may not have been installed. But I'm thinking that it is something else. Some where in the android system lib's it is probably installed. Since this was a device dedicated to this purpose, they were able to install it into the system and the app calls it. I'm slowly learning to write apps (very slowly) so I am not sure beyond this, or even about this for that matter.
I do have a question. It looks like you pulled some system apps and put them in your galaxy tablet. I think a better test would be to basically replace all the /system contents of say a N7 (galaxy tab may work) with those from the Q. Then once it works, cut down the files until it stops. Then with a list of what is needed to make it work we could get down to the nitty gritty.
My guess is some more knowledgeable devs, like those who got Google Now working, would have a better idea.
I'd love to see a third party app do the jukebox function, I think a issue is license certificate (DRM) for the multiple users. I don't understand how the user is associated/authenticated for the music. One Question is if a user Ques up music then leaves does it cause that music to not be able to be played or will it still play once it's been que'd? My guess is the app just organizes the music/user who is next then when it's their turn it streams from their device in real time... but I'm really not sure about this.
joeavery2 said:
I've been interested in this since day one as well. IT is what has me almost ready to fork out the money on more then one occasion. I have a party coming up and it would be fun to have my N7 as the Jukebox.
The Class issue, I'm not sure about. Here is some info that might get it started.: http://www.itcsolutions.eu/2011/08/...te-a-new-activity-class-with-manifest-editor/
AND:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5012004/adding-a-new-class-to-android-project
It looks like it is something created with the app. Since you cut/pasted the apk into system it may not have been installed. But I'm thinking that it is something else. Some where in the android system lib's it is probably installed. Since this was a device dedicated to this purpose, they were able to install it into the system and the app calls it. I'm slowly learning to write apps (very slowly) so I am not sure beyond this, or even about this for that matter.
I do have a question. It looks like you pulled some system apps and put them in your galaxy tablet. I think a better test would be to basically replace all the /system contents of say a N7 (galaxy tab may work) with those from the Q. Then once it works, cut down the files until it stops. Then with a list of what is needed to make it work we could get down to the nitty gritty.
My guess is some more knowledgeable devs, like those who got Google Now working, would have a better idea.
I'd love to see a third party app do the jukebox function, I think a issue is license certificate (DRM) for the multiple users. I don't understand how the user is associated/authenticated for the music. One Question is if a user Ques up music then leaves does it cause that music to not be able to be played or will it still play once it's been que'd? My guess is the app just organizes the music/user who is next then when it's their turn it streams from their device in real time... but I'm really not sure about this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so here is some more detailed info for those of you still following the project.
HubBroker.apk is the app that is for all intents and purposes the "launcher" for the nexus Q. It will install on the Galaxy Tab and Nexus 7. It takes over your "home" and replaces it with a picture of the Nexus Q and a welcome sign. This app looks to be only the launcher as it doesn't do anything if you tap on it. Also having the app running doesn't allow the Nexus Q app (from your phone) to find the device.
So I assume that that the Q is controlled via bluetooth to get it setup and running. Including configuring the Wifi, network settings, etc. Oddly enough the app does send a request to android system to turn on the bluetooth and changes the bluetooth device name to Nexus Q.... The ... part is a odd string of characters that I assume is used in case you happen to have multiple Nexus Q's.
Now as just having the app doesn't seem to work (Phone finding the Q). I've replaced all the bluetooth libs with the ones from the Q. Still nothing. I've migrated all the other APK files and then I get FCs all over, and still no connection. I haven't tried replacing the whole system yet, but I assume the hardware differences would be to great. The only other piece of the puzzle I have yet to attempt it merging the kernels or at least the init parts of the kernel relating to bluetooth.
If you have any questions though let me know. I've been up and down this thing.
Why don't we just flash the img on an old phone and see if that works?
zAo_ said:
Why don't we just flash the img on an old phone and see if that works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For that to work we'd need to get a device with similar hardware (CPU, Chipset, etc.) Not only that but it would need to have the same MTD setup unless I'm mistaken.
Actually I'm going to give that a try with the nexus 7. I'll let you know what happens, won't be till tonight though.
JoeJonnyBoy75 said:
For that to work we'd need to get a device with similar hardware (CPU, Chipset, etc.) Not only that but it would need to have the same MTD setup unless I'm mistaken.
Actually I'm going to give that a try with the nexus 7. I'll let you know what happens, won't be till tonight though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, Thanks.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
JoeJonnyBoy75 said:
For that to work we'd need to get a device with similar hardware (CPU, Chipset, etc.) Not only that but it would need to have the same MTD setup unless I'm mistaken.
Actually I'm going to give that a try with the nexus 7. I'll let you know what happens, won't be till tonight though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galaxy nexus has very similar hardware. Someone should try porting it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
If someone still interested in the project, i'm very interested in it, i have a galaxy nexus (almost same hardware) so we can give it a try, im also a android developer, so if it need to build some apk for it to work, i could give a shot.
Anyway, if there is someone interested just post here and we do all we can to make that work.
edit: Only one problem, as I'm out of USA, i need the q apk to test if it will connect or not. I cant download from play store.
I'm sure there will be so many people interested in it. I just think that not to many of them enter this category on forum
I also need the nexus q image so I can flash it. I tried searching it but didnt find

[Q] Theme Builder for PC/Mac?

Is there a way to build Themer themes (or even Zooper widgets) on a PC or Mac and export them back out, transfer them to the device and import them into Themer?
I have been trying to build a theme but I keep getting frustrated with how cumbersome it is to use these tools on a touchscreen device. I would be able to create a theme a lot more quickly and efficiently if I could drag elements around with a mouse, type on a physical keyboard and make use of a larger screen with more real estate than my phone. I also think it would be much more precise.
A tool like this would be fairly easy to build. It'd just have to have a few basic options for the device like resolution and dpi and could also have presets so that a designer could select the device he or she is exporting to. This would also be helpful for people who are modifying themes to work with other devices or if users are running their phones with custom DPI settings (I do).
Would anyone else find this useful?
Please forgive me if this has been asked and answered already. I did a bunch of searching and couldn't come up with anything.
Thanks,
Cass
cbarnes913 said:
Is there a way to build Themer themes (or even Zooper widgets) on a PC or Mac and export them back out, transfer them to the device and import them into Themer?
I have been trying to build a theme but I keep getting frustrated with how cumbersome it is to use these tools on a touchscreen device. I would be able to create a theme a lot more quickly and efficiently if I could drag elements around with a mouse, type on a physical keyboard and make use of a larger screen with more real estate than my phone. I also think it would be much more precise.
A tool like this would be fairly easy to build. It'd just have to have a few basic options for the device like resolution and dpi and could also have presets so that a designer could select the device he or she is exporting to. This would also be helpful for people who are modifying themes to work with other devices or if users are running their phones with custom DPI settings (I do).
Would anyone else find this useful?
Please forgive me if this has been asked and answered already. I did a bunch of searching and couldn't come up with anything.
Thanks,
Cass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I second your idea. i did search for theme builder. nothing of that sort. on a different note , i did find an ancient theme builder for ancient symbian phones. i donot know whether to laugh or to cry. LOL
cbarnes913 said:
Is there a way to build Themer themes (or even Zooper widgets) on a PC or Mac and export them back out, transfer them to the device and import them into Themer?
I have been trying to build a theme but I keep getting frustrated with how cumbersome it is to use these tools on a touchscreen device. I would be able to create a theme a lot more quickly and efficiently if I could drag elements around with a mouse, type on a physical keyboard and make use of a larger screen with more real estate than my phone. I also think it would be much more precise.
A tool like this would be fairly easy to build. It'd just have to have a few basic options for the device like resolution and dpi and could also have presets so that a designer could select the device he or she is exporting to. This would also be helpful for people who are modifying themes to work with other devices or if users are running their phones with custom DPI settings (I do).
Would anyone else find this useful?
Please forgive me if this has been asked and answered already. I did a bunch of searching and couldn't come up with anything.
Thanks,
Cass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, if you are asking if there is an App to build themes on a PC? If yes then the answer is sadly no.
However there is another option. You can use an Android VM such as GenyMotion. It no longer has Play Store access, so you will need to sideload Themer on it, but it does work well. http://www.genymotion.com/features/
the link doesn't work comes back as nothing found,fortunately this one does work https://cloud.genymotion.com/page/launchpad/download/
you wiull need to register and log in before download
ThemerSupport said:
However there is another option. You can use an Android VM such as GenyMotion. It no longer has Play Store access, so you will need to sideload Themer on it, but it does work well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I started to do this but as the performance is fairly bad in emulation, I threw in the towel. If there is enough support, is this something that you guys would be willing to build? It's probably even something that could be built in a web app, meaning you could build it once and be done
The benefit here is that having a tool like this would open the door for a lot more designers. The more great themes you have in Themer the bigger your install base.
Thanks so much for responding so quickly
Edit: I misunderstood. I have tried the emulator provided with the SDK, but I'll give GenyMotion a shot also. Thanks for the suggestion.
cbarnes913 said:
Yeah, I started to do this but as the performance is fairly bad in emulation, I threw in the towel. If there is enough support, is this something that you guys would be willing to build? It's probably even something that could be built in a web app, meaning you could build it once and be done
The benefit here is that having a tool like this would open the door for a lot more designers. The more great themes you have in Themer the bigger your install base.
Thanks so much for responding so quickly
Edit: I misunderstood. I have tried the emulator provided with the SDK, but I'll give GenyMotion a shot also. Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We might have a look at an online version in the future, but that will only be once Themer is a lot more stable and we have more resources to work with. Thanks for the suggestion though!
it could be awesome for pc users
I installed Genymotion. Getting it configured with Themer took some doing, but once it was setup I had everything I needed. Thanks so much for this suggestion.
For those who want to do the same thing, there are some things you need to know. First, you need either a Google account or a Facebook account to log into Themer. That means that after you install GenyMotion, you need to do one of two things: either you need to 1) flash a Google apps package over the GenyMotion VM (a 4.3 apps package that works with Cyanogen mod works best), then log into Google, then update everything with the Play Store, and then install Themer; OR (and I didn't do this, so it might be more complex than this) sideload Facebook and sideload Themer, log into Facebook, then setup Themer.
The reason you need to do this is because in order to use Themer, you need to log in using either a Google account or a Facebook account, and Themer uses a list of accounts already on your phone (or in this case, the VM) to populate the dialog box that asks you to log in. That said, you want to have either a Facebook account or a Google account set up on the device (or VM) prior to launching Themer. Since I'd rather not ever use Facebook to do anything, that limits my option to Google.
It might be the case that if you exported themes from Themer and wanted to import it, that you might not have to go through any of these steps. However, if you want to be able to download existing themes from Themer and work with them as a starting point for building your theme, or even just pick them apart to figure out how they work in order to learn, you need to log in.
Someone correct me if I made this way more complicated than it needed to be.
As for developing a web client for theming, maybe this could be a community-led effort? I don't have the skill or time to do any of it, but if this is a popular request, perhaps we could organize a project and try to contribute to it. Is anyone interested?

[Q] Debug/Disassemble Running Process

Hi All,
I have googled this issue and searched the forums, forgive me if I haven't followed the rules (which I have read).
I have a premium app (not mine, 3rd parties), i am not looking to hack it, I have bought it.
I am trying to work out how it does some background calculations with not much luck, it uses ( I am led to believe the NDK was used, so can't be decompiled in the usual way, it has a .so library and the decompiled java doesn't show much.).
So my thought have been turned to the asm of it, and I was wondering if there was a way to attach a debugged to a running android process and be able to disassemble that running process so I can "watch" the calculation happen.
I have a rooted android device, and like I say own the game.
I believe in the iOS world with xcode and a JB device you'd would need to attach a debugger to a running process, then put a hardware watchpoint on the offset you know is the value you need then you continue, do something in the game to trigger reading that value.
I just can't find anything similar for android.
Any help would be appreciated.
If this isnt the right place to ask a question like this can anyone point towards the right place?

Firefox OS as an embedded email reader?

Greetings,
At my office, we rotate after-hours email monitoring but some of the older guys are apprehensive about getting cell phones, so keeping up on-the-go can be difficult. I am wondering about buying a ZTE Open off of ebay and getting a pay/mb data plan and we can pass that around as a dedicated email reader.
Up to that point, there is nothing to worry about, but what I am thinking of playing around with is cutting the OS down to only the email app and settings. I'd like to have it boot directly to email with settings available from the pull-down menu, if possible. I mainly want to keep it simple enough for cellular-phobic people and also take away the ability to browse the web and run up my cellphone bill.
I'm not super fluent in the in's and out's of FXOS beyond the app level, but I'm interested poking around, I'm just looking to gauge the difficulty. There are cheaper android devices that I could try with as well, but I'd much rather hack around in HTML/JS than Java. That being said, I have the option of just customizing the Andriod UI to remove everything except the mail app, so if tearing down the Firefox UI would be a lot of work, I'll just do that.
I have a Flame that I can run tests on before spending any money, but I appreciate your opinions before a throw away a bunch of time that could be used on something useful.
John
That's super doable and not very difficult I think! Only with one (obvious?) condition: you must have full root access to your device. ZTE gives a rooting tool, so if you stick with the Open C (or the flame) you should be good to go. Don't choose a Kliff for example, as they are not rootable yet.
First of all, stripping all of gaia (the top layer of firefox OS, containing all the UI) has already been done by JanOS (for IoT device), so you can get inspiration from them. They reduced it to only one js file and a folder, where you can put your own js that gets executed at startup. Your use case is a bit more complex though: you still want to access settings, and be able to go back to email when needed. Basically, you need the email app to replace the homescreen right?
Creating alternate homescreen is a possibility that firefox os gives you, see https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Apps/Build/Manifest#role
You can try adding the role "homescreen" to the email app, flash your device, change the homescreen in the settings and see what happens!
NB: when you change the manifest of an internal apps, you might need to rehash it by downloading https://github.com/julienw/config-files/blob/master/addpref and execute
Code:
./addpref rehash-manifest
while your device is connected (and usb debugging is on).
You might need to add handler in the email for the home button to work correctly, in a similar fashion as in verticalhome (which is the name of the folder containing the homescreen app, not "homescreen").
Good luck! Don't hesitate to ping me if you need any help.
---------- Post added at 11:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 AM ----------
Dude I just tried this and it's working like a charm. The thing that took me the most time was the configuration of the email account

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