How can I disable GoogleNow spam notifications? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but here it goes. I just went to get fast food. While I was in the drive-thru, Google felt it important to give me a notification saying "Here's reviews about this place". There will never, ever, be a point in time I'll want this from Google. Ever. However, I can't seem to disable it without throwing out my local weather and traffic info. I'd appreciate if anyone could help me figure out how to tell Google to stop it.
These settings seem draconian. I had to *enable* web history, for them to realize I don't want them to show me any news articles at all either.
Or, is there an open-source alternative to GNow that'll replicate just those two features?
I'm seeing this on a stock Nexus 5X as well as a CM13 LGG3 on Sprint, so I know it's account related.

Related

[Q] Strange Notifications...

So I've been receiving these strange notifications periodically that are "recommending" bizarre applications. The notification looks like a star, and when pressed sends me to an application in the market. I've been on android for quite a while and I have never had this happen before, so I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems. Or maybe this is some "feature" that I'm not aware of.
I was reading in the Vibrant forums about something that seemed similar, and in that case it was caused by a separate application. I wanted to throw it out to the t-bolt community and see if anyone has experienced this and/or knows what would cause it.
Also, if this is something that has been previously discussed, I give you permission to flame me. My several google searches didn't bring anything up. Thanks in advance.
As a side note, I am knowingly marking this thread as a question while knowing that there are no question marks in the actual post. I think the question is inferred (this could possibly spur some philosophical debates).
It sounds like one of your installed apps is using AirPush to put ads on your notification bar. I'd check the apps you installed or updated recently to see if any of them are known to do this. I believe there are also some apps that can detect which installed programs are using AirPush as well, but I haven't tried any of them personally. If you search for AirPush, you'll see more info about it, as well as learn that it is basically universally reviled by users.
This is definitely AirPush. It sends ads straight to your notifications so as the person above me said, you should check out your recently installed/updated apps to see if any have this enabled. It's a pain in the ass to have that little icon up there all the time.
OP, don't be so quick to be flamed
I don't know where it is or how to get it (I assume the air push website) but apparently you can get a tool, so to speak, from air push that will opt you out of the ads and stop them from pushing notifications to your phone. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful as to where to acquire this, but what I read said that it's provided by air push themselves.
Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt
AirPush opt out
Thanks for the quick replies. I found out that there's an app in the Android Market made by AirPush, Inc. themselves that allows you to opt out. I installed it, and I'll see if it solves the problem.
As far as the flaming goes, I figure some people just need to get it out of their system, so I was giving those people an excuse.
Thanks again for the replies.

Fooled again by Nokia?

Ok so. I've been really wanting so much to like this new Nokia Lumia 920. I've had been waiting to get rid of this IPhone 4 because I remember the days of my brick HTC Tilt and how customizable Windows 6 phones were. So far, I'm am disappointed. It isn't that I hate the phone. It is just that I expected more. I was expecting a lot out of this phone and it has not met the high standard that I (they) set for it.
The first major complaint is the camera. Are we being fooled into thinking it is that much better in low light. Yes, from what I've seen in reviews, it is better, but in my own experience, it isn't that much greater (I have tried auto and night mode). Am I too used to SLR pictures? The camera was supposed to be a big selling point! We have already been fooled once by Nokia about their "Pure View." (http: // articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/06/business/la-fi-tn-nokia-fake-ad-20120906) I wonder if all of this is just a scam. Now it seems that Nokia is owning up to more camera flaws (http: // pocketnow.com/2012/11/05/nokia-lumia-920-camera-fix). I really hope that this isn't a hardware issue and that they fix it right and not try any tricks. It isn't that the pictures/videos I take are bad, but they aren't that much greater(if they are greater) than the competition. Duped?
Battery life: I just switched from an IPhone 4 with no 4G LTE so i'm unaware of the battery consumption of 4G LTE but I have noticed that the battery sure does drain a lot quicker. I'm used to being able to go a couple of days without having to charge. I have noticed ways of getting the phone to last longer. Ff you run Nokia Drive beta, the GPS stays on in the background even when it is closed (you will notice a target at the top status bar remains on). You can turn the background option off, or you have to restart your phone to turn off the GPS and it can consume your battery. Yes, this should be an easy fix, but think about all the people that have to deal with this. Also there is not way to switch off 4G LTE.
Limited voice commands: I'm a big user of the voice commands to play my music. One of the first things I've noticed about this phone is that there are no voice commands from the touch and hold windows button that allow you to play your music. I get it that you can get the "Hey DJ" app and use voice commands for music, but why didn't they just integrate this into the OS so that I don't have to unlock my screen, and tap a few places. Isn't the point of voice commands so that you don't have to look at the screen.
Here are some other small complaints (Maybe some XDA developers could help cook up some changes.... I have paypal ).
No separate volume for ringer and music.
Internet explorer is limited when you search through Google
It is easy to accidentally press the back or the search when using the phone with one hand and reaching across the screen.
No apparent way that I have found to get the Nokia Drive Beta to repeat the last spoken direction.
No seeking option in visual voice mail. You have to listen to the whole thing all over again to get to one point in the voicemail.
Bottom line. This phone seems rushed and unpolished. I got it that some of these issues are OS issues, but come on! Am I expecting too much or isn't this the phone that Nokia was making such a large deal about? 10 more days to give this a try before my return policy expires. Come on Nokia and Microsoft. Change my mind!
Camera taking blurry pictures is a SW issue, as you probably know from having read about it, which hopefully theyll have sorted out fast in an SW update. The nighttime pictures Ive taken are very nice, though, so I dont know whats going on there.
Battery for me is fine, Ive only had my phone for a day, so I cant really say much, but the way its worked so far it seems about the same as my SGS3 in that department. Which is quite good. But of course, I need more time for that.
Voice commands I never was a big user of, since I feel like a moron walking around yelling commands in english (especially when Im in a non-english speaking country). But Im sure its annoying.
Volume thing I agree on, that should be an easy fix for MS to make, really.
Not sure what you mean by "limited" when searching through Google?
The accidental pressing is much like on the SGS3, really. Just a habitual thing, youll get used to handling the phone so you eventually dont mispress.
Iunno, I have a single real annoyance and that is wordwrapping in IE10.
i'm not sure what you were expecting from the camera, but the low light shots are some of the best i've ever taken with a smartphone. and i've had my share of smartphones (this year i've probably had between 8-10 different handsets from various oem's) the daytime shots are a little bit soft, but on par with some of the better smarphone camera's i've used, and it's something that is completely possible to fix via firmware updates (as in, it's not a hardware flaw, but rather a software one)
battery is pretty good for me, on par with my SGS3, it's so much better than my 4s on iOS6 though. there are a couple quirks that are causing the battery to drain rapidly, but people haven't been able to point the blame completely yet. some people have had google accounts getting stuck on syncing constantly and that is killing the battery and the only solution for now is a hard reset. it's an odd issue since it wasn't present in wp7.x and afaik the method wp8 uses to sync is the same as before. it's something that will most likely be fixed via software updates as well
limited voice commands are something that wp8 has the ability to deal with but i'm also bummed they didn't add more voice controls to the built in apps. music in general seems like a really rushed revamp in wp8 which is surprising since the zune software was quite well done in 7.x and was also a major feature which i liked a lot about windows phone. they're changing a bunch of stuff though so it's something that will probably be updated over time. personally i don't like voice commands outside of when i'm driving because i feel like it's faster to just use my fingers, but i understand your disappointment.
volume is something i agree on as well, why microsoft hasn't figured out this is something people have been wanting since 7.0 is beyond me, it really seems like a pretty simple change to make, especially when one is rewriting the entire OS.
accidental pressing is something that will lessen with muscle memory, i always have a lot of issues with button presses and a lot of typos when switching phones, but after a couple weeks you learn to do it a lot less.
i remember getting drive to repeat the last direction, but for the life of me right now i can't figure out what i did. if i figure it out, i'll post it.
the OS isn't for everyone, but for people who like the curated user experience a semi-closed system provides, but don't like apple's 1 handset philosophy it's a good platform.
i admit, i get bored sometimes and end up going to android, but almost always, after about a month of whatever the latest and greatest android handset, i always come back to windows phone. once you figure out your workflow on it, it's really the most efficient and fluid mobile OS out there.
Slai said:
Not sure what you mean by "limited" when searching through Google?
Iunno, I have a single real annoyance and that is wordwrapping in IE10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Word wrapping is exactly what I mean when I say searching through Google is limited. If you use IE and search through google, at the top of the page, you get a: "This page adapted for your browser comes from...." If you search through through the built in Bing search, you don't get the word wrap. You get the actual page. This is very lame and I think its Microsoft's way of getting us to use Bing instead of google.
Also if you just enter the URL, there is no text wrapping.
Okay? Ive set Google as my default search engine in IE10, and while word wrapping doesnt seem to exist and double-tap to zoom isnt really working perfectly, I havent seen a big change from searching with google and searching with bing or just using a bookmark or directly typing in the url :s ?
vangj said:
Word wrapping is exactly what I mean when I say searching through Google is limited. If you use IE and search through google, at the top of the page, you get a: "This page adapted for your browser comes from...." If you search through through the built in Bing search, you don't get the word wrap. You get the actual page. This is very lame and I think its Microsoft's way of getting us to use Bing instead of google.
Also if you just enter the URL, there is no text wrapping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will happen if you have the 'defaul view' as desktop, if you select 'mobile' they will display fine, it is annoying, what I did was install the Google app and I just use that for my search and browsing.
Slai said:
Okay? Ive set Google as my default search engine in IE10, and while word wrapping doesnt seem to exist and double-tap to zoom isnt really working perfectly, I havent seen a big change from searching with google and searching with bing or just using a bookmark or directly typing in the url :s ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so it does text wrap well if you choose the mobile option for internet explore. I for one do not like the mobile version and chose to set my settings to desktop (sorry still a newbie so i can't post links)
ht tp://postimage.org/image/w6w5t09ml/
If you set your IE settings to desktop and search with Google, you get a funky altered website that looks like this at the top.
ht tp://postimage.org/image/j1gnmwfr1/
It seems like the phone is sending to Google that it wants to still be a mobile phone. When you search with Bing you don't get this option. If you search with Google in Desktop mode, you can scroll to the bottom to get to the desktop site but it can be a hassle.
ht tp://postimage.org/image/5zuyx1rct/
Like I said, I like the desktop mode because I can zoom in and out and make great use of this huge screen.
Hoping google releases Chrome.
Yeah normally I like using desktop mode myself, but my most visited website works really well in its mobile form, so I figured "what the hell".
Would be interesting to see Chrome for WP8. I dont see why not, it is available for W8.
vangj said:
If you set your IE settings to desktop and search with Google, you get a funky altered website that looks like this at the top.
http://postimage.org/image/j1gnmwfr1/
It seems like the phone is sending to Google that it wants to still be a mobile phone. When you search with Bing you don't get this option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you look at the URL of the page in your sample image, the URL is one on Google.com. It seems that Google recognized that you're on a phone and gave you a search results page that contains modified URLs that point back to Google itself (not to xda-developers.com) and that Google then proxied it for you, reformatting things to fit your phone.
Your complaint seems to be with Google for forcing you in to a "mobilized" view. Unless Google can't tell which "website preference" you're set to (mobile or desktop). I don't know how that preference gets conveyed in HTTP requests. Sorry.
vangj said:
Also there is not way to switch off 4G LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Rogers variant has the "max speed" option to shut off LTE. The AT&T one doesn't seem to have that... so this is an AT&T issue, not a Nokia one. And if AT&T is doing this on Windows Phone, I'd assume they are customizing their Android phones similarly, no? (I have no experience with Android.)
vangj said:
Limited voice commands: I'm a big user of the voice commands to play my music. One of the first things I've noticed about this phone is that there are no voice commands from the touch and hold windows button that allow you to play your music. I get it that you can get the "Hey DJ" app and use voice commands for music, but why didn't they just integrate this into the OS so that I don't have to unlock my screen, and tap a few places. Isn't the point of voice commands so that you don't have to look at the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an OS issue, so not too much to do with Nokia. The voice commands in WP8 are extensible. That means 3rd party developers can easily create apps that support it. I think Urbanspoon, Hey DJ and Audible are already out and support voice commands (meaning you can launch the apps by long pressing the windows button).
I expect a lot more apps will add that feature because it's so easy to implement. That makes the lack of voice commands for the built in apps really strange.
EShy said:
This is an OS issue, so not too much to do with Nokia. The voice commands in WP8 are extensible. That means 3rd party developers can easily create apps that support it. I think Urbanspoon, Hey DJ and Audible are already out and support voice commands (meaning you can launch the apps by long pressing the windows button).
I expect a lot more apps will add that feature because it's so easy to implement. That makes the lack of voice commands for the built in apps really strange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm, you could always launch ANY app with your voice, even on WP7.
Those new apps support voice commands for other things. For example, from your start screen you might be able to say, "Urbanspoon, find nearby burgers" and it'll launch and go straight to finding burger restaurants around you. I have no clue what their apps actually support, but I know that it's possible to make an app that does that!

[Q] [HELP] Google Apps Device Policy Work Around?

Hey everyone,
This one really has me stumped. My work is finally moving it's email from Exchange to Google Apps for Business, and for many reasons at first I couldn't be happier. I signed on as an early adopter and have now realized I've hit a huge snag. I can no longer get email notifications on my device without basically giving my employer nearly full control of my personal device. They are requiring the Google Apps Device Policy and forcing a 6 character password to unlock my device, encryption, and permission to remote wipe, among other things. I just really don't feel comfortable giving them that kind of control over my personal device but I do need immediate access to my email to stay on top of things since I'm out in the field way more often than I get a chance to sit in an office. The mobile Gmail site works well enough, but not as well as IMAP support with push notifications would. When we were on Outlook, their policy was essentially similar in that you couldn't bring your own device, but I was able to find a nice app called Outlook Web Mail for Outlook OWA Web Mail which essentially logs into the webmail site and was able to present it in a mobile format and even offer notifications.
I guess what I'm looking for at this point is something similar. I'm hoping someone can suggest an app that, as far as the server is concerned, is just checking the mail from the mobile website but is presenting it to me in an app that is able to give me notifications, even if it's on an interval and not push. Does anyone know if such an app exists for Google Apps for Business accounts or is even possible?
If not, then I guess the next thing I would be looking for is a hackier workaround that can convince the server that I'm abiding by all the rules and still allow me to do whatever I want with my device. I realize this is riskier as far as getting me into trouble but I am rooted and familiar with flashing, Xposed Modules and whatnot (I was surprised my device was even approved with my root status and custom rom).
So sorry for the dissertation but I wanted to lay the whole situation out. I found other threads about GADP but they were more talking about device compatibility rather than a workaround/bypass for it. Anyone gone through something similar at their job? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Worse come to worse, the mobile site isn't the worst thing in the world considering that Outlook mess we came from. Thanks in advance.
My device:
Retail Verizon Note 3 rooted with SafeStrap running the latest Eclipse ROM
anyone?
Well is there any way to receive notifications from the mobile site? I think I recall a few years back when Google pulled sync support for iOS that some iPhone users had to do some shenanigans like this without push support and people used apps that were essentially browsers to check mail and provide notifications. Is there anything similar on Android? Or does it not exist since it's a niche concept? I just have a hard time believing I'm the only person with this problem.
If you want to just access emails, calendar, etc., try Touchdown. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nitrodesk.droid20.nitroid&hl=en
You will not use the gmail or google contacts/calendar app though.
Blis said:
If you want to just access emails, calendar, etc., try Touchdown. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nitrodesk.droid20.nitroid&hl=en
You will not use the gmail or google contacts/calendar app though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's for the reply. I'll give that a go. I've actually rigged it up so I still get notifications at this point through filters and auto forwards to my personal account. But something more native would be a lot better. Thanks again.
No further information on this thread?
I'm in the same situation with my company making the switch to google apps. They are enforcing encryption and non root'd phone. I have found that I can use IMAP to get my email, but my calendar is not found.
I have looked into just circumventing the checks....the only encryption solution i've found is some twrp/titanium back up so that you can at least easily recover systems after u've already been encrypted (not exactly a great solution).
As for the root access, ,the only solution i've found is with rootcloak (im not even sure if either of these solutions would actually work. I'm very much interested in a real solution.
Rootcloack didn't work for me, but that was 8 months ago. Try Touchdown, it's free for 30 days.
Try bluemail.
nomaanym said:
Try bluemail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No luck for me. I appreciate the recommendation. I thought it was going to work when it went through my job's secure portal for setup but not such luck.
I'm looking for a way to do this as well.
I'm in a very similar situation and looking for the same workaround. Currently I'm able to use Edison Software's "Email" app to log in my corporate email account, but without the ability to receive notifications... which is a step better to endure the horrible mobile UI on gmail's website, but still would be better to have push notifications
Have you found any good alternative for gmail/hangouts/sheets without having to install "device policy"??
B1gC72 said:
Hey everyone,
This one really has me stumped. My work is finally moving it's email from Exchange to Google Apps for Business, and for many reasons at first I couldn't be happier. I signed on as an early adopter and have now realized I've hit a huge snag. I can no longer get email notifications on my device without basically giving my employer nearly full control of my personal device. They are requiring the Google Apps Device Policy and forcing a 6 character password to unlock my device, encryption, and permission to remote wipe, among other things. I just really don't feel comfortable giving them that kind of control over my personal device but I do need immediate access to my email to stay on top of things since I'm out in the field way more often than I get a chance to sit in an office. The mobile Gmail site works well enough, but not as well as IMAP support with push notifications would. When we were on Outlook, their policy was essentially similar in that you couldn't bring your own device, but I was able to find a nice app called Outlook Web Mail for Outlook OWA Web Mail which essentially logs into the webmail site and was able to present it in a mobile format and even offer notifications.
I guess what I'm looking for at this point is something similar. I'm hoping someone can suggest an app that, as far as the server is concerned, is just checking the mail from the mobile website but is presenting it to me in an app that is able to give me notifications, even if it's on an interval and not push. Does anyone know if such an app exists for Google Apps for Business accounts or is even possible?
If not, then I guess the next thing I would be looking for is a hackier workaround that can convince the server that I'm abiding by all the rules and still allow me to do whatever I want with my device. I realize this is riskier as far as getting me into trouble but I am rooted and familiar with flashing, Xposed Modules and whatnot (I was surprised my device was even approved with my root status and custom rom).
So sorry for the dissertation but I wanted to lay the whole situation out. I found other threads about GADP but they were more talking about device compatibility rather than a workaround/bypass for it. Anyone gone through something similar at their job? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Worse come to worse, the mobile site isn't the worst thing in the world considering that Outlook mess we came from. Thanks in advance.
My device:
Retail Verizon Note 3 rooted with SafeStrap running the latest Eclipse ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
scorpienez said:
Have you found any good alternative for gmail/hangouts/sheets without having to install "device policy"??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. It just doesn't work on Android. They gave me an iPhone (I asked for a Pixel ) when I got a promotion last year, so now I just carry 2 phones. That said, I haven't rooted in a while so I don't know what's happening in that front anymore.
I don't think there's a way to do what I was trying to do before. Sorry folks.
Me too...
B1gC72 said:
Nope. It just doesn't work on Android. They gave me an iPhone (I asked for a Pixel ) when I got a promotion last year, so now I just carry 2 phones. That said, I haven't rooted in a while so I don't know what's happening in that front anymore.
I don't think there's a way to do what I was trying to do before. Sorry folks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry to hear that. My educational institution's unlimited-storage Google account seems like the perfect match for this phone, but draconian MDM is a non-starter. Hopefully someone in the community does find a workaround at some point!
I have the exact same problem. I got a new personal phone which I was hoping I would be able to use Gmail and Google Classroom on for school but the device policy manager deactivates a bunch of my settings when i try it. The accounts just don't work without the policy manager, from the internet or the app. Do you think that if I were to speak to the school about it that they would be able to remove it? or is it impossible from their end due to the privileges they need over the account for security etc?
Thanks for your help,
Boxboy5
Blis said:
If you want to just access emails, calendar, etc., try Touchdown. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nitrodesk.droid20.nitroid&hl=en
You will not use the gmail or google contacts/calendar app though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We're sorry, the requested URL was not found on this server.

Google making me a travel album... and invading my privacy?

OK - I acknowledge there are quite a number of ways in which Google (and other corporations, for that matter) invades my privacy regularly.
That said, I just got back from a trip away, and Android on my phone (Nexus 5) has just pushed a photo album at me - purporting to depict my trip like a travel album.
Not only is this completely unwanted, it makes me feel sick. I know there's not a guy sitting at a computer in California looking through the photos in my Google+ account, but I really don't care. I just don't want this sort of stuff to happen.
So... I am looking at moving to an alternative OS and all alternative software. Does anyone have any thoughts on doing so? Ie - benefits / downsides... And what alternative OS should I move to?
Thanks all for your help!
fearofbirds said:
OK - I acknowledge there are quite a number of ways in which Google (and other corporations, for that matter) invades my privacy regularly.
That said, I just got back from a trip away, and Android on my phone (Nexus 5) has just pushed a photo album at me - purporting to depict my trip like a travel album.
Not only is this completely unwanted, it makes me feel sick. I know there's not a guy sitting at a computer in California looking through the photos in my Google+ account, but I really don't care. I just don't want this sort of stuff to happen.
So... I am looking at moving to an alternative OS and all alternative software. Does anyone have any thoughts on doing so? Ie - benefits / downsides... And what alternative OS should I move to?
Thanks all for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go into google + and turn off sync photos if you don't want privacy invasion.(any place you store things online can be hacked or looked @ in the blink of an eye. (Locks only work for people who are honest)
Sure... Thanks. I've just disabled a bunch of Google apps and i'm sure it will make my phone go haywire.
I'm pretty curious about alternatives to Android though. Anyone? Seems they'll be limited as they won't have many apps and stuff, but i'd love to get out of the Google ecosystem altogether.

Happy Colour Offline Compatibility Android Pixel 6 Pro

Hey there guys, I have a question first and foremost.
If an app updates daily, is there any way to make an app still be able to be updated online daily, while also having the functions to work while you are offline?
There are many people that travel, and don't have internet or phone service while they are commuting or waiting for someone or something, relaxing at home, at a campground in the wilderness, or underground in the subway, or maybe even up high on a mountain.
If there is a way to make this work, I would like to know what you guys and gals would suggest on what to do to get this started.
Some of the requirements of my hypothetical project would be as follows;
Needs to retain the Daily Update Feature so that the app can withdraw from the Happy Colour Server.
Has to have some working code workaround where a certain allotment of storage space can be used to store the app data (including the scrolling and entering the Picture that you want to color and complete) on a device.
(Currently, you can scroll the app for a little while and the coloring options will appear, but when clicking on a selection, it is not able to load.
That's pretty much the jist of it.. if you guys can give me suggestions or even remark on if this can be done, that would be great. I know that it would take some work, but if it seems like its plausible, we can see where this thing goes as a team and maybe make it a paid project really depends on how much work would need to be done.
Thanks to those of you that have read this and really looking forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts.
-MCrandall

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