Droid Hype

Backing up SMS/MMS and your Call Log

GideonX — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:35:05 +0000

If you tend to crackflash often, then you probably use Titanium Backup and you’d want to know the easiest way to back up your SMS/MMS as well as your call log. These items are not retained when you go from rom to rom nor are they backed up when doing a user data backup in Titanium Backup. Here’s how you can do it on a set schedule so you never forget.

Open app drawer
Open Titanium Backup
Press the menu radio button
Select “Filters”
At the bottom press the “Create label” button
Name your label whatever you want
Press the “Add/Remove elements” button
Check the “[SMS/MMS/APN] Dialer Storage x.x” checkbox (version x.x numbers may vary)
Check the “[CONTACTS/CALLS] Contacts Storage x.x” checkbox (version x.x numbers may vary)
Press the “OK” button
Press the “Save” button
Press the back radio button
Select the “Schedules” tab
Press the “Add new schedule” button located at the bottom
On the schedule that just appeared press the “Edit” button
On the top combo box select the arrow to pull down the menu. Select the “Backup all system data” option
On the next combo box that says “No filtering”, click the arrow to pull down a menu. You should see your label you created. Select your label.
Select the time you want your backup to take place
Select the days you want your backup to take place
Press the “Save” button
Check the “Enabled” check box to enable your schedule
Now Titanium Backup will automatically backup your messages at the specified time and day or days.

When you are ready to restore on your new rom, just search for Dialer Storage and Contacts Storage and restore the data only. Perform a reboot and you should have everything back. Just be careful when going from major OS version updates (ex: Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich). You may encounter some weirdness, so be prepared to restore a nandroid or reflash if something doesn’t take right.

[via XDA]

Temple Run available for Android

GideonX — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:56:59 +0000

The wait is over, Temple Run is finally available for your Android phone! Head over to the Google Play store and start downloading.

Unlocking, rooting, and recovery for the Nexus S

GideonX — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:19:21 +0000

Although the Nexus S has been available on the market now for over a year, it’s actually a bit confusing for first time users to unlock and root the device. Give it a try, do a search and try and find the right adb and fastboot drivers for Windows 7 64-bit. I’m willing to bet it’s not as easy as everyone claims it to be. For some reason, fastboot drivers give 64-bit users a world of trouble in terms of acquiring and installing.

Since I went back to using my Nexus S on T-Mobile, I decided to post a quick how-to on getting this done.

Download the following zips before beginning:

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file. Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Since I have the I-9020T model for T-Mobile, this guide will support only that version. This most likely will not work for the I-9023 LCD version or the D720 (Sprint 4g version), however, it should work for the I-9020A (ATT version).

Let’s begin…

Extract the zips to your Desktop, or anywhere else you feel comfortable with.

ADB Drivers

Connect your Nexus S (NS) via USB to your computer, it should trigger your Windows 7 to prompt for drivers. Point the installation to look in the ADB drivers directory that you extracted earlier. You may get a warning about driver signatures, just accept it and let it install. To check if ADB drivers have been successfully installed, open a command prompt and navigate to the ADB_Fastboot directory that contains the adb and fastboot executables. Issue the command “adb devices” and it should show your connected device. Keep this command prompt open, we’ll need it again in the next step.

Fastboot Drivers

Unplug the USB cable and power down your NS and then power it up again by holding Volume + and Power. This should bring you to a black screen with some information about your NS. You’ll also be greeted by the familiar Android mascot.

Plug the USB cable back into your NS and it should now prompt for another set of drivers, this time for fastboot. Navigate on your computer to the fastboot drivers you extracted earlier from the zip you downloaded. Again, you may be prompted with warnings about driver signatures, accept them and let the drivers install.

Once the installation is done, go back to the command prompt you had open and type ”fastboot devices”. If your drivers were installed correctly, your device should now be listed in a similar fashion as the previous adb devices screen. Keep this command prompt open, we’ll need it again.

Unlock Bootloader

Before we go ahead and unlock our bootloader, make a backup of everything you deem important. This next step will wipe your device clean. Please make a BACKUP!

With an unlocked bootloader, you’ll be free to install and flash just about any recovery, radio, and rom you wish. There is now no need to wait for Google to push any updates to you, just head out and grab the latest update and flash it yourself.

To unlock the bootloader, go back to fastboot mode (Volume + and Power) and then use the command prompt to type “fastboot oem unlock”. You’ll be prompted on your NS with a warning and confirmation to unlocking the bootloader. Acknowledge it and it should wipe and unlock your device in a matter of minutes. When it reboots, you should see an lock symbol below the Google splash screen. This will let you know you have unlocked the device. Again, keep the command prompt window open, we’ll need it for the next step.

Flash a Custom Recovery

A custom recovery will allow you to flash a custom rom or kernel on your NS. It also has the VERY useful nandroid option to make an exact backup of your device. This is useful in case you flash an update that causes problems on your NS. A simple nandroid restore and you’re back to where you were prior to the bad flash.

Find the recovery image in the recovery directory that you extracted from the zip earlier. Move that image to the adb_fastboot directory where you opened up the command prompt. Now in the command prompt, type “fastboot flash recovery recovery-clockwork-touch-5.8.0.2-crespo.img”. This will flash the latest Clockwork Mod Touch Recovery. You should see some bytes flashed to your NS and it should be done in about five seconds. Congratulations, you’ve successfully made your NS that much better.

Custom Roms

It is highly recommended before you do anything to make a nandroid backup in the custom recovery. You can then download any roms or kernels and try them out on your NS. I highly recommend Android Open Kang Project (AOKP). It has more options and customizations than any other ROM out there. Enjoy!

[INFO] Kernel governors

GideonX — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:02:42 +0000

I’m sure you’ve come to wonder what all these kernel governors are and what their differences to your performance and battery can be. Here is an excellent thread describing some of the more popular ones. My current running combo is the SIO scheduler with Intellidemand on Speedy-7 on my Nexus S.

Retrieving a saved wifi password

GideonX — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:45:56 +0000

Here’s a quick tip on how to look up a saved wifi password on your Android handset. Let’s say you need to flash a new rom but you don’t have a password written down for a wifi access point you frequently use. Use any file explorer on your Android handset and navigate to the /data/wifi directory and view the bcm_supp.conf file. This is just a basic text file that contains all your wifi access points and passwords that you’ve used previously.

Make a backup of it or simply write down the password you need, enjoy!

Verizon needs Google, or is it the other way around, whatever

GideonX — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:04:25 +0000

There’s a new opinion piece up over at Droid-Life about how Google’s Nexus phone on Verizon is awesome, but not really. Here’s the meat and potatoes of the article:

This year the Galaxy Nexus was released a day earlier than the Nexus S. As you know, the phone was released exclusively on Verizon Wireless after much delay. All evidence points to the fact that the Galaxy Nexus was ready to launch by the end of November, but Verizon waited to give the Rezoud and the RAZR more time to sell. To make matters worse, the Galaxy Nexus is the first Nexus device to have a carrier’s software preinstalled. Speaking of software, the Galaxy Nexus doesn’t have Google Wallet installed on it. Sure, it can be side-loaded, but it’s just more evidence that Google is not in control of this device. Unlike every other Nexus, the Galaxy Nexus does not have Google branding on the back; instead Verizon’s logo rests above their 4G LTE logo. If there was any doubt about whether or not this was Google’s phone, that should put the debate to rest.

Yup, the Galaxy Nexus isn’t a true Nexus in this writer’s eyes because, well, it has carrier software preinstalled and it doesn’t say Google on the back cover. I’m usually on the same wavelength with the dudes over at DL when it comes to opinions on handsets, but this piece is awful. Seriously? Your main gripe is that it has a few carrier apps and it doesn’t have the Google logo on the back? It’s a Galaxy Nexus, load a new rom, instant carrier-free app experience. Buy a case and cover your phone, who cares what it says on the back cover. Are people complaining just to complain? The Verizon users should be happy they got a totally unlockable phone on their network.

This opinion piece just sounds like it’s there to fill space on a slow pre-New Years day.

Galaxy Nexus Extended Battery Works on the T-Mobile Galaxy SII

Free 50GB box.net account for new and existing users

GideonX — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:09:26 +0000

If you are using cloud storage currently, you are probably familiar with box.net. Similar to dropbox and other services, it allows you to store your data within the “cloud”. You can register for a free account and receive 5GB of storage, all for free. This is a great way to get your feet wet if you are new to this.

However, there are some of us who use these services to store everything under the sun and that 5GB doesn’t cut it unless you upgrade for a fee. There’s a small promotion going on right now for users of LG phones on Android. If you register or log in with one, you get upgrade to 50GB of storage. Yup, 50 whopping gigs.

To do this, find a user with a LG phone and log in with your account on the box.net app. You’ll be automatically upgraded to 50GB.

Or try this if you are on a rooted phone.

Make a backup of your /system/build.prop file.
Open your /system/build.prop file as a text file and edit (use root explorer or equivalent) the following lines to show this:

ro.product.manufacturer=LGE
ro.product.model=VS910 4G

Save the file and reboot. After that, log into your account on the box.net app and you’ll be upgraded. Once you are done, restore the backed up build.prop file and reboot to change back.

Better hurry, this promo ends on 12/31/2011.

[via XDA]

Galaxy Nexus Extended Battery Works on the T-Mobile Galaxy SII

GideonX — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:27:06 +0000

There’s pretty much zero options at the moment if you are looking for an extended battery for your T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy SII (SGS2 T989). You can of course grab a cheapie fake 3500mAh battery on ebay, but are you really getting 3500mAh? Is that battery safe to use? And of course, does it come with NFC within the battery?

The last question may be important to some since Google Wallet and other apps are bringing out NFC options. The stock SGS2 battery carries 1850mAh of power, which in most instances is a decent amount and should last you all day. Of course, usage patterns will affect the hours of battery time so if you see anyone mentioning they are getting days on on charge, take it with a grain of salt.

Verizon Wireless just released the Galaxy Nexus, it’s first foray into Google’s AOSP land. Along with this phone’s release, VZW also did a release of it’s extended battery that offers 2100mAh of power.

With our good fortune, this 2100mAh battery fits in our SGS2, but with a caveat – the stock SGS2 battery door will not close correctly because of the extra thickness. However, if you are using a case like the Seidio Active, you can leave the back cover off and let the case keep the back covered. This actually works beautifully and isn’t the first time I’ve gone this route.

I’ve been using this extended battery for about three days now and I can say with the same amount of usage, I’m getting about an hour more of uptime. This may not be much, but for folks who are on the road constantly like I am, that one extra hour is awesome.

Verizon Wireless is currently offering the battery at a discount of $25 (MSRP $49.99). This may be a Christmas special, so you better hurry.

Mods for T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy SII KL1 2.3.6 update

GideonX — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:39:17 +0000

While we all wait for some Jug love (custom rom) on the new KL1 base for the T-Mobile Galaxy SII, I whipped up these mods to hold myself over. You’ll need Whitehawkx’s 2011-12-14 Stock KL1 deodexed/rooted rom for these to work. I have no idea if this will work on anything else, feel free to try, just make backups please.

Instructions:

1) Flash via CWM (root required)
2) Enable some or all animations under display settings if you want CRT

Volume wake – http://www.multiupload.com/EOG35CESLJ
Volume wake removal – http://www.multiupload.com/LWBUG08DEM
CRT Animation – http://www.multiupload.com/CEFHNXG0V7
CRT Animation / Batt % – http://www.multiupload.com/TMU3JDK0J9

Flashing custom kernels on Evo 3D with HBOOT 1.5

GideonX — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:31:55 +0000

For some HTC Evo 3d users with HBOOT version at 1.5, flashing custom kernels is pretty much impossible with your standard recovery install. Due to updating the HBOOT to 1.5, you are forced to use HTC”s bootloader unlock method which opens up custom rom installs, but locks down the any boot partition modification. In layman’s terms, this prohibits all kernel installs.

However, there is a way to get around this. The below steps will assume you have ADB and Fastboot tools installed and ready to go. If you do not, please download it at the bottom of this post. This also assumes you know a little on how to use ADB and can follow basic command line directions.

I used the below method to flash Android Revolution successfully on a CDMA Evo 3d with HBOOT 1.5 — rom and kernel.

Note: this should be fairly painless, but problems always have a chance of occuring. You are on your own if you brick your device.

Set up ADB/Fastboot tools and make sure the command adb devices shows your device. If this is your first time, grab and install the fastboot drivers from here.
Ensure your Evo 3d is on HBOOT 1.5 (volume down + power from a powered off phone) and has been unlocked via HTC’s unlock method.
Time to flash your desired recovery. I prefer TWRP, which can be downloaded below. Place this recovery.img within the directory that ADB and fastboot tools reside in.
Boot your phone into the bootloader (volume down + power).
Select fastboot.
Connect your USB and issue the command fastboot flash recovery recovery.img. This will flash the TWRP recovery onto your phone. Do not reboot or exit out of the fastboot screen.
We will now fastboot into the recovery instead of using the two finger salute. HTC will give write permissions thru the recovery to write to the boot partition via fastboot. Issue the command fastboot boot recovery.img. This will boot your Evo 3D into the TWRP recovery.
With your favorite rom or kernel on your sdcard, you can now successfully flash them thru TWRP.

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file. Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.