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Very poetic I know...
I am incredibly overwhelmed at the amount of apps that I can disable to auto start on Rom Toolbox and I simply dont know what some of the instances are. Can someone suggest a general rule of thumb on which apps to disable the auto start of? Any help is greatly appreciated. Oh and I just discovered the lower density settings. Pretty nice.
Only general rule of thumb I know, is do not disable unless you know what it is. Other than that, google will answer your questions if you are actually curious.
You'll know the apps you've installed. Most /system apps are self explanatory, the underlying frameworks will be the only unknown left to understand, and you shouldn't disable most of them anyways.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-2
mdsevol said:
Very poetic I know...
I am incredibly overwhelmed at the amount of apps that I can disable to auto start on Rom Toolbox and I simply dont know what some of the instances are. Can someone suggest a general rule of thumb on which apps to disable the auto start of? Any help is greatly appreciated. Oh and I just discovered the lower density settings. Pretty nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, basically I disabled lots of startups.
If you are using rom toolbox, there are two types of startups displayed - Events and Applications.
Events - My recommendation is, do not touch any system related events like phone, exchange service (if you use email), etc. But beside of system apps, you may disable the custom apps if it doesn't need to be updated on the event of system boot. I disabled lots of events, something like XDA premium, triangle away, Telenav gps, talk, tango, screenshot it, rom manager, email, gmail, +++
Applications - Only the part that I usually change is the 'widget updating'. All other parts are related to boot/shutdown, connectivity, state changes. So, to keep the application working, these parts need to be untouched. But widget part is a little different. I believe most of users are partially using the widgets. Even some people don't like the widget at all. So, for the widgets, you don't use, you can disable the widget updating. If you disable the widget updating, then the disabled widgets will be disappeared from the widget menu and those cannot be used for widget. The difficult part of disabling widgets is, it's hard to find which one (widget updating) on the applications is corresponding to which actual widget (if there are multiple widgets under one application).
The benefit of disabling the startups is, we can save the memory and battery by eliminating unnecessary events or applications.
But the difficult part is, it's taking long time and there's no tool to backup your startup configuration. So, if you flash the new rom, you have to re-configure the startup settings unless if you use the no-data option during the flashing (this is what I'm doing everytime when I flash the rom).
-my two cents -
Remembering this from the old EVO boards, doesn't it end to starting anyway? Just doesn't start at the actual bootup? Same issue with task managers that close things that can't stay closed and end up restarting.
If this is (still) true then there is no reason to stop them from starting. Though I could be way wrong in which case just do what my wife does and ignore me.
LudoGris said:
Remembering this from the old EVO boards, doesn't it end to starting anyway? Just doesn't start at the actual bootup? Same issue with task managers that close things that can't stay closed and end up restarting.
If this is (still) true then there is no reason to stop them from starting. Though I could be way wrong in which case just do what my wife does and ignore me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao. Well that why I ask because I have no idea what I am doing and do not want to cause any more problems for myself but it seems as if alot of unnecessary apps start when I boot.
Hi guys, could someone please have a look at our SwitchMe app and see if it works on the Nexus 7 - we dont have one of these at the office and are unlikely to get one any time soon
Basically, SM allows many people to use one device. But it has a lot of other uses. PR is after the break!
Thanks in advance!
**************************************************************************************
SwitchMe - share your device!
SwitchMe is a unique application for root users that allows you to log in and out of multiple user spaces just as you would on a desktop computer, with each profile having its own separate system settings, apps and data.
Some of the benefits of this technology:
Privacy
Securely share one device among many users, protect your accounts with passwords and log out automatically.
Kids
Create a profile for the kids, with only the apps and access you feel comfortable with.
Gaming
Overclock your profile for maximum performance in intensive games
Speed
Imagine a buttery smooth profile, with no kids games, messengers or bloatware to slow things down.
Testing
Create a sandbox profile to easily test applications and themes - no more nandroid nightmares!
Battery
Switch to a profile which only contains the essentials to save power through brute force.
Critical usage warning:
Incorrect use of this application can potentially harm your device. Before proceeding with use we strongly recommend that you perform a full nandroid backup through the device recovery.
READ THE HELP FILE CAREFULLY TO AVOID ISSUES
Without the Key, this application allows a maximum of 2 profiles and no security features.
Only the standard Android implementation of Apps2SD is currently supported. Use all others at your own risk.
Most devices should be compatible as long as they have enough free internal memory to create secondary profiles. The application will warn users if available memory is low.
Stay tuned for new features, and please rate the application by pressing the star button on the main screen - good ratings help us improve and expand functionality!
Market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=fahrbot.apps.switchme
The free version only allows the creation of two profiles and has no security features.
Screens:
I just installed it and went through creating different accounts, setting admin, switching users. I don't have time to test out everything, but it seems to work fine for me.
Working fine for me, been using it for a few weeks now.
I only use the basic settings. If you need anything testing, give me a shout.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Yeah I installed this last week, seems to work fine...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Thanks guys! Let me know if you have issues or suggestions!
Sent from my GT-P6800 using XDA Premium HD app
Been looking at this app for quite some time but never actually tested it out... now I have a nexus 7 it might be a time to change that.
Firstly what I would want is to set a second profile for my girlfriend, hiding all root apps and giving her a kindle profile etc, the basic stuff. I take it that is what this app is designed to do?
secondly, how does uninstalling this app work?
ftgg99 said:
Let me know if you have issues or suggestions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all seems to work perfectly for me. Great app. SwitchMe allows me to lend my N7 to family members whilst keeping my profile intact and hidden.
My only suggestion at the moment is to allow a different wallpaper choice for the switch screen. I could then set a background with graphic instructions/welcome messages on it.
Lennyuk said:
Been looking at this app for quite some time but never actually tested it out... now I have a nexus 7 it might be a time to change that.
Firstly what I would want is to set a second profile for my girlfriend, hiding all root apps and giving her a kindle profile etc, the basic stuff. I take it that is what this app is designed to do?
secondly, how does uninstalling this app work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 - yes
2 - uninstalling the app will not remove the profiles. You must manually remove them, either through the app or by deleting its data. The app will warn you that you will lose access to all inactive profiles when deleting them (restricting you to the profile youre in at the moment).
Timbermill said:
It all seems to work perfectly for me. Great app. SwitchMe allows me to lend my N7 to family members whilst keeping my profile intact and hidden.
My only suggestion at the moment is to allow a different wallpaper choice for the switch screen. I could then set a background with graphic instructions/welcome messages on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its on our to do list already
Hello, I'm very interested in this app.
I want to be able to have my own profile and one for my children to play educational games.
I would like to be able to hide applications on that particular profile even if the data is not shared across profiles on the same app.
I would also be concern about the storage. Would they be able to view the files on my sdcard from other profiles? Is there a way to prevent that or allocated some storage space for different accounts?
Also another concern that I have is with Rom updates or even switching roms. In the case I want to just update the rom and at worst I have to do a cache/dalvik cache wipe, would that affect the profiles in any way?
Edit: I just tested and I can view everything on the storage area of the device and further. Also the gallery shows all the photos that stored on the device.
As I said above, the maintenance is up to you. Regarding different roms - you can only use one base from - if you want to use a new one, you will need to remove the app and delete your profiles.
Anything to report?
Hi guys. Heres an update with some critical fixes:
1.5.3.13
Added compatibility for Galaxy Note
Fixed switch screen issue on OTA updates and wipes
Reworked wipe profile behavior
I created a new profile and named it "default". Then I chose to switch to it and my player rebooted. After rebooting though it comes up with a login screen but whenever I put in my name "default" and try to log in it does nothing. I'm completely locked out. Also I did not set any password. Is there something I'm doing wrong?
[email protected]@rd said:
I created a new profile and named it "default". Then I chose to switch to it and my player rebooted. After rebooting though it comes up with a login screen but whenever I put in my name "default" and try to log in it does nothing. I'm completely locked out. Also I did not set any password. Is there something I'm doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its case sensitive
[email protected]@rd said:
I created a new profile and named it "default". Then I chose to switch to it and my player rebooted. After rebooting though it comes up with a login screen but whenever I put in my name "default" and try to log in it does nothing. I'm completely locked out. Also I did not set any password. Is there something I'm doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its case sensitive
I suggest you use a the other switch screen theme if you want to switch and unlock faster.
I can't get into the device to change the settings because of the login screen.
I think I just answered you. The login is case sensitive. Or do you have some other problem?
I have already tested on the n7, it works fine...
Hello,
First off, I want to say thank you for creating this app. It has been working great for my family to share our N7.
I'm familiar with linux, but I am not familiar with Android. So I have a couple questions.
1. I installed an app(game) in the wrong user's profile. My son made alot of progress in it and I don't want to lose it. Is there a way to copy an app and all of its data from one profile to another?
2. If I download a new app in one profile is there a way to copy it to multiple profiles without having to redownload it again. Could this be done through ADB?
3. If I wanted to wipe the tablet and start over will doing a backup with TiBu copy all the data for every user or do I need to do a separate backup for each user?
Thanks for your help,
Chris
Been using it ever since I got my Nexus 7, works great for my wife and I.
I haven't tried the experimental fast-switch though, maybe I should.
My only recommendation is to set the priority on the notification to one of the new JellyBean ones, the lowest. That way it will stay in the notification tray, but won't show the icon on the top bar. That's something Lux and Battery Widget Reborn do really well. It still keeps the apps running, just doesn't crowd the bar with icons.
ChrisAttebery said:
Hello,
First off, I want to say thank you for creating this app. It has been working great for my family to share our N7.
I'm familiar with linux, but I am not familiar with Android. So I have a couple questions.
1. I installed an app(game) in the wrong user's profile. My son made alot of progress in it and I don't want to lose it. Is there a way to copy an app and all of its data from one profile to another?
2. If I download a new app in one profile is there a way to copy it to multiple profiles without having to redownload it again. Could this be done through ADB?
3. If I wanted to wipe the tablet and start over will doing a backup with TiBu copy all the data for every user or do I need to do a separate backup for each user?
Thanks for your help,
Chris
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 - titanium backup
2 - yes sure why not go for it
3 - no, unless you wipe the profiles through the app or manually delete them they will remain intact on the sd card
Clarkster said:
Been using it ever since I got my Nexus 7, works great for my wife and I.
I haven't tried the experimental fast-switch though, maybe I should.
My only recommendation is to set the priority on the notification to one of the new JellyBean ones, the lowest. That way it will stay in the notification tray, but won't show the icon on the top bar. That's something Lux and Battery Widget Reborn do really well. It still keeps the apps running, just doesn't crowd the bar with icons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fast switch will only affect things like multiple languages, multiple lcd densities and and other framework related stuff. Just try it, it wont make your device explode.
Regarding the notification. It is not there to keep the app in memory, its there for logging out. App doesnt need to be in memory, it will work just fine with no notification at all.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL THREAD.
IF YOU FIND ANY DUPLICATE THREADS WITHOUT PROPER CREDITS FOR ME, PLEASE REPORT.
I SHALL TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION
Most of you might be very much familiar with the rooting procedure. Its the process of giving yourself superuser permissions (ex - administrator in windows xp ).
If you are using a custom rom, then there is no need to specifically root your phone. But if you are using stock roms, then there is a guide to root in the forums.
Once rooted, you can now take your own decisions for your device which include improving system performance or flashing custom roms using cwm recovery or using any of these below listed apps. Use it wisely, as playing with your device performance can have damaging effects.
I AM NOT AT ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE TO YOUR DEVICE BY YOU.
Moving on, many of the rooted-on-stock and custom rom users might already know most of these apps and their uses, so this thread is for the begginers who have just rooted their devices.
Further, most of these apps are available in the playstore (mostly paid, but if you want the cracked versions, you can find them in the internet.
So here are some of the apps that might be usefull for you. I will also update this apps list as soon as, I find more usefull apps.
HIT THANKS IF YOU LIKE THIS THREAD.
Titanium Backup -
Losing all the apps on your device accidentally or while flashing custom rom is a bad feeling. Re-downloading every app is a painstaking work so fortunately for root users, Titanium Backup provides the solution. Titanium Backup is a powerful backup utility which stores your apps, app data, and system data on your SD card for safekeeping. Titanium Backup can also painlessly remove, freeze-unfreeze any app, including system apps. This app can be configured to run its tasks on a schedule, and the $3.99 donate version allows you to set up multiple schedules for the various combinations of backups it is capable of performing.
ROM Manager -
ROM Manager allows you to flash almost any ZIP to your phone, whether it be a kernel, ROM, app package, or even initiate a nandroid backup.
adbWireless -
adbWireless does exactly what its name implies, all without the need for a USB cable. There really isn’t much to say as the app is, quite literally, a big red button that you can push to enable/disable wireless ADB connection. There’s also a widget for those times when you’re too lazy to fire up the full application. Its available on the playstore for free.
Move2SD Enabler / Install manager -
Move2SD Enabler or Install manager, allow users to move any app to the SD card. Like adbWireless, it’s as simple as pressing a button. It’s free and both the the apps are available in the playstore. Although scripts like s2e and link2sd etc are there its sometimes convinient to use apps like these.
Market Autoupdate Bulk Toggle -
Another simple yet incredibly useful root-only app:
Market Autoupdate Bulk Toggle. This is an app that takes the Market’s auto-update feature to a whole new level:
Pressing "Autoupdate On" does exactly what you’d expect: it turns on auto-update for all of your installed apps. That’s it – you’ll never have to confront that pesky "Allow automatic updating" option in the Market again. The only caveat is that the program only enables automatic updates for apps that are already installed and won’t apply to those installed in the future – for those, you’ll have to rerun Market Autoupdate Bulk Toggle and press "Autoupdate On" again. Unsurprisingly, you’ll still have to push the "Update" button yourself when an app receives a manual update (which only happens when its permissions change – not a frequent occurrence). Although this feature is present in the playstore, all those who like using the old market this surely comes in handy. It’s free and available on the playstore.
Theft Aware -
Theft Aware, while considerably more complex than the other items on the list, is an Android security app unlike any other. With it, you can remotely track your phone if it gets lost or stolen, wipe it, call it and spy on the thief, and much more. Its free and available on the playstore.
DroidWall Android Firewall -
It will make sure apps on your phone don’t unnecessarily waste your limited data plan without your knowledge. The app’s main feature is turning off EDGE or 3G or WiFi access for any application, thus allowing you to restrict which apps can access the network. In addition to saving bandwidth, DroidWall can be used for security – just lock down a suspicious app to make sure it doesn’t try to unnecessarily encroach your privacy. As an added bonus, a log of what goes on is included. And its open source
Button Savior -
This is an similar to virtual buttons bar app, but with a slightly different and better UI. Button Savior might be worth a look.
Samba Filesharing -
Samba file sharing is the bomb. It turns your phone into an smb server and puts your sd card on your desktop when you’re on a wifi network. It allows you to share files between your phone and pc over WiFi as a Windows shared folder. With this free app, you can wirelessly copy files to/from your Android device via the same drag-and-drop interface you use when your handset is plugged into your computer with a standard USB cable. Even the security freaks have a reason to celebrate –
Samba offers customizable username and password options in addition to letting users choose a Windows workgroup name and a device network (NETBIOS) name.
Juice Defender and Ultimate Juice Defender -
Juice Defender is a battery conservation app. It uses various triggers, rules, and timers to control how often your device utilizes 3G/EDGE APN’s and wifi. These data connections are the number one drainers of battery life when your phone is idle, so Juice Defender allows you to decide when, where, and how often you want them to be active. Ultimate Juice ( paid version of Juice Defender) must be installed over an existing copy of Juice Defender, which unlocks a few additional capabilities for users with root permissions. It also provides some extra goodies for root users including the ability to adjust CPU clock speeds on the run to conserve battery, which requires root permissions.
ES File explorer -
This an application for exploring your phone’s directories.
For developers, its usefulness is self-explanatory. For the average user, it certainly is a solid file explorer with a better interface especially, ES file exp. One more unique feature of these file explorers is the ability to modify permissions settings on files or folders. It comes packed with some solid features apart from the conventional file viewing. Its completely free and is available in the market.
Root explorer -
Similar to any other file explorer app in the market. But its specialty is that, it can crawl deep into the deepest corners of android and modify them like the elusive dalvik cache to sd. Its a paid app available in the market.
Cachemate -
CacheMate is cache cleaner app like no other cache cleaning app does it. Two, CacheMate can clear certain data from the device. This was/is extremely tedious to accomplish and linux does not handle this. Three, CacheMate clears cache from the SD card. While you can go and do this yourself, CacheMate does it all for you just by a simple tap on screen.
Sixaxis Controllerer -
Sixaxis Controller allows you to connect a PS3 controller to your phone, giving you the ability to have a full gaming experience on your handset. You grab Sixaxis Controller form the Market for $1.62.
Wireless Tether -
Wireless Tether remains the best way to utilize your phone as a WiFi or Bluetooth (PAN) hotspot. Its free and its open source. Available in playstore. But, it is certainly a battery killer so use it while charging the device.*
Shark For Root -
It’s essentially a stripped down version of WireShark. It’s a particularly geeky app to have, but for developers or those of us obsessed with monitoring where our traffic is going its a great app. Shark monitors all network activity on your device (presumably from all interfaces) and outputs a .pcap file by consrving quite an amount of battery when compared to other apps in the playstore. So use it and know the difference yourself.
MarketEnabler -
One of the most frequent excuses for piracy has to be "The app isn’t available in my country" or "Google doesn’t allow paid apps where I live." No longer!
MarketEnabler makes your Android phone believe it’s on another carrier – perhaps even one in another country. For example, a Swede could use this app to access Google Books, which is, by official terms, available exclusively in the US, right ? So use it and let the downloading begin !
SD Maid -
SD Maid frees up space on your phone’s SD card by cleansing it of "corpses in the basement," or unnecessary data left behind by apps no longer installed on your phone. It works with all roms currently on the forums. Use it and know the difference.
AutoKiller Memory Optimizer -
Hate using scripts like V6 supercharger ?
Then is THE app for you.
It tweaks your phone just like the V6, to run smoothly. It kills all the idle process running in the background and saves a lot of battery. You can choose various OOM values for all the apps like foreground, visible, empty etc. Donators are also able to choose alternate presets, enter Chuck Norris mode, and enjoy an ad-free experience. Its available in the playstore for free, worth a try.
LCDDensity -
It changes the font of your phone, virtually everything. This is not a resolution changer (lol) , as I have seen many comments in playstore. It simply changes the depth and space of your phone. Using the app is very easy – simply adjust the slider or click on one of the big rectangular buttons to alter the density, then click ‘Apply’ to restart your device and see the changes in effect. Of course, the smaller the font, the harder it is to press onscreen objects; the larger the font, the more screen space goes to waste.
Keyboard Manager -
When it comes to landscape keyboards, it’d be hard to top what HTC has going with Sense UI. If it’s portrait input you’re after, however, Swype is the cream of the crop. So how can you decide ? Should you manually change your input method each and every time you switch orientations, or type exclusively in one
position? As it turns out, you won’t have to partake in either of those practices; downloading Keyboard Manager will suffice. The app is simple:
Allow users to use one keyboard in portrait mode and another when they turn their phone on its side.
Live dmesg boot and live logcat boot -
You won't have any words, to being shown the real dmesg (kernel debug) or logcat (Android debug) log every time your phone boots up ? So this is an app for all those dev's out there who are crazy about logs.
Screencast Video Recorder -
Taking a lot of screenshots and "videos" of apps and games is a habit to you ? Then Screencast is your go-to app, especially for the latter. If you ever find yourself in need of a way to record what’s happening on-screen, look no further than Screencast. The app costs $4, but there is a demo available so you can give it a shot before you buy.
Game On -
It not only allows users to backup and restore game data, but download and share game progress over the Game On network. Yeah, you read right – share. Game. Data. Maybe you’re stuck on a particular part of a game. Perhaps you just don’t feel like playing through all the boring crap (Gta 3) and want to jump straight into the good stuff. It doesn’t matter the reason you want to progress in a game – Game On is the solution. Game On costs a buck in the playstore. So give it a try and happy gaming !
Chainfire 3D-
With this app you can play all the HD games on your phone. It comes with various visual gameplay options. Its a paid app and is available in the playstore. Do give it a try.
WiFi Protector -
WiFi Protector is a security app that protects your device from Wi-Fi sniffing attacks. It’ll detect and prevent ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) attacks, like DoS (Denial of Service) and MitM (Man in the Middle). Unlike most of the other apps in the roundup, this one actually offers a little bit of functionality for non-rooted users too. It can even defend your phone against WiFiKill, an app that can eject basically any user off of a Wi-Fi network with the tap of a button. Its a paid app available on the playstore.
Undelete -
This one is sure to save many people a lot of heartache. We’ve all mistakenly
deleted files before, potentially losing them forever. The next time that happens, though, Undelete is here to save the day by scanning your device’s SD Card, finding all the deleted files, and, in most cases, restoring these files. The app is free in the playstore, so there’s no excuse to ever lose another file.
Reboot Control-
Reboot Control does 4 things, and 4 things only:
It allows you to reboot, recovery boot, wipe handset or bootloader boot with a single tap. The real usefulness of QuickBoot is in the ability to make home screen widgets for these functions, so they’re always at your fingertips. Since, almost all the custom roms these days use this as a built-in function so this app can be usefull for the stock users.
AdFree -
Blocks data access to a list of sites that store ads. Speeds up browsing experience as the ads aren’t downloaded along with the site and even blocks many ads from displaying in many of the ad supported apps.
Virtual Button Bar -
If your phone's buttons are about to fall off or something has happened and your buttons no longer work, then this app can save you a lot of time and trouble. Its entire purpose is to provide on-screen emulation of the dedicated hardware
buttons on most Android devices. The app offers various customizable features, such as user-definable buttons and positions, lockscreen animations, the ability to change various hardware button actions (volume, camera, etc) and a few
aesthetic variations such as transparency and button size. Virtual Button Bar is $1.63, but there is fully-functional trial available, as well in the playstore.
Call Blocker -
If you have specific numbers that you want to be blocked each time they call, then there’s a good chance you’ve turned to apps that automate this process. There is one problems with that, though:
Most apps still let your phone ring at least once. That’s where Root Call Blocker rises above the rest. Root Call Blocker detects incoming calls at the system level, so it can block them much more efficiently. In fact, it’s so efficient that it blocks the call before your phone even rings, so you’re completely unaware that the offending caller has tried to contact you in the first place. The app offers
many other features as well, such as call logs, multiple rejection methods, multiple profiles, caller grouping, SMS auto-replies, and much more. This app is not free, but there is also a trial version so you can give it a try before dropping any money.
SetCpu / NoFrills -
These apps let you control the speed of operation of your phone. They come with all the latest governers and I/O schedulers, though some roms governers are rom specific. Also, an Overclock kernel is required to use this app.
LBE Privacy Guard -
This is probably one of the best privacy guards that are ever seen apart from the pdroid patch by Yagya. Its functionality is akin to that of a software firewall, with some elements of Windows UAC thrown in. LBE sits in the background and “listens” to your apps as they request various permissions and then provides you a notice with options to either grant or deny access.
Dual Mount SD Widget -
The inability to mount your SD card to both your phone and PC at the same
time can be quite annoying, as you can’t access any of the information or apps that reside on your SD card when your device is mounted to your computer. Dual Mount SD Card is a simple and practical solution to this problem, as it allows you to access your SD card from phone and PC alike while it’s mounted. In order for this app to function properly, you must first disable Android’s auto-mount option, using the widget instead. This available on the playstore.
Hexamob Recovery Pro -
If you’ve ever accidentally deleted any data from your phone, then Hexamob Recovery Pro is here to save the day. Hexamob Recovery Pro is a data recovery tool designed to grab deleted files from either the SD card or internal storage of your Android phone. It supports the FAT file system, and offers the ability to scan the media for specific files types, including audio, video, images etc.
Total Commander -
Total Commander is a feature packed dual-pane file manager for Android, based off of the popular Windows file manager of the same name. It really is the only file manager that you’ll ever need. Most of the CM7 roms come cooked with it, in case you are using stock this will come in real handy.
Mobile ODIN Pro -
Flashing your firmwares the mobile way. Very handy and very useful thanks to ChainFire for this awesome app
Thread Link
Call Master -
It’s probably the best call and text firewall in the playstore. It can control dozens of variables in countless situations – everything from blocking certain numbers during certain times of day, sending specific numbers to voicemail, to auto-hang ups etc.
avast! Mobile Security -
Last, but certainly not least is avast! Mobile Security – an app that every rooted user should have installed. I know what you’re thinking – an antivirus app? Really? Yes, really. This app is different than the rest of the anti-virus applications in the Market, because it is also the best anti-theft solution of any app. (The other features of the app are top-notch, as well, but the anti-theft functionality is its only root function). Why is its anti-theft so good? Because
it used to be Theft Aware , an app that is listed above. TA was bought out buy avast! and incorporated into its Mobile Security app. The best part is that the root function of the app wasn’t altered in any way – avast’s anti-theft setup is identical to Theft Aware in every way but with a wonderfull UI – it’s simple and intuitive, and when it’s finished, you can rest assured that if your device is ever lost or stolen it’s as protected as it can be.
avast! Mobile Security is free and if you only choose to install one app from this roundup, I suggest that this is the one.
Battery Callibration
If you have a regular habit of changing roms ? Then this is the right app for you.
Its a battery calibration app. It wipes all the battery stats/data from your phone and will make your phone ready to produce some fresh new stats. In this way your battery will last longer as it is always recommended to calibrate the battery after flashing a new rom. Its a free app and is available in the playstore.
BusyBox Installer
Did you ever feel, where can I get a old version of busybox ? This is a common query while using the V6 Supercharger, since it recommends a busybox 1.18.2 or higher version. So ever come across an app that requires an older version of busybox ? Then this is right app to turn for. Its a free app and many versions are available in the playstore so, choose wisely
Script Manager
"THE" app for applying "ANY" script for your phone. It can help create terminal widgets for apps that aren't available for that app, by simple taps of the screen. SM widgets is another add-on for this app so you can use its full power.
For a guide to create terminal widgets, you can check this out :
Click Here
It can also help tweak your phones performance by applying scripts like V6, kickass, 3G booster etc. A must have app for any dev or tweaker. It can serve as a decent root explorer for an average user. Its available in the playstore for free.
Root Uninstaller
Annoyed by the fact that you can't remove those useless system apps ? No more ! This is that app, that removes all the useless apps from your phone. It can also freeze user apps, backup them, delete them, unfreeze them, move them sd card etc. Its a powerful to have and sometimes may come in handy some times. Its a free app available in the playstore.
Easy Tether
Too lazy to go into settings>wireless and networks>tethering>usb tether ??
Then this is your go to app. Its a one-click tethering app for your phone so that you can use it to browse on your laptop or desktop. Its a free app available in the playstore.
ScreenShot UX
A screenshot app that has all the cool features like shake to capture your screen. Its fully functional trial is available in the playstore. Use it and feel the app before investing in it
Screenshot ER
Another screenshot app. Its a completely free app in the playstore unlike any other in the playstore. As it is free, there has to be some way to chop our legs. . So that drawback is a 6-sec delay after taking every screenshot. Though if u buy it, you can reduce that delay to 1-sec. Some of its features are, screenshot preview ( various views for previews ) , shake SS, on-screen button, notification capture etc. Use it and the know the difference yourself.
Z Screen Recorder
Probably the only app to give some competition to screencast app. Its a similar app compared to the screencast video recorder. It simply has two big buttons, when the app is opened. It simply records whatever is happening on the screen and saves the video to your sd directly. It has fully functional demo in the playstore. Try it before buying it.
SD Booster
The dev of this app claims it to increase the external memories speed upto 40 times than before. You can set this app to work from boot. If you don't believe me or the dev, just use any of the benchmark tools and see the proof your self. Its a tiny-free app available on the playstore. Do try it
SD Speed Increase
Originally developed by our xda member '"brainmaster". Its a similar app to SD Booster. The app has similar results to that of its competitor in terms of write/read speeds in any benchmark apps. Its also a tiny-free app available in the playstore.
System Tuner Pro
The most complete android system utility app/tool. It does all activities like backing-up your apps, task killer, logcat reader, terminal emulator, memory controls, freeze/unfreeze apps, activity recorder, system tweaker etc. Use it and you'll know the difference yourself. You can also setup widgets and notification indicators to any of these function and monitor your phone with real ease. Its a free app available in the playstore.
Tasker
If you have a habit of forgetting things ? Then this is the BEST app available in the whole playstore. Then only drawback of this app is, YOU. lol, yeah coz if you forget to set the tasker to do its task, then you are actually limiting its function. So moving on, Tasker is powerful app that has triggers which can make you remember the mildest things through its alarm and etc functions, 200+ built-in actions , task completion, scene/icon/design your own task according to yourself. So what are you waiting for ? OH wait, have you forgotten what you were doing ? Then first download this app.
Its a paid app available in the play store.
Font Changer Root
Moving on, this allows you to change fonts. You might be asking, Why root for a puny font changer app ? The answer is, it changes fonts. Yes it changes fonts of virtually anything, even the keyboard you use. According to the dev, it creates a buck-up of your default font in-case something happens. While removing this app, make sure that you restore setting of your default font. In case you forgot, just restore your nandroid back-up. Its a free app in the playstore and a donate version is also available in case you like the app.
AnTuTu CPU Master
AnTuTu CPU Master is a tool for changing CPU/GPU speed. Its similar to SetCpu or no-frills. It slightly has better UI. You can overclock your device for faster performance or slow down by reducing the clock frequency. Its a tiny-free app available in the playstore.
Faster Fix
Speed up your fix of your current location using your phone's GPS. Here is the link to the trick/hack used in addition to this app : Enjoy
Click Here
Webkey
Using this app you can now control your phone from any browser. Yeah, you heard me right ! With this app you can send screenshots, control another phone, download-upload files, get gps location, read-write sms, export-import contacts-sms-call logs, terminal emulator etc.. So what are you waiting for ? Go ahead and try this app as its a free app available in the playstore
Root Checker
This tiny-free app DOES NOT REQUIRE ROOT. Then why on the list ? As the name implies, it simply checks your su-binary and verifies that your phone is properly rooted or not. So this app is helpful for beginners who rooted their stock recently and lets you check whether you have followed the procedure correctly or not. Its available in the playstore for free.
Spare Parts
This is a very handy app to have. It currently works only on custom roms and CM7. It a tool to control all your hidden interface changes in your custom rom. Going through setting for even changing even the screenlock can be painful, So this app save that time and energy easily. It also allows you to change the screen transition type and its speeds, wifi sleep policy, useage statistics etc. Its a free app and is available in the playstore.
Swapper
It lets you create, add and manage swap memory file without a swap partition on SD card. Reconfigure the app if you changed your swap size. This tiny app is free and its available in the playstore.
DroidTweaker Root
A small All-in-one app for your rooted phone. It also can mount the system partition as read-write for development purposes and also can clear dalvik cache directly by the tap of a button. Its presently in beta stage but its working fine for me. This tiny app is free and its available in the playstore.
CREDITS
1. Android Central for some apps
2. Me for the rest
3. You for being cooperative
4. XDA for giving a place to learn and share
5. Google for Android !
reserved post for updates
In the following days, i will upload some screenshots along with play store links.
thank you for cooperation.
one more please if u dont mind..
this too sorry
Hi nice thread. I dont have thus phone but really useful thread anyway.
I noticed your going to be adding sone screenshots and Play Store links.
Why not take a look at my thread to take a look at the layout there mate.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=32881372
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Nick Fury said:
Hi nice thread. I dont have thus phone but really useful thread anyway.
I noticed your going to be adding sone screenshots and Play Store links.
Why not take a look at my thread to take a look at the layout there mate.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=32881372
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really nice thread ya sure will make this thread in the same layout as urs.
thanx
MOD EDIT: DO NOT QUOTE LONG OP
excellent tutorial
thanks
please unquote the OP... it takes ages to scroll down !
Android_United said:
please unquote the OP... it takes ages to scroll down !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes please. That's annoying
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
chainfire 3d ?
I see you posted chainfire 3d. Question is with the stock rom rooted is it safe to install the cf3d drivers. Just want to make sure before I end up with a blank screen and no way to factory reset this phone.
Anyone done this already succesfully ?
I really want to be able to play Shadowgun Deadzone but it closes when I open the app and says loading it closes while loading.
thanks for the time and dedication
Never realized Avast had extra features for root users until reading this thread. Thanks!
thanks
im new to rooting so thatnks for this list!
War Eagle!
Sent from my LG-E97x using xda app-developers app
Jank4AU said:
War Eagle!
Sent from my LG-E97x using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all about The U!
____
Sent from my LG Original Gangsta
I belong to the O2X community....saw your excellent list....nice and simple explanations
Thought I will suggest you to include "greenify" app which allows the apps running in the background to be used only when it is active. This way it is contributing to precious battery life.
this is available in play store or free and paid version.
Thanks my friend
Love it!
Awesome list! Thank you The Alchemist for posting this, using most of these on my Blaze! Agree with SREEPRAJAY about Greenify, amazing app, everyone should have it!
ok will update with that app along with some more..
Nice when I am new in root.
AdAway
I thing there in the best rooted apps is missing AdAway.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2190753
App blocking all adds in apps.
** DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DEVELOPER. I DO THIS AS A HOBBY AND SHARE MY FINDINGS IN CASE SOMEONE ELSE FINDS THEM USEFUL. **
** THIS WORKED ON MY DEVICE BUT IT MAY NOT WORK ON YOURS. APPLY AT YOUR OWN RISK **
Background
This script is written for the sole purpose of reducing the power consumption of Android 5.0 update for T-Mobile Note 3. A lot more can be removed from the system but that will not make a significant contribution to power.
The debloat script does not really remove anything; it only disables the apps. You can always run the enbloat script to revert it.
THIS SCRIPT IS FOR LOLLIPOP ONLY. WILL NOT WORK ON OTHER ANDROID FLAVORS.
What this script does
Please read below and understand what this script does before you use it. There may be an app on the list that you may actually want to keep.
Removes: FOTA, update, and security vehicles.
Because: these vehicles push "Security Updates" onto the device. If you make the mistake of accepting this security update, even after you root your tablet, it can patch the hole and you will never be able to use the same exploit to root again.
Removes: Google apps including Gmail and Google sync apps except for Maps, Youtube, Chrome, and Voice Search.
Because: Google apps do a lot of bookkeeping, locationing, and internet access in the background with very little benefit to the user, while consuming a lot of power. If you use Gmail my suggestion is to use the default Email program since it allows a better management of the sync schedule and consumes less battery (and a few other good things). Note that this can severely limit your access to Play Store so either install all store apps you need before debloating or use sideloading to install them after
Removes: Knox
Because: I am yet to meet a single person who likes this nightmare of an app.
Removes: Tmobile stuff except for Voice mail and hotspot
Because: Tmobile bloat does too much activity in the background. In particular, Lookout scans your device constantly to no obvious advantage.
Removes: Backup/cloud agents
Because: Most advanced users backup their data through other means
Removes: Remote control and tracking mechanisms
Because: If you are reading this you most likely don't want your device to be remotely tracked or controlled by Samsung
Removes: ANT services, health, INDI (v2), secgba (v2), Peel (v2)
Because: They run in the background and use the radio.
Removes: Weather (unified) daemon
Because: Major battery hog
Removes: Chat ON, Gear Manager Stub, Bloomberg
Because: Not particularly useful and can be installed from the market if needed
Removes: Enterprise and VPN tools
Because: Most users don't use them
And since someone will ask at some point, no, this script won't trip your Knox!
Requirements:
Rooted Samsung Note 3 SM-N900T (T-mobile model) on Lollipop N900TUVUFOB6. See this thread.
Android Terminal Emulator: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jackpal.androidterm&hl=en
Download link:
Attached below
Instructions:
Make a backup of your files/system. Also have a flashable Odin ROM handy to recover from possible disasters. I am not responsible if you brick your device while using these scripts.
To debloat:
1- Unzip the attachment and copy debloat.sh to your phone at /sdcard
2- Run the terminal emulator and type the following:
su
cd /sdcard
sh debloat.sh3- It will do its thing and reboot your phone in about 5 seconds.
To restore the bloatware:
1- Unzip the attachment and copy enbloat.sh to your phone at /sdcard
2- Run the terminal emulator and type the following:
su
cd /sdcard
sh enbloat.sh3- It will do its thing and reboot your phone in about 5 seconds. You have all your bloat back now.
Note that while running the debloat script you may get force-closing popups. This is normal; after all you are disabling these applications.
Limitations:
If you have previously removed bloat using other means this script CANNOT recover it for you. enbloat.sh can only restore what debloat.sh has disabled.
Final Notes
With this script you should be able to get anywhere between 0.25 to 1 percent discharge per hour in standby mode. Your awake time should also be around 1-3%. You will still find that Google Services will wake up and use GPS every time you unlock your phone. To get even better battery performance turn your GPS off when you are not using it
This should be sufficient for 99% of people. After you apply this script, if you still want more try this: Disable Phonesky, google play services, Google framework, and stock YouTube by renaming their apks (not the directory they are in but the apks themselves) to .apk.bac, reboot, and install an older version of youtube that does not need Google Services, such as 5.1.10. Note that this drastic removal of Google services will make assisted GPS very slow in Google Maps. If you don't understand what that means it is best to stick with the debloat script and not mess with your system.
Regardless of whether you end up using this code or not, my suggestion to you is to go to Settings -> General -> Security -> Security Policy Updates -> untick Automatic Updates.
Update
Version 2 removes more background processes. If you have already used version 1 to debloat, I recommend that you use version 1 to restore the bloat and then use version 2 to debloat again.
Thanks for contributing your work!
Frank
411y0ur8453 said:
See above/
---------- Post added at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 PM ----------
Anyways, we don't need a big long debate about it. I am just saying there needs to be a little more objective evidence for this, especially when the logic and reason at the beginning of the OP doesn't match the logic and reasoning in the list of applications being removed.
And the knox app is embedded deep into the device's core framework, simply removing the app is doing very little to remove it in it's entirety.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true. Knox is embedded deep into the system even bootloader removing the app will do close to nothing. Not putting down the work put into the script as it is indeed a time saver if you have spend a little time with Android. If not they can be turned off manually. As for the security holes. There will always be a way to root and mod. Oems have that to themselves. Take a look at our brethren over with verizon and att. Their devices are locked down tight and came like that out of the manufacturer. Our devices are unlocked boot loader wise. If they wanted to they would have locked our models too.
From the Moderator
Please avoid wandering into the philosophical world ........
Remember this ••• If you root the phone or customize it ••• then forget about security or other updates that come from the carrier or the manufacturer ......... by default you have agreed to abandon those updates ...... if they are important to you then, do not root and stay stock....... EASY
Post on topic, be kind , be respectful ........ thanks ~~~ oka1
oka1 said:
Please avoid wandering into the philosophical world ........
Remember this ••• If you root the phone or customize it ••• then forget about security or other updates that come from the carrier or the manufacturer ......... by default you have agreed to abandon those updates ...... if they are important to you then, do not root and stay stock....... EASY
Post on topic, be kind , be respectful ........ thanks ~~~ oka1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also a very good point...:good:
Meh... A lot of the time, removing and freezing apps can be counter productive.
For example,mpdecision, which controls when cores come online, has calls to it embedded into Samsung's camera apk, and removing or renaming this file can negatively impact battery life when using the camera application because a lot of the time, oems don't build checks into their software. They simply expect the file to be present, and when it's not, it can create a loop and drain battery.
Unless you've gone through the entire system to look for references to the apps you're removing, it's best to simply freeze or leave them alone.
freeza said:
Meh... A lot of the time, removing and freezing apps can be counter productive.
For example,mpdecision, which controls when cores come online, has calls to it embedded into Samsung's camera apk, and removing or renaming this file can negatively impact battery life when using the camera application because a lot of the time, oems don't build checks into their software. They simply expect the file to be present, and when it's not, it can create a loop and drain battery.
Unless you've gone through the entire system to look for references to the apps you're removing, it's best to simply freeze or leave them alone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right about the mpdecision process and it makes common sense to not remove a process like that. The same can be said about different timers and alarm processes in the system and the list goes on.
Having said that, I would be more than happy to explain how each item on this list contributes to saving power or protects the system from being subjected to unwanted patches without compromising the integrity of it.
And finally, I have been already using this setup (even a more aggressive version of it) for a few days on my phone with excellent power results and not a single hiccup or force closed app. I have also constantly monitored the wake locks and background processes to make sure the situation you referred to does not occur. I would be glad to hear your feedback if you use it and find a different outcome.
Op, can you share me one with Gapps and debloating all stuffs which are not necessary (TMO Services),if you live away from US of A? It would be much helpful for people like me.
jhbalaji said:
Op, can you share me one with Gapps and debloating all stuffs which are not necessary (TMO Services),if you live away from US of A? It would be much helpful for people like me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a lot that can be taken out but every piece removes a bit of functionality with it. If you live abroad it is understandable to remove all TMO stuff but, for example, if you remove more Google stuff than this script does YouTube will stop working and maps becomes slower. Also, there are services like printers or widgets like flipboard etc that you may still want to keep. So to what extent do you want to debloat your system?
I had already debloated several apps but thought this could help a bit more with the battery. So far I haven't had any issues, crashes, etc.
Thanks for sharing.
Update: It causes Milk Music to not work.
dirtybudha said:
I had already debloated several apps but thought this could help a bit more with the battery. So far I haven't had any issues, crashes, etc.
Thanks for sharing.
Update: It causes Milk Music to not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is milk music? I don't have that app. Do you mean google music? Oh, you mean the one from the play store?
OK, Milk music is a samsung app. It needs the samsung account apps that are some of the things that this script disables. If you need your milk music back, run the enbloat script and you will have it back.
Yeah, I followed the instructions which were UBER easy. Thanks for that.
I figured it was related to that.
najoor said:
What is milk music? I don't have that app. Do you mean google music? Oh, you mean the one from the play store?
OK, Milk music is a samsung app. It needs the samsung account apps that are some of the things that this script disables. If you need your milk music back, run the enbloat script and you will have it back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is an example of how debloating can be beneficial. On an unmodified phone I set the brightness to about 50 percent and let the phone play a 720p video in a loop. I could get 10 hours of screen time. However if you look closely, Lookout has been busy in the background burning 13% of the battery. So if I had disabled it I would have arguably got another hour of screen time.
I love this scipt! As a laymen, all I have to do is import it via Rom Toolbox (Pro) to the sciprter--then execute. My device runs at least twice as well as before.
Thanks, OP!
cant wait to try this out
deleted
First, the tease.
Note: This video was prepared before I thought about/tested Aldiko Classic as a replacement (and improvement) for Overdrive. See post #2 for more information.
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage that might result to your device by improperly using the files I have provided. Do not charge your device while reading in the bathtub. Do not use your device as a projectile. Read safely.
I've been working with the abandoned sdcard-based CM 11 ROM for a couple of months now, trying to see if anything could be done with it. Having never tried it back in 2015 when @kfazz was actively working on it, I wasn't sure what to expect, but having worked with an 8 gb Nook Tablet ("only" 512 mb RAM) for a long time and with various resource-hungry ROMs, I wasn't expecting much.
First, two myths to dispel:
1. It will NOT "burn" spots in your display. Trust me, if it hasn't done anything to mine in the endless hours I've spent swearing at it, it won't hurt yours.
2. It does NOT leave your stock internal storage entirely alone, but the change is minimal. An "Android" folder is placed in /media and a few apps may store a little data there.
Here's a short list of issues I found, in no particular order. Some are just annoying and can be addressed peripherally. Others are more granular in nature and are beyond anything I could fix. It may now be impossible to address the issues directly if this post is any indication. Of course, the Cyanogenmod folks have moved on to Lineage so the build components may not be accessible any longer.
1. it is sloooooow
2. it is not nice to look at (all Themes I tried destabilized the ROM--so live with it)
3. it does not understand the whole screen off/sleep/wake routine
4. it doesn't really seem to understand the whole e-ink thing
5. it drains battery power like a Black Hole app has been installed
6. it is a nuisance to swap out the sdcard to boot this ROM
7. it is a little unstable....
8. booting into TWRP can be very frustrating
9. the shutdown screen is a crapshoot (all white, the current display, a garbled mess, etc.)
I could go on, but as I worked with the ROM my perspective changed repeatedly until I finally realized that rather than complaining about what it could not or would not do, it would be more helpful to see if it could be used to do something that the stock NST no longer could. For example, NoRefresh doesn't work on the CM 11 ROM but it works wonderfully on the stock NST. There is some issue with screen overlays in KitKat and they are used in the NoRefresh app. Also, there is no USB Host in the CM 11 ROM, although this was mentioned early in the original postings. But USB Host (and Audio) works famously on the NST. Etc. So perhaps the real issues should be:
1. Is there any reason to run the CM 11 ROM?
2. If CM 11 is not fit to be a daily driver, could it be possible to go back and forth between stock and CM 11 easily?
Also, the two ROMs share a common partition: /media (called sdcard1 on the CM 11 ROM). This means files can be shared between them. So I can use a more modern browser (but not very modern....) on the CM 11 ROM to download a PDF of the newspaper (something Opera Mobile cannot negotiate on the stock ROM), move the file to the shared partition, then reboot into the stock ROM and read the file using EBookDroid with NoRefresh Or, I can download an app using the Yalp Store (which should run on the NST but does not), move the file to the shared partition, reboot and install the app on the stock ROM (if it runs on Android 2.1).
What I've done
I have worked mainly with build 2 of the CM 11 ROM. Initially I found build 3 to be markedly less stable, but it may be worth it to revisit my work at some point now that I'm not going to be trying truly crazy stuff. These are the changes I have made:
1. Removed Calendar and Calendar Storage. If you want a local calendar, you can extract the apps from the original build 2 ROM zip or any other CM 11 ROM.
2. Removed Sound Recorder (duh)
3. Removed Trebuchet launcher. It's just hopeless for the NST display.
4. Removed a bunch of Wallpaper and Theme stuff. Face it, plain white (included) is best for the wallpaper.
5. Removed Bluetooth app (duh)
6. Replaced the broken Gallery
7. Restored People (contacts) for local use (load in a .vcf file)
8. Restored the stock AOSP Email app
9. Added a custom boot splash screen (whoopee!)
10. Added ADW Launcher to replace Trebuchet
11. Added AdAway
12. Added the Yalp Store (fork)
13. Added a re-themed RotationLocker (you can actually read the options!!!)
14. Added the updated kernal files and recovery files suggested in the original thread
15. Added the Boot Nook OS app (this, with a companion app for the stock NST allows a form of "dual boot")
16. Added the Screensaver app (this works--mostly--like on the stock NST)
17. Added an NLP app for Location, if turned on
18. Enlarged the /userdata partition to 1 gb
19. Slightly edited build.prop so apps that try to ID the NST can succeed
And, of course, I've combed through the settings for both the ROM and launcher, trying to minimize animations, kill background processes, etc. Anything to calm the OS down.
I have prepared two sdcard image files (see downloads section below). Unlike the images in the original post, these are installed and pre-configured so they are ready to try as soon as you write them. Of course you may not agree with all my settings/tweaks, and are free to take my work as a starting point. I'm hoping that this post may revive some interest in this ROM and people with more knowledge than I will run with it, or at least offer a few more tips and tweaks.
"Dual Boot"
I looked at this issue for a long time. In the development work on the Nook Color someone eventually produced a mod to enable booting to either internal or sdcard ROMs by holding down the "n" button during boot for one of the options. Eventually someone else came up with a boot menu. These innovations involved u-boot and kernals. This is arcana to me, way beyond my pay grade. I did make a desultory binary comparison of some files and eventually gave up. Then one day an outside-the-box idea came to me. What would happen if the device could not boot from the sdcard for some reason? The answer is: it would boot from the internal stuff. A quick renaming of u-boot.bin on the sdcard confirmed this. So, how to rename this file going from either ROM? Coming from the stock ROM it's easy because the "boot" partition of the sdcard is a FAT32 partition and the only part of the card the stock ROM can see. Then just add a reboot command. Done.
Coming from the CM 11 ROM it is more complicated because the "boot" partition is invisible. With the help of @Renate NST I was able to sort out a series of shell commands which mount the "boot" partition, rename the file (I finally settled on renaming MLO rather than u-boot.bin), and execute a reboot. So a different but simple app for each ROM and you can go back and forth without shutting down and swapping cards. The added advantage is that you can put the NST to bed on the stock ROM where it will not use so much power, rather than shutting it down entirely.
Setting up "dual boot" requires a little work if you want to maintain your existing stock files on the sdcard. Here are the steps:
1. Copy the contents of the regular sdcard you use in your NST to a PC.
2. Insert the CM 11 sdcard you have prepared by burning one of the two images I supplied into the card reader of your PC.
3. Start MiniTool Partition Wizard.
4. Identify the sdcard in MiniTool Partition Wizard. You will see that there are four partitions. The "boot" partition is the first and active one. Right-click on this partition and select "Extend". When the dialog appears, drag the sizing indicator all the way to the right (i.e., use up all the unallocated space).
5. When you've got all the changes set up, be sure to hit "apply" so that it all really happens.
6. Close MiniTool Partition Wizard.
The card is now fully accessible to the stock ROM except for the three hidden CM 11 ROM partitions, /system, /cache, and /userdata. Copy the contents of your regular sdcard that you previously saved on your PC onto the newly adjusted CM 11 card. Voila!
The only drawback (besides the loss of about 2 gb of space) is that the files in the "boot" partition will be visible when you use a file manager from the stock ROM. I use ES File Explorer on my stock NST and it allows me to hide files and folders I don't need to access and don't want to look at. Otherwise, you just need to ignore them (and certainly don't delete them!).
Oh, and you need to install the "Boot CM 11" app on your stock NST (download section below). This is a Tasker-generated app. If you already have one of my other Tasker-generated apps or have previously installed GApps, you don't need the two Google maps library files included in the zip and can delete them. If you do need them, copy the two files into the locations shown below (remember, these are for the stock NST--the CM 11 ROM already has these files):
/system/etc/permissions/com.google.android.maps.xml
/system/framework/com.google.android.maps.jar
Set permissions for both files to rw-r--r-- and reboot. Without these files resident, the app will not install.
Apps
I went pretty much nuts at the beginning of my work, installing all kinds of stuff. A lot didn't work. This ROM is not a panacea for all the issues surrounding the aging (but beloved) NST and certainly not the place for fancy screen tricks and cute widgets. There just isn't enough RAM. There are other issues, but that is the big one. I recognize all the signs from my work with the RAM-poor 8 gb Nook Tablet. Of course, the processor is also slow. And there are display issues with the e-ink that some apps just can't get past, not to mention a rather odd screen size and aspect ratio. Here's what I learned:
Stock apps
The stock apps I left on the ROM all work "OK". I don't much care for the File Manager because there is no simple way to get out of it and contrast seems unneccessarily poor, but ES File Explorer (the 3.x series) runs more slowly and gets confused about the emulated and internal storage. It also interacts poorly with the package installer, taking a very long time to install apps. Email works fine and easily adds Gmail accounts. Others might require a little more work. Of all the system apps, the Browser is the most impacted in performance by the device and ROM limitations. I have found this to be true with all the ROMs I have worked with on the Nook Tablet. For KitKat the problems are exacerbated by the outdated Webview. Some sites (like XDA!) cannot display properly. Form input and even response to touching "buttons" is just really awful. If you are patient and don't madly tap over and over to get the attention of the device, you can use the stock Browser, but it is prone to freezing and crashing. That said, it can do some surprising things. For example if you are signed in to Google (painful in itself), it is able to display your full calendar (the only way to see it on the non-microG version), but it takes a long time. I left the app on the ROM, but you could remove it. I use it to access the newspaper, but only to get to the point where I can download a PDF, not to actually try and read it in the Browser. If the stock Browser has any other saving grace it is that the page-up and page-down commands (lower two hardware buttons) move the display. This compensates somewhat for the lack of NoRefresh and the rather overenthusiastic swipe-scroll response of the ROM.
I tried oh-so-many other browsers. I can't begin to count. The performance of most all was dismal. In the end, I settled on Opera Mini (but not the version that runs on the stock NST). I'm not a big fan of Opera Mini. There are many sites it can't display, but this version, which includes an ad-blocker, works really well with library OverDrive sites (yes, you read that correctly!) and generally sails through forms and interactive screens. Unfortunately it does not respond to the page-up/down commands.
Other user apps
I tried all the typical readers before I realized that was just stupid. Most work very well, although you need to up the version on a few to achieve full-screen reading, and the readers with bookcover screensaver actions need modifying to find the correct folder. I did this successfully with the current PlayStore version of AlReader but had less success with CoolReader. The FBReader version for the NST cannot display full screen, but the ICS version (available from the FBReader website) works well and can run the PDF plugin (presumably the DJVU as well). No version of Kindle runs well--if at all. The closest thing is Kindle Lite 1.9, but it is quite slow and cannot read local .mobi files. The right version of OverDrive runs reasonably well once the book is loaded. If you want to run OverDrive, be sure to look at the second post in this thread. News apps were possible but just really, really slow. Any app that needs to assemble a complicated Webview is a problem--this includes the in-app library browser of OverDrive. And then there is the issue with GSF (Google Services Framework). We don't really run into this with the stock ROM because all of our apps are so old. But with KitKat you begin to get apps that refuse to run or run poorly because you don't have GApps installed. Even the NPR News app....
So let's talk Google. First, NO GApps. Never. No. Just no. The ROM, as configured, runs with about 60-90 mb of free RAM (at least according to the information shown in Settings), a little more if you forego Email. In an extended moment of folly, just to see, I did struggle with GApps, after enlarging the /system partition on the card. It took two days, much searching on-line, and many words that do not come from children's books, but I did get a pico GApps package installed. That left about 30 mb of free RAM and absolutely nothing would work. I knew that would be the result from my work with the 8 gb Nook Tablet, but I just wanted to say, authoritatively, NO.
However...my work with the Nook Tablet also eventually led me to microG. Could that even work on this ROM? The short answer is yes. I have successfully enabled signature spoofing (but only for microG) and installed and configured microG.
microG, at its most basic level, spoofs the signature of GSF that many apps look for. At that level of service it adds very little overhead to the system. The next step up is adding an actual Google account. This does increase system activity but only a little if you don't go crazy with things. With an account you can run some Google apps like Books and Drive, assuming you can find versions that will work.
I've identified working versions of Google Play Books and Google Drive (included in the apps download below), but I don't guarantee they will work forever. Even after I thought I had found a good version of Google Play Books I got an email from Google saying they were going to stop supporting that version "soon". So I tried a few more recent versions and found another. No emails so far...
You could theoretically run the PlayStore at this level of microG, but it just won't work on this device. Google insists on updating it and while a Jellybean version might run quite well, it won't be around long and then after the automatic update it will be a useless burden on the system. Fortunately, the fork of the Yalp Store (which should run on the NST but does not) works well on the CM 11 ROM, although not with a generic Yalp Store account. I opened a Google account just for this purpose when I started working with the 8 gb Nook Tablet and this is the only thing I use the account for. I suggest you do something similar, just in case. This will give you PlayStore access, although you will not be able to purchase apps. If you select the microG version be sure to take a look at post #3 below.
That's about it. I tried a Crossword app, and a few other oddities, but in the end I still feel that running things on this ROM that function perfectly well (or better) on the stock ROM does not make a lot of sense. It should be all about the stuff you otherwise could not do--within reason
Lastly, a word about my Screensaver app. I've attempted to "solve" or work around a number of issues using this app. The screen off/sleep/unlock cycle only works "correctly" when the device is plugged in (AC or USB). Otherwise, waking the device requires a tap on the power button followed by a press of the "n" button. Perhaps that's a "feature". When I finally understood the situation I tried to figure out how to work around it. Eventually I hit on the idea of spoofing the battery state at "screen off" if the device is not charging. So the app monitors the screen and when it detects the screen-off state it tells the system that wireless charging has begun (if there is not already charging happening). Then the app pushes an image to the screen (which would otherwise be either black or the last current display--at random). Tasker (which I used to create the app) cannot overlay the nav bar so you will still see that. That means screensaver images are about 600x752 rather than 600x800. This generally works quite well, but there are two issues I have not been able to solve. Sometimes the first screen off goes to black. After that it all works fine. Also, pushing the image to the screen seems to reset the lock timer. So if your timeout is set to 5 minutes, the screen remains unlocked for roughly another 5 minutes after the image is displayed. During this time a simple swipe across the image in any direction will clear the screensaver (and reset the battery state). Otherwise, after lock, a press of the "n" button, followed by a swipe over the image will both unlock and clear the image (and reset the battery state). I tried sending a lock code myself after the image was displayed but that always resulted in a black screen. You can change the screensaver folder as long as you place your images in a folder inside /storage/emulated/0/Screensavers. If there is more than one image in the folder you select, the app will cycle through them, just like on the stock NST.
As a hopeful afterthought I also tried to address the random shutdown image. A careful reading of the original thread indicates this is supposed to be a white screen. The developer admitted this was subject to perfect timing, racing against the clock before parts of the system shut down. I attempted to force a blocking overlay onto the screen when shutdown is detected. A blocking overlay cannot cover either the status bar or nav bar, but at least you could tell the device is off. When it worked. For the time being I have removed this feature because it's almost as random as the native ROM itself. I'll keep picking at it, but I'm out of ideas at the present.
Getting going
1. Download one of the two images below, choosing whether you want the simple version or the one with microG installed. Each image is just over 2 gb so you will need at least a 4 gb sdcard to burn, probably larger if you plan to run "dual boot". I generally use 16 gb cards with most of my devices (a few have 32 gb cards), but that's probably overkill for the NST.
2. Use Win32DiskImager or similar to burn the image you downloaded to the card.
3. If you intend to run "dual boot", follow the directions above to extend the "boot" partition over the unallocated section of the card and copy your existing stock ROM sdcard files to the card. You will also need to install the "Boot CM 11" app on your stock NST (the companion app is already on the CM 11 ROM).
4. Shut down your NST, insert the CM 11 card and power up. The device will boot into CM 11 in three "stages": a splash screen, a white screen, a black screen. A very few apps have been pre-installed and some general configuration has been done. The rest is up to you!
Note: you don't have to be concerned about the hardware information like serial number, MAC address, etc. When the CM 11 ROM boots it apparently reads these from the internal storage. I tried this by switching my working cards to another NST and found that the values were correct for the currently running device.
TWRP
Remember the disclaimer at the beginning? That bit about not using your device as a projectile? That is about TWRP. Works great if you can get to it. From power off, or on reboot, press and hold the two lower hardware buttons as soon as you see the splash screen. Count to ten (not too slow, not too fast....) and then release the buttons. If you are successful, the boot process will briefly pass into the white screen and then TWRP. If you have an NSTG, the light will come on at some point (but that may not mean ultimate success). I've looked at this quite a bit to see if there could be a way to construct a simple app to force a reboot into TWRP without the button business. Just before posting all this I took another look through the original thread and there was the answer staring me in the face. But it's not a good answer. I have put together a small app to "force" a reboot into TWRP. It does this by mounting "boot", renaming boot.scr to boot.scr.bak, making a copy of twrp.scr named "boot.scr" and rebooting. This has a better success rate than the traditional method (at least for me), but it does occasionally hang at the splash screen (which is what the button method does for me about 80% of the time). In the two installations I have tried it failed on the first try, perhaps because of the delay in obtaining SU permission. Then it was fine. More importantly, the device is going to keep booting into TWRP unless you undo what the app did before you leave TWRP. It's lame, I know. The directions are given in the dialog box called up by the app. I did not include this app with the images because it really is just barely a "fix". If you want to give it a try, you can get it from the downloads section below.
If you want to flash any zips place them in /media on the stock NST, then mount /media when you enter TWRP.
If you want to make a backup it's tricky. This version of TWRP is coded to see only "internal" storage. But that's not what you might think. It's the sdcard, but only part of it. Despite having loads of free space on my sdcard it keeps showing me "569 mb" or similar. That is obviously not enough space for a 2+ gb backup, although of course the actual file contents are less than that. I believe this space measurement is the free space in the /userdata partition since backups appear in /storage/emulated/0/TWRP/BACKUPS/<serial_number>. So one approach is to enlarge this partition enough to accommodate a full backup. But that makes an image painfully large to download. My idea so far has been to make one or two backups, depending on how much is in userdata. So maybe system+cache, and userdata. Or, if there is enough space, all three at once. After each, I reboot and copy off the file to my PC, then delete it on the device. I successfully did a two part backup and then restored it, system+cache first, then after a reboot, userdata. This worked. The "boot" partition is easy enough to backup manually because your PC can see all of it.
"This was all a waste of my time. How can I recover my sdcard?"
Insert the card into the card reader of your PC and copy off the files from the stock ROM to restore to a clean card. Start MiniTool Partition Wizard. Identify the sdcard and right click on the three partitions: /system, /cache, /userdata, and delete them. Apply. This leaves only the active "boot" partition and some "unallocated space". Right-click on this partition and Extend it over the freed up space. Apply. You should now have a single space equivalent to the size of the card in a single partition. At this point the card can be reformatted with Windows or something like SDFormatter.
Downloads
NST_CM11.img (2 gb)
NST_CM11_microG.img (2 gb)
Boot_CM11.zip (for the stock NST)
Boot_TWRP.apk
CM11_Apps.zip
OverDrive (and Aldiko)
I was originally thinking about making another video but I am still recovering from the drama/trauma of making and posting my first YouTube video...so maybe later. Or not.
One of the things that first made me look at the CM 11 ROM was the potential promise of OverDrive. I've always thought the abandonment of the NST was one of the unkindest cuts. Unfortunately this is not a story with a totally happy ending. You can use the CM 11 ROM to run a version of OverDrive and you can checkout books from your library, but you have to go about it just right or it will drive you into hurling your device across the room. And then there is the issue with the actual book loading time, as seen in the infamous video in the first post. I can't do anything about the latter, but I have developed a method for checking out books that is actually pretty painless. Here is a step-by-step description of the process. YMMV.
0. You need to authorize the OverDrive app with your Adobe ID. If you're doing a lot of experimentation, be careful with this. I eventually used up my account allotment by carelessly uninstalling versions that did not work properly without first de-authorizing them. When I appealed to Adobe to reset my count (as I had read I should) I got a string of people who had no idea what I was talking about and apparently had no comprehension of the English language. I eventually just gave up on my old account and opened a new one.
1. Navigate to your library OverDrive website using Opera Mini. Sign in with whatever information you normally use (library card number, OverDrive account, etc.). DO NOT attempt to use the OverDrive app to search for your library and browse it. That way madness lies.
2. Find a book you want and go through the usual steps to check it out, eventually ending with the "Download EPUB". Some sites use pop-ups or overlays for the checkout process. Occasionally these end up "off the screen", i.e., you need to scroll back to the top to see them. After the first time you'll know better what to expect.
3. The download of the .acsm file is very quick and you'll see the notification appear briefly. DO NOT EXIT OPERA MINI AT THIS POINT! This will cause the notification to disappear. Although the activity picker *should* open OverDrive when the .acsm file is selected in the File Manager, it does NOT. Instead, pull down the notification window and tap on the "Download Complete".
4. OverDrive opens and the book is downloaded.
The process is similar if you select a Kindle (.mobi) format book, except there is no download. Instead you need to head over to Amazon.com and arrange for delivery of the book to your device (the stock NST). This is totally doable with Opera Mini. On my device I have added both my local library OverDrive site and the device and content management section of Amazon.com to the Speed Dial and also as shortcuts on my home screen. ADW Launcher allows you to edit both the text and icon for a shortcut (double tap on the icon to edit) or any other icon, for that matter, so you can dress things up how you like.
Aldiko
As I was wrapping up the materials for the first post a few of my little grey cells whispered "aldiko" to me. Duh! I had forgotten about that particular reader app with the ability to download Adobe DRM books. The old version that "runs" on the stock NST can't do that anymore, but could a new one...?
Here's what I have found out so far. I downloaded and installed the final version of what is now called "Aldiko Classic" from the Yalp Store. First run is a little cranky (true of many apps) but it settles down. After authorizing it with my Adobe ID I tried the actual in-app library browser. This was actually almost bearable, certainly much faster than OverDrive which is hopeless. I eventually completed a checkout completely inside the app and fulfilled the book. It would probably be easier starting with Opera Mini, although I'm not sure how the .acsm file would be handled. I still need to test that. The good news is that the book opened and displayed in a timely manner, just about like any of the other non-OverDrive readers I had tried before.
The bad news is that there was a mysterious notation on the library OverDrive site which I had never seen before. Something about my device no longer being able to access digital content after 10/30/2020. There was a link but the in-app browser refused to follow it.
Edit: here is a sequence that works for me with Aldiko using Opera Mini
1. Navigate to your library OverDrive site using Opera Mini and sign in.
2. Select a book to download.
3. When the .acsm file has downloaded you can exit Opera Mini.
4. Using the File Manager, go to the Download folder and tap on the .acsm file. The activity picker will show Aldiko as one option. Tick the "always" (or whatever) option and select "Open".
5. Aldiko begins downloading the book and places it on the bookshelf. It may have trouble opening it the first time, but that could just have been a hiccup on mine. Otherwise, a very smooth and satisfactory process.
This might be a better option than OverDrive. It certainly opens the books quickly.
Edit-Edit: I tracked down the mysterious message. It's not good. Basically people with custom ROMs (or even just ROMs that for some reason do not receive updates) are being shafted unless they have some way to do a TLS 1.2 update. Remember that? Thought it was done? Apparently the folks at OverDrive disagree. I'm guessing you don't see the message in Opera Mini because it is actually Opera's up-to-date servers that are accessing the website. So it may remain possible to download the .acsm file but it's a guess whether Aldiko will be able to fulfill the book. The rather fussy and technical message suggests that OverDrive apps on devices not updated will not be able to fulfill books. Time will tell.
An update on DRM books with Aldiko.
As of mid-November 2020, I have still been able to fulfill Adobe DRM books from the library using Aldiko as described in post #2. So either Adobe is a little behind the curve (not hard to believe...) or else the security chops of this ROM are sufficient for them--for now.
microG (and Calendar)
If you're not familiar with microG, here is a quick run-down.
If you just don't want to have any trouble with apps that use GSF, you can use the CM 11 image with microG installed. You don't need to do anything else.
If you want to run a Google app like Books or Drive, you will need to add a Google account. This can be done through the microG settings app or via the CM 11 Settings app. The process is slow and keyboard response is temperamental, so be prepared. You will also need to enable Google device registration in the microG settings app.
Calendar Edit: 9-30-22: This no longer works. Calendar is, in fact broken.
Never say never. I was pretty sure this was broken, although I thought it once worked. It turns out I was right on both accounts. More importantly, the version of microG which worked with Calendar still appears to work overall, but there is a catch. Here's what you need to do:
1. The existing com.google.android.gms........apk needs to be replaced with com.google.android.gms-19420020.apk
2. Calendar.apk needs to be added back to /system/app (permissions: rw-r--r--)
3. GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk needs to be added to /system/app (permissions: rw-r--r--)
4. CalendarProvider.apk needs to be added back to /system/priv-app (permissions: rw-r--r--)
5. Reboot
The catch: you must add the Google account while trying to start Calendar. This will happen automatically when you try to open Calendar. Adding the account in this way makes it work for everything on the device. Adding it as described above makes Calendar ignore the account. Go figure.
If there is any interest in Calendar, I can put together a zip package to download the needed files.
Discoveries
7-13-22
1. Alternative launcher: Simple E-ink Launcher is just what it says. I came across it while reading about the alternative firmware developed for the Nook Glowlight series. This launcher is part of the package. Very spartan. Nice if you only have a few apps. See image below.
2. General purpose reader: Yeah, I remember what I said, but I was surprised at just how well Koreader performed on the ROM--once you change one setting.
The setting in question has to do with "flash-back" (i.e.,visual cue that you touched something). The ROM does not like this setting at all, but if you can live without it, it all works great. Image attached below shows how I have those particular settings (found from gear-->screen-->E-ink settings).
support!
Thank you for posting. I was trying to see if I could refresh my nook without glowlight, and got here. suprised that someone is working on it after all these years. All the best!
Hyped as **** for this!
This is awesome! It runs well on my Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight from a 16gb micro SD card. There are a few issues but I can live with most, however one is quite annoying. The issue I have is that I can't charge my Nook while in Android 4.4. If I boot it to the original OS (version 1.2.2) then it charges fine. The other major issue is that the battery percentage reported in Android 4.4 does not match the one shown in the stock OS at all. The stock OS reported 6% battery while the Nook OS said 16%. These issues are both seemingly random since sometimes it does work. It will say it's plugged in but not charging in the battery section of settings in Android 4.4 and I can always tell by the LED light. If it's not charging but should be, it will be green, if it's charging when it should be then it's yellow. It does work sometimes but requires some rebooting and messing with things to get it to be functional. Otherwise I love it! My nook also has a brand new battery and does last a long time, though it would be cool to see battery life improved in Android 4.4.
ELECTROHAXZ said:
The issue I have is that I can't charge my Nook while in Android 4.4. If I boot it to the original OS (version 1.2.2) then it charges fine. The other major issue is that the battery percentage reported in Android 4.4 does not match the one shown in the stock OS at all. The stock OS reported 6% battery while the Nook OS said 16%. These issues are both seemingly random since sometimes it does work. It will say it's plugged in but not charging in the battery section of settings in Android 4.4 and I can always tell by the LED light. If it's not charging but should be, it will be green, if it's charging when it should be then it's yellow. It does work sometimes but requires some rebooting and messing with things to get it to be functional.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately the power/charging/sleep/screensaver are all tangled up together. With the screensaver app I made the way it is supposed to work may not always be the way it works. But you can humor it. Try this:
Only plug in to charge with the screensaver dismissed (i.e., before the device has gone to sleep). Before disconnecting from charge, dismiss the screensaver. This seems to be the biggest stumbling block as the ROM wants to change the way the "n" button works if it's in a sleep cycle. The screensaver app is trying to work around that, but there is this grey area of charging when asleep. Try it and see if that helps (you'd need to do a fresh boot, though, if the device shows charging when it is not plugged in before you adopt this regimen).
This may also clear up the battery % discrepancy you are seeing between stock and CM11. I haven't had a chance to run mine long enough today to check on that, but I don't remember seeing the problem during the original shakedown. If I see that later today, I'll report back. (you can expect to see minor differences depending on how close the percentage is to changing when you go from one OS to the other as the boot process does gobble up some electrons)
Edit: I ran my NST on the CM11 ROM for most of the day, doing some charging and some cleanup here and there of things that had changed since I last booted it up. Everything was fine as long as I observed the sequence described above for charging and unplugging. The battery indicator on the CM11 ROM showed 85% when I booted back into the stock ROM. There it showed 84%. Probably the squirrely behavior you observed was tied to the bolluxed charging indicator/screensaver issue. It's just touchy and if you want to use it you need to learn its foibles for the best overall experience.
nmyshkin said:
Unfortunately the power/charging/sleep/screensaver are all tangled up together. With the screensaver app I made the way it is supposed to work may not always be the way it works. But you can humor it. Try this:
Only plug in to charge with the screensaver dismissed (i.e., before the device has gone to sleep). Before disconnecting from charge, dismiss the screensaver. This seems to be the biggest stumbling block as the ROM wants to change the way the "n" button works if it's in a sleep cycle. The screensaver app is trying to work around that, but there is this grey area of charging when asleep. Try it and see if that helps (you'd need to do a fresh boot, though, if the device shows charging when it is not plugged in before you adopt this regimen).
This may also clear up the battery % discrepancy you are seeing between stock and CM11. I haven't had a chance to run mine long enough today to check on that, but I don't remember seeing the problem during the original shakedown. If I see that later today, I'll report back. (you can expect to see minor differences depending on how close the percentage is to changing when you go from one OS to the other as the boot process does gobble up some electrons)
Edit: I ran my NST on the CM11 ROM for most of the day, doing some charging and some cleanup here and there of things that had changed since I last booted it up. Everything was fine as long as I observed the sequence described above for charging and unplugging. The battery indicator on the CM11 ROM showed 85% when I booted back into the stock ROM. There it showed 84%. Probably the squirrely behavior you observed was tied to the bolluxed charging indicator/screensaver issue. It's just touchy and if you want to use it you need to learn its foibles for the best overall experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know. If it's an issue I will try that. I have since discovered that a much easier solution to get things in sync is just to reboot the thing. Frankly that seems a lot easier than the whole thing you said about when to charge and lock/unlock so that's what I've been doing. I just hope it actually is charging when the OS is making the charging LED green and saying not charging despite it being less than 100%. Guess I can find that out with my USB power meter. Thanks for the response!