[solved] Android Shortcut to Tethering Settings

If you are like me and tether your 3G android device to PC's several times a day, you will realise that it is a PITA to go through the menu to enable tethering each time you want to connect.

Trying to make a shortcut, was impossible, there was no link to the tethering settings page.

I found Quickteth on the market, it is a lightweight app, that requires no unsafe permissions to run!  (Lesson to learn you other android developers!)

Puts a simple shortcut on the desktop, press it and you are in your tethering settings page!

Check out Quickteth on the android market.


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Ebay mobile version sucks on Android on everything

Why do these idiots at ebay waste their time, the mobile version of their site is so crippled it makes users want to curl up in a corner and die

Don't even think you can use it to sell anything either, there is just no buttons for it - crippled.

Of course, uses can opt out and use the classic site (still not 100% on Android) but the redirect is cookie based and if you delete your cookies, you are presented with the same shit again.

The only solution is to create a bookmark www.ebay.com.au/?redirect=mobile

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Transcoding movies for Android devices using WinFF ffmpeg and Ubuntu

This is the easiest way to get the task done, it is not pretty but it should work fine.  I tried it on Ubuntu 11.04 no problems.


So I was wanting to watch some AVI files on my ZTE V9 Android device, but had to recode them into mp4 before watching.  Unfortunately the stock Ubuntu version of winff does not allow mp4 coding natively, however there is a easy workaround

Following the instructions on http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=786095, I did this:

sudo apt-get remove ffmpeg x264 libx264-dev
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential checkinstall git checkinstall libfaac-dev \
    libjack-jackd2-dev libmp3lame-dev libopencore-amrnb-dev libopencore-amrwb-dev \
    libsdl1.2-dev libtheora-dev libva-dev libvdpau-dev libvorbis-dev libx11-dev \
    libxfixes-dev libxvidcore-dev texi2html yasm zlib1g-dev
cd
git clone git://git.videolan.org/x264
cd x264
./configure --enable-static
make
sudo checkinstall --pkgname=x264 --pkgversion="3:$(./version.sh | \
    awk -F'[" ]' '/POINT/{print $4"+git"$5}')" --backup=no --deldoc=yes \
    --fstrans=no --default
cd
git clone git://git.videolan.org/ffmpeg
cd ffmpeg
./configure --enable-gpl --enable-libfaac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb \
    --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libx264 \
    --enable-libxvid --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-version3 --enable-x11grab
make
sudo checkinstall --pkgname=ffmpeg --pkgversion="5:$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M)-git" --backup=no \
  --deldoc=yes --fstrans=no --default
hash x264 ffmpeg ffplay ffprobe
cd ~/x264
make distclean
./configure --enable-static
make
sudo checkinstall --pkgname=x264 --pkgversion="3:$(./version.sh | \
    awk -F'[" ]' '/POINT/{print $4"+git"$5}')" --backup=no --deldoc=yes \
    --fstrans=no --default

Install winff using synaptic

apt-get install winff


Download the winff presets from winff site
http://winff.googlecode.com/files/presets-libavcodec52-v6.xml.gz
Extract and copy over the previous ~/.winff/presets.xml  you may want to back up the existing file first.

Open WinFF
In the winff preferences change the path to ffmpeg anf ffplay to:
/usr/local/bin/ffmpeg
/usr/local/bin/ffplay

Looking in the presets, you will notice that there is now a mp4 section and also a Android compatible video section, I chose the Android section for my coding.






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[Solved] USB Tethering a ZTE V9 SD card using Ubuntu Linux

If you have a ZTE V9 (A.K.A Optus Mytab) and you are tethering it to a linux device, you may be having a little trouble getting the SD car to mount.  Personally, it will mount fine on a windows box but will not mount or show aything in dmesg on my Ubuntu box.

First of all...
You cannot USB mount the SD card and USB Internet tether at the same time, damm.  Portable hotspot still work though!

It is easy to get the USB mounting going though... (Done on Android 2.2)

On the ZTE V9, turn on USB debugging.  Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging


On you Linux machine (mine is Ubuntu 11.04)

gksudo gedit /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules

Search for "0083" and comment out the whole line, like this.
# ATTRS{idVendor}=="19d2", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0083", RUN+="usb_modeswitch '%b/

You should be able to plug in your USB cable and mount the SD card like any other USB storage device.

If you want to tether the Internet, you will have to unmount the SD card, so you can check the USB Internet tethering box.

If you have trouble, check you dmesg output upon connection, check you lsusb output and make sure that usb_modeswitch is updated.




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How to block ads on your android ZTE V9

This is the easiest way to block ads on the ZTE V9 or any other android device.


We are going to make a hosts file to redirect ant ad servers to 127.0.0.1 a.k.a localhost.

Why

• Free
• No app download
• Saves on bandwidth - BIG TIME
• Works on all apps on the device i.e. system wide
• Safe and easy hack!

Prerequisite:

• Root your device using z4root or similar
• Install terminal app from the android marketplace
• Download a hosts file WITH Unix character formatting to the sdcard

How to:

• Open the terminal emulator
• Type 'su' to get root access
• Navigate to etc folder  'cd /etc'
• rename hosts to hosts.old  'mv hosts hosts.old'
• Navigate to the sd card  'cd /sdcard'
• Copy hosts file dowloaded to /etc  'cat hosts > /etc/hosts'
• Exit the terminal (you should not receive any errors)

Why cat?
"cat filename1 > filename2" - For some reason, the Droid does not come with a copy (cp) command. This works in the exact same way

Does it work...

Page with a Ad

Ad gone!

Page with too many ads...

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Pics of the Zte V9 taken apart, disassembled

Thanks to the guy who did this, direct link.

 

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Getting rid of the Optus icons from MyTab aka ZTE v9

Too many people have posted articles on how to root the ZTE V9 just to install the latest version of Android with mods.  While this could be a good thing, many users are reporting that they are having to reload their apps and are loosing functions such as the FM radio.  Some users have also bricked their devices and are struggling to find a solution.

All I wanted to do with my ZTE v9 is to remove the stupid Optus apps from the device. 

Here how to remove the Optus apps and keep your android stock:


Upgrade to Android 2.2 using the Optus Upgrade exe

Download and install z4root_blade_perm_root_v2.apk (search google)

• Install the apk (put on sd-card)


• Enable "USB debugging"


• Start app and tell it to do a permanent root.


• Wait for it to reboot your phone.

Install  "Root App Remover" from the Android Marker - free

Run the Root App Remover and click the menu key to find the optus apps to delete.   Superuser will prompt one time that you are going to uninstall.

Z4Root and Root App Remover installed!

Running Root App Uninstaller

Deleting the crap!

Make sure you empty the recycling bin to flush them for ever.

BTW, you can delete apps that your system requires, it will warn you...

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Installing Prey on the ZTE V9 - Theft Recovery

In my opinion this is cheap insurance for a even cheaper Android tablet.

Prey is a program that allows the owner to remotely track, control and disable a stolen computer or tablet.

It is free and runs on Linux, Android and Windows.

Go to Prey Project Contol Panel and sign up, you will receive a confirmation email and once confirmed you can log in.

On your tablet, go to Android market and install the Prey app, it is free.

Prey on Android Market

What it could do?

Initial setup, we have already registered!

You need to escalate Prey's privileges to allow it to be controlled remotely

Active SIM detection, causes the device to alarm if the SIM is swapped!

All installed

Once Prey is installed on the Android device, go back to the Prey Control Panel on the internet and check that it is there.

If it does get stolen, you can send you device a secret activation SMS to initialise Prey.



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USB tethering ZTE V9 with Ubuntu 11.04

No Problems experience here. 

• Plug in the USB connection
• Hit 'back' to get out of the data storage screen
• Go to settings > Wireless & networks > Tethering & portable hotspot > USB tethering
• Network manager will now auto connect

The bonus here is that the tablet will be charged from the USB port while you are surfing using your laptop and you can surf the web on the tablet while tethered.

lsusb

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Unlocking the ZTE V9 Tablet PC for free!

If you just purchased a Optus Mytab, it will he locked and branded with Optus.  You can easily unlock it for Free and Online.

You will need:

• ZTE V9 upgraded to Android 2.2 (see my other article)
• Your IMEI number
• APN details for the non Optus sim
  
• Internet

If you don't know either of the above then you fail.


Go to

www.nextgenserver.com/calculator/

Enter your IMEI, select ZTE on the form and type the captcha.

You will be given a unlock number.

When you insert a non Optus sim you will need to enter this number to unlock it.

Now go to Settings -> Wireless and networks -> Mobile networks -> Access Point Names and tap the menu side key to add a new APN.

Enter the APN and check internet connectivity!

Optus ZTE V9 Android device review + Upgrade to 2.2

This is a great price tablet, $149 through Optus prepaid and comes with PP net and phone access.

It has:

• Micro USB port for PC connection
• Phone
• Bluetooth
• Camera
• Headphone Jack
• Sim Slot for 3G
• Micro SD slot
• 7 Inch Touch Screen
• FM Radio
• Wifi
• and GPS (undocumented)

It fails:

• It can't play AVI files!
• You will need a google account to install apps, it asks you to sign in.
• Locked to Optus network and Optus branded outside and in. For now ;)
• Too big to use as a phone :()

The touch screen is good and the whole device is very simple and minimalistic.  When purchasing it you will have to surrender your identity to the retailer.

We decided to upgrade to Android 2.2 to get flash player working and to use the device to share 3G over WIFI.


Upgrading the ZTE V9 to Android 2.2.

Download the upgrade package application to your PC (Optus_V9 Upgrade Tool_30th_April.zip).


Run the Upgrade tool and install the driver to your PC and keep the upgrade package application open.

Switch off the ZTE device, power it down, connect it to the PC via the USB cable.

Put the ZTE device into FTM mode by pressing power and quickly holding both volume buttons until FTM is displayed on the screen.

The ZTE device will open another com port and the upgrade application will upload the new OS via USB.

When done, disconnect the USB cable and with a few minutes until it boots up, be patient.






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