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google play

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stvs

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i have a question about google play,it installs only apps to phone without to get the package APK file? if so how to make a backup to some external device without the APK file? tnx
 
You can use an app like Helium, My Backup Pro, or G Cloud Backup to back up your phone. They will allow you to back up apps and data at the very least. Some backup apps have more features, but you may have to pay for them.
 
You don't really need to backup an app downloaded from Google Play, it is always available to download again.

You may of course want to backup an old version (or perhaps no longer available) in which case use one of the backup apps already mentioned.
 
If rooted there's also Titanium Backup or Rom Toolbox Pro. Excellent apps. Play does download an apk but it goes to a hidden folder 📁 :thumbup:
 
yet another reason i never use Play Store. not only is it the most overrated, overhyped store available in Android, it also has tons of bugs, issues, and does NOT save the local APK file, and you need root to get it to backup the local APK file (which is stored often in /data/app).

lucky for me, i don't use Play, i use Amazon and 1Mobile, which save their APKs in the sdcard/1mobile downloads or /download/amazon apps folders even after install, thus saving a download should i uninstall the app and choose to reinstall it later (and saves my data plan as my 4G data is my internet now.)

the only reason i keep Play Services and my Google account on my phone is to keep Google+ (recent versions seem to 'require' Play Services to run, which is crap but i decided that Google's reasoning is about as valid as Apple's reasoning lately) and Play Newsstand, as i have active subs in Newsstand, and which is the only Play app on my devices, and soon to be gone as well, as now it appears Google thinks its doing me a favor by cancelling my subs without my permission and sending a little email to notify me about it. when i decide to cancel a magazine, i'll do so myself, thanks very much. just because i haven't the time to read every single issue does not mean i no longer want them.
 
@nick - Some misconception/false info on your part.

1. I am not rooted but I backup the apks and data locally to my external SD without any problem, even paid apps. Except for like 0.5% of apps I have which have some sort of "prevent apk backup" settings. Just use Helium free version. I have only 1 app that doesn't support it, and it's Mantano Reader (paid or free it won't backup the apk). Which isn't much of a deal for me since it's one of 200.


2. "Play Services" is actually a good idea IMO. It was developed by Google as an external framework from Android, so people without the latest Android can run the updated versions of certain apps from Google, to an extent. Before, Google apps designed for Android 2.3 can't run on Android 2.2 or 2.1 because of the missing framework embedded into the OS. What Google did was to "externalize" this framework into Play Services, thus allowing certain older Android versions to run the newer Google apps. In example, I have a Galaxy Fit still on 2.2. It used to be able to use only Android Market. Even when my 2.3 Galaxy S already was able to move on to Play Store, the old phone won't get it. Even tried to install the apk, and it fails. One day, It got an alert to download Play Services. I did so, and behold, the next day it's updated automatically running the latest version of the Play Store. So basically, Play Services is actually part of Google removing itself from the innards of Android and creating a framework for their apps that's not embedded into the OS. In either case for Google supporters and haters, it's a good thing IMO.

Using Play or not is your prerogative, however I've yet to encounter any "bug", or "issue" on my part.
 
no, i'm just surprised everyone puts so much faith in Google Play, to the point it is like how an iSheep puts so much faith in iOS. it's like everything Google is secure, works all the time (despite multiple reports to the contrary) and can do no wrong. meanwhile, Samsung, Amazon, and such are unfairly derided as inferior, unstable, or full of malware.

if i had the option, i'd rather use Android Market. everything was fine until Google took over and decided to not only lock everything down, but seems to consume every AOSP alternative and replaces it with their own version which is not nearly as good and takes features away, or hides it behind some undisclosed gesture (new Gmail checkboxes, anyone?) and then KILLS development of the AOSP app. look at CyanogenMod lately. no more Gallery, or AOSP Camera. they've been replaced with Google Camera and Photos. no more messaging app. it's now Hangouts. no more Music player. been replaced by Play Music. if you cannot see the Apple in this you're blind or living under a rock, no offense.

Google's policy has since changed dramatically. no more 'do no evil'. now it's 'we know best.' 'we will decide what users want.' 'SD Cards are too complicated, so no one, not even power users have a Google Play Edition or Nexus product, or Motorola device with the option. we have spoken' 'blue status bar icons are too complicated. now they are white. we have spoken'

they are becoming Apple. Samsung is the only one who has yet to fully conform. still offering the MicroSD slot and removable batteries, for now. given the Google-inspired UI that is on the GS5, i am sure the slot and battery will soon follow the direction of the Moto X. and then Android will be no more. all hail Google Play.

Someone should tell Google that the solution to fragmentation is NOT turning into Apple.
 
Google's policy has since changed dramatically. no more 'do no evil'. now it's 'we know best.'
Click to expand...

I use Google services and apps and am largely in disagreement with your overall position - with the exception of the quote above. Even as a Google "supporter" I too have noticed this shift of emphasis and have commented on it before, likening some of the Google changes to those of Microsoft in the Bill Gates era.

For those like me who choose to use Google services choices are being removed with no benefit for the user. This can never be a good thing IMO, no matter what the driving force, but on balance I still find Google does far more good than harm from my viewpoint.
 
nickdalzell said:
they are becoming Apple. Samsung is the only one who has yet to fully conform. still offering the MicroSD slot and removable batteries, for now. given the Google-inspired UI that is on the GS5, i am sure the slot and battery will soon follow the direction of the Moto X. and then Android will be no more. all hail Google Play.
Click to expand...
Actually there are more manufacturers offering sd card slots than a couple of years ago (Sony were the first to reverse their removal, HTC the most recent). And I don't think fixed batteries was a Google move really - as it has zero software implications why should they care? Google's restrictions on what apps can do with removable storage in 4.4 is a different discussion, and after reading their arguments I still think they have thought more about their engineering principles than actual users, which is a Google trait I'm afraid. They have always been poor at listening.

As for the rest, I dislike the shift from open AOSP apps to closed Google ones, but my solution is not to use the Google ones (Play Store and occasionally Maps are the only ones I use) but to use alternatives instead. I've always done this though (never used the GMail app, never thought the AOSP message or camera apps were that good anyway, etc) so I dislike the principle of replacing open with closed more than it has an impact on me.

(I've played with the new Google camera app, and am amazed at how little control it gives the user. If you want to complain about that being dumbed down I'm with you ;))
 
iam sorry but via google play the paid apps are locked inside hidden folders so can i or not to backup even paid apps to my sd card for example using titanium backup or rom toolbox? otherwise windows as a closed platform has more freedom to backup whatever i want. let me know pls cos since i came to android world i get more and more frustration how google behaves like ios.
 
srs question: why would there be a need to extract and copy an apk? other than to pirate?

i suppose if you had a device that didn't have play store, i could see it, but why else?
 
Sometimes apps just go away and if you switch phones or factory reset then it's just gone. I've had that happen before and it's annoying. I was able to get the apk from the developer for one that I used a lot but that may not always be an option.
 
boathead said:
srs question: why would there be a need to extract and copy an apk? other than to pirate?

i suppose if you had a device that didn't have play store, i could see it, but why else?
Click to expand...

for the same reason in windows with the installed paid apps i have AND the DVD's "APK" by them, so iam not forced to download (limited internet plan 1GB per month) the whole package again after a reinstall by virus infection etc. piracy? again the same scenario?:limited freedom cos of "terrorism" and now cos of "security-piracy" ? poor linux :(
 
Well they could have an in app verification checker. Although as I previously said, there is no need for root to backup the apk into the external sd card. You need a PC and an adb terminal.
 
I lost the ability to back up my paid apps on my tablet when i upgraded to 4.1.2.

The funny thing is that I use a older phone which runs 2.3 and I can still backup my paid apps. This is a good thing because one of my paid apps is not recognized on some newer devices (developer keeps telling me that google play has not updated its list of compatible devices for that app). I back up the paid app on the old phone, transfer it to the other device by dropbox and then side load it into the second device. None of my devices are rooted.
 
Another reason for backing up and transferring paid apps from one device to another is when the other device is stupidly flagged by Google Play Store as 'not compatible' even though it would run fine 99% of the time. Play Store can take their flat design, stupid compatibility filter, hidden APK for paid apps and multiple download errors and shove it.
 
Isn't it the developer who decides which devices he deems compatible with his app?
I honestly don't know but that's what I'd assumed :thumbup:
 
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