New Padfone X user & new to Android - help with bloatware, privacy & encryption!

[JohnnyScience]

Hello, I have been an apple fanboi for years and just switched over to Android via the Asus Padfone X.

I REALLY like this concept and have been waiting a long time for it.

It is on ATT network, so needless to say there is a lot of crap & bloatware on the phone from both ATT & Asus.

Is there ANY way to remove stuff like the bloatware without rooting the phone & re-installing Kit-kat?

Normally I would be up for that, but since this Padfone is a bit different the way it interacts with the tablet part, I assume some of the Asus software is needed.

Does rooting also mean re-installing kit-kat with a stripped down version, or just root access to allow you to run certain apps & have higher levels of permissions?

I would also like to strip it down as much as possible to keep it running as fast & clean as possible and put the highest levels of security on it and possibly even encryption - any suggestions on where to start?

 

[dibblebill]

No, not at all. I run mine simply rooted and with the AT&T apps uninstalled. There is an unofficial TWRP but I've encountered device-crippling issues seemingly related to that. It uses towelroot v1 to root, which is hard to hunt down. V2 and V3 do not work. PM me your email and I'll send you the APK to root it. android and Chrome both report it as malicious due to root exploits. I kept most of the Asus apps since they don't really take up your app space, sitting in /system.

Warning, though- do NOT attempt to integrate updates to the ROM, ESPECIALLY updates to Google Keyboard. I lost ALL of my data once like that while encrypted.

 

[JohnnyScience]

No, not at all. I run mine simply rooted and with the AT&T apps uninstalled. There is an unofficial TWRP but I've encountered device-crippling issues seemingly related to that. It uses towelroot v1 to root, which is hard to hunt down. V2 and V3 do not work. PM me your email and I'll send you the APK to root it. android and Chrome both report it as malicious due to root exploits. I kept most of the Asus apps since they don't really take up your app space, sitting in /system.

Warning, though- do NOT attempt to integrate updates to the ROM, ESPECIALLY updates to Google Keyboard. I lost ALL of my data once like that while encrypted.

What are you saying No not at all to exactly?

Being able to delete bloatware apps without rooting the phone?

So I do in fact have to root the phone to do this?

What is TWRP? I'm really not interested in doing any beta anything to it and possibly bricking the phone.

I just want to clean up the bloatware and add additional security.

I guess I'm too new to Android because everything you're saying is over my head at this point.

I also have a few newb Android questions:

1) If I have bluetooth enabled, even if I answer the phone on the phone itself, it defaults to the Bluetooth. On the iPhone the bluetooth would ONLY engage if I answered the phone via the bluetooth itself. When I would answer on the phone it would work normal. Now with Android I have 1 extra step in answering the phone by having to switch from bluetooth to the phone first.

Is there any way to change this?

2) What do the icons in the top left represent?

3) How is the top left icons different from the 3rd Android button on the home button area that pulls up all open apps & allows you to close them?

4) I'd love to get a notepad, it's a super useful app. But everyone I look at wants access to contacts or pictures or something. Is this because it's free? I'd rather pay for a better one that is private and doesnt need access to other areas in my phone. Any suggestions?

5) And what's up with this terrible autospell? iPhones worked pretty well but Android seems to be very frustrating the way it completes words sometimes while I'm still typing parts of the word and then there are additional letters. Is there any way to change the settings on the way the autospell works? Perhaps it might be best for me to just disable it in general. If I disable autospell, I will still be able to spellcheck & change words that are wrong right?

 

[dibblebill]

No, you don't need a custom ROM. Just root access. TWRP is a custom recovery for the device for making system backups and loading custom Android builds.

1. I've never used a Bluetooth headset before. Go to settings and then phone, call, or sound settings is my best guess.
2. If you mean in the status bar, that's your notification drawer.
3. Pull down that drawer and tap a notification to go straight to it.
4. that's because to share content, insert pictures, things like that, an app requires permission. I personally like the built in note app. But ES File Explorer has a good built in notepad, too. Also worth just reading reviews and it will shed light on the trustworthiness of an app.
5. haven't used stock Android keyboard or Google keyboard since Android 3.1. Not sure how to fix or use it. There are lots of third party options out there, though. I like SwiftKey myself.

 

[The_Chief]

Hi Johnny and welcome to Android Forums!

You will definitely want to flash TWRP (or ClockworkMod) Recovery once you're rooted. Not because you want to run a custom ROM - although you could - but because of the ability to make nandroid backups.

A nandroid backup is a snapshot of the device's entire current state: as it is, right now. File for file, setting for setting, everything is backed up in a compressed zip file in user memory. You do NOT want to start deleting things without a backup!

Why is that important?

Let's say that you successfully root your Padfone and start deleting bloatware files... only unbeknownst to you, the SYSTEM files you're deleting will also render the device unusable if deleted. Imagine your horror when you're done deleting bloat, reboot the phone and it bootloops to eternity... or just shows a black screen of death. Or won't connect to any network. Let me quote another Android Forums member who had that exact thing happen to them:

Hello, i have a Note3 Mini clone, and i uninstalled the notes app via root uninstaller, my phone phone is bricked and stuck on the boot logo, i still have access to files and system stuff via ADB, if i reinstall the app i deleted will my phone work again??

He's likely the proud owner of a very expensive paperweight

But if you had a nandroid backup and the phone went wonky, you could just boot into Recovery, wipe the phone and restore your nandroid. It will return the device to THAT moment in time when you made the backup, in a known good state. And you can rock on.

I hope you see the immense value in making regular backups a part of your routine should you decide to root and delete stuff. NEVER EVER delete system files without a backup!

I hope this helps. Good luck and ask any questions you may have BEFORE doing anything fancy.

It's great to have you here

 

[Nidstang]

4) I'd love to get a notepad, it's a super useful app. But everyone I look at wants access to contacts or pictures or something. Is this because it's free? I'd rather pay for a better one that is private and doesnt need access to other areas in my phone. Any suggestions?

Can't really help you on the root/TWRP questions, sorry. Looks like others have that covered anyway.

Two low-permissions notepad apps are Writer and Quick Note. Neither need permission to see contacts. Both want the media permission, but that is so they can save data to an SD card and/or USB storage.

Android permissions are explained here. You will note that viewing USB storage (such as SD cards) is in the same family as viewing photos.

Hope that helps!

 

[JohnnyScience]

Ok so I will make a backup before trying to root the phone. I'm not ready to that quite yet, but hopefully soon. I'm good with computers but new to android & want to make sure I take the time to read & study how to do it.

A few more general questions:

1) The tablet part of the Padfone won't recognize a different wall charger, I think it might be a Griffin? Any idea why & how to get it to use any chargers? It is a 10w charger so that shouldn't be the issue.

2) What is the best browser? Dolphin? That's what I've been using but I haven't set up any privacy aspects to it yet. Can I switch the search engine to startpage?

3) The Speaker suck on the both the Padfone itself & tablet dock, can I hack the system & some how turn them up?

 

[dibblebill]

Ok so I will make a backup before trying to root the phone. I'm not ready to that quite yet, but hopefully soon. I'm good with computers but new to android & want to make sure I take the time to read & study how to do it.

A few more general questions:

1) The tablet part of the Padfone won't recognize a different wall charger, I think it might be a Griffin? Any idea why & how to get it to use any chargers? It is a 10w charger so that shouldn't be the issue.

2) What is the best browser? Dolphin? That's what I've been using but I haven't set up any privacy aspects to it yet. Can I switch the search engine to startpage?

3) The Speaker suck on the both the Padfone itself & tablet dock, can I hack the system & some how turn them up?

I'm now advising people to not get PadFones... I've had poor results with the speaker. No clue about the browser, and only used it with the supplied charger.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2840351
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2878031
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2879454