Install Google apps without root and/or not affected by updates

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Quite a while back, I lost root and I lost my Google apps functionality after a new update was pushed, and so I followed this thread to get my Google services working again: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...ervices&page=1 <-- that thread contained links to a download of a file that installed like an app that "fixed" Google services frameworks and apps that were broken after an update was pushed, but that download is no longer available.
I had since rooted again using KFU, and when the last update to 6.3 was pushed, I was pleasantly surprised that the update, while breaking root again, did NOT screw up my Google apps -- gmail, maps and gTalk all still worked fine! I don't know how, but when I look in my system/app folder, the one that gets cleared/overwritten when updated, there are no Google services framework or app apks in there at all, yet my Google apps all work fine (not sure where the framework and apps are installed now). I have since rooted once again using KFU. I'm a bit techy, so I don't mind messing around a bit with my device, BUT....

I am getting a kindle fire for my mother -- I'm going to set it up with GO launcher, a bunch of sideloaded apps, and I would like to also install gmail, maps and gTalk without requiring root to be maintained, basically because I am then going to ship the device to her and will not want to continue to root and restore the google apps' functionality after every next update is pushed, because I would have to get her to do this while I walk her through the process over the phone, and this is not something that would make anybody happy.

So, I am hoping we can revive the discussion about how to install the Google services framework and apps without requiring root or at least in hopes that future updates will not break them. I am not opposed to rooting the device while I set it up, because I will want to install a permanent animated wallpaper, but I will unroot it so that Amazon Video will work before I send it off.

I have done quite a bit of searching through old threads, and there is not much talk about installing Google services and apps without root and so that updates don't screw with them. But I know it can be done, because it is working with mine.

I think this would be helpful to a LOT of people who are not yet ready to root and/or flash a new ROM.

If its the stock Kindle Fire interface you want, just root it and flash the MoDaCo rom. It comes prepackaged with gapps and gsf and (I think) you don't have to keep re-rooting .

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...php?p=21282484

Thanks, but no ROMs. Gotta be stock kf with launcher and google apps.

All, I have a few assumptions and questions to bounce off you knowledgeable folks, since this is a forum of ideas:

As I recall, Google Services Framework and various Google apps are installed as "system apps" by using adb to push them to the system/apps folder. At least, I think this was how I did it back in December when I first got my Kindle Fire (maybe there are other ways, I dunno). And as system apps they install on bootup if not already installed. But the downside to these being installed this way is that when Amazon pushes an update, the update wipes the contents of the system/apps folder and replaces all apps there, so that our Google Services Framework and other Google apps are lost when Amazon updates.

Am I correct so far?

I have at some point installed Titanium Backup and possibly converted my Google Services Framework and other Google apps to "user apps", because when I look in the list of installed apps in Titanium Backup, I see that my Google Services Framework and other Google apps are listed in white and not red which means that they are "user apps" and not "system apps" (forgive my memory here, middle age is set in, so I don't remember what I have done with Titanium Backup -- should have kept a log).

So my questions: Could my Google Services Framework and other Google apps be now immune to Amazon updates screwing with them simply because they are user apps and not system apps (possibly converted with Titanium Backup)? Is this the solution to having Google Services Framework and other Google apps immune to Amazon updates? Am I answering my own questions (lol) or am I possibly missing something here?

Also, my Google Market app updated itself to Play Store at some point around the time that Amazon pushed update 6.3 and in Titanium Backup it is listed in green instead of red or white, so that there is no option to convert to system or user app.... not sure what that is all about.

If anybody is actually taking the time to follow me here, I appreciate it. I am just trying to figure out a way to take a brand new kindle fire, temp root it, set it up with all sorts of neat stuff like GO launcher, live wallpaper and Google apps galore, then unroot so that Amazon video works, and give it away as a super cool Android Tab for only $200 that is immune to Amazon Updates breaking the Google apps. This is my goal, and I hope it is useful to others as well.

bump?

Originally Posted by gruuvin

So my questions: Could my Google Services Framework and other Google apps be now immune to Amazon updates screwing with them simply because they are user apps and not system apps (possibly converted with Titanium Backup)? Is this the solution to having Google Services Framework and other Google apps immune to Amazon updates? Am I answering my own questions (lol) or am I possibly missing something here?

I think you are basically correct. Other than GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk, none of my google apps have stopped working after an Amazon update, and while I did nothing special to cause this, the speculation around here has been that updates to the apps caused them to get installed properly as user apps so they would keep working. What you may have done with titanium backup may have had the same effect, or it may have been coincidence (I will definitely have to check Titanium backup and see if I can do anything with GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter, because if I can get that to survive updates, I won't have much need to root anymore).

I will try this today as I am doing a similar thing and anything that can prevent the google app store from stopping will be much appreciated.

I've had my Fire since January. Never rooted but did install Google services framework the first week I got it. Pretty sure this is the thread I followed to do it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1401486 I've sideloaded Gmail, Books, Reader, Google+, Google Music and Youtube. All have continued to work fine after 2 updates from Amazon. So far the only Google apps that haven't worked for me were Currents and Play Store. As long as those 2 apps aren't dealbreakers this would accomplish most of your goals. You can change the stock wallpaper and get it to stick by using he app Rotating Wallpaper (not sure if it supports live wallpapers). By doing these things and using GoLauncher my Fire does everything I want it to without rooting. One other thought... you might want to consider putting Dropbox on it with a folder you can put apps (and updates) in to share with your Mom. Good luck.

I just checked and Google Talk doesn't work doing it this way. Also, the app Rotating Wallpaper doesn't support live wallpapers.

Originally Posted by soupmagnet

If its the stock Kindle Fire interface you want, just root it and flash the MoDaCo rom. It comes prepackaged with gapps and gsf and (I think) you don't have to keep re-rooting .

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...php?p=21282484

You don't have to keep rooting? Are we sure about this? I have been reading about the MoDaCo ROMs and seeing the question asked, "will it still get the pushed Amazon updates?", and so far the answers have been yes. So it will get the amazon updates, which always break root and play store. Sure we could reflash the ROM but then it will get the update again, and on and on.


Are MoDaCo ROMs immune to Amazon updates? Are MoDaCo ROMs immune to Amazon updates breaking root and PlayStore?

I am really hoping that someone can confirm the above response, because if not, it will be a lesson learned about not believing the misinformation that some folks hastily post as a response to a question without actually addressing the question. I know he qualified it with "(I think)"... I should have paid more attention and confirmed that thought.

The reason I ask is because 6.3.1 was pushed to both mine and my mother's KFs a few nights ago just before I was ready to send it off to her for Mother's Day, and mine was bricked as a result, until I spent a couple of hours poking at it with KFU and adb to get it to properly boot and flash the updated ROM Amazon pushed. After that headache, I didn't want that to happen to my mother's with the next update in a month if I could not be around to fix it. So I decided to take the next step and load a ROM, MoDaCo GR8, on both mine first and then my mother's, and I already sent hers off yesterday, in haste. I am reading today that what was implied above may not be true -- that MoDaCo ROMs do get the Amazon updates and when Amazon pushes the next update, her KF could lose root and Play Store at best and be bricked at worst.

Without root, how can you mount system as rw?

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