[STICKY] [FAQ] Official Atrix "Ask A Dev" & FAQ Thread (Last Update: 05/31/2011)

[ears1991]

Anything that isn't a rom or theme should be safe. Root methods and sideloading enabling (if it's needed) should work fine.

thanks for the reply
I guess there isnt much hope for people using the same handset as me for anything interesting like gingerblur etc, at least unless the bootloader gets cracked right?

 

[Ririal]

thanks for the reply
I guess there isnt much hope for people using the same handset as me for anything interesting like gingerblur etc, at least unless the bootloader gets cracked right?

Not necessarily, it's just up to someone that has access to the device to do that work for it. While it's possible to take the current roms and replace the system files from that of any device, the reason devs are avoiding this is there's only a few specific SBF's available. Most for AT&T phones, and one for Telestra. Since there's no way of returning to a stock state should something mess up, it's extremely risky to modify other phones. Bell users can technically restore to the Telestra SBF (and I wouldn't be surprised if it worked on all other non-at&t phones), but IMO, it's not a solution as at that point, you phone becomes a Telestra device, and I highly doubt Bell is going to service it should anything go wrong.

 

[ears1991]

Not necessarily, it's just up to someone that has access to the device to do that work for it. While it's possible to take the current roms and replace the system files from that of any device, the reason devs are avoiding this is there's only a few specific SBF's available. Most for AT&T phones, and one for Telestra. Since there's no way of returning to a stock state should something mess up, it's extremely risky to modify other phones. Bell users can technically restore to the Telestra SBF (and I wouldn't be surprised if it worked on all other non-at&t phones), but IMO, it's not a solution as at that point, you phone becomes a Telestra device, and I highly doubt Bell is going to service it should anything go wrong.

ahh cool thanks for the detailed reply!

edit: what is the difference between olyfr and olyem sbf's? different carriers or wha? also is any version of rsd lite preferable? ive read some people having problems with the newer ones

sorry to keep asking questions!

 

[thebeardedchild]

So I'm sure this has been asked a million times but I couldn't quite pinpoint a clear answer... but I was rooted with gingerbreak on 1.5.7 and then I did the ota 1.8.3 update. This of course unrooted my phone.. however the superuser app thing is still on my phone, just not functional. If I run the gingerbreak app I left on here, will it interfere with this "ghost" SU app? Or will it root like normal and give me a functional SU?

Sent from my Motorla Atrix using the XDA app

 

[Ririal]

ahh cool thanks for the detailed reply!

edit: what is the difference between olyfr and olyem sbf's? different carriers or wha? also is any version of rsd lite preferable? ive read some people having problems with the newer ones

sorry to keep asking questions!

Different builds, different carriers, different localities, take your pick

I use RSDLite 5.3.1 with no issues.

So I'm sure this has been asked a million times but I couldn't quite pinpoint a clear answer... but I was rooted with gingerbreak on 1.5.7 and then I did the ota 1.8.3 update. This of course unrooted my phone.. however the superuser app thing is still on my phone, just not functional. If I run the gingerbreak app I left on here, will it interfere with this "ghost" SU app? Or will it root like normal and give me a functional SU?

Sent from my Motorla Atrix using the XDA app

You can run it again, it won't break anything outside what it normally does.

 

[bradym239]

So I installed HoneyBlur recently and ever since I get the following error whenever I try to use the multi-touch keyboard instead of the Swype keyboard:

Sorry! The application Multi-touch keyboard (process com.android.inputmethod.latin) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again. Force close

So does anyone know how I would fix this?

Please!?!

 

[Ririal]

So I installed HoneyBlur recently and ever since I get the following error whenever I try to use the multi-touch keyboard instead of the Swype keyboard:

Sorry! The application Multi-touch keyboard (process com.android.inputmethod.latin) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again. Force close

So does anyone know how I would fix this?

Please!?!

Sounds like a bug with the theme developer, I would ask in the HoneyBlur thread for help.

 

[vertyogo]

How to make a landscape orientation a priority?

 

[Portaljacker]

I'm curious as to how useful the Atrix would be as an app developer. I just started Java last year as part of my compsci program in university and I wanted to learn how to develop android apps on my future android phone.

The Atrix is one of my options, the other is the Incredible S and maybe the Nexus S, though I've heard people are disappointed about the device in general.

The phone I'll be getting has to last me at least the 2 years before I get my partial upgrade, or 2.5 to the full upgrade credit. I've been having trouble deciding which one. Rooting and putting new ROMs isn't on my mind really, it'll be something to do once the phone isn't supported anymore.

So ya, I'm looking at help with the pros and cons of at least the Atrix, the Incredible S as a comparison if possible.

I also have some questions as a starting developer. I've never really done anything like this. I was going to start with a book, not sure which yet (suggestions?). Are there any things that people miss? I was wondering if it would be a good idea to do it under a company name instead of just my own, possibly incorporate, though not sure of ways to make it official besides that. Not really sure what to ask besides ideas, but that would be sort of cheating, though I'm not very creative with ideas.

 

[Ririal]

How to make a landscape orientation a priority?

I don't follow, can you please clarify?

I'm curious as to how useful the Atrix would be as an app developer. I just started Java last year as part of my compsci program in university and I wanted to learn how to develop android apps on my future android phone.

The Atrix is one of my options, the other is the Incredible S and maybe the Nexus S, though I've heard people are disappointed about the device in general.

The phone I'll be getting has to last me at least the 2 years before I get my partial upgrade, or 2.5 to the full upgrade credit. I've been having trouble deciding which one. Rooting and putting new ROMs isn't on my mind really, it'll be something to do once the phone isn't supported anymore.

So ya, I'm looking at help with the pros and cons of at least the Atrix, the Incredible S as a comparison if possible.

I also have some questions as a starting developer. I've never really done anything like this. I was going to start with a book, not sure which yet (suggestions?). Are there any things that people miss? I was wondering if it would be a good idea to do it under a company name instead of just my own, possibly incorporate, though not sure of ways to make it official besides that. Not really sure what to ask besides ideas, but that would be sort of cheating, though I'm not very creative with ideas.

In my opinion (read: MY. OPINION.) almost all the complaints about the phone are unfounded and just whining. When the phone first came out, there was a ton of people who owned Samsung or HTC devices that came in and ripped on the device saying "MY SAMSUNG IS SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER" so, take it for what it's worth. I've had the device since a few days after launch, and I've had almost no issues with it that weren't a direct result of something I broke. The most common and annoying issue is the random reboots for no particular reason, which nobody has really been able to identify the cause for. At this point, the only legit complaint is the network speed over 3g/hspa+. That's mostly on AT&T's plate, though.

As a development platform, I'd say it's great. The device is solid as a rock, and it's damn near impossible to actually brick with an available SBF to flash. It's extremely fast, and the screen is quite good. Yes, it's an LCD. Yes, it's pentile. It looks fine, nobody cares about your amoled screen

I don't actually do android app development, so I'm not sure where a good place to start would be. As for comparison to the other two devices, the Atrix will outlast both of them easily. I'm extremely prejudiced against anything HTC (I think they make ****ty, ****ty phones.), and Samsung bores me, so I'll avoid direct comparison to those devices.

Best advice I can offer is look at the Motorola dev tools as opposed to whatever tools the other companies have available, and make your choice on that.

 

[mbobak]

Manually enabling sideloading?

Has anyone gotten the method outlined here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=969960

to actually work? Cause, I've tried it twice, and wound up w/ a soft-brick both times. Doing factory data reset resolved the problem, so, no worries, but I'm wondering if that method is fundamentally flawed?

Yes, I'm aware that there are automated, turn-key scripts that will enable sideloading. I'm as interested in learning more about the phone, as I am in enabling side loading, so, if I could learn to do it manually, I'd like to do that.

I'd post to that thread, but, I'm still not at 10 posts. (Stupid post count rule!)

Thanks,

-Mark

 

[intimnasc]

Does the Greyblur version written fro .57 work with .83?
There is alot out there and some misinformation floating around on this and I just want to be sure before I screw something up.

Are there plans to update Greyblur for .83?
I loved everything about this ROM and so did alot of people. Kenneth is amazing in what he does with these ROM's and could or should be writing them for one of the big companies he has a definite gift for doing it right.

 

[Ririal]

Has anyone gotten the method outlined here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=969960

to actually work? Cause, I've tried it twice, and wound up w/ a soft-brick both times. Doing factory data reset resolved the problem, so, no worries, but I'm wondering if that method is fundamentally flawed?

Yes, I'm aware that there are automated, turn-key scripts that will enable sideloading. I'm as interested in learning more about the phone, as I am in enabling side loading, so, if I could learn to do it manually, I'd like to do that.

I'd post to that thread, but, I'm still not at 10 posts. (Stupid post count rule!)

Thanks,

-Mark

That tutorial is VERY long winded. You don't need nearly as many steps as he's taking. It can be done much much easier. Just download GladEnabler and look at the script code, it's pretty straightforward and commented so anyone curious what it's doing can look for themselves

Does the Greyblur version written fro .57 work with .83?
There is alot out there and some misinformation floating around on this and I just want to be sure before I screw something up.

Are there plans to update Greyblur for .83?
I loved everything about this ROM and so did alot of people. Kenneth is amazing in what he does with these ROM's and could or should be writing them for one of the big companies he has a definite gift for doing it right.

Installing mis-matched versions is always a bad idea. Don't install the GB for 1.57 on 1.83, and vice versa. You'll very likely run into problems.

You'd have to ask Kenneth if he's updating his p-ROM. I'm not so sure what these mods do are really on the level of working for a big company, though Ginger/Greyblur is really just a compilation of various mods from other users and a theme

 

[mbobak]

Thanks Ririal, I'll check out GladEnabler.

-Mark

 

[intimnasc]

Thank You Riral that confirms my beliefs. There are people out there saying both and I just didn't want to crash my phone somehow.

 

[Portaljacker]

Anyone else on my questions?

 

[mbobak]

Anyone else on my questions?

Hmmmm....I'm not sure you'll get a reply from anyone else. This the the "Ask a developer" thread, started by Ririal. He answers most (all?) the questions asked here, and he's answered yours, so, I don't think you should expect an answer from anyone else.

 

[Portaljacker]

Ah, yay...

 

[mbobak]

Ah, yay...

You are, of course, free to ask your question again, in another forum or thread.

-Mark

 

[Ririal]

You are, of course, free to ask your question again, in another forum or thread.

-Mark

Anyone else is also free to answer questions here