Root Dumped 2 more apps today: Dock.apk & CarDock.apk

[messenger13]

The standard apps that automatically get launched when you put the DROID into the multimedia dock and/or the car dock ... GONE! I tried liking them, finally gave up on them.

The multimedia dock app is simply too bright, doesn't have a sleep timer, and I can't turn Pandora on/off with it, so what's the point?

The car dock app is just about as annoying. If it were customizable it might be a whole lot more useful. I just seem to get annoyed every time I hit the home button and the car dock app appears on the screen.

(This requires root. Files are in /system/app)
(I just renamed the files Dock.bak and CarDock.bak)

 

[prerunnerseth]

The standard apps that automatically get launched when you put the DROID into the multimedia dock and/or the car dock ... GONE! I tried liking them, finally gave up on them.

The multimedia dock app is simply too bright, doesn't have a sleep timer, and I can't turn Pandora on/off with it, so what's the point?

The car dock app is just about as annoying. If it were customizable it might be a whole lot more useful. I just seem to get annoyed every time I hit the home button and the car dock app appears on the screen.

(This requires root. Files are in /system/app)
(I just renamed the files Dock.bak and CarDock.bak)

Did you try copying and renaming another app to put in their place?

 

[messenger13]

Did you try copying and renaming another app to put in their place?

No. But I can't think of another app that I want to function like that. When my DROID is docked, I simply want to go to my Home screen.

 

[vincentp]

I haven't used the multimedia dock much, but I really dislike Car Mode. It's great in concept, but it's annoying that I can't seem to get back to my home screen when I want to. It also (for whatever unusual reason) doesn't default calls to the speakerphone. Shouldn't this be a given?

 

[messenger13]

It also (for whatever unusual reason) doesn't default calls to the speakerphone. Shouldn't this be a given?

Not at all. Especially when you have the DROID plugged into your car's aux input. While listening to Pandora, when a call comes in Pandora pauses, mutes, and then I hear the ringing in my car's speakers so I can ignore the call or answer it. Sweet.

 

[SirVilhelm]

While listening to Pandora, when a call comes in Pandora pauses, mutes, and then I hear the ringing in my car's speakers so I can ignore the call or answer it. Sweet.

This also works with last.fm and the built in media player. I believe it is a feature of Android 2.x

 

[barry99705]

Did you try copying and renaming another app to put in their place?

Won't work.

 

[vincentp]

Not at all. Especially when you have the DROID plugged into your car's aux input. While listening to Pandora, when a call comes in Pandora pauses, mutes, and then I hear the ringing in my car's speakers so I can ignore the call or answer it. Sweet.

Well, I agree that if you have a Bluetooth connected, it should use that. If you're using the Aux input, it should default to that, too. And I believe it does for both of those things. But if the phone is just sitting there in the car dock, in car mode, and there's no external speaker source, shouldn't it default to speaker so I don't have to mess with it while it's on the dock?

 

[ldougherty]

I wonder if removing these apps will cause any issues with the Droid because your not removing the script that launches the app, you are just causing the script to fail.

 

[messenger13]

I wonder if removing these apps will cause any issues with the Droid because your not removing the script that launches the app, you are just causing the script to fail.

Yep, I wondered the same thing. But so far so good. Ive rebooted several times and all appears fine. And using the car dock today proved to be much mo better.

 

[carnadi88]

Why didn't you just get the SleepTimer app? It is a sleep timer that turns off Pandora for you. I use it all the time. If the multimedia dock is too bright hit the little light bulb to dim it. Just some suggestions.

The standard apps that automatically get launched when you put the DROID into the multimedia dock and/or the car dock ... GONE! I tried liking them, finally gave up on them.

The multimedia dock app is simply too bright, doesn't have a sleep timer, and I can't turn Pandora on/off with it, so what's the point?

The car dock app is just about as annoying. If it were customizable it might be a whole lot more useful. I just seem to get annoyed every time I hit the home button and the car dock app appears on the screen.

(This requires root. Files are in /system/app)
(I just renamed the files Dock.bak and CarDock.bak)

 

[esocid]

Since Android is linux, can't you search for dependencies, if there are any, that require those .apks? I think that would be helpful for resolving added/removed files that start messing things up.

 

[messenger13]

Why didn't you just get the SleepTimer app? It is a sleep timer that turns off Pandora for you. I use it all the time. If the multimedia dock is too bright hit the little light bulb to dim it. Just some suggestions.

I use SleepTimer every night. In fact, I donated to the dev, did you? But the multimedia dock app is fairly useless (IMO) after trying it for about 3 weeks straight. And it is too bright, no matter what mode it is in.

I am waiting for someone to write an app that shuts off the 4 LEDs while the DROID is in the dock. Until then, I fall asleep listening to Pandora with the DROID in sleep mode. I sure wish it could be displaying the time (like "Night Clock) but with those buttons turned OFF.

 

[merrill77]

I am waiting for someone to write an app that shuts off the 4 LEDs while the DROID is in the dock.

Me, too! They seem to be activated automatically based on ambient light level. I wonder if it is controlled directly by hardware...with no software interface possible? Could Moto be that dumb? Lets hope not!

 

[teschoen]

I actually like CarHome, it lets me get to the things I care about when I'm in the car. And I've adapted to using the on screen home button to get to my home screen. I don't have the other doc, but I tried running DocRunner in the car the other night. I don't like that the soft buttons are all lit up..... that is annoyng.

 

[messenger13]

They seem to be activated automatically based on ambient light level.

Not if you have auto-brightness turn off ... which I do. When not in the dock, my LEDs go out before my screens goes to sleep. If I press the camera button, I can reactivate the LEDs. That's what makes me hopefully that these could be controlled with an app. I just might have to start exploring this on my own. Lord knows, I've tinkered with everything else on this thing.

 

[TrevorSky]

With those two apps removed, does the phone wake up at all when placed in the docks? I'm wondering if this could also be a way to successfully use a magnet-clasp holster...

 

[dodgethis1]

With those two apps removed, does the phone wake up at all when placed in the docks? I'm wondering if this could also be a way to successfully use a magnet-clasp holster...

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing, are the apk's in system.zip?

 

[TrevorSky]

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing, are the apk's in system.zip?

With the apps gone, the phone still wakes up and unlocks. It just doesn't launch anything. So it's not a very good solution. I've worked very hard to find a good solution to this, and so far I'm stumped.

However - I have an idea, but no time to research it. With a rooted phone and a custom ROM, it should be possible to simply modify the android kernel to suppress the DOCK events completely.

But like I said, I don't have time to learn how to do this. The ideal solution would be a checkbox in the Settings to enable/disable the dock events.

 

[messenger13]

With those two apps removed, does the phone wake up at all when placed in the docks? I'm wondering if this could also be a way to successfully use a magnet-clasp holster...

I use Bedside as my multimedia dock app, and it works exactly as the lame Dock.apk worked ... except better. Bedside launches just as dock.apk did, and goes away when I remove the DROID from the multimedia dock.

 

[jasonb1985]

i also renamed to hide the CarDock.apk. i always hated it and found it completely useless. i like the 2.1 multimedia dock though, it get's plenty dim, especially with the led hack.

 

[orbea]

I do not consider CarDock to be a legitimate application. It is borderline virus code. I use a GPS application for cycling and for awhile CarDock would randomly turn on and effectively stop the GPS application from running. This is mainly due to the whole magnetic sensor in the Droid 2 phone. The sensor picks up on just about anything from a magnet sitting close to the phone to a iron enriched mouse fart which in turn loads CarDock.

I would not mind having this application pre-loaded on my phone if it was something that I could just turn completely off through the settings. The fact that you have to download another app to stop this from loading or root to the phone to kill it completely is bad.

 

[pine]

Hello, I if you don't like the stock CarHome app I would like to invite you to try my app CarHome Ultra. It will also auto-launch when your phone is near a magnet (that is a property of the phone). However, the app itself is very feature rich.

I'm also available for support if you have issues.

CarHome Ultra on the Android Market

Thanks

 

[Aack]

So what I am understanding from this post is that without rooting the phone, you can replace the car dock app or dock app with a 'better' one.

Wouldn't it be possible write a tiny app that:
- Accepts the 'intent' that says 'Ooh! A magnet!'
- Gives any appropriate 'thanks!' to the OS
- Quits!

May need to restore states like screen locked / blanked / etc. on its way out.

 

[pine]

So what I am understanding from this post is that without rooting the phone, you can replace the car dock app or dock app with a 'better' one.

Wouldn't it be possible write a tiny app that:
- Accepts the 'intent' that says 'Ooh! A magnet!'
- Gives any appropriate 'thanks!' to the OS
- Quits!

May need to restore states like screen locked / blanked / etc. on its way out.

I think you are asking for an app that will make the phone go into CarMode (like it is docked)? There are several apps on the market that do this. Also, CarHome Ultra can be launched manually like any other app and then put your device into car mode when it is running.

Thanks