New to Android - a couple of questions.

[pewe]

I am new to Android and have just received a 10" tablet (wifi/Bluetooth/GPS/G3) runniing Android 4.1 and have a couple of issues I want to resolve.

1. When I install apps I have chosen to install them on the 'USB device' (SD card) in the settings. I have also moved a couple of apps out of memory to the SD card. I also use an app from the Play store which tells me which apps are where, and it reports them as on the card.
BUT - where are they on the card I can't find them.
Any one point me in the right direction.

2. In the settings it shows the Text to Speech as being Pico.
I have also installed Ivona and this shows in the settings too
BUT - there is now way to select Ivona as default. I tap on it and nothing happens. Is this a problem with Android 4 in general, or just my tablet.

Hopefully some folks here may know the answers to the above, an thanks in advance for any input that may be offered.

 

[Hadron]

Hi pewe, and welcome to AF

I can't help you with the text to speech thing, as I've never used it. But as for the app question, they will have been moved to an area called .android_secure. As the name implies, this is intended as a secure area, i.e. where the user does not have access (same as you do not have access to the app in internal memory, i.e. in /data/app), and so you won't be able to see them in there. I believe it's an anti-piracy measure.

Some file browsers won't actually show that folder at all (files whose names start with a "." are "hidden" files), but even if you can see it you won't see anything inside it. Nevertheless, that's where they are.

It's worth noting that you can only move part of the app to SD this way. Some parts, and the app's data, will remain in internal storage anyway. In fact if the device is running Android 4.1 it's surprising that you have the option at all - it's deprecated in Android, so must have been added back by the manufacturer (what I wrote above describes how it works in earlier Android versions).

 

[pewe]

Thanks Hadron.

The tablet is this one which I thought was well spec'd/featured for a price which was reasonable for a starter.

What was of interest was the built in wifi for Internet when I'm out and 3G for when I'm not near a hotspot (such as when I visit my elderly mother).

The GPS was also of interest as I often go for walks with the LOML and there is a tracking package I used on my smartphone (before the gps on it died) which is also available for Android and is now on my tablet. Once tracks are recorded I upload them to my server where they can be viewed using a Google maps custom app.

Which brings me to the TTS (text to speech) because I also loaded some sat nav software on it and the directions were not being spoken, so I checked out that the Pico TTS was in fact installed - which it was.
Someone suggested there may be an issue with that, so I downloaded an alternative TTS package and tried to set that as default - but the tablet won't make the change (even though all the buttons are there to do it).

As far as the apps on sd card are concerned, I can see the directory you talk about, and as you say it does appear empty.
It is a bit annoying because one of the software packages I use has an ini file I need to modify (it was easy to do on my Win 8 Laptop).

I suppose I could root the device and if needed (for warranty) un-root it again, but I haven't got my head around that yet.

Anyway, I'll keep digging re the TTS and see what I can find - unless someone else hear comes up with something.

ciao

 

[funkylogik]

I think to select a TTS engine you do it in Language And Inputs, in Settings :thumbup:

 

[divinebovine]

The .ini file may not be on the card. As Hadron said, parts (including the data, which would include the .ini file) are kept on internal memory.

You may need to root your device in order to get access. Alternatively, it may be possible to acquire the .APK package file, modify its default .ini, then install that on the device.

 

[pewe]

I think to select a TTS engine you do it in Language And Inputs, in Settings :thumbup:

Hi Funky,

That is where I tried to change it, but although it shows 2 options (the standard Pico and the installed Ivona) and I can tap Ivona, the setting remains as Pico.

However I seem to have resolved my problem of no voice from the navigation software.
I installed another app (free one) with voice directions from Google Play. I ran it and the voices worked.
I uninstalled it (as I had proven that the voices do work), re-opened my other programme and low and behold - the voices now work.
(So Android is as weird as Windows sometimes eh??)

OFF TOPI:
By the way, the reason I needed it working is because we are heading up your way at the end of the month and need the sat nav.

We'll be heading to Aberdeen (our old home town) via Inverness, Elgin, Macduff, Gardenstown, Fraserburgh and Peterhead - visiting ancestral haunts.
Our first stop after leaving Somerset is Arrochar for an overnight stop - so we'll be passing right by you (practically).
Here's hoping the weather stays kind.

Once again, thanks for the input.

 

[pewe]

The .ini file may not be on the card. As Hadron said, parts (including the data, which would include the .ini file) are kept on internal memory.

You may need to root your device in order to get access. Alternatively, it may be possible to acquire the .APK package file, modify its default .ini, then install that on the device.

Thanks for the response Divine.

I have the .apk, but I assume you are talking about source code - or not?

What software would be needed to change the .apk content

 

[divinebovine]

(So Android is as weird as Windows sometimes eh??)

Yup.

Thanks for the response Divine.

I have the .apk, but I assume you are talking about source code - or not?

What software would be needed to change the .apk content

Not source code; you were talking about a .ini file, that's all I'm talking about. A .apk file is actually a .zip file (obviously adhering to a specific layout and containing the necessary stuff). You may be able to find the .ini file there.

I had one more thought. Some devices have a section of internal storage that is presented as an SD card. If so, you could have moved the app to there instead of to your actual SD card.

 

[funkylogik]

Cool pewi. My gran lived in Keith, Bamfshire so we spent a lot of time in Elgin when i was a kid, fishing etc and Portsoy and Cullen. Have fun man :beer:

 

[pewe]

Yup.



A .apk file is actually a .zip file

I didn't know that.

You may be able to find the .ini file there.

I found it .
I extracted it, altered the .ini file, repackaged and re-installed - and all appears to be working OK.

I had one more thought. Some devices have a section of internal storage that is presented as an SD card. If so, you could have moved the app to there instead of to your actual SD card.

I used a small app from Google Play to move the program. It didn't give me any choices other than a button to move it to the 'USB Storage' (SD Card).

Looking in File Explorer, there is an .android_secure directory (which appears 'empty') on 'Storage0' which is internal storage.

'Storage1' is the SD card and as there is no .android_secure directory on that I assume (as you mentioned) the app is being moved to the internal memory.


Anyway, thanks for your assistance.