BKenney
Member
- Dec 10, 2010
- 138
- 5
How to remove unwanted apps and services:
You need the google marketplace installed and your device must also be rooted!
Search the marketplace for "Terminal Emulator" and download the first result in the list. (ANDROID TERMINAL EMULATOR)
Start up the emulator, at the prompt hit the kyros menu button and choose to bring up the "soft keyboard".
The keyboard will pop up of course and then you must type
"su"
Then hit enter. This will give the terminal emulator super user access. Once completed type the following command
"ls /system/app"
Hit enter. This will bring up a list of all apps installed on the device. To remove an app simply type the following command,
"rm /system/app/(APPNAME).apk"
Don't just type in an app name however, browse the list and identify the corresponding .apk file name.
For example: to remove the google goggles app that is installed with the google marketplace you need to enter this command,
"rm /system/app/GoogleGoggles.apk"
(And then of course press enter)
THERE IS NO PROMPT IDENTIFYING THE FILE WAS DELETED.
More command examples:
Remove Amazon mp3 app: "rm /system/app/com.amazon.mp3.apk"
Remove AppsLib: "rm /system/app/AppsLib_413T.apk"
(In order to remove Appslib through the terminal editor you must first uninstall any updates for the app through the "manage applications" menu)
What to do if you remove something and have problems with the Kyros:
Like I mention below I have found a solution for reverting any bad mistakes you make if removing applications. Simply download the Coby update file, unzip it and pull out the related .apk file you need; then store the copied .apk on the root of your Kyros internal storage or "nand". The "mv" command in the terminal editor will not work because the directories are treated as two separate devices ("system" and "nand"), therefore you must use the "cp" or copy command to copy a brand new file into the "/system/app" directory. Then of course you need to delete the .apk on the root of your "nand" as its now a duplicate.
For example, if you delete the "Phone.apk" and realize there are problems with the youtube app you would simply download the official Coby update- unzip the file- copy the "Phone.apk" from the "system" file in the unzipped update and then transfer it to the "nand" of your Kyros (after mounting it of course). Then in the terminal editor you would input these commands:
"su"
"cp /nand/Phone.apk /system/app/"
Of course you need to reboot the device after copying over the .apk. This only works for stock applications, and not applications that are added with the Google Marketplace.
If the application came from the google marketplace, then you can simply follow the same procedure using the apk files from the Google Marketplace zip.
The files I have successfully removed from my Kyros device are as follows:
A great list of what each Android app and .apk file does can be found here.
Amazon MP3 Store (com.amazon.mp3.apk)- No side effects
Appslib (Appslib_413T.apk) - No bad side effects. Note: First I had to remove an update I installed by removing the app using the manage applications menu under settings.
Stock Internet Browser (Browser.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. I had Opera Mini AND Skyfire installed prior to removing. If you removed the Browser and don't have an alternative installed, obviously you're going to need one.
Android Error Reporting (BugReport.apk)- No Bad Side Effects so far. I wouldn't recommend removing this package, back it up (just in case).
Car Dock (Google Car App)- No Bad Side Effects
Stock POP/IMAP E-mail Client (Email.apk)- No bad side effects. Other E-mail clients work fine.
Google Goggles (GooglesGoggles.apk)- No bad side effects.
GoogleVoiceProvider.apk- With No Bad Side Effects however there are two voice apps, when one is removed so is the stock keyboard which means you will need an alternate keyboard installed and selected as default.
Google News Provider (Don't remember the .apk name)- I never check the news so I got rid of it. No bad side effects.
Google Talk Service (Talk.apk, gtalkservice.apk, TalkProvider.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. Seems to speed up the OS and boot times and cut down on random screen turn-ons.
Google Maps (Maps.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. Why did I remove this? No GPS on the device, only way to use maps is through wi-fi. Wi-fi is not always available so I'd never use maps on my tablet. For on the go maps and navigation I'll use my cell, that's what smart-phones are for.
Default Youtube Link Which Brings You To The YouTube Website, Not The Google App (MyVideoPlayer.apk)- Removed with no bad side effects. Pointless having the YouTube app which is installed with the Google Marketplace and this useless link.
Pre-installed Live [Smoke] Wallpaper (MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk)- No Bad Side Effects.
(Phone.apk)- After removing this the Youtube app would not work and neither would the stock video player. I downloaded the Coby update file pulled the Phone.apk and copied it back into the system/app directory and everything works fine like before.
Google Maps Navigation Support (Streets.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. If you remove Google Maps remove this too.
(TelephonyProvider.apk)- With No Bad Side Effects
Text to Speech (TtsService.apk)- No Bad Side effects as of yet. This will however disable the voice commands and prompts for any navigation programs. I never use my tablet for navigation as I have a phone and a GPS so...yeah.
I have removed the ringtones located in "System > Media > Audio > Ringtones" (which was a very length process through the terminal emulator *phew*). The "notifications" folder located in the same directory IS needed, DO NOT TOUCH.
Note: Once you get familiar with the terminal emulator and basic commands its much easier to use the "cd" command to change directories so that you don't have to keep repeating file names.
For instance, to copy "Phone.apk" from "/nand" to "/system/apps" using the tutorial above you would have to input the following:
"su"
"cp /nand/Phone.apk /system/app/"
But if you use the "cd" command you would use the following commands:
"su"
"cd /nand"
"cp Phone/apk /system/app"
You need the google marketplace installed and your device must also be rooted!
Search the marketplace for "Terminal Emulator" and download the first result in the list. (ANDROID TERMINAL EMULATOR)
Start up the emulator, at the prompt hit the kyros menu button and choose to bring up the "soft keyboard".
The keyboard will pop up of course and then you must type
"su"
Then hit enter. This will give the terminal emulator super user access. Once completed type the following command
"ls /system/app"
Hit enter. This will bring up a list of all apps installed on the device. To remove an app simply type the following command,
"rm /system/app/(APPNAME).apk"
Don't just type in an app name however, browse the list and identify the corresponding .apk file name.
For example: to remove the google goggles app that is installed with the google marketplace you need to enter this command,
"rm /system/app/GoogleGoggles.apk"
(And then of course press enter)
THERE IS NO PROMPT IDENTIFYING THE FILE WAS DELETED.
More command examples:
Remove Amazon mp3 app: "rm /system/app/com.amazon.mp3.apk"
Remove AppsLib: "rm /system/app/AppsLib_413T.apk"
(In order to remove Appslib through the terminal editor you must first uninstall any updates for the app through the "manage applications" menu)
What to do if you remove something and have problems with the Kyros:
Like I mention below I have found a solution for reverting any bad mistakes you make if removing applications. Simply download the Coby update file, unzip it and pull out the related .apk file you need; then store the copied .apk on the root of your Kyros internal storage or "nand". The "mv" command in the terminal editor will not work because the directories are treated as two separate devices ("system" and "nand"), therefore you must use the "cp" or copy command to copy a brand new file into the "/system/app" directory. Then of course you need to delete the .apk on the root of your "nand" as its now a duplicate.
For example, if you delete the "Phone.apk" and realize there are problems with the youtube app you would simply download the official Coby update- unzip the file- copy the "Phone.apk" from the "system" file in the unzipped update and then transfer it to the "nand" of your Kyros (after mounting it of course). Then in the terminal editor you would input these commands:
"su"
"cp /nand/Phone.apk /system/app/"
Of course you need to reboot the device after copying over the .apk. This only works for stock applications, and not applications that are added with the Google Marketplace.
If the application came from the google marketplace, then you can simply follow the same procedure using the apk files from the Google Marketplace zip.
The files I have successfully removed from my Kyros device are as follows:
A great list of what each Android app and .apk file does can be found here.
Amazon MP3 Store (com.amazon.mp3.apk)- No side effects
Appslib (Appslib_413T.apk) - No bad side effects. Note: First I had to remove an update I installed by removing the app using the manage applications menu under settings.
Stock Internet Browser (Browser.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. I had Opera Mini AND Skyfire installed prior to removing. If you removed the Browser and don't have an alternative installed, obviously you're going to need one.
Android Error Reporting (BugReport.apk)- No Bad Side Effects so far. I wouldn't recommend removing this package, back it up (just in case).
Car Dock (Google Car App)- No Bad Side Effects
Stock POP/IMAP E-mail Client (Email.apk)- No bad side effects. Other E-mail clients work fine.
Google Goggles (GooglesGoggles.apk)- No bad side effects.
GoogleVoiceProvider.apk- With No Bad Side Effects however there are two voice apps, when one is removed so is the stock keyboard which means you will need an alternate keyboard installed and selected as default.
Google News Provider (Don't remember the .apk name)- I never check the news so I got rid of it. No bad side effects.
Google Talk Service (Talk.apk, gtalkservice.apk, TalkProvider.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. Seems to speed up the OS and boot times and cut down on random screen turn-ons.
Google Maps (Maps.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. Why did I remove this? No GPS on the device, only way to use maps is through wi-fi. Wi-fi is not always available so I'd never use maps on my tablet. For on the go maps and navigation I'll use my cell, that's what smart-phones are for.
Default Youtube Link Which Brings You To The YouTube Website, Not The Google App (MyVideoPlayer.apk)- Removed with no bad side effects. Pointless having the YouTube app which is installed with the Google Marketplace and this useless link.
Pre-installed Live [Smoke] Wallpaper (MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk)- No Bad Side Effects.
(Phone.apk)- After removing this the Youtube app would not work and neither would the stock video player. I downloaded the Coby update file pulled the Phone.apk and copied it back into the system/app directory and everything works fine like before.
Google Maps Navigation Support (Streets.apk)- No Bad Side Effects. If you remove Google Maps remove this too.
(TelephonyProvider.apk)- With No Bad Side Effects
Text to Speech (TtsService.apk)- No Bad Side effects as of yet. This will however disable the voice commands and prompts for any navigation programs. I never use my tablet for navigation as I have a phone and a GPS so...yeah.
I have removed the ringtones located in "System > Media > Audio > Ringtones" (which was a very length process through the terminal emulator *phew*). The "notifications" folder located in the same directory IS needed, DO NOT TOUCH.
Note: Once you get familiar with the terminal emulator and basic commands its much easier to use the "cd" command to change directories so that you don't have to keep repeating file names.
For instance, to copy "Phone.apk" from "/nand" to "/system/apps" using the tutorial above you would have to input the following:
"su"
"cp /nand/Phone.apk /system/app/"
But if you use the "cd" command you would use the following commands:
"su"
"cd /nand"
"cp Phone/apk /system/app"
Last edited: