App compatibility, TWRP and other newbie questions

essexg

Looking for some help with myy UMI Iron. From a hardware perspective I am very happy with the phone, however I am finding the fact a number of apps are either incompatible with the build of Android on the phone, or simply crash everytime, frustrating.

The phone arrive with build 1.5 of the Iron software, and I have subsequently updated to 1.6 then 1.8, which in itself is a frustrating process.

Example apps that are incompatible: PayPal, Parkopedia
Example app that installs but won't run: NatWest banking app

So here are my questions.

1) As I understand it, the issue with app compatability is incompatible versions of GApps? If this is the case, why are these not being included in the official upgrades? It would seem an obvious step and remove having to take invasive steps to resolve.

2) Both times I have upgraded via Rootjoy I have lost all my settings, so effectively have to set the phone up from scratch, re-enter credentials in every app and re-arrange all the screens. I also am loosing all progress in a game I was playing (Hill Climb Racing). I have tried backing up before the update, and then restoring, but this doesn't seem to make a difference. It makes me reluctant to apply the updates if I looe everything, and at the same time not sure what I am gaining - certainly app compatability issues are not getting addressed.

The answer to resolve app compatability seems to be to install TWRP then install GApps components. I have read some of the threads on doing this and get the impression it may not work for some users, and there is a risk of bricking the phone. As I use the phone daily I am reluctant to take the risk. However in weighing this up I do have some additional questions:

4) If I install TWRP, does this replace the official 1.8 build with a different build? Or is it just a piece of software that allows modules to be individually updated?

5) If I install TWRP and it goes wrong, can I simply restore the phone with an official build via Rootjoy? And when I say simply, just plug it in to the PC and press the flash button. Or will TWRP installation close this option?

My preference would be to have an official upgrade that addresses these issue, but can anyone confirm if this is likely?

Thanks

Graham

janekmuric

\n\n1) Yes, the problem's partially the gapps, but there is no fix for this yet, sorry.

2) You can use app Titanium Backup or Helium to fix this problem as these apps can restore apps and app data.

3) You MIGHT be able to fix it by installing gapps but I've tried it and it doesn't work.
There IS a risk of bricking the phone but it is very, very low and ONLY happens if you do something wrong.

4) TWRP is a custom recovery. Basicly your phone's storage is divided into parts called partitions. This is a way of grouping things together and is also very convinient when flashing and wiping them because you can wipe the entire /data partition and delete all your data without doing anything to your /system.

There is also a /recovery partition which is used when making backups, fixing your phone and is very importand if you screw something up. The phone does come with a working recovery, but TWRP is MUCH MUCH MUCH better and I recommend installing it.

5) If TWRP goes wrong you can restore everything but ONLY if your phone can still turn on. What I recommend doing is unlocking the bootloader. If it is unlocked you can fix your phone no matter how bad you f*** up (unless the hardware is broken)

WARNING: Unlocking bootloader WILL DELETE ALL DATA, PICTURES, MUSIC, GAMES ETC.
YOU WILL LOSE THE WARRANTY IF YOU UNLOCK BOOTLOADER (hah, as if this chinese company gave you a warranty)

To unlock:

1. Make sure you have working Fastboot/ADB drivers
1.1 Go to settings --> Developer Options
1.2 In developer options enable OEM Unlock (this may need your password)
2. Turn off your phone
3. Hold volume up and power button in the same time
4. In the menu go to fastboot
5. Plug your phone into your computer via USB
6. Go to a terminal (cmd)
7. Type in fastboot oem unlock
8. Press volume up button on your phone
9. Wait for it to finish
10. Hold power button on the phone for about 20 seconds until it turns on again

sewdali

App Compatibility Solution

http://community.umidigi.com/for ... ypeid%26typeid%3D30