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What size is Android (just the operating system)?

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Bannon Bixby

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Feb 14, 2014, 9:43:42 AM2/14/14
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In another thread, I'm trying to solve a bloatware problem where the non-
removable programs plus the Android operating system take up 2.2 GB of
the 4GB LG Optimus L9.

So my question is, if I find a small footprint Android OS, what can I
realistically expect the size of Android to be?

Theo Markettos

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Feb 14, 2014, 12:51:39 PM2/14/14
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My ZTE Blade, which runs Gingerbread (Android 2.3) via CyanogenMod, has
512MB of flash. After Google Apps and all the rest, that leaves about 100MB
free for apps. Developers have ported Android 4 to the Blade, so presumably
that will fit in 512MB also.

That was the reason I pointed you towards Simple2Ext - it effectively joins
the internal flash and SD card to make a bigger 'hard drive' - the phone
doesn't realise that half its storage is on the SD card. Android also has a
'move to SD' feature, but it doesn't work for a large chunk of the apps out
there. With Simple2Ext I can put in a 32GB microSD card and 'upgrade' the
system flash to 32.5GB without needing apps to support that.

Theo

Bannon Bixby

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Feb 14, 2014, 1:36:34 PM2/14/14
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On Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:51:39 +0000, Theo Markettos wrote:

> Developers have ported Android 4 to the Blade, so
> presumably that will fit in 512MB also.

The size of Android is good to know, since that would mean that I
can put a 1/2 GB Android 4 onto the LG Optimus L9, which will then
leave me with a usable 3.5GB for applications.

Plus, I presume, that Android OS will allow me to move applications
to the 32GB external microSD card.

If I can accomplish those two things, the problem would be solved!

1. Install the smallest Android footprint possible, and,
2. Be able to use the SD card for applications (not just data).

Bannon Bixby

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Feb 14, 2014, 1:40:45 PM2/14/14
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On Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:51:39 +0000, Theo Markettos wrote:

> Android also has a 'move to SD' feature, but it doesn't work
> for a large chunk of the apps out there.

The move-to-SD is nearly useless, in my opinion, at least with
my LG Optimus L9. NONE of the force-fed pre-installed bloatware
apps from T-Mobile would allow themselves to be moved (or deleted).

> Simple2Ext effectively joins the internal flash and SD card
> the phone doesn't realise that half its storage is on the SD card.

I was confused about that suggestion.

Do I understand the simple2ext approach in that I would first
install cyanogenmod, and then I'd run simple2ext?

If that's the case, wouldn't cyanogenmod work, in and of itself
(assuming the footprint of cyanogenmod is small) to free up
most of my 4GB of internal memory?

Theo Markettos

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Feb 14, 2014, 1:55:51 PM2/14/14
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Bannon Bixby <banno...@this.is.invalid> wrote:
> Do I understand the simple2ext approach in that I would first
> install cyanogenmod, and then I'd run simple2ext?

Yes. There may be other ways to do it without CyanogenMod, but your phone
would need to be rooted.

> If that's the case, wouldn't cyanogenmod work, in and of itself
> (assuming the footprint of cyanogenmod is small) to free up
> most of my 4GB of internal memory?

It would, probably. I'm not sure what a base CyanogenMod is these days, but
way less than 2.2GB I suspect.

Theo

Bannon Bixby

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Feb 14, 2014, 5:48:02 PM2/14/14
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On Fri, 14 Feb 2014 18:55:51 +0000, Theo Markettos wrote:

> Yes. There may be other ways to do it without CyanogenMod, but your
> phone would need to be rooted.

That's my dilemma.

I don't know whether I should stick with just rooting, and then using
Simple2Ext to extend the internal memory onto the SD card ... or ...
if I should replace the entire operating system, with cyanogenmod.

All I want to do is free up internal memory taken by the bloatware.

> I'm not sure what a base CyanogenMod is these days,
> but way less than 2.2GB I suspect.

For now, I'll assume cyanogenmod is about 1GB until I can figure
out what size it really is.

It's surprising to me that it's difficult to find on the net
how big Android is (any flavor). So I appreciate your advice, since
you're one of the very few people who know the answer to the question
for their own phone!

It's shocking to me how little we know about the size of Android.

Bannon Bixby

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Feb 14, 2014, 8:40:10 PM2/14/14
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On Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:48:02 +0000, Bannon Bixby wrote:

> All I want to do is free up internal memory taken by the bloatware.

Actually, I can't even figure out WHAT is taking up the memory.
All I know is that I only have about 1.8GB of the advertised 4GB.
I don't actually know WHAT it taking up the missing 2.2 GB.

tlvp

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Feb 14, 2014, 9:58:57 PM2/14/14
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Google's Play store has quite some pieces of Android File Explorer software
-- maybe one of them can show you what it is that's eating up your 2.2 GB.

HTH. Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

Bob Martin

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Feb 15, 2014, 3:25:47 AM2/15/14
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Many people choose a phone *for* the "bloatware" - otherwise known as
"added features". If you don't want them, just buy a phone without all
the added stuff eg Nexus 4 or 5.

Bannon Bixby

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Feb 15, 2014, 5:09:46 AM2/15/14
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On Sat, 15 Feb 2014 08:25:47 +0000, Bob Martin wrote:

> Many people choose a phone *for* the "bloatware" - otherwise known as
> "added features". If you don't want them, just buy a phone without all
> the added stuff eg Nexus 4 or 5.

My problem is I already own the phone.
I had believe the marketing folks who said it had 4GB.
I didn't realize 4GB was actually 1.8GB (at best)!

I'd be perfectly happy with stock Android (without the bloat).
But, it's too late, for me, to get that Nexus 4 or 5.
So that's not a viable solution.

Theo Markettos

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Feb 15, 2014, 10:38:00 AM2/15/14
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Bannon Bixby <banno...@this.is.invalid> wrote:
> I don't know whether I should stick with just rooting, and then using
> Simple2Ext to extend the internal memory onto the SD card ... or ...
> if I should replace the entire operating system, with cyanogenmod.

Simple2Ext only works under CyanogenMod. It Worked For Me (and I had CM
anyway) hence I didn't investigate other options, but I suspect they do
exist for rooted phones. At the very least rooting should enable you to
uninstall carrier apps.

Look for a rooting-only method and see how you get on, and changing your ROM
as an option for a later date?

You may also prefer (or not) the 'stock Android' UI with whatever the phone
manufacturer did to it.

> All I want to do is free up internal memory taken by the bloatware.
>
> > I'm not sure what a base CyanogenMod is these days,
> > but way less than 2.2GB I suspect.
>
> For now, I'll assume cyanogenmod is about 1GB until I can figure
> out what size it really is.

Sounds about right - don't forget all the Google apps (Maps, Talk, Mail,
etc) take up some room.

> It's surprising to me that it's difficult to find on the net
> how big Android is (any flavor). So I appreciate your advice, since
> you're one of the very few people who know the answer to the question
> for their own phone!

Looking at the size of the download images might give you a clue. Assume
the zips expand by roughly a factor of 2-3.

Theo

Bannon Bixby

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Feb 15, 2014, 1:26:47 PM2/15/14
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On Sat, 15 Feb 2014 15:38:00 +0000, Theo Markettos wrote:

> Look for a rooting-only method and see how you get on, and changing
> your ROM as an option for a later date?

That's what I'll do. Thanks for the tips.

My logic is that I may as well root first, simply because I need
to root anyway, I think, in order to install a custom ROM such as
Cyanogenmod.

Once I root, I'll know whether I can delete the bloatware or not.
If I can delete the bloatware, I can stop there.

If I still can't delete the bloatware, then I can attempt to install
a custom ROM such as cyanogenmod.

Thanks.

Ardent

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Feb 21, 2014, 9:42:07 AM2/21/14
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On Sat, 15 Feb 2014 18:26:47 +0000 (UTC), Bannon Bixby
<banno...@this.is.invalid> wrote:

>If I still can't delete the bloatware, then I can attempt to install
>a custom ROM such as cyanogenmod.

Once you have successfully rooted you can get from Ggl Playstore a
copy of free CleanMaster that can show you all the preinstalled apps
and uninstall what you do not need.

--
HTH

Archer

I R A Darth Aggie

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Feb 25, 2014, 1:06:06 PM2/25/14
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On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:12:07 +0530,
Ardent <i...@here.com.invalid>, in
Which one? there are at least *4* different "Clean Master" apps by
different authors.

--
Consulting Minister for Consultants, DNRC
I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow
isn't looking good, either.
I am BOFH. Resistance is futile. Your network will be assimilated.

Ardent

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Feb 26, 2014, 9:45:18 AM2/26/14
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On Tue, 25 Feb 2014 18:06:06 +0000 (UTC), I R A Darth Aggie
<n0b...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:12:07 +0530,
>Ardent <i...@here.com.invalid>, in
><1koeg95p2o5orshf7...@4ax.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 15 Feb 2014 18:26:47 +0000 (UTC), Bannon Bixby
>> <banno...@this.is.invalid> wrote:
>>
>> >If I still can't delete the bloatware, then I can attempt to install
>> >a custom ROM such as cyanogenmod.
>>
>> Once you have successfully rooted you can get from Ggl Playstore a
>> copy of free CleanMaster that can show you all the preinstalled apps
>> and uninstall what you do not need.
>
>Which one? there are at least *4* different "Clean Master" apps by
>different authors.
Latest is Clean Master 4.0.0.703 and it is by K.S.Mobile
It is available in Ggl Ply Store
--
HTH
Archer
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