yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
I'm completely and utterly devastated by this.

I appealed and am awaiting Google's response...
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Woody:
I just checked and mine is working on my N5 (haven't checked my N7/13 yet). I've always been late on getting OTAs (not like OS OTAs, but more like Play Services/Gmail and such), so not sure if the "failed" license check falls under that giant Google umbrella or not and hasn't made it my way yet.

Something that you could consider is just removing the check/call and uploading it as a standalone apk here on site. Then you could implant an unlock feature like the guy above mentioned GravityBox does (Xposed module Amplify does this as well and so does BBS). Obviously this is something for after you work your angles with Google and try an resolve that way.

Even if there are no updates, I would consider the price for the apk in the time that I used it as a donation for your work and leave it at that. I also know that this isn't about $. I fear that once the license check effects me though and makes the app unusable, I will be forced to move to something else until this gets fixed. If you need anything from me (posts, clarification on paid/free apks on site, threads moved...), please do not hesitate to get in touch.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] rpugsley:
I don't mind donate again.

You're doing a great work, I'll follow that.

Thanks flar2
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] yyz71:
App opens up on my N5 as well no problems
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] C3C076:
I can confirm that mine still works without complaining about the license key. Although I assume it's just a question of time. Pity Google has such a strict policy regarding Selinux.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] cromatn5:
For now yes, i can open the app.

Thanks again for your works.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
check on boeffla kernel or with [MENTION=947981]Lord Boeffla[/MENTION] he predicited events like that or experience some in the past and developed a well working way

around google. the app updates from within the app and one time pro-code has to be typed in only. further he selinux thingy is included so you can put it back on. my opinion if big players start to harass users they have to consequently be outsourced wherever possible until they eventually learn how to behave and/or disappear like any former empire of any kind haha....

sorry to hear about the hassle, just trying to help and hope it's welcome.

further i recommend to detach the app from market with titanium backup or similar so that it will remain functional while not being able to check for license. i could be wrong here, just let me know, again just trying to find ways.

EDIT: yes the app opens and works well, even after being detached from the market, at least for the time being :)
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] trancinguy:
Opens fine.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] maortrol:
My EX app opens with no problems, too. I wonder how long... :confused:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Woody:
I was thinking along the same lines and looked in AppOps (Cataclysm) to see if I could restrict the internet (general term), but no such way. If someone runs Avast or some other firewall service, you could restrict it that way too, but I've long given up those. Just another idea though. I think I'll just detach like you mentioned as a preventative measure for now. We wait.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
BTW, many times thought, never said, taking the opportunity to say that i like your "Particle Physics Gives me a Hadron" that kind of topic give me better kicks than any of the various damaging substances hehe... just love it all :) :good: [MENTION=3200478]Woody[/MENTION]

that's it, seconded tripled or whathaveyou hahah..... just let us know how to proceed when you made your decision and if anything try to not rely on those who abuse their powers.

i remember that they forced me to join G+ to rate great apps of great devs. this is not to discuss G+, it's personal choice, but i decided to not like it, too much info suddently was accidentally popping up throughout the web when not very careful with privacy settings which should be set to "off" by default
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] MrKaon:
app opens at the moment but it is not checking licence yet, will see what would happen later.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] sherlock5545:
Lucky I didn't perform a wipe yesterday. The app is still working for now.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] jaibar:
Mine stopped working. I just traveled to another country, and when tried to open the app while on data roaming it just gave me the license check error and since then does not work, even when on wifi. As I remember, it is impossible to recover from this state (and quite annoying too, not being able to use an app one has paid for...).

I got similar problem with xposed module XGels-apparently its Dev has some high paranoia level and checks the license quite frequently, so whenever I'm in the train, or in airplane mode, or traveling abroad all the "pro features" stop working and I had to setup everything again, until I finally got so p!ssed I completely uninstalled his module.

A pro/donate mechanism like gravitybox, or Xprivacy's license id has never failed me. flar2 can do similar thing? Like placing the app in xda (or any other location other than Google play store), and only a small donation/pro app in Google play store that just unlocks additional settings? Titanium backup and Greenify, for example work like this, and it also never failed me.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] trancinguy:
N5501elementax app version before last update... Something weird happened, after I rebooted normally not soft and opened the app it force closed, then I opened it again then got the message starting and it opened normally!
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] JonesL:
This is getting stupid now, Google really needs to get their act together.

Don't blame the Dev, blame Google for being idiotic. Oh that battery life scam app is still on Google play.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
albeit your point is valid and understandable i think it's not necessary to add to [MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION] 's "pain", hassle and a bad day, by explicitly mentioning again how annoying it is. it's not his fault if google starts to "ENFORCING" haha... fits the topic of SElinux, things which users chooser freely to not wanting. further we all should not forget from which house SElinux originates, will not mention for avoiding keywords but you can google it if you don't know yet. so let's just keep calm, this will be sorted out and our beloved app will work again, one ore another way :)
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
I just did some testing, and it looks like existing app users will be okay. Which is how it should be, since you did buy the app.

However, I can't confirm this, as my account reacts differently to licensing than users' accounts.

You won't be able to get the app from the Play Store again, but if you have the apk, I think it will still pass the license check. If Google takes that away, then please complain to them, as all of this is completely beyond my control.

Do a backup of the app with Titanium now!!

In the meantime, I've appealed and will wait for Google's decision. It was clearly a mistake to suspend my app, as I removed the selinux setting to comply with their terms. So hopefully they will reinstate the app and everything will go back to normal.

If not, I will decide what to do at the time.

Whichever way this goes, it is a huge problem for me and I'm completely at Google's mercy.

For now, I will say this: I have invested a huge amount of time and effort into the kernel and app. The ElementalX kernel has been downloaded over one million times and over 5000 people have bought the app. This is a one-man operation and I work an average of 80 hours a week between android development and my full time job. I barely sleep. I receive literally thousands of emails and private messages from around the world and do my best to support thousands of users. Having a paid app in the Play Store is the only viable way to keep the project going, as voluntary donations do not even come close to covering the cost of my devices. Due to the Play Store's reach, convenience and ubiquity, the app was generating a significant income even after Google and the taxman take their cuts and my family and I had future plans that depended on this income. We are completely devastated by this sequence of events. Development is not about the money, I freely share my code and freely allow others to use my features and do other free things like disabling write protection for HTC devices, but there is a point at which a project of this scale cannot be maintained without a business model. It is a full time job. I hope you will understand.

All that aside, my sincere apologies for the inconvenience. Please stand by while I wait for Google's decision and I will figure out how to go forward at that time.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] jaibar:
Oh, I know it's Google's fault, not flar's. I'm just thinking there are optional ways to bypass Google's restrictions and still having a legit way to both distribute the app and pro/donation mechanism-maybe even better than the current one (playstore app)..

I hope flar2 gets some way to keep donations going on again- with or without Google play store [emoji106]
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
that's why i hinted to [MENTION=947981]Lord Boeffla[/MENTION] 's model. it's not volontary, you want the features you pay via paypal and then the users receive a code which they enter in the app like most of the computer apps and that's it. have a look at it if you prefer not to be at google's mercy. it works very well and makes you independent and the reach of the app is the reach of your kernel. whoever uses your kernel becomes aware of your app and from there no difference, while the app without your kernel is certainly not purchased in substantial numbers ( at least i thinks so )
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] walpurgisnacht30:
[MENTION=5372360]magnamentis[/MENTION] is it fine to detach EX app from Play Store I mean as far as I know it needs to verify purchase via Google Play
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
Do a backup with Titanium backup, data + app and I think you will be able to keep using it indefinitely. At least I hope so.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] MrKaon:
We have to wait and see what Google says.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] AA1973:
Unless you delete your TiBu folder. Which I did on the weekend...

#OutsmartedMyself

P.S. have a laugh on my costs. That's why I mentioned it

?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] walpurgisnacht30:
I really hate it when Google doing something like this especially on my favorite app. Hope it will get sorted as soon as possible.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
in this post http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=60108644&postcount=17449 i wrote that i'm not sure so that's unfortunately the only answer i can provide for now, "i'm not sure" but i have good hope because i'm using a few apps like Kii-Keyboard and many others that were removed from the market for good or not so good reasons and they are all working flawlessly up to now, some of them for many years already like some icon sets that were removed on request of samsung and/or apple and the likes. however it remains to be seen :)

i can provide a good argument why it should work indefinitely. because if you have no internet connection the purchased apps including those which check for licenses are not meant to cease service, that would be all around the web and cause a huge uproar. for me that raises probability that things are setup in a manner that if no check is possible ( hence detachement ) a new check is scheduled but can/will never happen, hence the app will work for ever. let's see :) optimism :good:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] mikereidis:
In case you're interested, here is my email response to flar2:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
solution for the future for all data and backups on sdcard which upon recovery change can easily be deleted by accident due to terms like

factory reset which are on twrp without wiping media and on cwm including wipe media:

purchase a usb-stick with two ends, one for pc/mac and the other for mobile devices ( A/B) then copy all your data and backups including nandroid backups to that stick, plug into your computer and drag them into a folder of your choice et voilà, murphy's law has been outsmarted hehe.. :) :highfive:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] AA1973:
[MENTION=5372360]magnamentis[/MENTION] ...unfortunately, I've got one of those. Spaceloop hybrid #Outsmarted²

Don't know why I didn't push it on the stick, what I usually do - happens.

**

Thanks [MENTION=3575078]mikereidis[/MENTION] for your time and your answer. Hope everything will get sorted out ?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] walpurgisnacht30:
Heh, I'm being too impatient and didn't read it lol

Sorry bout that
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
thanks for that one ( attached image ) just had a big lough, so true and to the point :) LOL :laugh::highfive::cool:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] walpurgisnacht30:
I always have a good laugh with that vid ????
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] DroidIt!:
Hey [MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION]. I did a clean install after your app was removes from the play store on my N5, N6 and N7 and restored the ElX app on all three through tibu and I know at least a couple of times the app did the license check and all appears fine so far. Just thought I'd let ya know what I'm seeing so far ;)
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] tylerdurden83:
This is probably a silly question, but was the app removed because? Because you could use it to switch selinux mode? Is that really a necessary feature of the app?

I mean other kernel apps like franco etc havent been removed afaik, so I'm just wondering if it's not possible to just remove that feature and let google be happy with their stupid rules being respected
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Traxex_:
He already removed it and is trying to get it back again.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
yes because it has been answered and discussed over the last few pages, thus it's a superfluous question indeed.

no, he did not remove it, it was removed by google and it was from the beginning said like that and discussed over pages as well

everything constructive that can be said by now has been mentioned and we just have to wait until either google decides or flar2 decides what he

wants to do while i hope he will take the way of independence. how can one trust all these big players who destroy business and incomes at a whiff or through algorithms ?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
I already complied with their policies.

I removed the selinux setting immediately when all devs were warned on march 31.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Traxex_:
[MENTION=5372360]magnamentis[/MENTION]:

Are you serious?

I obviously meant that he removed the SELinux switch support..
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] theesotericone:
Hey man. That sucks. I just got the news a bit ago and TB'd. Then wiped my phone to flash a new build of mine. Restored the app from TB and it passes a license check still. Hopefully, google pulls their head out of their ass and gets the app back up. Before you added SE mode I used SElinux mode changer. They pulled that app as well.

What the hell are they thinking? What's the next step? Will google go the apple way and pull all apps that require root in a quest for security that will never be obtained? Are we such a small user group that they truly don't care? It's not like there aren't other ways to bypass SElinux but having an app was so simple. Good luck man.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
Misunderstanding I think..

I have a feeling things are going that way. I have mixed feelings about Google, because they provide a great opportunity to start with nothing and make some money, but it's really tough when they can just suddenly terminate all your hard work with almost no ability to defend yourself. There is virtually no communication between Google and developers, it's all automated. I got an automated warning, made the changes to my app to comply with their policy, and received absolutely no indication as to whether the issue was resolved or not. Then I wake up today and get another automated message that my app is suspended. I can appeal in 1000 characters or less, including spaces. Their decision is final and will come within 72 hours.

If my appeal is rejected, I can upload a new apk with a new name. But I lose all my users, ratings and statistics. That means lots of angry users who paid for my app and now can't get it. Plus my developer account gets a strike against it. That's scary too, because I was planning to make more apps. How many strikes until I'm out? How much energy should I invest in new apps if my account could be summarily terminated at any time?

It's tempting to take [MENTION=5372360]magnamentis[/MENTION] suggestion and go independent, but for a project of this scale, it would require setting up a lot of infrastructure. Infrastructure to accept payments and send out licenses, to validate licensing, to push update notifications and serve the files. It's huge, and another thing to maintain on top of the app and kernels. Like I said, this project is over one million downloads and I have thousands of paid app users. I already don't have nearly enough time to do what I want. Plus, the Play Store makes it so easy for users to reinstall the app on fresh installations and has worldwide reach to millions of users. That infrastructure, reach and convenience is what Google's 30% cut of the app revenue buys.

I'm not sure what the next step is. Either they reinstate my app, I start from scratch, or I throw in the towel.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] magnamentis:
He already removed it and is trying to get it back again

good but then the second part in bold letters does not make sense as a part of the same sentence, hence not obvious but

since he wants to get the app back into the store the first part of the sentence looks like being related to that as well. obviously hahah...

but i got your meaning now, no problem, was semantically just not as obvious as you thought. all good now, it is as flar2 observed, a misunderstanding and

since we both made our point now i thinks this can be considered as settled. can happen
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Ieatnoobs:
App working for now.

Is there any way we can contact Google to complain about this?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] JonesL:
Don't waste your time, Google support is terrible.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] NexusPvn:
Wish I knew this before factory resetting.. :crying::mad:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Jax Teller:
[MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION] all these years you have shown stability, consistency, professionalism and that you are a developer that really cares and supports it's users no matter what.

I'm sure that the majority of the users will follow in every path you'll have to take.

I know you feel bad about this situation but just like you support us all this time, now we must support you.

If you'll have to upload a new EX app at PlayStore, I'll buy it for sure, if you'll do it like Lord Boeffla, I'll buy it again. I'm sure many of us think like that.

We don't see you as a salesman but as a friend.:good:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] nunoleite46:
I backup the apk of the elementalx app, and did a factory reset, I returned to install using the apk and it works fine.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] trancinguy:
That's exactly what I did and it does work.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] t3al:
Thank you [MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION] for your effort. Personally I bought your app for support only and I don't mind seeing it released for free :)
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] pajaSRB:
Ye same here...I put your kernel on my phones tooooooo many times so few bucks for app was just TNX to your lovely kernel!
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] sherlock5545:
Worst case scenario, do something like Greenify. App and donation key on Play Store, and you have to install both to make the app work. I'd gladly buy your app (donation key) again, and in the future if something happened to the app, the donation key would remain in the Play Store, so even if you rebuilt the app from scratch, you could use that key to enable the app for those who paid already.

But let's cross fingers and hope you get the app reinstated soon.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
Can someone do me a favour? I need verification on this so I can deal with people who bought the app but are now unable to download it.

1. Do a titanium back up of EX app and data

2. Uninstall the app

3. Install the app but do not restore the data

4. Does the license still work?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] aavvaallooss:
Yes, it works for me
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
That's good news, thanks.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] t3al:
What if we did a factory reset today and lost the app? :confused:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Super-Android:
I did a factory reset and now I dont have the app any longer...!!! :confused:
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
You can download the app here:

http://elementalx.org/elementalx-app/

If you previously bought the app and have a valid license, it will work.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] pajaSRB:
Reading is not a Crime!
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Woody:
Ninja'd, but I'll post anyways.

Hopefully you both made a Nandroid? If so, you can extract the app/data from the Nandroid via Titanium. Just click on the Menu button in top left, scroll down and you'll see "Extract from Nandroid backup..."
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] t3al:
No backups here. I like to live on the edge :o

---------- Post added at 14:33 ---------- Previous post was at 14:26 ----------

Works like a charm.. Many thanks!
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] trancinguy:
I had a feeling this was coming, so I extracted the apk and did the following, cleared the app data then force stopped it. When I opened the app it says checking license for 3 seconds then it opened telling me instructions.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] NexusPvn:
Love you :D ;)

Good luck on getting Elemental back up

I actually used google playstore credit which was received during a promo to purchase this app, but this is probably one of the only apps I like so I'll continue supporting if anything happens.

Would love to see OnePlus support in the future :)
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] Edo 91:
I'm starting to think that Google hates you... Chrome tell me that your site contain malware :D :D
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] #sharath:
Same here on Firefox, what the absolute f***?

I'm sorry for what happened with you [MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION], i was the one who was constantly asking for you to add SeLinuxMode change option. Didn't know this was coming.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] flar2:
Not your fault, it was perfectly fine to have it in there at the time. Then they changed their policy and I immediately removed the setting in compliance with their policy.

Still awaiting a decision from Google.
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] hanschke:
http://xdaforums.com/google-nexus-5/development/cm-12-1-unofficial-nightlies-t3082155#post60132165

cannot boot with elementary :(
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] JonesL:
I just get a 404 ?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] d1n0x:
[MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION] are there any plans for a CAF variant, like you did with Kitkat?
[Nexus 5 Original Android Development] t3al:
http://elementalx.org/app/

[MENTION=4684315]flar2[/MENTION] careful with htaccess :)