App Compatibility with the Admiral's 640x480 Screen

**zhecht** · 11-02-2011, 05:56 PM

The Motorola Admiral has a 640x480 screen, which is pretty non-standard in the Android world (the Admiral/Pro+ are the only android phones that use this resolution, as far as I know). I've already heard that many popular games such as Words with Friends refuse to install or even show up in the market on the Admiral.

Have people who own the Admiral come across any other popular apps that either don't show up in the market or have problems running due to the resolution of the screen? Has anyone found workarounds for getting these apps to install (short of pirating the apk, which shouldn't be discussed here)?

Do any apps run on the phone, but then become unusable because on-screen elements are clipped or overlap?

**preryan** · 11-05-2011, 01:54 PM

I contacted Zynga regarding Words with Friends and they knew nothing just said their device team would look into it. I knew that thr XPRT had the same screen size (no idea about the resolution), found that people were playing on the XPRT and ended up downloading the apk and sideloading it. I don't think I pirated it. Heck I told Zynga what I did and they were happy my issue was resolved. Works fine ads and all.

**omega_drh** · 11-07-2011, 02:46 AM

I've found two apps that the web-based market claims aren't compatible with my device: Mixology and Anything to SMS, but it doesn't say way. Various other apps note at start-up that they're not formatted properly, and give an option to run in 'full screen' or 'zoomed' mode. Only once has my initial selection caused clipping, and the other mode worked fine. I have a more detailed review up , along with some screenshots demonstrating the difference in modes.

**mattvalenz** · 11-08-2011, 05:23 PM

Hi, I'm a Sprint Product Ambassador supporting the launch of the Admiral.
Are we sure it's a matter of screen resolution or could it be a filter due to Android version given that Admiral runs 2.3.5 which maybe some developers have not added to the compatibility values for their apps in the Market.

**omega_drh** · 11-08-2011, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by mattvalenz

Are we sure it's a matter of screen resolution or could it be a filter due to Android version given that Admiral runs 2.3.5 which maybe some developers have not added to the compatibility values for their apps in the Market.

No, I'm not sure about this, and I'm not sure how to test this. I do very much wish the market was more transparent in this regard. At least the web market interface will tell you if your carrier blocks an app, I've found, but with , it just says "This item is not compatible with your device."

**zhecht** · 11-09-2011, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Presto

I contacted Zynga regarding Words with Friends and they knew nothing just said their device team would look into it. I knew that thr XPRT had the same screen size (no idea about the resolution), found that people were playing on the XPRT and ended up downloading the apk and sideloading it. I don't think I pirated it. Heck I told Zynga what I did and they were happy my issue was resolved. Works fine ads and all.

The XPRT has a 320 x 480 screen, which is the same as most mid-range Android phones. The Admiral is the only Android phone using 480x640 that is listed at .

**mattvalenz** · 11-10-2011, 06:12 PM

Yes I think it's a case of the app dev not running their app in compatibility mode, allowing for this screen size and adding the Admiral to a list of supported devices. I encourage you to write to appdevs to get them to add the Admiral OS version and screen specs and/or run their apps in compatibility mode.

**hdgaaron** · 11-14-2011, 02:04 PM

2x Client RDP Remote Desktop App does not work properly due to screen sizing issues.
parts of the remote desktop are cut off on the right side, and when rotated, they are still cut off and a black bar runs down the side where stuff should be. You cannot slide the screen over to those areas. They are just lost in space....

**prolongExistence** · 12-20-2011, 06:05 AM

Hopefully not a stupid question....
Is there an easy way to get the .apk files? I managed to search and find words with friends relatively easy but I've noticed a few others that say they are incompatible. One of which being my banking app which I doubt would be freely floating around the net.

**chardog** · 12-20-2011, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by prolongExistence

Hopefully not a stupid question....
Is there an easy way to get the .apk files? I managed to search and find words with friends relatively easy but I've noticed a few others that say they are incompatible. One of which being my banking app which I doubt would be freely floating around the net.

4shared.com

**zhecht** · 12-21-2011, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by chardog

4shared.com

I would never download any APK that requires me to enter a password from a site like 4shared. Decompiling and changing android apps is way too easy, and it seems like a good way to get your identity stolen.

**prolongExistence** · 12-22-2011, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by ahecht

I would never download any APK that requires me to enter a password from a site like 4shared. Decompiling and changing android apps is way too easy, and it seems like a good way to get your identity stolen.

I tend to agree with you but I am fairly cautious. Chances are, if the apk has been altered, it will have a different file size. If there are several copies of the same apk running around and they all have the same size then its a better chance that it is safe. Using a file share that requires a password is probably actually a little safer as it eliminates the anonymity factor.

I also have Avast for Android installed so chances are, they will find anything evil. I have used Avast for several years on many desktops/laptops for myself, family & friends. I have a lot of confidence in their work.

With any luck, this "incompatible device" crap will get worked out soon enough and we won't have to worry about finding apks to sideload as often

**prolongExistence** · 12-24-2011, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by Presto

I contacted Zynga regarding Words with Friends and they knew nothing just said their device team would look into it. I knew that thr XPRT had the same screen size (no idea about the resolution), found that people were playing on the XPRT and ended up downloading the apk and sideloading it. I don't think I pirated it. Heck I told Zynga what I did and they were happy my issue was resolved. Works fine ads and all.

Does Words now show up in your 'MyApps' list? I sideloaded it as well and it doesn't show up in my list. I'm assuming that this means that if and when there is an update, it won't receive the update. Correct?

**preryan** · 01-04-2012, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by prolongExistence

Does Words now show up in your 'MyApps' list? I sideloaded it as well and it doesn't show up in my list. I'm assuming that this means that if and when there is an update, it won't receive the update. Correct?

Words does show up but only because I found it in the Amazon app catalog. The version they had there was newer than the one I had sideloaded.

I can't fathoms why it appears in Amazon but not in the Google Marketplace.

**prolongExistence** · 01-06-2012, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Presto

Words does show up but only because I found it in the Amazon app catalog. The version they had there was newer than the one I had sideloaded.

I can't fathoms why it appears in Amazon but not in the Google Marketplace.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't even realize that there was an amazon marketplace available to us.

I do have a question though. I had Words 4.01 installed that I sideloaded. I found Words (4.56) in Amazon and installed it, which automatically uninstalled the previous version. Now, i don't have an icon for Words, it is just a blue square with a gear in it. I uninstalled, rebooted and installed again and get the same icon.

Do you have the same issue?

**preryan** · 01-06-2012, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by prolongExistence

Thanks for the tip. I didn't even realize that there was an amazon marketplace available to us.

I do have a question though. I had Words 4.01 installed that I sideloaded. I found Words (4.56) in Amazon and installed it, which automatically uninstalled the previous version. Now, i don't have an icon for Words, it is just a blue square with a gear in it. I uninstalled, rebooted and installed again and get the same icon.

Do you have the same issue?

Yes. I have the blue square. It must be a phone related issue because I have the same app installed from the same marketplace on my kindle fire And I get the words with friends icon.

**prolongExistence** · 01-07-2012, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by Presto

Yes. I have the blue square. It must be a phone related issue because I have the same app installed from the same marketplace on my kindle fire And I get the words with friends icon.

Hmmm weird. At least I know its not just my phone. Weird though, when I had 4.01 that I sideloaded the icon was there. It disappeared when I installed from Amazon.

**preryan** · 01-07-2012, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by prolongExistence

Hmmm weird. At least I know its not just my phone. Weird though, when I had 4.01 that I sideloaded the icon was there. It disappeared when I installed from Amazon.

Yep same here. Sideloaded version had the icon Amazon doesn't. I am trying hard to not let it bother me. I have only been partially successful.

**preryan** · 01-14-2012, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by prolongExistence

Thanks for the tip. I didn't even realize that there was an amazon marketplace available to us.

I do have a question though. I had Words 4.01 installed that I sideloaded. I found Words (4.56) in Amazon and installed it, which automatically uninstalled the previous version. Now, i don't have an icon for Words, it is just a blue square with a gear in it. I uninstalled, rebooted and installed again and get the same icon.

Do you have the same issue?

Fwiw....I rooted my Kindle (not for this issue but it was a nice benefit) I put the Google market on my Kindle and downloaded the most current (more current than Amazon) Words With Friends. Then I saved the apk from the Kindle and sideloaded it to my Admiral. It works fine and I have the icon instead of the blue square.

**prolongExistence** · 01-17-2012, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by Presto

Fwiw....I rooted my Kindle (not for this issue but it was a nice benefit) I put the Google market on my Kindle and downloaded the most current (more current than Amazon) Words With Friends. Then I saved the apk from the Kindle and sideloaded it to my Admiral. It works fine and I have the icon instead of the blue square.

Forgive me if this is an obvious question but I'm new to android (webOS convert). How do you save an .apk file? And another question, would a tablet version be the same as a phone question?

**preryan** · 01-20-2012, 03:41 PM

I too am a (reluctant) webOS convert and no its not an obvious question. I wish I could find the link of site where I learned to do it. Someone much smarter than I figured out how to do this and there may be a better way but here's one way to do it.

You need two android devices that can access the google market. No rooting necessary.

Download Astro File Manager to both devices. Its free.

Fire up Astro on the device that has the apk you want to transfer to the other device. (In this case the non Admiral device.)

Tap on the last button "Application Backup"

You will then see a list of all your installed apps. Click on the ones you want to backup and select "backup"

On the same device, open your email client of choice.

Hit the attach button and the email will ask you to chose attachment from a list of places. Choose ASTRO.

Then choose the file from Astro folder titled "backups"

Then choose the file from the folder titled "apps"

Then choose the app you want to transfer to another device.

Send the email to yourself (or to an email that the other device can receive)

Open the email client on the device you are transferring the apk to. (in our case your Admiral)

Open the email and save the attachment.

Open Astro on the device you just sent the email to.(on the Admiral)

Click the top button "File Manager"

It should open up to /mnt/sdcard. If not navigate there.

The saved apk from the email should be in that folder.

Tap on the apk choose "Install"

I probably made that sound much harder than it really is. It takes just a couple of minutes to do.

Now you can get apps on your Admiral that don't show up in the app catalog.

Every app that I have tried (a dozen or so) have worked just fine on both my Kindle and Admiral.

Hope that helps!

**notcalvin** · 01-25-2012, 04:37 PM

Another webOS refugee, and I have similar problems. I guess we are all here because we all got Admirals because we all like physical portrait keyboards and all used to call precentral home. Small world.

I have been having this problem as well, I appreciate the advice on how to move an app from one phone to another. I'll get a few apps I've been missing (amdroid and/or lullaby, which are ampache apps for android) as well as the paper mache enyo frame work app.

**notcalvin** · 01-26-2012, 09:54 AM

I tried Presto's instructions last night, and had mixed results.

I was able to back up the apps nicely from my wife's Evo with the Astro file manager.

When I went to mail them using the stock email app, it didn't allow for attaching just any random file to the email. You'll need a market email app for that to work, I suggest K-9 (open source and quite popular - it has a unified inbox, too, like webos). Alternatively, you can just plug your phone into your PC via USB and copy the files between the phones that way, which is what I did instead of messing around configuring a whole entire email app on my wife's phone.

Ok, once on the Admiral I went to install the apps with Astro (amdroid, an ampache music streaming app), and paper Mache, a somewhat experimental Enyo crossover app from webOS). It said it could not parse the paper mache app. Ok, no problem, I know that app is a little non-standard to begin with.

The Amdroid app install was wierd. I'd say install it, and the screen would 'fall back' to the Astro install screen instead of, well, doing something. Just on a lark, I tried to do the install with the file manager app I had on my phone already, Open Manager (quite a nice app, plus open source and no ads) and it installed fine and the app appears to work fine.

By the way, I looked into backing up the apps with Open Manager before I installed Astro, and it only has the option to back up everything, and when I said 'go' to that, it crashed in the middle.

So, my procedure for this in the future will be to backup with Astro, copy via USB, then install with Open Manager.

Presto, thanks a ton, you opened the door for me, I was starting to consider learning how to compile from the dev kit.

**tdkeaveny** · 02-01-2012, 03:23 AM

i am thinking of getting a Motorola PRO+ which i think is the same phone as the Admiral (same screen anyway).

Only thing making me hesitate is this resolution business. There does not seem to be that much disccusion about the issue, can i take it that this means that most apps work correctly?

Can someone give a rough estimate on how many app they have had issues with VS. the ones that work?

thanks a lot

**SanDiegoStevo** · 02-01-2012, 06:46 PM

Most apps work fine.

I've only ever had one app that I cared about that I was not able to get via the market: Words with Friends.

Even that has a work-around for the slightly more advanced user. (downloading on another device and side-loading as described in this thread.)