Level Up - Android: How to Root Nexus 4 on Android Lollipop 5.0 (Easy)

In my last post, I explained how to flash Android Lollipop 5.0 system image to Nexus 4. After I did that to my own device, the next thing I did was root it, using fewer steps than that other post. ;)

Rooted Nexus 4 on Android Lollipop 5.0

This will be a quick walk-through for the steps I took to root my Nexus 4. These directions are extended from the site with the great "CF-Auto-Root" tool that we will use.

Prerequisites:

1. I assume that your bootloader is unlocked. If not, please see my previous post for how to unlock the bootloader.
2. I assume you have `adb` added to your environment variable PATH. If not, please see my previous post.
3. I assume you are running Windows, but Max and Linux users will be able to use these general directions also.

Walk-though for rooting the Nexus 4:

1. Download the LGE Nexus 4 Android 5.0 file from http://autoroot.chainfire.eu/#fastboot
2. Unzip the file. You should see two folders and three files in that folder, one should be called "root-windows.bat".
3. Connect your Nexus 4 device to computer, then run `adb reboot-bootloader` in your computer's terminal. This will bring your device to the "fastboot" mode.
4. Make sure again that your bootloader is unlocked before proceeding (label found at bottom-left).
5. Open your computer's terminal to where you downloaded and unzipped the file, and run `root-windows` (Mac and Linux users use your own variant). You should see a red Android if the process is working.

Congrats! When the script is done, it will reboot your device and your Nexus 4 will be rooted!

This process will install the Root Check app so that you can verify a successful root.

More info:

• I didn't have any trouble using these directions for rooting my Nexus 4, so if you have any troubles with the steps, then I'll try to help in my limited capacity.
• Previously, when I was running Android 4.4 rooted, I used ES File Explorer to browse the root directories. But, it didn't work in Android 5.0, so instead I am now using the Root Browser app successfully.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Level Up - Dev: Modular Code

Modular code means that the code is easily reusable; It does not mean that the code has to all be in one file. That's what modules and libraries are for. ;)

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Level Up - Business: How To File the Annual Report (Florida)

When you run a business in Florida, you must submit an Annual Report every year between January 1st and May 1st. It will cost $138.75 to file. And, if not filed in time, then there is a $400 penalty fee and possibility that the company is "administratively dissolved". But, the good news is that the report is easy to fill out and submit, and it's all done online.

When you complete the form online, you'll be able to edit your business address and member(s) address(es). Then you don't need to file a separate form for changing the addresses with the state (an extra $25).

First thing is, you don't need to spend any extra money for a third-party to complete this state requirement for you. They may charge upwards of $35 to complete the form that is easily completed within five minutes.


To complete your Annual Report:
1. You will need, your business's document number, Federal Employer Identification (FEI/FEIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN), an email address to keep on file, and about five minutes.
2. Go to https://services.sunbiz.org/Filings/AnnualReport/FilingStart
3. Start the form by imputing your document number, then read the directions on the page. It is all straight-forward.
4. Pay the filing fee and submit. Now, you are done.


Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. This post is mainly a pointer to help others who also need to Annual Report for Florida. I'm sure other states in the US also have a page similar to the one linked here.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Level Up - Business: How To Change Your Filed Information With The State Government (Florida)

If the information you have filed with the state has changed, then you are supposed to let the state government know about it. This blog post will simply point you to the page where you can find all the information that you need to change your filed emails, addresses, FEI/FEIN/EIN, your business name, and more.

For the state of Florida, you will need to go to the Sunbiz site at http://www.sunbiz.org/address_change.html.

Now that I have this information written down in my blog, next time I need to make a business change I will remember to just look at this post to find the link easily, rather than searching through the different government business websites.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Level Up - Windows 8: How to Copy/Move Files From Many Subfolders To Just One Folder

Long Title: How to Transfer Files From Many Subfolders To Just One Folder and Rename Them All Easily and Quickly.

Example: I had about 100 images that were all neatly organized into 100 different subfolders. I wanted to put them in just five different subfolder as painless as possible. Manually moving each image one-by-one was not ideal, so here's what I did, using the Windows Command Prompt and a Batch file:

1. Create a BAT file.
2. Add the following code:
FOR /L %%i IN (0,1,19) DO (
copy %cd%\ic_launcher(%%i)\res\drawable-mdpi\ic_launcher.png %cd%\_mdpi\data_cycle_%%i.png
copy %cd%\ic_launcher(%%i)\res\drawable-hdpi\ic_launcher.png %cd%\_hdpi\data_cycle_%%i.png
copy %cd%\ic_launcher(%%i)\res\drawable-xhdpi\ic_launcher.png %cd%\_xhdpi\data_cycle_%%i.png
copy %cd%\ic_launcher(%%i)\res\drawable-xxhdpi\ic_launcher.png %cd%\_xxhdpi\data_cycle_%%i.png
copy %cd%\ic_launcher(%%i)\res\drawable-xxxhdpi\ic_launcher.png %cd%\_xxxhdpi\data_cycle_%%i.png
)
3. Run the BAT by double-clicking the file (or right-click->Open) (or run via command prompt).

Note:
- The parenthesis after "DO" must go on the same line. Putting it on the next line will cause the file to not work properly.
- If you want to move files rather than copy, then change "copy" to "move".
- If you want to keep the same file names, then you don't have to specify the file name on the second parameter.

Now in a simpler English, what this batch file does:
- There are five "copy" commands with a source and destination.
- These commands are each ran 20 times because of the "FOR" command.
- The "FOR" line says do the following commands within the parentheses 20 times. The first time will have the variable "%%i" equal to 0. The second run will have "%%i" equal to 1. The variable will keep incrementing until "%%i" is equal to 19. This behavior is defined at "%%i IN (0,1,19)", where 0 is the starting number, 19 is the ending number, and 1 is the increment number (which could also be negative).


For more information about for-loops, then type "for /?" into the command prompt.


Here's some more commands that you can try: Windows Command Prompt Cheat Sheet
~ Danial Goodwin ~

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Level Up - Windows 8: How to Create a Batch File

Batch (*.bat) files are useful because they allow you to save and reuse commands for the command prompt (or CLI, command-line interface). Also, it is easier to send multiple commands at once, fix typos, and edit the commands.

Batch files are available for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Any command that you can put in the CLI, you should be able to put into the BAT file.


Method 1:
- Right-click on your desktop (or in File Explorer), and select New->Text Document. Now, rename the file to something ending with .bat.


Method 2:
- Open Notepad, then when you save the file, make sure to end it with ".bat".

Saving a Batch file requires a .bat ending.

Test the Batch file:
Now that you have the BAT file, you can easily test that it works by putting in the following code, then double-click to run the file.

echo Hello, World!

Here's some more things you can try out: Windows Command Prompt Cheat Sheet


Note: If method 1 didn't work for you, then try method 2.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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My Android Apps | My Windows Phone Apps | My Developer Blog

Level Up: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG Files)

Before today, I was level 0 in dealing with any vector graphics. In order to avoid pixelation in some of my images for a new app I'm creating, I had to open a SVG file and expand it from within there, then save it as a PNG. Now, I am level 1 in messing around with scalable vector graphics.

There are some commercially available products that open and manipulate SVG files, like Adobe's InDesign, CorelDRAW, and others. But, my choice is the free and open source Inkscape. Also, they provide some great tutorial in-app to help learn how to use it.

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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