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Free Android Fix: Process com.sec.android.app.twlauncher error Without Factory Reset

I encountered this process com.sec.android.app.twlauncher loop error last week. I tried doing a reboot (turn off the phone and turn on) but it did not fix the issue. I tried to reboot++ (turn off, remove the battery, return battery and turn on) but still it did not fix my problem.

So I was stuck with the error “process com.sec.android.app.twlauncher has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again” message box and then the option available is force close.

Even if you try to do force close, it will just go on loop and the annoying message box will pop up again. After some time the droid would go on vibrate-forever-until-you-turn-it-off-mode (it’s kinda scary for first-timers) but I guess my tech and security mindset kicked in and I just applied one of the basic rules in emergency troubleshooting: DO NOT PANIC.


Image Credit: Android.com

Of course I searched the internet for related Android solutions but they all suggested doing factory reset or mobile phone hard reset. But factory reset is like format your PC option and for me it is a last resort solution.

It seems that the problem on the Twlauncher app is common with Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Ace, happens in both in Froyo 2.2.x and GingerBread 2.3.x Droidies.

I found some solution (with some good possible description of the problem), I tried it and I modified it to fit my purpose and I am happily sharing it here at menardconnect.com 🙂

Here is what I did to fix my process com.sec.android.app.twlauncher has stopped unexpectedly error:

1. Use your desktop or laptop and login to your Android Market account

2. Search for an alternative launcher app
a. For me I read good reviews of this free app called Go Launcher Ex, so I tried it:

3. Install the alternative Launcher App remotely to your phone

4. Turn on the phone, you will see in the background that alternative Launcher App is being installed.

5. After the alternative Launcher App is installed, your phone will ask you which home launcher you want. Choose your new launcher (whether this be the Go Launcher Ex or your other alternative launcher app).

6. Problem Solved. No more process com.sec.android.app.twlauncher loop error. Fix without the need to do factory reset or hard reset 🙂

If this free android fix post helped you why not leave some comments below and subscribe to my RSS Feed, or follow me in Twitter and say “Hi @menardconnect” to me there 🙂

Hope you liked my free android fix post!

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Free, or Not Free, That is the Question


One of the important concepts in the Android scene is the Android Market. The Android Market is the online software store that holds most of the apps made by 3rd party developers. Android users can also search for and read comprehensive information about apps on this market.

Right now I’m into the free apps (of course) but I am also considering buying apps that I believe is worth my hard-earned money in the future.

I came across this very interesting slides (via slideshare) about pricing of mobile apps (iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry, Windows 7 Mobile). It was presented by Distimo in Verizon Dev Community Conference 2011. If you are into Android or iPhone or iPad app development and marketing this is definitely a good read as it has good pricing and comparison data across platforms and other monetization strategy and tips for your mobile apps.

Pricing for Success: App Industry Trends and Best Practices

View more presentations from Distimo

Special thanks to Jon Gatrell, I saw the slides is his blog this morning.

Want to read more Android posts?
Kindly read my Androids and Threats post. Or view my Angry Birds Say What? article. Thanks 🙂

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Very Late Angry Birds Post


I’m a late bloomer Android dude so forgive me for sharing this Angry Birds vid so late (after it got some 9M+ hits already).

Got this from Youtube and if you have played Angry Birds via Android or iPhone or Symbian or Chrome or Google+ (or put all other supported devices and platforms here) you’ll get the point why most of us (if not all) love this video.


 


Video Credits: Youtube.com and Uploader Keshet
My fave moments and highlights:

Angry Blue Bird’s “Weeeeeeeh” at 0:26
Angry Black Bird’s eating habits from 0:30 and onwards
Pig’s amazement and “Huh” at 0:47
Angry Red Bird‘s “Say what?” at 0:50
“<Bleep> off!!!” at 0:52
“It’s all good!” at 1:02
Angry Birds theme song at 1:35
And the rest of video is all-out LOL moments already 🙂

I am also doing this post so that after viewing it (the Angry Birds Peace Treaty video) you will know what’s coming next when I say “Say what?” 🙂

Update 2012.02.09
The youtube video was taken down recently. Kindly view a copy of it below

Or search “angry birds peace treaty” in youtube

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On Droids and Threats


TrendLabs published some cool infographic about Android and threats. And since I mentioned in my previous post that I’d do my best to write more about Android here at menardconnect.com I am featuring that infographic here.

To commemorate the first year of the discovery of the first Android trojan, TrendLabs released a blog post on A Snapshot of Android Threats. Some great highlights includes the following:

  • 1410% increase on the number of malware samples discovered by the team from January 2011 to July 2011
  • 51.9 Million Android OS-based devices in use now
  • 33% of Facebook users access the Facebook site via their mobile devices

and a lot more.

My favorite part of the infographic is about the six :). What six? In the tradition of my free six cafe world cheats, my six new Philippine money, my six free wow mounts, my six tagalog love quotes and my free six video posts, I am listing the six types of Android malware according to TrendLabs:

  1. Data Stealer
  2. Premium Service Abuser
  3. Click Fraudster
  4. Malicious Downloader
  5. Spying Tools
  6. Rooter


Image Credit: blog.trendmicro.com

To know more about the Android threats and the infographic kindly visit Batangastoday.com and Trend Micro Malware Blog.

Before I end this post, some disclosure:

I work at Trend Micro. The post I have here in menardconnect.com are my own personal views and does not reflect the views and stand of my employer.

To know more about me, kindly visit my about page. To know about this blog’s disclosure policy kindly visit my disclosure page.

Hope you like my Android blog post 🙂

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The Switch to Android


I recently switched to Android OS!


Image Credit: Android.com

I’ve been itching to jump ship since the year started because my old mobile phone OS was a little bit out of date already.

I will not bash Symbian and Nokia here. I am a little sentimental today because I remembered that Nokia was my first phone and I stayed with the Nokia brand for a long long time.

As a tribute to my very first phone I am posting a pic it


Image Credit: gsmarena.com

There is really no going back to the old OS but I might be willing to try out Nokia again when their Windows Mobile integration is smooth already.

The Android experience is great and I love it. I feel like a noob last week but I think I’m getting better with it day after day.

I will try to post some Android related stuff here at menardconnect.com soon.

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Googtorola and the USD 12.5B Deal


The tech week started with a bang! Google decides to buy Motorola for USD 12.5B (40 bucks per share in cash, some 63% premium on last week’s Moto’s stock closing price). Wow! Google’s got a pile of cash 🙂 .


Image Credit: Android.com

Google’s Mr. Page tags that the move will supercharge Android ecosystem. Motorola’s Sanjay Jha is happy and proclaims that the deal is a great value for Motorola stockholders.

Google’s Mr. Rudin (SVP for Mobile) is quick to allay rational fears (of closing the open source Android project) and promises to continue to work with all Android partners to deliver innovative Android-powered devices.

I am not an acquisition expert but my feeling is that this is a good strategic move for Google. I’ve read dozen of stories that Motorola have some 1000+ patents that might prove to be useful for Google in the Patent Wars with the combatants like Microsoft and Apple.

I just hope that Google’s relationship with the rest of the Android community (especially Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, LG and the other handset manufacturers) will not be affected… much.

For more details on the Googtorola deal, kindly visit Batangastoday.com and the official Google blog.

Let me end this post with a phrase I learned from a 90’s game 🙂

Googtorola, Quo Vadis?