Installing non-VM apps on Rumor Touch

**Bruce Chastain** · 08-03-2010, 12:43 PM

I stumbled on something I haven't been able to find on the web anywhere else so I'll share it here.

As you probably know, you can't install non-VM applications on the phone. Trying to download something from GetJar results in Access Denied, and trying to start a jar or jad file in the File Manager results in Unsupported File Format.

Quite by accident while working on this problem for many hours, I happened to create a folder called APPS on my microSD memory card. What I didn't immediately see is that a new menu pick was created called "Media Card" under Main Menu -> My Stuff -> Media Card, down at the bottom.

The previously hidden Media Card menu pick lists jad files in the microSD APPS folder and allows you to install them. You must put both the jar (downloaded) and jad (created) file both in the APPS folder.

Most downloadable apps don't come with a jad file, so I used a freebee jad creator program called JADMaker located here:

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...load-8344.html

Use your PC to download the jar file, create the jad file, and then transfer both of those to the phone using a USB cable and drop them in the APPS folder.

After some seconds, that menu pick should appear and now give you the option to select the jad file and install the app.

The bad news is that most of all the small apps I tried from GetJar are not as compatible with this phone as the site claims (if you configure your Rumor Touch). Some wouldn't install or wouldn't run once installed. A few ran ok. I guess it's not surprising freebee apps wouldn't run well on this phone given how VM has it locked down.

I'm new to the smart cell phone world (1 week) so please forgive any technical inaccuracies in my post and I hope this information helps.

Bruce.

**kpmurphy** · 08-03-2010, 02:08 PM

Very interested. I will try it and post back.

**rocke86** · 08-03-2010, 02:11 PM

Bad software compatibility is one of the reasons VM has said that it disabled app install(but it is really more about bandwidth and competition with sprint). I will certainly test this out, thanks!!

Please post what apps work and where you got them from.

**rocke86** · 08-03-2010, 02:38 PM

I've been testing the jad file for bolt browser, but not working even when I have the programs jar file in the directory. It appears jar access is blocked but jads can be accessed, I'll try the converter. Thanks again Bruce.

**rocke86** · 08-03-2010, 02:44 PM

Bolt browser is a no go, I got installation from Memory Card to phone has failed. I think the reason is that the jad maker created a 1kb jad instead of packing it inside the jad file. Having the jar inside the same folder had the same result

**kpmurphy** · 08-03-2010, 02:58 PM

I had no luck with the espn or ebay app. My guess is the apps that go through the web will not work as it went through the VM browser instead of Opera. I was able to install a hangman app and a piano app. Looking at a few more. This was a great find Bruce.

**rocke86** · 08-03-2010, 03:07 PM

Please post where you get your apps from and if you needed a jar file to install. I can't seem to get any jads or jars to work.

**kpmurphy** · 08-03-2010, 03:19 PM

I got the apps from getjar.com. I used the "Bruce Method" and have loaded a par3 golf game, chess, and bubble buster type game. Fun little apps. On the getjar site you can filter by phone type. Good stuff.

**CameronH** · 08-03-2010, 03:32 PM

I got this method to work with my Rumor Touch. Just make a new folder on your MicroSD card called "APPS", then run JADMaker and drag your jar file onto it. It will create a .jad file. Put both of those files into your APPS folder on your MicroSD card, then goto My Stuff -> Media Card and chose your jad file.

The game I got it to work with was TibiaME (I only got it installed, haven't been able to actually login yet.) Here's a zip file with the .jad and .jar I used. See if it works on your phone? http://dl.dual-servers.com/tibiame.zip

**rocke86** · 08-03-2010, 03:33 PM

Any luck on internet apps/browsers? I was able to get the meboy gameboy color emulator to work, not well though, but its a start.
I removed it do to being near unplayable

**darknight88** · 08-03-2010, 03:33 PM

Sweet discovery OP!! Mad props!!!

**It's Late** · 08-03-2010, 03:42 PM

Great discovery my friend....I put about 15 or so apps on my phone and tested it ....While not all of them worked, I did get most of the games and apps to actually work!!!!!! Great job my friend!

**Bruce Chastain** · 08-03-2010, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by rocke86

I've been testing the jad file for bolt browser, but not working even when I have the programs jar file in the directory. It appears jar access is blocked but jads can be accessed, I'll try the converter. Thanks again Bruce.

If you can figure out what's wrong with the jads, that would be great. Yes, I too had installation failures but being so new to GetJar, I wasn't sure what to expect for free stuff.

**darknight88** · 08-03-2010, 03:46 PM

Someone should try to run Kd player!

**rocke86** · 08-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Watch out for apps with jars that are only a few kilobytes they are often just web links to the download site which is blocked. I'm not really interested in games and have been trying web browsers and gps apps with no success so far.

This is fun reminds me of when I hacked my mio c310x gps, few apps ran on the modified windows ce 4.1 os but it was really fun to do.