Droid Explorer - 0.8.5.0 [05/23/2010] - Mustang Edition

[camalot]

Droid Explorer is an open source project, written in C# / .NET 3.5SP1 hosted on CodePlex.

Device Requirements

• Rooted Android Device with busybox
  
  • Guide to installing busybox on the Droid

If you install the Android USB Drivers, your DROID may not show up in Droid Explorer or ADB. To get it working again:

for those who can't get their droid to show:
right-click "My Computer"
click "Manage"
select "Device Manager"
expand "Android Phone"
right-click whatever is listed
click "Update Driver Software"
click "Browse my computer for driver software"
click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
select "Mot Composite ABD Interface"
click "Next"

you should be done or close to (click finish or close or whatever)

PC Requirements

• Windows (looking for a developer to help create UI for mono)
• .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
• Some plugins require Java Runtime Environment and Java Web Start

Confirmed Devices
All Devices have been rooted and busybox installed

• HTC Dream / G1 / ADP1
• HTC Sapphire / Magic / MyTouch 3G / ADP2 / Ion
• HTC Hero / G2
• Motorola DROID
• Samsung Galaxy / i7500

Features

• Includes the required windows USB drivers - you will be prompted to install the drivers during installation if running vista/7
• Auto setup of Android SDK tools and drivers during install
• Multiple Device Support
• No need to mount SD card to access files
• Copy any file on the device to PC
• Copy files to clipboard
• Copy update to device and auto-apply
• Drag & Drop copying from Explorer to Droid Explorer
• Auto detection of connected/disconnected device
• Open files on PC
• Plugin Framework
• Application Manager
• Right Click APK to install/uninstall
• Take screen shots of device (landscape & portrait)
• Open right from "My Computer" (a lot like how WinMobile is with active sync)
• SQLite Manager Plugin
• Uses System Icons for files displayed in explorer
• Familiar Explorer like UI, including an Explorer like location bar
• Android Screencast plugin
• Install/Uninstall APK files right from explorer
• Standalone plugin runner
• Window 7 JumpLists for plugins
• DesktopSMS plugin - Send SMS messages from your desktop
• Service can be controlled now from the options dialog (can create the service if you do not use the installer)
• Backup plugin for the "Bare Bones" Roms
• Run shell scripts on the device by double clicking them

I'd like any thoughts you may have for other features to add to Droid Explorer. Report bugs or request features here or on the project issue tracker.

Web Installer (x86)
Requires internet connection to download android sdk tools
x86 Serivce will not work on x64 OS
Web Installer (x64)
Requires internet connection to download android sdk tools
Use this install if running a 64 bit OS

Standalone installers not available for this release

Standalone Installer (x86)
Does not require internet connection. Larger download.
Standalone Installer (x64)
Does not require internet connection. Larger download.
Use this install if running a 64 bit OS

Older Releases

[camalot]

Change log 0.8.5.1

• Fixed typo in the final step when uninstalling
• Fixed x64 issues for windows 7 x64 - still broke on Vista x64 & XP x64 (sorry people, i'm still working on it!)
• Default button for bootstrapper changed to the "next" button instead of cancel
• added incredible icon for attached devices
• added nexus one icon for attached devices
• added galaxy S (gt-i9000) icon for attached devices
• added acer liquid icon for attached devices
• updated the samsung moment icon
• added a new "open" version of the moment - rename in the assets directory to "moment.ico" to use.

Change log 0.8.5.0

• android screen cast updated to load the lastest build from the trunk
• changed publish to use skydrive share instead of the api from the msbuild tasks
• added platform tools 2.2
• added sdk tools r6
• updated repository.xml
• added help video link when the device cannot be found
• attempting to fix the registry read issues with XP SP3 x64 and Vista x64
• removed the "fade out" of the expandos from the treeview to remove the flicker
• fixed the issue with opening offscreen
• fixed workitem:10275, changed "Close" to "Finish" in the description of the final step of installer
• fixed the "hanging" of trying to delete a file. added the '-f' switch to never prompt.

Change log 0.8.4.3

• Fixed the install / start up issues caused by the platform tools having a typo in the file name

Change log 0.8.4.0

• Fixed issue with cyanogen 4.2.14.x
• fixed issue with bart manager plugin license (sorry for the delay)
• added 2.1 r1 platform tools
• added usb drivers r3 - adds support for nexus one
• fixed issue with install plugin crashing if application is already installed.

Change log 0.8.3.0

• Fixed bug with device not identifying recovery mode
• Display QR code to purchase bart manager if license not found.
• mount partitions in recovery mode to find bart manager license
• bart manager now attaches to process to output the info
• another attempt to set as root when starting for non-adp devices
• There is a known bug with droid explorer detecting a device already "connected" going in to recovery mode.
• Flash recovery now works in any mode, not just recovery
• bart manager license now available for purchase on market.
  

Change log 0.8.2.3

• Drivers removed for windows XP until XP issue with the drivers can be resolved.
• added device icon for the nexus one / passion
• Code setup to allow some plugins to be purchased.
• The .net 3.5 check has been removed for the time being until a better solution can be implemented.
• build published via [url:MSBuild Deployment Tasks|http://mdt.codeplex.com]
• some bugs fixed here and there
• What happened to 0.8.2.2? - Windows locked the directory when I was building that version so it failed and I couldn't delete it to rebuild so I skipped it.

Change log 0.8.2.1

• Fixed install issues with 0.8.2.0 - should install for x86 and x64

Change log 0.8.2.0

• created a WiX custom action library for checking for the android usb drivers
• install logging is now merged in to one file and off by default. use /l[og] to turn on logging
• tools will always be downloaded/extracted during install. This lets the tool update to newer tools if needed
• fixed delete file when the file name has a space in the file name.
• sdk tools upgraded to r4
• fixed bug in uninstall if the service did not exist on the machine
• should now successfully check for the android usb drivers and install them if revision 2 is not installed.
• remember location of "open file dialog"
• added code that should check for .net 3.5 sp1 before "crashing" for not having it installed.
• added check that the user is installing the correct version (x86 or x64) for their system

Change log 0.8.1.0

• added a splash screen so the user is aware that the app is running right away
• .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 check added to installer.
• apk shell extension now uses the path stored in the registry for the tools.
• added logging to the install process
• kill all adb processes before attempting to cleanup the sdk path during install.
• apk seems to not be working, still debuging the issues. it will be back.
• defined a platform constant to the project scripts, x86: PLATFORMX86, x64: PLATFORMX64, ia64: PLATFORMIA64
• fixed bug with reading / writing to the registry in x64. now looks in HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\
• fatal errors are now caught and user given option to restart app, close app, or report bug
• there is still a bug with installing the driver, the check isnt working so the driver still needs to be installed manually.

Change log 0.8.0.1

• fixed installer issue where it crashed if you do not have a proxy set up
• x64 installer has issues. - Tempory Fix - Will fixed in next release

Change log 0.8.0.0

• added the r2 windows usb drivers, which add support for droid and other devices
• added new checks for the drivers. Checks for dream/magic/sholes - these are the devices that google defines in the .inf file.
• images moved to external resources library
• changed the installer images to be more "custom"
• removed need for droid explorer to require "run as administrator" - Yay!
• the bootstrapper now handles starting the service. This makes sure the sdk is setup before it starts.
• bootstrapper is self contained, the msi is an embedded resource and all referenced assemblies are ILMerged
• repository file is hosed on the droid explorer google code site, it is based on the same one that google uses for the android sdk setup
• the tools are also hosted on the google code site, this is so the download size is smaller, since all unused bits are removed.
• A fully standalone version of install is also available. No need for internet access to install.
• boot strapper support uninstall - setup.exe /uninstall
• removed reference to the "common.shared" assembly.
• added a properites dialog for folders/files
• properties dialog shows security settings as well.
• fixed icons in context menu for new folder/file

Change log 0.7.12.0

• fixed the error that anda.pk plugin logs when it starts because it did not implement "Runnable"
• shell extension for apk files so the apk icon displays in explorer - based on http://code.google.com/p/apkshellext/
• seems there is a bug in some APKs that dont display their icon, nor do they display the default icon.
• registers and unregisters the shell extension on install/uninstall
• driver check now works better in the installer
• removed some tools menu items that have been replaced by plugins
• Installer now gives "options" on what features to install
• changed default apk icon to be the "android package" icon
• fixed bug with launching ddms and hierarchy viewer
• fixed bug launching the google applications backup plugin
• added methods to the core command runner to make a mount point read/write and readonly
• added icon for the motorola droid
• added icon for the samsung moment
• added icon for the htc droid eris

Change log 0.7.11.0

• USB Drivers installed - This is still in "alpha", should only install them if you need them. please report any issues. It doesn't actually install the drivers, it places them in the driver store, when the device is attached, and the new hardware wizard displays, selecting "automatically install (recommended)" should find the drivers automatically. This installs the 1.6 drivers.
• fixed logcat not starting
• created a new logcat console that colorizes the log entries
• save the logcat output (minus the log level indicator (W/I/D/E/))
• support for android screencast 0.2

Change log 0.7.10.1

• Fixed crash on device going from connected to disconnected state

Change log 0.7.10.0

• Sign Package plugin (signs zip file with test keys)
• modified IPlugin to now have methods for creating the toolstrip button and menu items
• DroidExplorer.Core.Plugin.PluginHeler added. Contain default static methods for creating the toolstrip button and menu
• and.apk now a plugin instead part of "core"
• started a contacts manager
• started a tool to export facebook contacts from official application to android contacts
• added "recovery" as device state.
• now "attaches" while in recovery mode.
• screenshot now works in recovery mode.
• screenshot rotates the current image before refreshing when switching between landscape & portrait
• flash recovery image now a plugin - only active when in recovery mode
• some bug fixes that I don't remember the exact details on

Change log 0.7.9.0

• new shell console enhanced
• getprop wrapped to get device properties
• explorer icon now attempts to load an icon of the device
  - Known devices:
  - Bahamas (Tattoo)
  - GT-I7500 (Galaxy)
  - Hero (G2/Hero)
  - Sprint Hero (do not yet know what it identifies itself as in ro.product.device may just show normal hero)
  - cliq (need to verify what ro.product.device returns)
  - Saphire (MyTouch3G/ION/Magic)
  - Dream (G1/ADP1)
  - Pulse (need to verify what ro.product.device returns)
  - Zii Egg (need to verify what ro.product.device returns)
• Device properties viewable in options->environment->known devices->[device-serial]->properties (only when device is connected)
• fixed bug with screenshot image being landscape but window portrait.
• fixed bug with large icons not always showing the right icon

Change log 0.7.8.0

• Desktop SMS now launched from officially signed jar file
• Plugin tool strip disabled / enabled when device disconnected / connected
• SymLinks and Directories can now also be renamed
• F2 starts file/link/directory rename
• Executable files now run if double clicked (open from context menu)
• Shell Console (could still be buggy so the normal shell window is still available)
• double clicking sh scripts run them
• plugins that are registered as a file type handler will show up in the right click menu for the file

Change log 0.7.7.0

• Renaming of files (folders and links coming)
• Google Application Backup (GAB) plugin added
• GAB supports HTC's ADB1 update packages (containing system.img), pulling from the device or from normal update.zip
• Screen shot plugin supports portrait & landscape modes (use button or right click image)
• Screen shot threaded so it doesn't "hang"

Change log 0.7.6.0

• Fixed screen shot plugin from opening off screen if droid explorer is maximized or positioned on the right of the screen.
• Check for the USB Driver version and download the tool set based on that. If you select the sdk yourself, you must select the correct tools yourself.
• USB Driver Version info available in Options->Environment->Android SDK
• Speed up of navigating to different directory. Reduced the number of LS calls that are made to build the tree and listview

Change log 0.7.5.0

• Fixed plugins executing when loading within Runner
• Fixed bug with additional plugin getting the same changed values as other plugin.
• Change the SDK path from the Options dialog (requires restart of application)
• Fixed bug with apk's not displaying.
• Fixed Batch Installer not "showing"
• provided a way to manually install, start and stop the droid explorer service - for non-installer users
• added ability to save debug output to a file
• moved debug window filter buttons to the right
• debug window will display below DE if there is room, otherwise, it will display at the top of the screen
• added plugin to launch DesktopSMS. Requires the DesktopSMS Server APK be installed on the device - Currently usinging a signed jar by me, hopefully the developer will sign his version.
• can now copy symlinks files to clipboard

Change log 0.7.4.0

• Changed the SdkInstallDialog to use a WebRequest instead of the WebClient. Hopefully this will help some peoples issues...
• Window settings are now saved and reloaded.
• Remembers the folder view state (large icon, details, etc)
• added --color=never to directory listing command. this should fix the issue people with Heros are having
• moved the options dialog tree config to its own file, as it really isnt configured by the user.
• added batch installer plugin (alpha) that can install/uninstall multiple apk's at one time.
• added logging info for droid explorer. (saved in %USERAPPDATA%\DroidExplorer\logs)
• it should also handle "unhandled" errors better
• wired up Tools menu items
• Added property to indicate if a plugin can be ran by the Runner
• Jumplist items added for runnable plugins

Change log 0.7.3.0

• app.manifest added to projects. requestedExecutionLevel = requireAdministrator. This means in Vista/Win7 it will prompt w/ UAC. I can not get around this at this time.
• this is because in order for the service to use the same settings as the application, i need to save them in the install directory.
• The sdk tools, if downloaded, is no longer stored in the user directory, it is stored in the install directory, see above for the reason.
• Known devices moved back to HKLM for the same reasons above.
• New Options form added.
• Device manager now part of options dialog
• plugins can now reside in any directory as long as it is added to the plugins settings
• plugins can now be enabled or disabled from the options dialog
• Service is now working because of the requireAdministrator change.
• DroidExplorer.Runner added - a tool that can execute a plugin; usage: DroidExplorer.Runner.exe /type=Full.Plugin.Class.Name,Plugin.Assembly.Nam/any /additional /args
  if the type argument is not specified, then it will display a plugin selection dialog.
• Installer plugin. This is launched by the runner when an APK file is opened in Explorer.
• Registry settings to register .apk files to open with DroidExplorer.Runner /Installer (create with MSI installer)
• .apk files can be installed by double clicking them or by right clicking and selecting "Install"
• .apk files can be uninstalled by right clicking and selecting "Uninstall"
• the initial device selection dialog is only required if more then 1 device is connected.
• If you have set up to use the SDK tools by downloading the tools and put them in your user application data directory, when launched, it will prompt you to re-setup the tools. They are not stored in the user directory because the Service can not access that directory.
• Just realized the bug with the device name not showing in the titlebar/addressbar. This is already fixed and will be in the next release.

[camalot]

Reserved for additional information

[cereal killer]

Downloaded.....

This looks pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[camalot]

0.8.5.1 released. previous release had some install issues that were not happening on all machines. They have been fixed. Vista x64 & XP x64 support is still lacking. This has to do with the issue described here if anyone has any insight on how I can fix it.

See the second post for the full change log

[Kmart95]

Wow this looks amazing will try it out tommorow

[kennydied23]

Doesn't detect my moto droid. oh well.

[budmonster]

This has never worked for me, but Android Commander does. Its pretty similar so that will have to suit me for now until I fig out what's going on.

I've tried several builds of DE and no luck. I got Android Commander over at XDA and it worked the first time. I wish DE worked, looks great but everytime I install I get and installation error.

EDIT: I'm on win 7 x64, have the jave deluxe package lol, android sdk, got the works. Still a no go, I give up.

[Jcshannon05]

Won't detect my moto droid either.

[camalot]

Doesn't detect my moto droid. oh well.

Won't detect my moto droid either.

Do you have USB Debugging enabled in Settings -> Applications -> Development?

This has never worked for me, but Android Commander does. Its pretty similar so that will have to suit me for now until I fig out what's going on.

I've tried several builds of DE and no luck. I got Android Commander over at XDA and it worked the first time. I wish DE worked, looks great but everytime I install I get and installation error.

EDIT: I'm on win 7 x64, have the jave deluxe package lol, android sdk, got the works. Still a no go, I give up.

Can you run the installer with "/l" and send me the 2 log files that are created? Are you installing the x64 version, the x86 version will not work on x64. I run it on Win 7 x64, so I know it installs on it, the log files will help me track down an issue you, or others, could be having. Thanks