Which UnifiedNlp package to use?

[cmonty14]

Hello!

I have identified 3 different UnifiedNlp packages here: LegacyNetworkLocation.apk NetworkLocation.apk UnifiedNlp.apk

What is the correct package for my device? What are the criterias for identifying the suitable packages? I tried first NetworkLocation.apk and put this package to /system/priv-app. But the installation of this apk fails.

Then I tried another package where the installation is working: UnifiedNlp.apk

But GMSCore self-check is reporting failure of UnifiedNlp registration. Please check the following screenshot.

And is it correct that GMSCore.apk and NetworkLocation.apk that I put to /system/priv-app are gone after reboot.

[CorePoint]

I think Mozilla Location Service works best in Germany, you can also extend the database with Mozilla Stumbler. You can also use Local WiFi Backend to collect wifi networks and save them into a local database.

[kenb0t]

I also am confused about which one to use and have the same satus screen as OP

[ale5000-git]

The name are confusing but the meaning should be (if I'm not wrong):

• NetworkLocation.apk ( 1 ): Work as is without any patch (for Android 4.4+); you must remove GApps.
• LegacyNetworkLocation.apk: Work as is without any patch (for Android < 4.4); you must remove GApps.
• UnifiedNlp.apk: Can coexist with GApps but to be used it need help of an Xposed module (or alternatively you can patch framework-res.apk).

1) If you use microG GmsCore you must remove NetworkLocation since it is already included and it may conflict.

[Raeitus]

You just want to push GsmCore.apk into /system/priv-app and it'll register. That's what I did at least.

https://github.com/microg/android_packages_apps_GmsCore/wiki/Installation

[Phyks]

Hi,

I had a similar issue, installing GmsCore and getting UnifiedNip which would not register. The doc might require some updates to emphasize it.

I got it working thanks to @realmain comment, thanks!

Basically, I

1. Remounted system partition as RW, see https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/110927/how-to-mount-system-rewritable-or-read-only-rw-ro
2. adb push GmsCore.apk /system/priv-app
3. Remount system as RO
4. Reboot

And everything went fine, the app got installed at reboot.

Problem is I am not sure one would benefit from easy updating with f-droid with this install method. :/ the doc writes about a patch to apply, to avoid having to install in priv-app, but this means having to compile the app ourself. I was (mistakingly) thinking the f-droid version had this patch.

If the patch is enough, what about putting a Android Nougat specific version of GmsCore on f-droid?

P.S.: From the f-droid descriptions, I did not find it obvious that GmsCore already contained UnifiedNip and that no extra package was required.

Thanks for all the work on microg, that's amazing! :)

[n76]

@Phyks You can still upgrade microG via F-Droid if you have installed it in /system/priv-app/

F-Droid will install the update in the user app area but Android is smart enough to see the same package signed with the same key and realize it is an upgrade. The upgrade gets all the privileges that the older version in /system/priv-apps/ gets even though it is in the user area. I think this is the same way that Google's apps that come installed on /system/ get updated for a user that is not using microG.

I guess there might be a patch that backs out the AOSP change in v6 that started requiring location providers to be in /system/ but I haven't bothered with them. Nowadays I've stopped building my own signature spoofing ROM and am simply using the ROM provided by the Lineage for microG people. Makes it dirt simple to get going with microG and even if I don't update the ROM very often, I can still keep microG up to date with F-Droid.

[ale5000-git]

@Phyks: The patch is for the ROM (it isn't for GmsCore).

[Raeitus]

Nowadays I've stopped building my own signature spoofing ROM

@n76 You really only have to flash nanomod-patcher once, and it'll auto patch every ROM update. For those who don't want to use LineageOS (or LineageOS microG fork)

[Phyks]

You can still upgrade microG via F-Droid if you have installed it in /system/priv-app/

Awesome, thanks for these infos!

The patch is for the ROM (it isn't for GmsCore).

Indeed, I missed this.

I would think it could be useful for newcomers to emphasize in the doc that:

• Best installation method should be using the Lineage + microG ROM.
• Installing in /system/priv-app is as easy as a few adb command and is transparent afterwards.
• Some note about nanomod-patcher (I never came across it in the docs).

Anyways, everything is working fine for me now, thanks a lot!

[Raeitus]

@Phyks

Installing in /system/priv-app is as easy as a few adb command and is transparent afterwards.

I just added a small thing about adb push in the Installation page.

Some note about nanomod-patcher (I never came across it in the docs). Best installation method should be using the Lineage + microG ROM.

Just added info in the Signature Spoofing page. The Lineage + microG ROM is already on the Signature Spoofing page.

[Phyks]

Thanks!

[Raeitus]

This seems to be solved. Can someone close this?