Jar and Jad files (A920)

[xian24]

Hi all,
I see a lot of free content out there in terms of apps and games, and I am thinking about getting the a920. From what I gather, the a920 can run just the jar file, but what is the purpose of the jad? If an app has both a jar and jad, is it best to use both, or is the jad not needed? I see several uploaders out there for people who just have a jar file, and I am wondering if there is a best-practice for putting content on my phone, or if any other users have a preference if each approach acheives the same result.

My apologies if there is a thread covering this, I did not find one.

[jaydub1106]

JAD files are not the actual application itself, it holds information and properties for the JAD FILES,

[BradL1279]

i think if it has a jad its more than likely recoded ;) no DRM.

[xian24]

i think if it has a jad its more than likely recoded ;) no DRM.


I thought that jar and jad only applied to apps and games? I know you don't need a jad with 3gp and mp3 (they are non-java). so...

If you have the jar, do you need the jad?

If you have both the jar and jad, is there any advantage to having both?

Form my surfing, I see that you can have a jad point to a personal web space that contains the jar, so the jar doesn't take up space on your phone's memory. Is this true?

If it is true, then is the jad only useful if you point to something other than your phone memory, and if so, the jad is not of any use if your phone can utilize the jar directly, as I assume the Samsung A920 can do?

[BradL1279]

most new games, i believe u need the jad file, some older games u don't, goto FunForMobile.com (http://www.funformobile.com/index.php) to upload both and download to ur phone. i love it, its free.

[ikandi]

some uploaders require both the jad and jar files for games/apps, (gtoal) rumkin however does not require the jad file

jar: Java Midlet program. This is the compiled Java program.

jad: Java Midlet descriptor. This gives information about the Java program, such as which category the program should go into

[xian24]

ok, cool, thanks.

By the way, I see a few uploaders out there. Is there any downside to using any of them? I mean, you are giving out your cell phone number, files to send to your phone; is there a downside to any of this that I haven't heard of? The upside is great, you get a service that you need, but as the saying goes, nothing in life is free. Is there any potential of your phone number getting sold to telemarketers or tracking of your uploads for some nefarious reason?

Just a healthy bit of paranoia. :)

[xian24]

some uploaders require both the jad and jar files for games/apps, (gtoal) rumkin however does not require the jad file

jar: Java Midlet program. This is the compiled Java program.

jad: Java Midlet descriptor. This gives information about the Java program, such as which category the program should go into


So essentially, you don't need the jad unless the uploader you are using requires a jad? Whatever type of phone you are using doesn't matter (as long as it can play whatever jar you are trying to use), it just depends on the uploader?

[Delldude]

The jar file is uploaded to the uploader, which in turn writes a jad file. When you download the files, it downloads both jad and jar files. If you use a cable to load the apps/games you need both files.
If you dont want to give out any phone info, then use rumkin.com or pcs.cruz-network.net uploaders. You upload the jar file and use a "jump code" to download to your phone. I have found that some Sprint phones will not run under the stock jad file and must be modified by hand or use the jad written by the uploader (rumkin/pcscruz) will write the jad correctly for Sprint phones.

[BradL1279]

doesn't the Jad File hold all the DRM so u don't get charged or is it all in the manifest (however u spell it) in the jar file

[Delldude]

doesn't the Jad File hold all the DRM so u don't get charged or is it all in the manifest (however u spell it) in the jar file
The jad is written from info from the manifest from the jar file. If the jad has been altered to let you use a program that requires the user to be charged, then you need to use the altered jad.

[laursifer]

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83030

^ UPLOADERS ^
They're all safe, otherwise I wouldn't have them listed there.



Now, back to the topic at hand. If you're getting these JAD & JAR files from reliable sources, then you're good to go to use both of them. And I would suggest using both as well. I've never once been charged from things I've gotten at RP and from other private sources.

Some people don't supply a JAD, in which case you can use an uploader like Rumkin, as it will basically write a JAD file for you. Rumkin won't even let you use a JAD, period.

A JAD file basically tells your phone where the JAR file is located, how large it is, what folder it belongs in, what vendor it came from, what version it is, blah blah blah.

If you wanna know what's in the the JAD file, just open it in Notepad.

[xian24]

Thanks everybody, this is just the info I was looking for. :cool:

[matt1228]

i have all these jar games but no jads if u want them email me at mbeauchamp733@maine207east.org

[autoprime]

generally games dont really need a jad file.. altho that would make sprints game lobby not work. the url to that is supplied in the jad. game should work tho.

as for apps... most newer apps REQUIRE the jad.. as it has permissions for certain APIs etc... such as to use GPS, the media player.. etc etc...

imo... just as laursifer said... if you have both the jad AND jar.. use it.

and remember... if you get an error code when installing.. most can be fixed. theres a list of error codes somewhere on this site.. off the top of my head.. 903 is a server side error.. usually a timeout(try again later), 904 905 and 906 deal with a jad and jar mismatch. something in the jad or the manifest in the jar doesnt match. usually the midlet size or somethin like that. 907 is also a server error.. i generally see this error when the jar url in the jad is wrong. never came accross a 908.. 909 is lack of certificate(for running certain apis) and 910 just means it aint runnin on ur phone ;) usually due to permissions.

so if u get a number error.. dotn give up.. if the game resets or crashes.. thats usually not fixable.

[bushdiverq]

There is alot of good info on this site