AT&T has been a real pain about installing apps from non-market sources (called side-loading in the Android community). You may have noticed that on all of AT&T’s Android devices, you are only able to install applications from the Android Market. From a non-pirating point of view, this means that if you backed up your apps on one device, and wanted to load them on another AT&T device, you would have to go into the market and reinstall all of them one by one.
It seems that that there is an easy method of side-loading apps on the Dell Streak without rooting the handset, and the best part is that it is reversible (doesn’t affect your warranty).
Here’s how to loosen AT&T’s stifling grip on your factory condition (build 6601) Dell Streak:
- Dial *#*#307#*#* on your Streak. Other than a quick flash on the screen, it will look like nothing has happened.
- Go to your app drawer/program menu and tap a new icon labeled EMList. If the icon is not there, turn off the Streak. It should be there when you turn it on again.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap app_security.
- Tap update unknown resource property to enable it.
That’s it!
To confirm that it worked, press the Home button followed by Menu -> Settings -> Applications. You should now see the “Unknown sources” option. Now you can download and install any 1.6-compatible app you find with ease!
To uninstall EMList, dial *#*#308#*#* on your Streak.
Now you will be able to use the SlideME alternative market, install apps from your legal backups, or do slightly more sinister things. This has not been tested on other AT&T Android devices, but if you decide to be the one, let us know in the comments!
[StreakSmart via intomobile]