What are Android-independent questions?

Question

The question is dead simple. What are Android-independent questions? If that's a broad thing to answer, then alternatively, how do I identify that a question is Android-independent?

There are some related questions which I should mention here:

• Why did my question on Google Play Games get closed?
• Is this question off-topic?
• What should we do with generic hardware questions that are clearly relevant to Android users?
• Why is this question about creating a second instagram account off topic?
• Questions about Android Accessories on topic?
• Are questions about LINE on-topic here?

I've checked all of them and none of them gives me fine impression on what's considered as Android-independent. Up until now, whatever the number of questions I've flagged or voted to close as Android-independent were based on the instinct I know it when I see it which says:

_{(Emphasis mine)}

The phrase "I know it when I see it" is a colloquial expression by which a speaker attempts to categorize an observable fact or event, although the category is subjective or lacks clearly defined parameters.

I don't have any set of parameters which can guide or help me in identifying Android-independent questions other than a vague description in help center:

Android-independent questions, such as "Does Carrier X have prepaid plans?"

It is not hard for me to skip a question where I fail to judge whether the question is on-topic or not, but what bugs me is the lack of reasoning when I find question like Is there some hidden admin in a WhatsApp group? being put on hold or voted to close for being Android-independent question. (Note that I'm not questioning anyone's judgement here.)

That lack of reasoning is related to the on-topic guideline which says:

Using a particular app on your Android device

I get the point that some of the apps are cross-platform but as long as the author is using them on the Android, they should be treated as on-topic.

Some questions that I encountered and were closed as Android-independent:

• Installing kali linux on android? (this is dealing with Android device so it's on-topic and the close vote has expired now)
• How to leave from a Viber group permanently (a proper case wasn't established by poster that the app is running on Android so it could've been closed as unclear at best, but I still don't consider it Android-independent)
• Is my android when turned on constantly sending radio data to my provider? (I failed to judge it)

Some Android-independent questions are too easy or takes moderate efforts to identify, but the ones dealing with apps are hard for me to judge. Can I know why those questions dealing with apps like the ones I linked get to be closed as off-topic (Android-independent)?

It's not like I can continue to skip the questions for eternity!

Answer 1

An Android-Independant issue springs from outside the core operating system. i.e. an issue that originates from a source external to the device/OS and not an "in house" function . Which is hard to peg the difference sometimes.

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So example questions,

Android-Specific Question;

Hi i installed gapps and when i run/start play it force closes immediately. HELP!!!

ps im running 5 adnroid

Response;

You are likely running the wrong gapps version. there is a difference between Android 5.0.X and 5.1.X. Check which Android version you actually have and then what version of GApps you should be running.

Reply from OP;

Okay yeah derp, i wuz runnning the wrong version evrythings fine now. Byeeee

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Android-Specific Question;

Hi, I am running Android 5.1 stock on a Flexus 42, after update the Stock Browser is hanging on pages at random. I've checked out my wifi setup and everything is square, what am I missing.

Reply;

If by update you mean that you jumped API levels, meaning from 4.4 to 5.X, then it's likely you have some incompatible data remnants in /sdcard/Android/data that may be causing problems. Reboot to recovery [if custom installed] and perform a factory reset to clear out that data. You need to do that when jumping API levels whether up or down, meaning from JB-->KK or from LP-->JB and so on.

Response from OP;

Yup, that did it! =) I installed FLRP Recovery. I didn't know about that. Thanks.

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Android-Independent question;

yeah, i'm running game snoozle 3.5 on kitkat and when i ttry to log-in it say please update to game snoozle 3.5.3/4's but i don't wanna so how can i trick the server or hack to app to say it's that version?

Result VTC as OT.

While it is an app running on Android the "problem" originates from an external source and not the OS itself. The same with the app-hacking question. While the question is about an Android app, the problem is with a 3rd party app and not an app that is part of the core system.

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Android-Independent question;

I cross-compiled the tar compression utility through my debian chroot on my tab so i can use it in Android natively. I work with some very large archives and when trying to compress an archive larger than 1.5 gb i get this crazy output in terminal and my device hangs and i have to reboot. When my device is back on line instead of the archive i was trying to create has some wierd name instead $$@$*??? and now i can't delete it, no such file. Any ideas?

Result feel bad for the user but VTC as OT.

While Android does have it's own implementation of tar [may depend on stock or custom rom] , the OP is asking about [again] an issue that originates from a source external to Android even though the chroot the binary was compiled in is technically on device. This would also be OT because the issue is more likely the tar source code, as well as this would be a development question.

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I know some of that sounds like nit-picking but that is what it is. You walk on some tricky hybrid ground every now and then.

We discriminate 3rd party apps because of the high likelyhood that the issue with those apps originates from the app developer's end and because there are sites that are better geared for that kind of support/shop.

My understanding of SE is

Question --> Answer .

Not

Question---> bang out the issue ---> Answer.