diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiopolicy.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiopolicy.cpp
index 06c4dde..95cb274 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiopolicy.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiopolicy.cpp
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@
         metrics_proto.set_status(status);
     }
     //string char kAudioPolicyRqstSrc[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.src";
-    char *rqst_src = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.src", &rqst_src)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_request_source(rqst_src);
+    std::string rqst_src;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.src", &rqst_src)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_request_source(std::move(rqst_src));
     }
     //string char kAudioPolicyRqstPkg[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.pkg";
-    char *rqst_pkg = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.pkg", &rqst_pkg)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_request_package(rqst_pkg);
+    std::string rqst_pkg;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.pkg", &rqst_pkg)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_request_package(std::move(rqst_pkg));
     }
     //int32 char kAudioPolicyRqstSession[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.session";
     int32_t rqst_session = -1;
@@ -75,20 +75,20 @@
         metrics_proto.set_request_session(rqst_session);
     }
     //string char kAudioPolicyRqstDevice[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.device";
-    char *rqst_device = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.device", &rqst_device)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_request_device(rqst_device);
+    std::string rqst_device;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiopolicy.rqst.device", &rqst_device)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_request_device(std::move(rqst_device));
     }
 
     //string char kAudioPolicyActiveSrc[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.active.src";
-    char *active_src = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiopolicy.active.src", &active_src)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_active_source(active_src);
+    std::string active_src;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiopolicy.active.src", &active_src)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_active_source(std::move(active_src));
     }
     //string char kAudioPolicyActivePkg[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.active.pkg";
-    char *active_pkg = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiopolicy.active.pkg", &active_pkg)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_active_package(active_pkg);
+    std::string active_pkg;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiopolicy.active.pkg", &active_pkg)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_active_package(std::move(active_pkg));
     }
     //int32 char kAudioPolicyActiveSession[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.active.session";
     int32_t active_session = -1;
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_active_session(active_session);
     }
     //string char kAudioPolicyActiveDevice[] = "android.media.audiopolicy.active.device";
-    char *active_device = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiopolicy.active.device", &active_device)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_active_device(active_device);
+    std::string active_device;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiopolicy.active.device", &active_device)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_active_device(std::move(active_device));
     }
 
 
@@ -119,14 +119,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(rqst_src);
-    free(rqst_pkg);
-    free(rqst_device);
-    free(active_src);
-    free(active_pkg);
-    free(active_device);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiorecord.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiorecord.cpp
index c9edb27..7c7a62c 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiorecord.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiorecord.cpp
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@
 
     // flesh out the protobuf we'll hand off with our data
     //
-    char *encoding = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiorecord.encoding", &encoding)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_encoding(encoding);
+    std::string encoding;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiorecord.encoding", &encoding)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_encoding(std::move(encoding));
     }
 
-    char *source = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiorecord.source", &source)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_source(source);
+    std::string source;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiorecord.source", &source)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_source(std::move(source));
     }
 
     int32_t latency = -1;
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@
         metrics_proto.set_error_code(errcode);
     }
 
-    char *errfunc = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiorecord.errfunc", &errfunc)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_error_function(errfunc);
-    } else if (item->getCString("android.media.audiorecord.lastError.at", &errfunc)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_error_function(errfunc);
+    std::string errfunc;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiorecord.errfunc", &errfunc)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_error_function(std::move(errfunc));
+    } else if (item->getString("android.media.audiorecord.lastError.at", &errfunc)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_error_function(std::move(errfunc));
     }
 
     // portId (int32)
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_frame_count(frameCount);
     }
     // attributes (string)
-    char *attributes = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiorecord.attributes", &attributes)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_attributes(attributes);
+    std::string attributes;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiorecord.attributes", &attributes)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_attributes(std::move(attributes));
     }
     // channelMask (int64)
     int64_t channelMask = -1;
@@ -152,12 +152,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(encoding);
-    free(source);
-    free(errfunc);
-    free(attributes);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiothread.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiothread.cpp
index 8232424..e9d6b17 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiothread.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiothread.cpp
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@
 
     // flesh out the protobuf we'll hand off with our data
     //
-    char *mytype = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "type", &mytype)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_type(mytype);
+    std::string mytype;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "type", &mytype)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_type(std::move(mytype));
     }
     int32_t framecount = -1;
     if (item->getInt32(MM_PREFIX "framecount", &framecount)) {
@@ -68,17 +68,17 @@
     if (item->getInt32(MM_PREFIX "samplerate", &samplerate)) {
         metrics_proto.set_samplerate(samplerate);
     }
-    char *workhist = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "workMs.hist", &workhist)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_work_millis_hist(workhist);
+    std::string workhist;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "workMs.hist", &workhist)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_work_millis_hist(std::move(workhist));
     }
-    char *latencyhist = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "latencyMs.hist", &latencyhist)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_latency_millis_hist(latencyhist);
+    std::string latencyhist;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "latencyMs.hist", &latencyhist)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_latency_millis_hist(std::move(latencyhist));
     }
-    char *warmuphist = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "warmupMs.hist", &warmuphist)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_warmup_millis_hist(warmuphist);
+    std::string warmuphist;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "warmupMs.hist", &warmuphist)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_warmup_millis_hist(std::move(warmuphist));
     }
     int64_t underruns = -1;
     if (item->getInt64(MM_PREFIX "underruns", &underruns)) {
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_port_id(port_id);
     }
     // item->setCString(MM_PREFIX "type", threadTypeToString(mType));
-    char *type = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "type", &type)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_type(type);
+    std::string type;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "type", &type)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_type(std::move(type));
     }
     // item->setInt32(MM_PREFIX "sampleRate", (int32_t)mSampleRate);
     int32_t sample_rate = -1;
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_channel_mask(channel_mask);
     }
     // item->setCString(MM_PREFIX "encoding", toString(mFormat).c_str());
-    char *encoding = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "encoding", &encoding)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_encoding(encoding);
+    std::string encoding;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "encoding", &encoding)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_encoding(std::move(encoding));
     }
     // item->setInt32(MM_PREFIX "frameCount", (int32_t)mFrameCount);
     int32_t frame_count = -1;
@@ -133,14 +133,14 @@
         metrics_proto.set_frame_count(frame_count);
     }
     // item->setCString(MM_PREFIX "outDevice", toString(mOutDevice).c_str());
-    char *outDevice = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "outDevice", &outDevice)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_output_device(outDevice);
+    std::string outDevice;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "outDevice", &outDevice)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_output_device(std::move(outDevice));
     }
     // item->setCString(MM_PREFIX "inDevice", toString(mInDevice).c_str());
-    char *inDevice = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString(MM_PREFIX "inDevice", &inDevice)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_input_device(inDevice);
+    std::string inDevice;
+    if (item->getString(MM_PREFIX "inDevice", &inDevice)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_input_device(std::move(inDevice));
     }
     // item->setDouble(MM_PREFIX "ioJitterMs.mean", mIoJitterMs.getMean());
     double iojitters_ms_mean = -1;
@@ -201,16 +201,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(mytype);
-    free(workhist);
-    free(latencyhist);
-    free(warmuphist);
-    free(type);
-    free(encoding);
-    free(inDevice);
-    free(outDevice);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiotrack.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiotrack.cpp
index f250ced..57cda99 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiotrack.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_audiotrack.cpp
@@ -57,23 +57,23 @@
 
     // static constexpr char kAudioTrackStreamType[] = "android.media.audiotrack.streamtype";
     // optional string streamType;
-    char *streamtype = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiotrack.streamtype", &streamtype)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_stream_type(streamtype);
+    std::string streamtype;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiotrack.streamtype", &streamtype)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_stream_type(std::move(streamtype));
     }
 
     // static constexpr char kAudioTrackContentType[] = "android.media.audiotrack.type";
     // optional string contentType;
-    char *contenttype = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiotrack.type", &contenttype)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_content_type(contenttype);
+    std::string contenttype;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiotrack.type", &contenttype)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_content_type(std::move(contenttype));
     }
 
     // static constexpr char kAudioTrackUsage[] = "android.media.audiotrack.usage";
     // optional string trackUsage;
-    char *trackusage = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiotrack.usage", &trackusage)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_track_usage(trackusage);
+    std::string trackusage;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiotrack.usage", &trackusage)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_track_usage(std::move(trackusage));
     }
 
     // static constexpr char kAudioTrackSampleRate[] = "android.media.audiotrack.samplerate";
@@ -111,9 +111,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_port_id(port_id);
     }
     // encoding (string)
-    char *encoding = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiotrack.encoding", &encoding)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_encoding(encoding);
+    std::string encoding;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiotrack.encoding", &encoding)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_encoding(std::move(encoding));
     }
     // frameCount (int32)
     int32_t frame_count = -1;
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_frame_count(frame_count);
     }
     // attributes (string)
-    char *attributes = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.audiotrack.attributes", &attributes)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_attributes(attributes);
+    std::string attributes;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.audiotrack.attributes", &attributes)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_attributes(std::move(attributes));
     }
 
     std::string serialized;
@@ -143,13 +143,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(streamtype);
-    free(contenttype);
-    free(trackusage);
-    free(encoding);
-    free(attributes);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_codec.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_codec.cpp
index dc8e4ef..bf82e50 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_codec.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_codec.cpp
@@ -55,19 +55,19 @@
     // flesh out the protobuf we'll hand off with our data
     //
     // android.media.mediacodec.codec   string
-    char *codec = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediacodec.codec", &codec)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_codec(codec);
+    std::string codec;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediacodec.codec", &codec)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_codec(std::move(codec));
     }
     // android.media.mediacodec.mime    string
-    char *mime = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediacodec.mime", &mime)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_mime(mime);
+    std::string mime;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediacodec.mime", &mime)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_mime(std::move(mime));
     }
     // android.media.mediacodec.mode    string
-    char *mode = NULL;
-    if ( item->getCString("android.media.mediacodec.mode", &mode)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_mode(mode);
+    std::string mode;
+    if ( item->getString("android.media.mediacodec.mode", &mode)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_mode(std::move(mode));
     }
     // android.media.mediacodec.encoder int32
     int32_t encoder = -1;
@@ -125,9 +125,9 @@
         metrics_proto.set_error_code(errcode);
     }
     // android.media.mediacodec.errstate        string
-    char *errstate = NULL;
-    if ( item->getCString("android.media.mediacodec.errstate", &errstate)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_error_state(errstate);
+    std::string errstate;
+    if ( item->getString("android.media.mediacodec.errstate", &errstate)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_error_state(std::move(errstate));
     }
     // android.media.mediacodec.latency.max  int64
     int64_t latency_max = -1;
@@ -173,12 +173,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(codec);
-    free(mime);
-    free(mode);
-    free(errstate);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_extractor.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_extractor.cpp
index 395c912..d84930c 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_extractor.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_extractor.cpp
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@
     //
 
     // android.media.mediaextractor.fmt         string
-    char *fmt = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaextractor.fmt", &fmt)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_format(fmt);
+    std::string fmt;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaextractor.fmt", &fmt)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_format(std::move(fmt));
     }
     // android.media.mediaextractor.mime        string
-    char *mime = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaextractor.mime", &mime)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_mime(mime);
+    std::string mime;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaextractor.mime", &mime)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_mime(std::move(mime));
     }
     // android.media.mediaextractor.ntrk        int32
     int32_t ntrk = -1;
@@ -88,10 +88,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(fmt);
-    free(mime);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_nuplayer.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_nuplayer.cpp
index 5ec118a..e6e0f2c 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_nuplayer.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_nuplayer.cpp
@@ -62,13 +62,13 @@
     // differentiate between nuplayer and nuplayer2
     metrics_proto.set_whichplayer(item->getKey().c_str());
 
-    char *video_mime = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaplayer.video.mime", &video_mime)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_video_mime(video_mime);
+    std::string video_mime;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaplayer.video.mime", &video_mime)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_video_mime(std::move(video_mime));
     }
-    char *video_codec = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaplayer.video.codec", &video_codec)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_video_codec(video_codec);
+    std::string video_codec;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaplayer.video.codec", &video_codec)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_video_codec(std::move(video_codec));
     }
 
     int32_t width = -1;
@@ -97,13 +97,13 @@
         metrics_proto.set_framerate(fps);
     }
 
-    char *audio_mime = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaplayer.audio.mime", &audio_mime)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_audio_mime(audio_mime);
+    std::string audio_mime;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaplayer.audio.mime", &audio_mime)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_audio_mime(std::move(audio_mime));
     }
-    char *audio_codec = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaplayer.audio.codec", &audio_codec)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_audio_codec(audio_codec);
+    std::string audio_codec;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaplayer.audio.codec", &audio_codec)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_audio_codec(std::move(audio_codec));
     }
 
     int64_t duration_ms = -1;
@@ -123,14 +123,14 @@
     if (item->getInt32("android.media.mediaplayer.errcode", &error_code)) {
         metrics_proto.set_error_code(error_code);
     }
-    char *error_state = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaplayer.errstate", &error_state)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_error_state(error_state);
+    std::string error_state;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaplayer.errstate", &error_state)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_error_state(std::move(error_state));
     }
 
-    char *data_source_type = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediaplayer.dataSource", &data_source_type)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_data_source_type(data_source_type);
+    std::string data_source_type;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediaplayer.dataSource", &data_source_type)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_data_source_type(std::move(data_source_type));
     }
 
     int64_t rebufferingMs = -1;
@@ -164,14 +164,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(video_mime);
-    free(video_codec);
-    free(audio_mime);
-    free(audio_codec);
-    free(error_state);
-    free(data_source_type);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_recorder.cpp b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_recorder.cpp
index 4d981b4..d286f00 100644
--- a/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_recorder.cpp
+++ b/services/mediaanalytics/statsd_recorder.cpp
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@
     //
 
     // string kRecorderAudioMime = "android.media.mediarecorder.audio.mime";
-    char *audio_mime = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediarecorder.audio.mime", &audio_mime)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_audio_mime(audio_mime);
+    std::string audio_mime;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediarecorder.audio.mime", &audio_mime)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_audio_mime(std::move(audio_mime));
     }
     // string kRecorderVideoMime = "android.media.mediarecorder.video.mime";
-    char *video_mime = NULL;
-    if (item->getCString("android.media.mediarecorder.video.mime", &video_mime)) {
-        metrics_proto.set_video_mime(video_mime);
+    std::string video_mime;
+    if (item->getString("android.media.mediarecorder.video.mime", &video_mime)) {
+        metrics_proto.set_video_mime(std::move(video_mime));
     }
     // int32 kRecorderVideoProfile = "android.media.mediarecorder.video-encoder-profile";
     int32_t videoProfile = -1;
@@ -183,10 +183,6 @@
         ALOGV("NOT sending: private data (len=%zu)", strlen(serialized.c_str()));
     }
 
-    // must free the strings that we were given
-    free(audio_mime);
-    free(video_mime);
-
     return true;
 }