[Q] Sharing Apps on Multi User - Nexus 10 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Has anyone figured out how to allow multiple users share applications across users and Google accounts? It's my tablet but I wanted to give my girlfriend her own homescreen (she has her own google account). Is there away to allow her to share some of my applications?

No, not yet. The second account is completely sandboxed, she won't even be able to access your sdcard partition.

yumcax said:
No, not yet. The second account is completely sandboxed, she won't even be able to access your sdcard partition.
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Click to collapse
Ok, thanks.

Another question...
The application that is installed, will it be installed again on the other user environment taking up double space? If not then I might opt for the 16GB...

I'm using the app called Multiuser App Share. It works good for most apps. Those requiring root are no-go tho, as is most paid apps. The 2ed user does take up its own storage space. Some is shared but it's mostly settings stuff & requires little space. I'm rooted with 3 backups & that's using 16gb on my 32gb device. Backups are large as you could expect having to backup 2 users data.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

If you do not use this Multi User App Share applications, say I have "[email protected]" and I install Angry Birds therefore I have the associate link on this account.
On "[email protected]" I also install angry birds and associate it to this account. When I install it for the second time on the secondary user, does it download the same .apk or is the OS smart enough to realise, hey the primary user or other users has this .apk, lets not download it and use the same .apk.
This is not related to data storage as it is stored on the /u/0/ for the primary user and /u/1/ from my understanding so I am aware of that.
Don't care with applications which requires roots as I read that the secondary user cannot get root. Just care about storage and big .apk may be a problem if I buy the 16GB Nexus 10.

The 2 users are pretty much separated. As far as apps & storage, each user is separate having their very own apks, app data, media & media storage, pictures, etc. Sorta like having 2 complete tablets on one. Ex.: Right now each user on my tablet is using about 3.5 gb of data/media storage for 7 gb total. I don't know of any apk that is actually "shared", as in both users use the same single apk. The share-app I spoke of above allows an apk to be installed from the primary to the secondary. It's for installing apks AFAIK. Some say they can share games, but not so on mine yet. The tablet is still new to me, but this is what I'm seeing so far.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

Actually. I run multi right now and it doesn't redownload the apps it just grants (or so it seams...) the user access to the app. Now the data for apps are separate. Then again I have one account I use for my apps so both users have that account to get apps from.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app

This was a test to show you using my single app account and instilling nova on the "test" account. Nova is well over a gig if not two and you'll notice the storage usage on the test account
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app

I see what your saying. Looking closer & playing with the Multiuser app, I allowed the 2ed user the use of Deadtrigger installed in the Primary account. Then going into 2ed account & opening that game, there was no waiting for a download - it simply opened & was available for play.... Cool
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

So it looks like the primary account needs to be added as well to the secondary account and then things should work?
djd338 is that what you done on yours or was Deadtrigger was installed or linked to two separate accounts?

springy said:
So it looks like the primary account needs to be added as well to the secondary account and then things should work?
djd338 is that what you done on yours or was Deadtrigger was installed or linked to two separate accounts?
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I only installed it one time & on the primary user account. All else happened within the Multiuser App Share-app. Deadtrigger was installed to Primary. The Multiuser app opened & the box for Deadtrigger was checked to allow sharing. Opening 2ed user account allowed for immediate play. Paid games (Nova3 & GTA) where also checked to allow sharing, but when 2ed user opened them on that side, a popup appeared saying it was not allowed.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

Yah you might want to try having a Google account for just you paid apps like how I do then any device or account can have them with no trouble and you don't have to worry about other people going through your email
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app

Tesla67 said:
Yah you might want to try having a Google account for just you paid apps like how I do then any device or account can have them with no trouble and you don't have to worry about other people going through your email
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app
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There should be some way to lock everything but Google play access when you add account on secondary user. I have disabled all syncing on my Google account which I have added to my wife's and kids account. That way at least the calendar and Gmail app is not automatically showing my things. But I think that there are place for improvement with multiuser support. For example shared folders so all users easily can access common files.
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There are 2 methods as far as I know:
1) Add the Google account with apps to the 2nd user, when you install a 'common' app, you'll notice that it'll finish downloading instantly, as if it didn't really download anything. I believe what happens is that the 'restriction' for that specific app is removed for the 2nd user, which brings us to #2
2) The 'multiuser app share' does exactly this -- it edits the package-restrictions.xml of the secondary user and removes the offending lines.
Don't quote me on this, I'm not really an expert on the matter, but I have actually manually enabled apps through this method (#2). My first try got my 2nd user messed up (after reboot, it went through setup again) but it magically 'installed' all my apps from the primary user. The subsequent attempts worked just fine ('enabling' individual apps)

The only problem I see is that the multi share app might break after another OTA update. I am sure Google will sort this out in 4.2.2 which is rumour to be coming out soon (or has according to some reports)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Running a test secondary user on my HTC Inspire/Synergy's 4.2.1 SR6 (OFFICIAL codefireX Builds - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2003273).
I have found that it separates "users" data/apps fine (Gallery shows "0" files - GREAT!!! But, the app "File Manager" is listed in the available apps, which of course you can use to view the contents of the SD card - and the other user's files.
So how do you block certain apps from being used? I've tried Titanium's "freeze", but it only froze the app on my user profile, and the other user profile still had it running.

I just got my N10 today.
I backed up ym phone with Titanium and rooted the tablet.
Then I made some accounts, mine as owner, my GF's as a second. Then I restored my backup using my account.
MOST apps were then on my GF's, but they don't have their own data.. this is quite stupid to be honest. A 1GB game means 2GB downloaded, despite it could quite easily share the same location.

Related

[Q] Multiple users accounts

Hi,
is it possible to have more than one google account on one Nexus7 device?
(this thread should be at Nexus7 Q&A)
Moved to Nexus 7 Q&A.
EDIT: Never mind, I was wrong, you get the option of choosing which account to use as the person below me has said.
I have a second Google account on my Desire Hd.
Its not much of an issue, when you are using google apps eg. YouTube, G+, Gmail you get a choice of which account you want to use and you can logout and choose the other whenever you want.
Syncing is not a problem either, whichever account you pick when you make changes they will be saved to only that account.
My YouTube widget changes depending on which account i am using when i exit the YouTube app.
Hope this helps
Sent from my Desire HD using xda app-developers app
I use multiple Google accts on my phone (ICS/CM9). Sync'ing, etc works just fine. Whenever it gets to a point where you have to choose the account you want something under, it prompts you. The issue/solution for me for Facebook (for my wife & I) will likely be Friendcaster (which allows multiple accts).
I was thinking more about choosing an user after waking-up the tablet. Just like windows has. One for me, other for my wife.
The perfect solution would be face to unlock, but I don't think it would be avaliable soon.
Tablets feel like windows 98 all over again. I guess this is because of their phone roots (the thought being one user owns a phone). But with tablets, many want to share.
As your example of you and your wife. Or even security. I'm at my bro's and my nephew wants to play with my tablet, and he's pretty responsible, but he could actually start reading/deleting my email, uninstall apps, buy apps via google market. Btw, I expressly choose never to save anything to google wallet, I've only made a few purchases and have been careful of this, but last thing I bought, my credit card info was all ready to go. Sigh.
But yes not only would I like multi-users I would like to make others have limited functionality, as in they can't install/uninstall apps etc. Even a simple thing like letting my nephew play a game I was in the middle of playing, well he cleared all the stages so I have to remember which stage I was on each time I launch it, or clear them all and start over.
But I suspect it'll be this way for a long time.
gieja said:
I was thinking more about choosing an user after waking-up the tablet. Just like windows has. One for me, other for my wife.
The perfect solution would be face to unlock, but I don't think it would be avaliable soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SwitchMe sounds like what you may be looking for?
N.B. I haven't used it.
Thanks Salty Wagyu for the link. I'm gonna try it as soon as i get me N7. It might be what I'm looking for.
Salty Wagyu said:
SwitchMe sounds like what you may be looking for?.
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Click to collapse
Wow... I wasn't aware of that app, either. This is from one of the reviews, though:
Log out does not really work like Windows where you log out and then select another user but rather you have to go into the App and say SWITCH user. Once you do SWITCH user, you actually have to wait for the device to reboot into the other user so it is not running multiple instances
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd think that if the dev on this app could get help from or work with the devs on the popular launchers, better integration would ensue... Like the review said, though... great start...
I've actually installed this app and ran it. You do have to reboot whenever you "switch" which for me isn't a big deal. I haven't had a chance to mess with it too much yet but it looks like the closest option to running multiple accts. From what I can tell you can add a pic for each profile and u can choose which acct to load which is nice, but the lite version only allows 2 profiles, you have to buy a key for more.
1 caution though, it may mess things up a bit with the play store. I tried buying a key after switching back to my profile, and I got an error saying my order could not be processed try again. I'm going to give it some time & try again in a few hours & see what happens.
Using it now too. Seems pretty cool. Seeing as EVERYONE loves wanting to see your phone. LoL!! There is an experimental switch feature that swtiches without rebooting, but I'm not too sure that's working just yet. LoL!!
I'll give this a try too. It may seem worth it.
And a question for the OP. Is that your comment I seen in the store? About the wife and kids? LoL!! =.P
I noticed that switching to a different profile doesn't retain apps between users. Say for instance on the admin profile (mine), I have Plex purchased and installed. On the newly created profile with a different account, it doesn't show up in the apps page (which makes sense because it's a different account). This could become a problem for those with the 8gb model (like myself) where you might have duplicate apps installed based on the user(s) which would take up more space. I think for the sake of saving space, it may be wise for me to install only maintenance/tool type apps on the admin profile for tablet management, then, anything else (games, productivity etc) can be tied to the newly created profile so that I'm not duplicating installed apps.
Can anyone that has done this estimate how much space an extra profile consumes? My 8 GB nexus 7 stock out of the box has ~5.75 GB available. Will adding a second profile consume another ~2 GB plus any additional apps, data, etc? I'm hoping that some of that 2 GB is due to medium format, and other reserved space...

Profiles and paid apps... And now what?

Let's think a common situation with the N10:
I have a lot of paid apps attached to my gmail account. The first thing I will do with the N10 is create 3 different profiles. Mine, my wife and my daughter. Every one with their own gmail account.
I have read that when one user gets an app from google play that is already installed by other it won't be downloaded again, and that's fine. But what happens with paid apps?
I'm pretty sure another user with other gmail account won't have access to bought apps by a different person in Google Play....
The situation I will face will be very common. I have bought several apps for my daughter (I have an Asus TF101) and I'd like to see them in her profile in the N10.
The only solution I can guess is to add my gmail account as a secondary one in her profile, but to keep things separated won't be a reality.
What do you think?
If it's the same as the n7 I think any users can use the same paid apps on that device, whether they bought it too or not. Much like a pc.
Unless they've changed this it worked with the hack to enable multiple accounts that was embedded in jb before.
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skibadee said:
If it's the same as the n7 I think any users can use the same paid apps on that device, whether they bought it too or not. Much like a pc.
Unless they've changed this it worked with the hack to enable multiple accounts that was embedded in jb before.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
That's good news. Let's hope the final version works that way.
That's why I have been purchasing my apps with a seperate family account for a while now. It only has the app licenses and some shared calendar items, which are thus available on my wifes phone and mine. And of course will be on the Nexus 10 on any family profile.
you are talking about several separate things here.
it was stated, that apps that are already installed on the device, but under a different user account, will be available instantly, and do not require to be downloaded again.
that is true, in the android developers office hours emea edition yesterday and last week, this was confirmed. however, it was not clearly stated, what the space requirements are in such a case. obviously, the apk itself must be stored on the device at least once. since all user settings are individual, the shared preferences files will be present twice and all apps that require external data, such as game data on the sd card, must be updated, to not store this data twice. the last point goes especially for apps with expansion apks on the play store, whether apps with data downloads from 3rd party servers (like rockstar games etc.) will work with this model, time will tell.
the way this entire system works, is through encryption and file system permissions.
even the same folder on the sd card, say /sdcard/Music/ can look differently to different users.
Also, up to now, this has not been tested with devices with external sd cards (for obvious reasons) and only works on ext4 file systems.
The licensing question is entirely different from that. the play store, while being able to check a lot of things about you and your device, primarily looks at your google account when you are looking for an app, and the app licenses you buy always are registered to your account (i.e. you as a person), as opposed to your device, which is great, if you are one person with several devices. mixing this system with per device licenses would create a massive issue, as people could just willy nilly create legit play store licenses for apps by adding friends' user accounts on their device with paid apps and the apps would be licensed for the friends as well (again, including all their devices).
of course the same goes for any other play store purchases as well (movies, music, books, in-app purchases etc.)
this has not officially been stated by the android developers office hours, but it only makes sense this way, again, as mixing per-user licensing with per-device licensing would open a hell-hole of piracy.
so, considering, what google officially stated about these things, i would not count on the feature being anywhere similar to the existing multi-user feature of 4.1. if it had been ready and perfected at the time, it would have been published in that state, but after another half a year of work, i expect it to have changed, much like the rest of the os.
if you want all of this information directly from google and in even lengthier explanations, check out the office hours:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IeU_sQzl3U&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z92fwFQntG8&feature=plcp
I am willing to bet that the shared APK system is based on the Play Store and might even only work when installed from there. In that case, in order to have an app available on another profile, you would need to "download" it from the store, only that it just registers it as visible somehow. That would require the corresponding google account on every profile using the app.
When it comes to additional files, I guess the "official way" introduced a while back with the two additional archives will be handled just fine, as it is done by the system itself. When the app downloads those themself, we will have to wait and see like you said. The same goes for other files - will I be aple to see e.g. the photos from other profiles? If not by default, can you manage the access rights? Devices with SD cards might prove quite interesting here, but they may as well be handled the simple way: if you use that storage, it is open for all.
However that turns out to work, multi-user will broaden the versatility of tablets, even if some scenarios don't work out as they might be wished or expected.
What I didn't get from your post - are you accusing me of abusing the multi-device functionality? If so, I don't feel ashamed of sharing paid apps with my wife (for now) and children (later on when they get smartphones). We also do not buy separate DVDs for each viewer or multiple instances of books.
Sharing a google account with paid apps with a multitude of friends as you described however could prove quite problematic. Who gets to register his credit card? Who decides which apps are bought? I guess it would be much easier to find a cracked version if unwilling to pay.
no no, i was not accusing you.
i was just presenting the official google standpoint of licensing and that with a per-device licensing in combination with a device with multiple users, it would be possible to create free licenses illegally.
let me elaborate on that, because i meant it entirely different from your last paragraph:
let's say, i have a nexus 10 and have bought a paid app with my account. if that meant, every user on my tablet would inherit an own license from this one purchase, i could theoretically have friends coming over all day, logging into my tablet with their account, and immediately have the right to this paid app (and all my paid apps) as well, so it would be licensed to their account and they could install it on their phones as well. that way, you could create an infinite account of pseudo-legit licenses for apps or generally all play store content. this is the reason, why i think it is impossible that google would use the per-device licensing all of a sudden.
actually, i forgot to mention, your model with a combined family account is actually a good way around such issues.
i am sure, many couples or entire families use this method and it is perfectly fine. at least, the app purchase is legit. sharing one account with two people, especially in this case on one device is something completely different from the fraudulent model i was talking about before.
my entire earlier post was about the question in the op, whether one paid app can be used from multiple accounts and again, technically, legally and morally, no.
i agree with your dvd example, translating that to apps, one account on multiple devices allows multiple app installations and whether both devices are operated by the same person or a couple does not matter.
long story short:
the only difference in the play store experience is that apps that are already installed don't have to be downloaded again (to save time), but the play store will still feel exactly the same, i.e. requiring a purchase for an app, that has not been bought with that account yet.
Chef_Tony said:
no no, i was not accusing you.
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Click to collapse
I was just asking to prevent misunderstanding.
i could theoretically have friends coming over all day, logging into my tablet with their account, and immediately have the right to this paid app (and all my paid apps) as well, so it would be licensed to their account and they could install it on their phones as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you could just use any app installed by any profile (which as I described above is not the way I assume it will happen), at what point does that enable them to download the app to their devices? That would require them to have your profile (with your account details) on their devices.
PlanetJumble said:
Even if you could just use any app installed by any profile (which as I described above is not the way I assume it will happen), at what point does that enable them to download the app to their devices? That would require them to have your profile (with your account details) on their devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no it wouldn't require them to have your profile in this hypothetical story, here is the thing, as i understood the first couple of posts in this thread, this would be a possible scenario (but isn't):
User A has a phone, let's say a Gnex and a google account [email protected]
User B has a phone, let's say an S3 and a google account [email protected]
User A buys a Nexus 10.
User A logs in and has access to all the same paid apps as on the Gnex.
User B logs in and has access to all the same paid apps as on the S3.
User A installs a free app on the Nexus 10.
User B installs the same free app on the Nexus 10. it does not require another download, it is just there.
(so far, so good, all true, could happen)
User A buys an app from the play store on the Nexus 10.
User B looks at the same app on the play store on the Nexus 10.
(here comes the initial question: will he get this app for free, since it is already installed on the device?)
Situation 1:
User B gets the app for free on the Nexus10, since it is already present on the device, it does not even need to be installed again, it is just there.
User B looks in the play store, the app should now be listed in "My Apps", since it was installed on the device with the account [email protected]
User B gets his S3 and has the same app displayed as purchased on the play store, since he once was able to legitimately install it from his account (on the Nexus 10), which makes it his app on all his devices.
User B installs the paid app on his S3 for free, since it is present on his account.
User B's account gets removed from the Nexus 10.
Rinse and repeat through User Z. 25 free licenses, that can be replicated to all of the users' devices since they get the app transferred to their accounts if they once inherited it on the Nexus 10.
Situation 2:
User A looks at the app on the play store, it costs .99$. He buys it and installs it.
User B looks at the app on the play store, sees it costs him .99$
User B buys the app.
The app gets installed instantly, as it is already present on the device.
All I wanted to say with my two previous 2 posts is:
Situation 1 is never going to happen. Situation 2 is how it's going to be. If User A and User B are 2 separate Google Accounts on the same tablet, they need to buy apps twice.
People tend to confuse the instant install feature with an ability to share apps or transfer apps between accounts, but all it does is save you time and internet traffic. it does not influence paid apps at all. also, apparently, the half implemented multi-user feature in 4.1 gave wrong impressions as well.
P.S. i actually think, we were on the same page all along, just had different approaches to give examples of the situations.
Chef_Tony said:
P.S. i actually think, we were on the same page all along, just had different approaches to give examples of the situations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think so too, and I fully expect to skip the second payment with each profile having the personal and the shared family account.
Exactly. For 2 persons you make 3 accounts. One shared account for paid apps that both use, so you'd just need to purchase them once and 2 individual accounts for the two persons to have their personal email and other individual settings and files.
That seems to be the ideal solution. A week from now, we'll know exactly, how the separation works.
Can't wait to have the device here.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Chef_Tony said:
Situation 1:
User B gets the app for free on the Nexus10, since it is already present on the device, it does not even need to be installed again, it is just there.
User B looks in the play store, the app should now be listed in "My Apps", since it was installed on the device with the account [email protected]
User B gets his S3 and has the same app displayed as purchased on the play store, since he once was able to legitimately install it from his account (on the Nexus 10), which makes it his app on all his devices.
User B installs the paid app on his S3 for free, since it is present on his account.
User B's account gets removed from the Nexus 10.
Rinse and repeat through User Z. 25 free licenses, that can be replicated to all of the users' devices since they get the app transferred to their accounts if they once inherited it on the Nexus 10.
Situation 2:
User A looks at the app on the play store, it costs .99$. He buys it and installs it.
User B looks at the app on the play store, sees it costs him .99$
User B buys the app.
The app gets installed instantly, as it is already present on the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see why it has to be only one of those two options. Why not this:
Situation 3:
User A buys and installs a $0.99 app on the play store.
User B Looks at the same app and Play store is smart enough to check that the app is already installed on the device and allows him access to it on this device but does NOT update his account information to say that he has purchased the app.
User B Looks at the same app on his phone, and it still shows up as costing $0.99.
Not saying that's definitely the way it will work, but that's the way I'd prefer it. That would allow a parent to buy and install apps for his children that they have access to on their profiles, without having to associate his own account and credit card information with his children's profiles, opening up the possibility for them to make purchases without his approval.
Another question I have about multi-profile access to apps is this: I keep hearing that the second user to install an app will not have to download it again. That's certainly nice for ease/speed of access to the new app, but it doesn't answer the question of how the app is stored on the device. Is there just one copy of the apk that all users can access? Or does the system make a copy of the apk for each profile that installs it, thus using up more storage space?
Profiles are just profiles under one GMail account I'd imagine, and not a completely separate and independent accounts.
BoneXDA said:
Profiles are just profiles under one GMail account I'd imagine, and not a completely separate and independent accounts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, that doesn't make sense, you don't want to be sharing an email account or whatever, it will be a separate (optional) account per profile.
As for the app purchase crappy, who cares, get titanium backup, use its profile switch option which works on all android versions to swap out apply and game data so multiple people can use them on the same device.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
You don't seriously say using titanium is easier than native integration?
@je55ter only a few more days and we will know for sure.
BoneXDA said:
Profiles are just profiles under one GMail account I'd imagine, and not a completely separate and independent accounts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is definetely not the case as one can see in all available hands on videos so far, the profiles are different google accounts, which will then automatically give you access to all your google content. have a look at the videos, like the first video from the verge, the demo device clearly has hugo barra's account on it, as indicated by his google+ avatar on the lockscreen. it was also confirmed that these profiles will fetch all kinds of information from the corresponding google account, so it must be multiple accounts.
PlanetJumble said:
You don't seriously say using titanium is easier than native integration?
@je55ter only a few more days and we will know for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not saying it's easier, but if it turns out each user is supposed to purchase it, TB profiles is one solution.
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A very similar example would be the Xbox 360 or PS3. These are devices that use multiple users accounts. On both consoles paid content is available to all profiles on the console.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Yes, X360 and PS3 are excellent examples... of how it will not work on Android!
Actually it really makes sense that different profiles got different apps, unlike on consoles. If you can cross-license over profiles on the same device some way will be revealed next week.
PlanetJumble said:
Yes, X360 and PS3 are excellent examples... of how it will not work on Android!
Actually it really makes sense that different profiles got different apps, unlike on consoles. If you can cross-license over profiles on the same device some way will be revealed next week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What evidence do you have for how it will be implemented? You can make a pretty strong argument for both systems.
If there is no cross-licensing it would seriously reduce the appeal of this feature. Would most people purchase 2 copies of GTA3 for instance just so they can have their own saved game on their profile? I don't think so.

[Q] Multi-user feature in 4.2

Anyone playing with 4.2 yet?
Second and subsequent users seem to have to go through some kind of set up. Can they/do they need to use a Google Account they already have on another device? Is it a good idea for them to do so?
WibblyW said:
Anyone playing with 4.2 yet?
Second and subsequent users seem to have to go through some kind of set up. Can they/do they need to use a Google Account they already have on another device? Is it a good idea for them to do so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
was just playing around on mine yeah it seems it's set up as another user (inc google sync everything) what i was hoping for was like a guest account that could browse the web use some of the apps (according to a whitelist or something) say im with some friends and am streaming music and want to be able to let them use it without giving them access to my email and other stuff?
sadly not to be i fear unless someone can allay my fears?
Looks like you have to emulate a guest user by pre configuring them as a 'dummy' account, with dummy email etc.
Would be difficult to get them access your paid apps though. And what if you set up free apps under that account? Are re downloaded and take up space? That would be a bummer for big apps like games.
WibblyW said:
Looks like you have to emulate a guest user by pre configuring them as a 'dummy' account, with dummy email etc.
Would be difficult to get them access your paid apps though. And what if you set up free apps under that account? Are re downloaded and take up space? That would be a bummer for big apps like games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly want to show the thing off but don't want to have to stand over them making sure they don't go rooting around
WibblyW said:
Looks like you have to emulate a guest user by pre configuring them as a 'dummy' account, with dummy email etc.
Would be difficult to get them access your paid apps though. And what if you set up free apps under that account? Are re downloaded and take up space? That would be a bummer for big apps like games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is this going to be managed then?
Good Point !
Wilks3y said:
How is this going to be managed then?
Good Point !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried that out with my girlfriends account and it seems like if you download an app, which you already have on your device, it "installs" it almost immediately. There is no re-download of the file. However, if you start the app you'll see a new instance of it, without any data taken from your other account. Maybe there are some apps which keep their settings but those which I've testet so far seem to start naked. This will mean that the app itself will only stored once, the data like savegames etc. is stored per user.
What bugs me is that there seems no way (maybe with root) to access the internal storage area of the other user. As example, I have some movies stored on my device and I can only access them in the account which was active, when I copied the files to the device.
Edit:
BOOOM: Here we go. Tried to install the facebook app on two users and got the following message:
"You cannot install this app because another user has already installed an incompatible version on this device"
Seems like Google adding this feature is only one part of the story. I think there are quite a lot apps out there which will run into the same issue.
Edit2:
Looked a little bit deeper into this and found out, that this was NOT caused by an incompatibility issue from the facebook app itself. I've modified the apk (for testing purposes, don't use facebook much) with "AppGuard" and installed it outside of the google play store. As I tried to reinstall the facebook app from the play store I ran into the previous described error message.
So am I correct in thinking there will be no way to "make apps available" to all users? I thought this would be a great tool for my son, so i can basically say you can have access to these 10 games and that's it. but if i have to add my google account then "install" each game that's going to be a pain in the arse!
Is there no resource documentation on this? I looked I could not find anything on google that addressed apps really at all.
Each user appears to get a their own "home" directory created in /mnt/shell/emulated.
Default user dir is "0"
Second user dir is "10"
Each contain the standard dir's from 4.1 and earlier.
I took a CWM nandroid backup immediately after upgrading and the clockworkmod folder is in the same directory, so I'm guessing that any app that uses the old-style home path will need updating.
since adding the second user SuperSu has had issues - hangs & then crash, and the Settings app crashed - if I have time I'll revert to stock, upgrade again, and then add another account without rooting & installing supersu/busybox et al.

Kids & The Nexus 7

Hey Nexus 7 peeps!
Santa Claus brought my kids (7 & 8yrs old) N7 tablets for Christmas. I've been researching alternatives for locking them down, and haven't found anything (yet) that really meets the needs. For reference, I've setup the kids Windows 7 PC with Microsoft Family Safety & Security & about a thousand group policies. Given all that I have no worries right now leaving them with the PC with minimal supervision. They use chrome and I have it setup to use the Microsoft FSS site to do any websearches they do.
So.. I'd like to do something similar with their tablets. I have about 3 days before they come back from their grandparents house to get these things configured. I'm currently setup as the "owner" and my kids have their own users setup. For the moment, they are hooked up to my google account. I'm not adverse to changing that, but want to figure out what the options are first.
Heres my thoughts on what they should have:
Chrome, only if I can put some kind of filtering on. Not opposed to OpenDNS (router is setup with DD-WRT already). I'm not obsessed with allowing chrome (or web browser access) right now.
Play store hidden or disabled. I've required a pin for purchase & in-game purchase, which is fine for now but not ideal.
Google now/etc fine if some parental controls can be added.
Email available only to/from people on parent managed contact list, or disabled completely.
Prefer to have a launcher that has a subset of all available apps, and perhaps drawer restrictions/etc
I'm totally not opposed to rooting or whatever would help with this, or even installing CM10 or something if it would help.
I feel like I must be missing something. All of this seems so very basic to me, yet I've not yet found what I'm looking for. There must be other people who got N7s for kids, and want to have a little bit of parental control over whats going on here. I'm looking for recommendations on how to proceed.
Thanks in advance, appreciate any advice offered.
-Blu
http://www.wikihow.com/Block-Porn-on-Android
This is to get you started, I haven't done much other research.
check out this post of mine: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=35197028&postcount=2
OP was asking whether create a separate account for her daughter or not.
And answers to your specific questions:
- Chrome doesn't support any plugins, there are system-wide apps that filter content (probably root required)
- disable it with link2sd or any app that handles apps, nova launcher (and many others) can hide apps from app drawer, its still there, just not in the drawer. (though with filtering, i dont know why you would disable play store, with no credit card its harmless)
- I don't really understand what you mean, but google search does have filtering.
- either remove gmail/email completely, or filter emails in gmail filter settings (sth like anything not from dad, mom, relatives, directly remove. Can be done with no problems, the same way you would handle labels in gmail)
- any aftermarket launcher pretty much. check nova, apex (those are built on stock ics/jb launchers) both enable to hide apps from drawer, but everything can be reset with some tinkering. Google for some kid launchers or sth, I'm sure there is stuff.
I think you're panicking too much to be honest. Its not a gsm device, it doesnt send txts, so you will not get a 100$ bill at the end of the month, apps in play store are safe with filtering (I'm pretty sure you can lock that too), and if they're not tech savvy they shouldn't find their way around your little tricks, but don't underestimate them, kids are very smart, and just may surpass you sooner then you know.
If you have to set so many restrictions on devices, you shouldn't have gotten them in the first place, rather get nintendo DS or PSP.
Awesome, thanks for the advice. I'm looking through your recommendations now. This is my first experience with "Real" jellybean.... I've been using a seriously hacked CM10 for my Droid X2. So this is the first time I've had the opportunity do deal with mutliple users. The cool thing I've found is that apps can be disabled per-user, which makes things a lot easier. Many of the apps that I dont really want them to have, I've just disabled and all seems to be well. I signed them both up with their own Gmail accounts, and I'll monitor that on my own.
My kids are definitely tech savvy, I'm an application developer & generally a white-hat hacker; some of that has rubbed off on them. I think everything is cool now, your point about the google store w/o credit card is totally valid, and I hadn't even considered that. Given that, I've setup restrictions on content from store, content in chrome, and content in youtube. I still want to do a little research on content control in Chrome (plus it will give me a valid excuse to root it, everydamnthing in my house needs to be hacked in some way :good
It may well be that I've panicked too much. Its just that the windows setup is so completely perfect, that I'd like it to be on par. I trust my kids, but only so far. My elder has a form of autism that complicates discussions about what to/not to do.
Appreciate your recommendations!
-Blu
Quite sure the play store got an update recently that requires the account password when attempting to buy any pay apps. It does on mine here anyway. just checked my sons stock tablet and it looks like Google have finally got their act together and are using server side authentication for purchases.
Oh and if you do get the tablets rooted this little program is a must
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fivehellions.android.muappshare
Allows you to share and control apps between user accounts on same tablet. I use it to let my son play my paid games whilst restricting him from using my account.
Cheers Danny
I know that go launcher allows you to hide apps, and you can use a password program to restrict access to the go launcher settings. Just my 2¢.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Thanks for the appshare. That is brilliant. Haven't used it yet, but I'm certain I will. Both are now rooted w/ CWM installed. For now I'm going to leave them with stock browser.... at 7 & 8 they're not yet actively searching for things they shouldnt be. I'll address that as it comes, but I'm way glad I rooted them now, as unlocking kills user data.
My wife is an Apple junkie (yes, yes, you can save the comments) but even she was impressed with the 4.2 ability to switch users, a feature starkly missing from iThings. I explained that it was a decision brought down by the Ghost Of Steve Jobs, and not an oversight.
End of the day... getting very close to having them configured properly, and none too soon. The kidlets return tomorrow afternoon from grandparents....
-Blu
toidimaet said:
Quite sure the play store got an update recently that requires the account password when attempting to buy any pay apps. It does on mine here anyway. just checked my sons stock tablet and it looks like Google have finally got their act together and are using server side authentication for purchases.
Oh and if you do get the tablets rooted this little program is a must
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fivehellions.android.muappshare
Allows you to share and control apps between user accounts on same tablet. I use it to let my son play my paid games whilst restricting him from using my account.
Cheers Danny
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It only does that when I try to use my play credit. If I use a credit card, it doesn't prompt me
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
XxSHaDoWxSLaYeRxX said:
It only does that when I try to use my play credit. If I use a credit card, it doesn't prompt me
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I am using a debit card in the UK. It could be a card type thing or even a country thing.
Sorry it took me so long to post and you have set up the tablet, but here's what i did for my daughter's N7:
I set her up with her own Gmail account. Rooted and unlocked the N7 and set it up as hers.
I added her account to my N7 so i can see activity etc. Case, screen protector and stylus.
APPS:
Adfree of course
Avast! In case it is ever lost, & some nice anti virus etc
Smart App Protector - password protect any app....so although I got her her own email address, she can't read, or send email without password...you can lock down the browser too, which I did, because she has games with links that will open a browser. THIS app is awesome.
Parent Dashboard, because it has some fun videos and apps -
I toyed with this being her desktop for a bit but too restrictive - I do like the ability to send her video messages (shared custody).
Skype so we can video chat (only for contacts, natch).
I don't have a credit card attached to her account, but if she wants to buy, I can do a couple things...add it on my N7, buy add to her wishlist them she can d/l on her. Our i can add cc and buy on hers and remove cc.
I think that's about everything and let her go to town.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Google Play issues after cloning Nexus 7

Hello,
I currently work for a market research company using Nexus 7 tablets to conduct surveys and questionnaires. We have a DP team which develop the apps for surveys which we put out on Google Play or can add manually. We currently have over 60 Nexus 7 tablets (2012 model) running Android 4.4.2. The current workaround securing the tablet is using Go Launcher, App Lock and WiFi Manager using a restricted account with Encryption on each device. This set up fine... however the two accounts setup is a hassle for the end users who are not technically proficient or use tablets or smartphones on a daily basis, so we need to down it one account. Also secondly, when we have new surveys and push them out, it does download to the main admin account of the tablet, but the hassle of, making it active for the restricted account is what the issue is because giving the end user access the main account defeats the whole purpose of what we are trying to do.
So I have managed to get hold of 2 tablets for testing, unlocked and rooted them both using the handy Nexus Root Toolkit. On one device, I created a main account, with Nova Launcher (instead of go launcher), App Lock and WiFi Manager. I have not put any encryption yet that will come after. I then created a nandroid backup of the tablet in which I restored it to the other device. The restore was perfect and at this point I thought that it's managed what we needed to do. However, on the two devices, we have two separate Google accounts, we have done this to spread out the devices across different accounts due to the amount of tablets we have. Upon pushing out an app to one device from Google Play, it would for some strange reason try to download on the other device and throw up an error message saying "could not download", even though the tablets have two separate google play accounts.
I made another nandroid back up, but this time without any google play/account information stored on the tablet but this to no avail did help. I even tried changing the device ID from Titanium Backup on both devices and still did not work and Google Play seems to think both devices are the same.
So my question is, what do I need to do in order to remove any Google Play info from the devices so google play doesn't recognize them both as the same device.
Everything else works perfectly fine so far and still are testing this out.
Thank you in advance
Irfan
Any one got a solution for this?

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