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Has anyone attempted to lock down the Tab? Lock down in terms of limiting application downloads, systems changes etc. I am looking to roll the Tab out to my sales department but I wouldn't trust these guys with potato gun much less this thing. However, the boom to business appears very significant with its addition. I have every practical application that they could need and a bit more on my test model. The problem I think I'll find is when they attempt to add applications to the Tab and possibly brick the thing. Am I hoping for too much or does this seem sensible? Thanks for the help, cheers.
Wouldn't it simply be a case of using adb to rename Vending.apk so the Market is inaccessable (as well as renaming the Samsung Apps application if applicable)? It would be possible to undo it, but it would be very difficult for a novice android user.
You can use "app lock" to put a password on the apps you don't want them to use and you can lock the installer and market with a password.
You don't have to worry about bricking a device from installing an app on the market though, it would take alot more than that to brick the device.
KG4's advice is good, but that would still allow them to transfer items to the SD card and install if they wanted to. Best bet would be to password the installer.
Thanks for the help guys. The next hard part is training the sales department on how to use the thing. It shouldn't be that bad. 'Shouldn't' is the key word here.
Cheers!
Anyone know of an app or hack that will let lock the screen so the touch screen doesn't recognize input so that I could launch netflix or youtube for my 1.5 yo daughter and she can touch it without messing it up?
ikillulots said:
Anyone know of an app or hack that will let lock the screen so the touch screen doesn't recognize input so that I could launch netflix or youtube for my 1.5 yo daughter and she can touch it without messing it up?
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Click to collapse
there is an App on the Market called "Screen Tools" which has this function.
It allows you to use your camera button to "disable" the touchscreen. Not sure if this app will work on our Acer tablets, as we have no camera button - but it may be worth a 99cent gamble.
Also, from I have seen with the Netflix app - it does not keep playing in the background or pause when another app takes focus - it just stops the video and dumps you back to the selection screen. Not sure if this is going to be possible
I wonder if this would be better in the development section it would be nice to assign the rotation lock to a screen hold/lock
ikillulots said:
I wonder if this would be better in the development section it would be nice to assign the rotation lock to a screen hold/lock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not a topic for the development section, perhaps in Android General or Android Software and Hacking, as I see this being an application (especially since there is no source available for HC to be modified in such a way as you are hoping, meaning for a ROM developer to make this happen would be kind of far-fetched right now). Certainly it would require root, and most likely it would work as launcher replacement, perhaps requiring a specific gesture to be drawn to unlock the screen. This is a neat idea, not sure if the sdk allows this type of control from a launcher replacement, but perhaps Anderwebs (the developer of ADW) or another launcher master would know if this is possible. They would also be the most likely to implement this type of feature. Perhaps ask a moderator to move this into the Android Software Development and Hacking forum?
Unless you want to completely limit your options be requiring this to use the rotation lock switch, which would make this a device specific request, severely limiting the number of developers (application and os level) who would be able to assist you. I would approach it from a more generic state, make it applicable to all Android devices, and that way I could get more people interested in it and make it happen.
But, don't just go and start a whole bunch of threads, ask a mod to move this thread, change the title of your post to something like : App/Feature Request - Baby Proof (On-Demand Input Locking). That might work. I would stick with gesture based, and make it require a multi-touch gesture, obviously you would make something that your child could not easily imitate as your gesture, to unlock it, there should be an easy way to enter lock mode as well...
just my 2 cents
Just go buy app locker... it will lock everything or specific apps
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
There's an app I use for the same reason, but I don't give the tablet to my youngest in fear of it becoming a Frisbee or drowned in saliva. But my toddlers listen to direction, so this app works.
The FREE app is called "Show Screen Lock." But, because the "Home and Back" button are the means to unlock, if your child hits one of those, it will be unlocked.
Anyway, good luck!
I wish long pressing the volume up button locks and unlocks the screen.
edit:
Nevermind, I overlooked that you wanted to use this while playing media. This app freezes images, so no video plays at the moment. I've emailed the developer a while ago and he said he's working on one specifically for tablets.
Samsung's Touchwiz has this function. If you are playing video you can hit the power/lock button and it will lock it from screen or button presses until you hit the lock button again.
I dont know if there would be a way to extract that part of the UI to move over without porting everything.
I use it all the time with galaxy s phones so my kids can watch shows.
.....
There is also an app called "Kid Zone" by zoodles. It is nice, and free, and can be upgraded to premium. I use it on my phones and tablet and the kids love it. They can draw and do games and learn and I get emails about what they did and uploads in the email of their drawings. The cool thing is you can lock everything so that the only way to exit the app is to draw a "Z"
Its a nice app, and thinking about upgrading to premium with it here soon.
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I used to use toddler lock, but as HC doesnt really have full screen while hiding the buttons the toddler lock doesnt work as well, but still temporarily fun.
Edit: I have recently been trying out HoneyBar for HC Tablets. It hides the bar at the bottom of rooted tablet. Works pretty well, and so far one of the best options I know of.
I've got a friend who's about to be deployed overseas. He has used an Android phone for a couple of years, is an avid reader, has never had a tablet but is proficient with the Android interface.
He expects to have access to Internet (wifi) only periodically, he expects to be without electrical power for days at a time, he needs any non-essential gear to be lightweight and durable. He asked me if he should get an ereader. I think a rooted Nook Simple Touch would meet his ereader needs and go one better. I'm trying to set him up with a rooted NST that will give him access to a few essential tablet apps, an Internet browser for when he's got wifi and a selection of ereader apps so he can read anything that's out there in electronic print.
So far I've rooted the NST using SalsichaNooter (thanks for that), installed Go Launcher because you can easily increase the size of text and icons, SearchMarket to overcome the inability to search in Android Market (wtf?) and ereader apps Kindle and Google Books. I sent my Gmail account a pure white image that I use for wallpaper to make icons easy to see.
Some lingering questions:
Is there a way to reduce "color settings" or whatever it would be called so that the grayscale shades are fewer? I'd gladly trade more contrast for fewer times that a medium gray icon is barely distinguishable against an only slightly darker medium gray background.
Is there a way to make the icons of Button Savior larger? I love the app. I use it on every Android device I've got because I really like having these essential commands right under my thumb but making the icons twice as large would be nice.
Are there themes that are designed to optimize the settings for a grayscale device? I found a couple for "Go SMS" in Market but I don't know exactly what that is.
Is there a workaround for the inability to install the Barnes & Noble Nook ereader app? I keep getting "Installation error. Duplicate provider authority". I don't know if he needs three or more ereader apps but I don't want to limit his choices.
I've read the Nook Touch forums on XDA, I've done Google searches on these topics but haven't found good answers. If there are resources I've missed I'd appreciate a heads-up.
1. To reduce colors or increase contrast, the only method that comes to mind is to use APK Manager or APK Multi-tool and modify the XML, png, and 9 patch files, will need some knowledge about Android layouts, etc. and color codes like #ff000000 is solid black. I had to do some, not really sure how legit that is, but original devs did not reply to emails when requested high contrast color schemes.
2. Replacing images with APK multi-tool might work, I tried google but can't seem to determine if this project is opensource or not, if it is, send me a link and I will modify it for you.
3. The nooter that you used, installs a good launcher and theme with a lot of monochrome icons for various applications, but as you installed another launcher, you will need to come up with a theme. Go SMS is a SMS application useful on cell phones by the same developer as Go Launcher, you will need themes for Go Launcher.
4. You could try modifying the manifest using APK mult-tool, however, I fail to see the point when you have an optimized version for the device already integrated with the device.
I can only provide you optimizations for opensource software or if the dev of the application explicitly allows to modify his APK, I will not provide you with any other modifications out of respect to the developers, I am one too. I hope you understand.
TouchNooter has a version of market that has search working.
You might be able to find with a little searching an e-ink theme for Go-Launcher in market. If all else fails you could probably create your own theme based off of like Minimalist black or use a non e-ink theme that does the trick.
The built in e-reader app is the equivalent if not better than the market nook app.
While I appreciate the various suggestions from tazzix I'm not proficient enough with Android to know how to manipulate APK files or settings. I keep reading that there's a version of TouchNooter that enables search in Market but either I haven't found it or it isn't working for me (I had a lot of problems with the latest version of TouchNooter, which is why I went with SalsichaNooter). I do have basic access to Market and I am using MarketSearch for searching so I could live with this level of functionality if necessary.
I downloaded and installed the Black-N-Blue free theme for GO Launcher, which seemed to help increase contrast and thus visibility. I'd love to find a way (or at least a way that was within my abilities to use) to turn the background behind all the apps white so they were easier to see when I scroll through them all.
All in all I think this device will work for my purpose even if I can't resolve my remaining problems. Oh and I mapped the side buttons, using Nook Touch Tools, for Volume Up and Down (works great to turn pages in Kindle app), Back and Menu. All very handy. Mapping one of these buttons for Home, though, sends you to the Nook home rather than the Android launcher home. I appreciate the help I've gotten and any more ideas that I come across.
lesdense said:
I'd love to find a way (or at least a way that was within my abilities to use) to turn the background behind all the apps white so they were easier to see when I scroll through them all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Somewhere on this forum is a theme with contrast icons for go launcher, it really helps, although it is not for all apps.
lesdense said:
While I appreciate the various suggestions from tazzix I'm not proficient enough with Android to know how to manipulate APK files or settings. I keep reading that there's a version of TouchNooter that enables search in Market but either I haven't found it or it isn't working for me (I had a lot of problems with the latest version of TouchNooter, which is why I went with SalsichaNooter). I do have basic access to Market and I am using MarketSearch for searching so I could live with this level of functionality if necessary.
I downloaded and installed the Black-N-Blue free theme for GO Launcher, which seemed to help increase contrast and thus visibility. I'd love to find a way (or at least a way that was within my abilities to use) to turn the background behind all the apps white so they were easier to see when I scroll through them all.
All in all I think this device will work for my purpose even if I can't resolve my remaining problems. Oh and I mapped the side buttons, using Nook Touch Tools, for Volume Up and Down (works great to turn pages in Kindle app), Back and Menu. All very handy. Mapping one of these buttons for Home, though, sends you to the Nook home rather than the Android launcher home. I appreciate the help I've gotten and any more ideas that I come across.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems odd that you'd have troubles with the latest TouchNooter, the issue I seem to come across for most people using it is the Wait a Day issue with market, but since your Market is already working and the other Nooter has done most of the work you could try running TouchNooter 1.11.20 on top of it (making sure you're upgraded to 1.1 first), or burning the card (and after installing a file manager) try installing the Market+Gapps from there manually to "update" them.
As for setting the B&N button to take you home and ending up on B&N home, try and make sure you have the setting saved for home. Also make sure that your default home is Go Launcher. As long as Button Savior's home will take you to go Launcher the B&N home button should too if you've modified the right button. Perhaps try a reboot.
Go Launcher > Preferences > Visual Settings > Backgrounds > App drawer background > Custom Background
Then just select a blank wallpaper image.
My dad has purchased a few of the 10.1 inch tablets for other members of our family, and I've been tasked with setting them up.
Is there any way to remove the Walmart branded stuff off of this thing? Especially the Walmart button in the Navbar?
If this were for me, I'd just look to root and installed Lineage OS, but since these are for someone else, I just want to get the stupid Walmart stuff out of there and make things as simple as possible for them.
Happy to provide more information as needed.
Thanks in advance!
Use Link 2SD to freeze the four apps. You can also freeze a WmApps to disable the icon, but I don't know yet if it'll take a hike. Will know after a bit probably. Both of my tablets are acting weird atm.
OK, got it. Disabling WmApps leaves the Walmart icon on the navbar but it locks the tablet instead of showing the four Walmart apps. If you leave WmApps enabled but freeze the four Walmart apps, the icon will bring up a "favorite apps" screen, presumably with whatever apps you want to move to it.
I could use it as instant lock myself.
I was hoping to get rid of the icon, but yeah, I already disabled the other apps. That'll have to do.
Thanks.
shadow460 said:
Use Link 2SD to freeze the four apps. You can also freeze a WmApps to disable the icon, but I don't know yet if it'll take a hike. Will know after a bit probably. Both of my tablets are acting weird atm.
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Click to collapse
Hi, I tried to use Link2SD and it seems to require root to freeze app? I am ok with using the * button for favorite apps.
Thanks!
mailmailmail said:
Hi, I tried to use Link2SD and it seems to require root to freeze app? I am ok with using the * button for favorite apps.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anytime!
Yes it does require root, which has caused me some issues itself.
Have a good weekend!
shadow460 said:
Anytime!
Yes it does require root, which has caused me some issues itself.
Have a good weekend!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a preferred procedure you can point me to for this? Really appreciate it!
I posted a bloat remover script at https://github.com/ikluft/ikluft-tools/blob/master/scripts/bloat-remover-onntab.sh for use on Linux or other Unix-like systems. You must have ADB, and may (or may not) need root access on your desktop/laptop system to run ADB. It requires developer access to the tablet, but not root. (This doesn't remove the Walmart button because that changed in Android 10/11. I saw others posted examples for Android 9 in other threads.)
I have just purchased a walmart 10.1" Model 100003562. (Pro Tablet)
it has Android 11 software and is got the out of the box software including the walmart apps.
I would like to remove the walmart apps and the spying software for the camera and the microphone. I have not yet allowed it to connect to the WiFi to update or have allowed it to identify a google account.
Is there any hope? I have searched over and over for hours for some kinda of guide on what to do with this tablet and I haven't come up with a rock solid description of what I need to do.
I would be extremely grateful for any help and wouldn't hesitate to donate if I need too. I have a few days left with it before I can return it and get a refund if I accidently brick it or if its just impossible to make "clean"
Thank you much.
I thought I'd share my method to remove the Walmart button for others searching. I had removed some of the bloatware using the GitHub script posted. Put that button was still there. I'm using Nova launcher. But I imagine this should work with the stock launcher. You can just get rid of the navigation bar. Enable gestures in settings. This completely removes the navigation bar. The gestures are working well for me and are intuitive. It looks great and clean.
Hello everyone,
I've got a Smart TV with stock Android TV (v 11, can't disclose client , at the moment).
Is there any way to add a super minor customization to android tv ?
It's literally minor, it's adding an entry point for an App, which is not an App Icon Launcher, because they want it to look like integral part of the OS.
It could be anything like an Icon (next to the other system icons like settings, input, profile), or an Entry in system settings menu' , or something like that, to launch the Application.
It's so minor that redo all the work and get into AOSP is way too overkill, it would start a completely different project.
No, the client exclude the option to just have the App installed, they want the App as it was integral part of the Operating System.
I've read several documentations :
- Aosp : Way too many cons for such a small customization.
- Android Operator Tier with Custom Launcher : Could be viable to do a custom launcher, but the Smart TV is not eligible for operator tier (Not sold in leasing, do not sell any pay/linear channel, it's just a plain Smart TV)
- Custom Launcher on stock Android TV : Not viable, it would still be an Application with its launcher or would need some tricky configuration which wouldn't look like integral part of the OS at all.
- TIF (TV Input Framework) : Would just modify and recompile the TV App work ? I'm not sure if it is possible and how difficult it would be and if it is possible to "overwrite" just the TV System App on a Stock Android TV OS.
Do you have any suggestions how to achieve the desired "customization" without loosing all the built in supports/services that come with stock Android TV OS ? The simpler the better.
Thank you so much in advance!
from what you're explaining isn't a minor customization.
what you want is to customize the android tv launcher, however that launcher is an app just like everything else on the tvbox including your iptv app, youtube app, netflix app, etc...
so for your to achieve what you want, you'll need to have some dev knowledge, and you'll need to disassemble, modify and reassemble the launcher app + do whatever customization you need done.
it's not impossible, however it's not easy at all.
option2: you can hire a developer to develop your own tv launcher with whatever customization you want, probably won't be cheap, but will achieve exactly what you want.
option3: find an open-source tv launcher, use it, customize it as you like, you may or may-not need to hire a developer to do extra customizations, your cheapest, easiest, and quickest way to achieve what you're looking for. just google open source tv launcher, i'm sure you'll land on a few.
example:
Code:
https://gitlab.com/flauncher/flauncher
donmega_icecube said:
from what you're explaining isn't a minor customization.
what you want is to customize the android tv launcher, however that launcher is an app just like everything else on the tvbox including your iptv app, youtube app, netflix app, etc...
so for your to achieve what you want, you'll need to have some dev knowledge, and you'll need to disassemble, modify and reassemble the launcher app + do whatever customization you need done.
it's not impossible, however it's not easy at all.
option2: you can hire a developer to develop your own tv launcher with whatever customization you want, probably won't be cheap, but will achieve exactly what you want.
option3: find an open-source tv launcher, use it, customize it as you like, you may or may-not need to hire a developer to do extra customizations, your cheapest, easiest, and quickest way to achieve what you're looking for. just google open source tv launcher, i'm sure you'll land on a few.
example:
Code:
https://gitlab.com/flauncher/flauncher
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Click to collapse
Hello!
Thanks so much for the answer, Don Mega.
Damn i hope there was an easier way to add an icon.
I see...
No need to hire a developer.
I'm a Senior android engineering and I got a skilled team but we never had to work on the android TV OS system itself tho ( we're specialized on mobile apps and iot solutions, not tvs).
Btw .. I could develop a custom launcher but it may take time and as I said as far as I've read on documentation, a custom launcher would still need AOSP if the manufacturer want to override the system one.
Doesn't it ?
I ask 'cause AOSP is too much of an effort (at least just for an icon!) and several manufacturer who started on aosp and various customizations are now abandoning it (I already worked on a STB for British telecom and yeah, i didn't work on their custom OS specifically but i know they changed their mind in the end).
Probably because once you go that route, you loose all the support and services out of the box, and you need to take care of too many things to keep it up to date.
So they usually prefer to stick to Android tv stock version (wise choice).
If that's the case I suppose the manufacturer will be better find a more standard way to launch their app
Nimx said:
Btw .. I could develop a custom launcher but it may take time and as I said as far as I've read on documentation, a custom launcher would still need AOSP if the manufacturer want to override the system one.
Doesn't it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no need for flashing a different OS or Custom Rom to be able to install a custom developed app.
so if you make your own apk, all you need to do on the existing tvbox, enable unknown sources, to be able to install your own apk on there, it should be pretty straight forward.
put the apk on a usb stick, plug it into your box and navigate to any file manager app, you'll be able to find your apk, click on it and install, on your remote control press the HOME button, it should popup a msg asking which launcher you want to load, since now you developed your own launcher and the old launcher is still there, choose which launcher you want to be default. you can always go into settings > apps and disable the old launcher so if anyone presses the HOME button again, it always defaults to the new one you developed.
so short answer, no you don't need AOSP or any type of Custom Rom
donmega_icecube said:
no need for flashing a different OS or Custom Rom to be able to install a custom developed app.
so if you make your own apk, all you need to do on the existing tvbox, enable unknown sources, to be able to install your own apk on there, it should be pretty straight forward.
put the apk on a usb stick, plug it into your box and navigate to any file manager app, you'll be able to find your apk, click on it and install, on your remote control press the HOME button, it should popup a msg asking which launcher you want to load, since now you developed your own launcher and the old launcher is still there, choose which launcher you want to be default. you can always go into settings > apps and disable the old launcher so if anyone presses the HOME button again, it always defaults to the new one you developed.
so short answer, no you don't need AOSP or any type of Custom Rom
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Click to collapse
The manufacturer obviously don't want users to do this procedure to choose the new launcher, but should be able to persistently active it overriding the system one. And that's why I thought custom ROM was needed.
If that's not true then your solution is the perfect one
donmega_icecube said:
no need for flashing a different OS or Custom Rom to be able to install a custom developed app.
so if you make your own apk, all you need to do on the existing tvbox, enable unknown sources, to be able to install your own apk on there, it should be pretty straight forward.
put the apk on a usb stick, plug it into your box and navigate to any file manager app, you'll be able to find your apk, click on it and install, on your remote control press the HOME button, it should popup a msg asking which launcher you want to load, since now you developed your own launcher and the old launcher is still there, choose which launcher you want to be default. you can always go into settings > apps and disable the old launcher so if anyone presses the HOME button again, it always defaults to the new one you developed.
so short answer, no you don't need AOSP or any type of Custom Rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to keep you updated.
Custom launcher need user to set the new one.
But we found a possible solution without the burden to do a custom Rom.
Adding a new Ad-Hoc button on the Remote controller to launch their ecosystem settings app and/or a custom launcher (since this Smart Tv is a new model that will initially be delivered to several europe countries).
In this way it will look quite integrated in the android tv system, and the android TV OS will be always kept up to date from regular google updates, without all the issues plaguing custom roms like it does for other manufacturers.
Thank for your help
Nimx said:
Just to keep you updated.
Custom launcher need user to set the new one.
But we found a possible solution without the burden to do a custom Rom.
Adding a new Ad-Hoc button on the Remote controller to launch their ecosystem settings app and/or a custom launcher (since this Smart Tv is a new model that will initially be delivered to several europe countries).
In this way it will look quite integrated in the android tv system, and the android TV OS will be always kept up to date from regular google updates, without all the issues plaguing custom roms like it does for other manufacturers.
Thank for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sometimes i wish i was a developer, glad you found an easy solution.
thank you
It's still quite easy to become a developer due to high demand.
Not sure how old are you but I started when I was 34 yo by myself with no prior experience.
Nowadays, 5 years later, I Interview many candidates and I can tell the discriminating factor is not prior studies but dedication, high IQ (logic and abstraction wise) and learning speed.
Good luck if you'll ever decide to get into it
i'm 44 i have no patience for programming in general, I never did, I'm a full time network admin, and really into hardware a lot more than software.
but when it came to Android, i got my hands dirty flashing custom roms on all my phones. i started to customize my own roms for tv boxes.
but I kinda wish I did have some android dev skills, it's the only thing i end up outsourcing when needed.
thank you