I need a phone that would have just a few selected apps (calling, sms, whatsapp, google maps, c:geo, AnkiDroid, Strava, Teams and two other) and nothing more. No possibility to open any links (e.g. in whatsapp), no option to install anything (even for a smart guy), no option to uninstall anything. Is it possible? Would someone be able to prepare such a ROM? Does not have to be for S20FE, ay cheaper alternative would also be ok.
Related
Before the flaming, I have read and searched many threads before posting.
Reading over the manual:
1. Can you select / Install google maps instead of bing maps like on HD2?
2. If not on Bing maps, does your location auto move as you move, similar to GPS?
3. Never used Zune, does it allow you to sync contacts? not important just interesting to know.
4. For those who have synced to google calendar, is it smooth and fully function? or have you noticed issues?
5. Reading about SRS, many say you have to install an app, according to manual, its in the HTC hub section already installed? which one do we use?
6. Not sure where but I read that future updates will be done auto and not force your phone to be reset to factory default like we currently do with HD2, can this be confirmed? any one know ?
I hate doing updates on HD2, having to re-sync and recreate email accounts and settings, if they do updates without having to reset to factory, such as the new Droid OS does, would be a very easy way to function.
Thank you in advance.
rysky007 said:
Before the flaming, I have read and searched many threads before posting.
Reading over the manual:
1. Can you select / Install google maps instead of bing maps like on HD2?
2. If not on Bing maps, does your location auto move as you move, similar to GPS?
3. Never used Zune, does it allow you to sync contacts? not important just interesting to know.
4. For those who have synced to google calendar, is it smooth and fully function? or have you noticed issues?
5. Reading about SRS, many say you have to install an app, according to manual, its in the HTC hub section already installed? which one do we use?
6. Not sure where but I read that future updates will be done auto and not force your phone to be reset to factory default like we currently do with HD2, can this be confirmed? any one know ?
I hate doing updates on HD2, having to re-sync and recreate email accounts and settings, if they do updates without having to reset to factory, such as the new Droid OS does, would be a very easy way to function.
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Currently, only Bing maps is available on the phone, as all primary mapping services also only use Bing (so far). I have yet to come across any apps that use Google Maps, yet.
2. If an application uses the GPS regardless of whether it is using Bing, or Google, or neither, it works the same way where it tracks your location... hence the point of GPS.
3. Zune is for syncing media only at this point. It does not sync your Outlook/Windows/desktop contacts, and currently there is no 'official' way of doing this. Windows Phone 7 relies heavily on the cloud and Exchange server services (Windows Live, Gmail, etc.)
4. Using Google Calendar on the phone is rather simple and straightforward, aside from the limitation that Windows Phone 7 can only currently see your primary calendar only.
5. The SRS and Dolby sound enhancements are HTC-device specific only. You would download the application from the HTC Hub on the Marketplace, which you can only see if you are browsing the Marketplace on an HTC device.
6. Updates are pushed by Microsoft, and not necessarily the carrier (but certainly possible). You are correct that they work more as patches to the system rather than requiring full system re-installs.
I should add that, having been through the hard-reset process recently, getting the phone back to how I had it was fairly straight forward, although there were a couple of time-consuming things:
- set up APN (not needed if you're using an operator-locked phone with the operator's SIM)
- set up WiFi
- Enter Windows Live login details
- Enter Gmail login details
- Enter Facebook details
- Link Gmail contacts with Facebook ones -- most are done for you, but I had about 15 I had to manually link out of 250 contacts.
- Redownload apps. Apparently if you get the apps via Zune Desktop, this happens for you when you resync, but if you've bought/downloaded them via Marketplace, you have to manually redownload.
The bold steps were the time consuming ones. I also lost all saved games, which is frustrating.
Guys thank you for the great and fast responses.
Still a bit confused on the SRS, so is it an app that comes with the phone already? or one we need to get from Market Place?
Also forgot one main question I wanted to ask...
Does WP7 have or need Task Killer?
I know on Droid u have to dl the app,
WM6 came with it
Wm7? dont see any were in manual, do I assume that this new OS actually shuts things down when u close them like it should?
Thanks.
WP7 puts apps to sleep effectively - I can't remember the term they use off hand, but when you navigate away, if the app doesn't ask you if you want to exit, then it will save the state - dehydrated I think is the term! - so it's no longer running in the background. Then when you go back to it, it's rehydrated.
So no task killer.
rob_p said:
WP7 puts apps to sleep effectively - I can't remember the term they use off hand, but when you navigate away, if the app doesn't ask you if you want to exit, then it will save the state - dehydrated I think is the term! - so it's no longer running in the background. Then when you go back to it, it's rehydrated.
So no task killer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not bad, glad to see them follow nokias foot steps on this one.
I hated having task killer but then again its nice to see what is running in back round and bring up a app or process via that as well.
double edge sword i guess
rysky007 said:
Guys thank you for the great and fast responses.
Still a bit confused on the SRS, so is it an app that comes with the phone already? or one we need to get from Market Place?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app does not come with the phone. The phones do come with HTC Hub though, and through that application, you can view all the other HTC apps, including the Sound Enhancer one, and download it through there. It is also available through the Marketplace (HTC Hub just basically links you to the Marketplace for its downloads).
What services and apps can be disabled. But please with a description what people are disabling, so they can decided if they need it or not.
So far i disabled:
Anonymous Usage Stats (self explanatory, not on cost of my battery and data plan)
Auto upload photo (no idea what it is, but if i want to upload a photo i do it myself)
Screen Mirror (brings your screen on a TV, dont have a compatible one, don't need it)
extension for youtube, wikipedia (don't know who is extended here, but if i need those i use my web browser)
extension for google lyrics search (don't care for that)
Exchange Services (suppose it has to do with Microsoft Exchange, which i don't use..)
Face Unlock (very useful feature, people just need a photo of you to unlock your phone, disabled)
Facebook (i'll do my little facebooking with the browser, thanks)
Movies / Devices (got an alternate video player anyway)
gmail (normal mail client is enough for me)
google partner setup (i'm not going to be a google partner)
Google Play Books, Movies, Music (not going to use those)
Google+ (don't need it)
Japanese keyboard layout and skins (not my language so i don't need it, skins won't work for the non japanese keyboard)
MirrorLink Service (Connects your phone to a car, don't need that)
Music unlimited (no idea, doesn't sound important)
News & weather (got my own apps for that)
location based wi-fi (i use wifi rarely and am able to manage that myself, don't allow my phone to locate me all the time anyway)
photo analyzer service (my photos don't need analyzing)
picasa uploader (dont use that service)
Pico TTS (i use only google TTS)
PlayMemories Online (not needed)
SensMe slidshow (sorry its a phone, not a digital photo frame)
Smar Connect (starts stuff if you connect stuff automaticly, doesn't fit my using habits)
Sony car (dont need that)
Sony select (no idea)
Support (thats what forums are for )
Talk (google IM service, don't need it)
Talkback (talks to you about what going on with your phone while using it, my eyes are still fine, so i don't need this practical feature)
TV-App Starter (no TV here that supports it anyway)
Video Studio (sorry, editing videos on a smartphone? no)
visualization (doesn't sound very useful)
weather widget (got a different one)
Xperia Appshare, Calendar sync, FB setup, Friendsmusic, Music Likes, Proxy, Share, Social Engine +photos +sharing, twitter (since i don't use Twitter, Facebook and whatever as native up i don't need any Xperia apps that can work with it)
whatsapp (dont like always on apps, just wastes my battery)
McAfee (i don't think Android need an antivirus program)
com.sonyericson.unplugchargerreminder (removes the annoying message after you removed your charger from the phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nurps said:
What services and apps can be disabled. But please with a description what people are disabling, so they can decided if they need it or not.
So far i disabled:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to do this? Disabling all these? Steps, perhaps?
solidghost9 said:
How to do this? Disabling all these? Steps, perhaps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disable most in the Settings > Apps section. Tedious, but worth it.
For apps that can't be disabled this way, you'll need root and Titanium Backup to freeze them. Always freeze, never uninstall until your ROM is stable after a few reboots.
You can disable all themes and wallpaper picker
Island App from @oasisfeng
Those who want to have their Apps like :-
1. Banking Apps like GooglePay, PhonePe, PayTM, etc. to work like being installed on a non rooted phone.
2. Apps that invade privacy like Truecaller, etc. not to get any personal data.
3. Apps which you want to have dual account like Whatsapp, Facebook, etc.
4. Apps to whom you don't want to share your any data like contacts, files, history, etc but still want to install (but not sms).
5. If Apps from Government like Digilocker that won't work even using Magisk Hide.
Then I suggest you to install Island App from @oasisfeng from Playstore.
I find to very useful. You will find it too.
Once you install and know the concept (work profile) and the function it performs, you will realise you didn't know you needed this app.
Here is the link to his thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/closed-beta-test-incoming-companion-app-t3366295
Several great roms for this phone, so glad I can use it without the google overreach. Only need a few apps on it, plus calls and texts, and one of the apps is OSMAND (or really, any map/directions app).
Unfortunately, no TTS - so I can't get things like street names mentioned while driving in unfamiliar areas... Yes, this may seem like a tiny issue - that's because it is - but it does cause some problems.
So, if anyone on here happens to know how to get TTS working so that OSMand or any good non-google app can use it, could I get a step by step? Or, perhaps my searching was in error. I didn't find anything other than 'install gApps <google> which defeats the purpose of putting on a different rom. Just point me to the right forum posts. TWRP and RROS 8.6.? both on the phone with no issues, thanks to posts on this forum.
I like RROS, but if a different rom would make it easier I'm open - just don't want Google and it's tracking/control on it. APKPure and F-Droid are good enough for my apps.
Thanks In Advance
Jim
The phone's stock ROM does have TTS installed, do you need to be running a custom ROM?
Also, Waze is an option if you need to hear street names while driving without looking at your phone. Give it a try
mrsiri said:
The phone's stock ROM does have TTS installed, do you need to be running a custom ROM?
Also, Waze is an option if you need to hear street names while driving without looking at your phone. Give it a try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've only just heard about Waze - that sounds like the option for me, if I can get it working without Gapps (want to regain some privacy). Thanks for the pointer I'll look that up.
You're welcome. Gapps is only needed for google specific apps like Youtube or Google movies, books, the playstore or to login on an app with your gmail account. Aptoide is also a good alternative to apkpure or f-droid. I also use apkmirror when I can't find in aptoide.
I'm trying some ROMS to make my phone run only apps that I dev. No camera, no gallery, no phone, only apps to make hardware work, like BT, Wireless, 3G, Keyboard (no problem with GBoard for example), webview, etc
This phone is for my child, and I need to install some education apps that I dev
Can anyone advise me?
Well you could use a restrictor app like family link to basically hide all apps except the ones you allow.
I installed dot os 5.2.1 on my redmi 4a but the off screen battery draining is too much...any way to fix it?