[Q] clone one to many - Atrix 2 - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys, I’m new to the forum and fairly new to Android devices in general. I’ve googled a good bit before posting, and searched this forum for some keywords, but haven’t come up with a solution to what I need to do.
I have what seems like a fairly simple need: Set up an android device the way I want it, and then clone this image to multiple other devices.
I work with an organization that conducts a lot of epidemiology surveillance in foreign countries. The surveys are done on android based devices with a collection of off-the-shelf apps, plus one we had custom built for our purpose. Data is sent to us via whatever mobile networks happen to be available in the country being surveyed (we buy our phones unlocked, and get the SIM cards in-country).
As we continue to expand, installing all those apps and getting all of the settings just right becomes a very tedious, repetitive task, when you consider doing 100+ phones a month. .
Ideally I would like to stick with the factory rom, just add/remove some apps and configure settings. The cloning process needs to be fairly straight-forward, and not require a bunch of apps to be installed on the target phones first, because that kind of defeats the purpose.
For the time being, we’re using Motorola Atrix and Atrix 2. We also have some XT720s but we’re phasing those out.
Not sure if this is relevant, but below is roughly what provisioning currently looks like:
1. We receive a batch of phones, say 100 at a time
2. First, do a factory reset, and go through the initial setup
3. Remove as many of the factory installed apps as possible
4. Set up WiFi
5. Log into Google Play account and install the 6 apps we actually use
6. Make LauncherPro the default desktop, set it to only use 1 dock and 1 desktop, set a plain boring background, hide all except the app drawer icon, and have and icon for our app, and an airplane mode widget on the desktop.
7. Finally, enter the server connection settings in our survey app (this part we’ve gotten to a point where all we do is drop a config file to the SD Card, and it picks up the settings for this particular app)
8. Turn off the phone, and do it all again on the other 99 devices…
Any thoughts on how to automate this?

Related

[Q] multi user (2 users)

I'm very confused, trying to make the leap from a PC (Windows and Linux),
where it is OBVIOUS how to distinquish one user in the household from another,
to my new B/N Nook Tablet.
Ok, so I'm now using my tablet. When I hit 'Home', my desktop shows that my logged-in email is an active app. (and so are a few others).
So, I completely power it down.
When I power it back up, I expected that my email would NOT be active.
But, it IS!
What if it was some OTHER household member who powered up the tablet?
(I do NOT want them, by default, seeing my email screen!)
Is there a solution? (Or should I just return this goofy 'tablet' to Barnes and Noble, and wait til next year to see if next-year's tablet OS works the
way most of us would want it to???)
For now, think of this tablet as a personal device such as a mobile phone. Pretty sure ICS works the same way too so it might be a long wait for you.
Ok.
Meanwhile, how do I explicitly shutdown (stop) my running apps
(e.g. my email app)?
Do I 'visit' each one, and find how each app handles stopping it?
Or, better...is there a 'task-mgr' (list) for my apps, so that I could select
them all and abort them?
You could get "advanced task killer" from the market. Not sure if it needs to be rooted or if you could just side load it.
Sent from my BNTV250 using Tapatalk
MonkeysInACan said:
You could get "advanced task killer" from the market. Not sure if it needs to be rooted or if you could just side load it.
Sent from my BNTV250 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...I'm still a newbie to all this 'root' vs 'side-load' terminology.
Side-load just means: 'Get it first on a real PC, then plug-in the USB-cable
to the tablet, and 'move it over'?
To 'root' something seems to mean that, in Linux-terminology, I first need to
have 'root' (super-user) privs, right? (I saw a thread about how to 'root'
the device, but am unclear about DETAILS. Does it violate warranties?
(yada, yada) Also, I THINK I'm hearing that, right now, I can only use
the Barnes/Noble 'app store' and NOT to the generic Android 'app store'?
True/false?
Are you saying I might need 'root' to INSTALL the app 'adv task killer', or
to RUN 'adv task killer'? (or both?)
It sounds like you want to have some form of screen locker in place so when you power back up (or unsleep) you have to enter a code or a pattern. This prevents unauthorized access to your personal tablet.
You should be able to activate it from the settings menu.
Concerning multiple logins, the presumption is one user per device. As to 'working how "most of us" would want it to'... Most people do prefer it this way. If someone else wants their own tablet, they should get their own tablet.
>the presumption is one user per device.
This is a legacy of Android still being a phone OS. Tablet is a more social device, and safe bet is that multiuser acct handling will show up at some point. Hopefully, soon. Else, Win8 will do what Android can't.
Android still has a lot of holes it needs to fill, and I'm not talking about apps.
---------- Post added at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:56 PM ----------
@OP
You don't need to "close" apps in Android. The OS manages memory as needed per least-recently-used basis. Using apps such as "Task Killer" is inefficient and will shorten battery life. There've been many articles/posts written on this topic. Google to find.
What's recommended is to run something like System Panel (free app in market). Over time, it'll give you a profile of which app is eating up the most battery. Use that to remove apps that are power-hogs.
At least on my Android cell phone, hitting the Home key leaves the current application running. Hitting the "Back" key ends the application. Not sure if the NT has a "Back" function...
rmm200 said:
At least on my Android cell phone, hitting the Home key leaves the current application running. Hitting the "Back" key ends the application. Not sure if the NT has a "Back" function...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The NT does have a back key, but that behavior depends on how the app was designed and it not true for many apps. In fact, because of what e.mote described about Android's design for "backgrounded" apps, Google recommends that apps not be designed to close itself with the back button, menu command, etc except for special circumstances.
e.mote said:
>
[...]
@OP
You don't need to "close" apps in Android. The OS manages memory as needed per least-recently-used basis. Using apps such as "Task Killer" is inefficient and will shorten battery life. There've been many articles/posts written on this topic. Google to find.
What's recommended is to run something like System Panel (free app in market). Over time, it'll give you a profile of which app is eating up the most battery. Use that to remove apps that are power-hogs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, but that's the question/issue: i.e. I WANT to close this particular app (email), for
security reasons!
Are you saying that apps in Android are often NOT programmed with a
mechanism to STOP them?
By design, yes - most apps are not programmed to fully stop themselves - they remain resident in memory in case you return to that app - it reduces load times and allows content viewing sites (news readers, downloading the newest emails, periodic alerting tools, etc) to work in the background so the information is available when you want it without having to do a load at the time you bring up the app.
Any app that's paused (not the current focus) may be asked to relinquish resources by the OS in order to allow another app (with the current focus) the ability to run. This is all handled by the OS, and applications are expected to always be interruptable, thus constantly persisting their state as they are being used. This allows for something else to interrupt (such as a phone call or selection of another app, or an alert from your alarm program) with a reasonable expectation that whatever you were doing wasn't lost.
The security built into Android is the ability to require a passcode or pattern to unlock the phone when coming out of a sleep state. Failing to set that pattern or passcode is a failing of the user, not the OS.
Phones and Tablets, from the android perspective, are an extension of the person. Though I sometimes use my wife's NookColor, or she mine - it is a rare thing and any use beyond that by friends is always supervised.
Other tablet OSs may have the concept of 'logging in', but not Android.
So, I'm screwed? No way to get her email logged in?
Hmm...I HOPE I'm still missing something simple. (Otherwise, I'm
screwed, and I'll have to return this diabolical BEAST to the store.)
This unit is a gift for my wife for Xmas.
To familiarize myself with it, I setup and logged-in to my
Gmail acct.
Of course, NOW I want to:
'Log out' of my gmail, and setup the 'email app' to login to
her email (non-Gmail-based). [And, have THAT one be the
always-open email-acct, (tho I do NOT LIKE this 'feature'
of always-logged-in at all!)]
How do I do that? ('Rooting' this Nook Tablet is NOT an option, so
if that's part of your proposed "solution", forget it.)
TIA...
cookdav said:
Hmm...I HOPE I'm still missing something simple. (Otherwise, I'm
screwed, and I'll have to return this diabolical BEAST to the store.)
This unit is a gift for my wife for Xmas.
To familiarize myself with it, I setup and logged-in to my
Gmail acct.
Of course, NOW I want to:
'Log out' of my gmail, and setup the 'email app' to login to
her email (non-Gmail-based). [And, have THAT one be the
always-open email-acct, (tho I do NOT LIKE this 'feature'
of always-logged-in at all!)]
How do I do that? ('Rooting' this Nook Tablet is NOT an option, so
if that's part of your proposed "solution", forget it.)
TIA...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be an option in the Settings section to add and remove email accounts. I don't have a NT but that's pretty standard as Android devices go.
I have to say you seem to have a lot of misinformed expectations of the Android/Nook experience. Keep remembering that the software was originally developed for mobile phones, so expecting things to be done in the same way to a desktop OS is gonna cause you grief.
tomegranate said:
There should be an option in the Settings section to add and remove email accounts. I don't have a NT but that's pretty standard as Android devices go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah...'should' is the operative word. But, I do NOT see any such option.
I have to say you seem to have a lot of misinformed expectations of the Android/Nook experience. Keep remembering that the software was originally developed for mobile phones, so expecting things to be done in the same way to a desktop OS is gonna cause you grief.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...I'd characterize my expectations quite differently. This is the FIRST
(and I hope LAST) implementation of an 'email reader' that was designed
with NO WAY to log out/close down. Common sense SHOULD dictate
that they'd provide a way to log-out or reset to a different email-acct,
but so far, there's NO SIGN that anyone had any common sense.
Hey, maybe the 'crime-stoppers' (aka 'big brothers'/homeland-security) folks
asked for this 'feature'. It will make it easier now...they can just say:
"Great...there's her B/N Nook Tablet! She can't have logged out, so just look
thru her emails, and see who she's been corresponding with."
Right now, my opinion of this beast is worse than the 'Hotel California':
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
�relax,� said the night man,
We are programmed to receive.
You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!
Hell, on a Nook, I can't even checkout!
cookdav said:
Ah...'should' is the operative word. But, I do NOT see any such option.
Hmm...I'd characterize my expectations quite differently. This is the FIRST
(and I hope LAST) implementation of an 'email reader' that was designed
with NO WAY to log out/close down. Common sense SHOULD dictate
that they'd provide a way to log-out or reset to a different email-acct,
but so far, there's NO SIGN that anyone had any common sense.
Hey, maybe the 'crime-stoppers' (aka 'big brothers'/homeland-security) folks
asked for this 'feature'. It will make it easier now...they can just say:
"Great...there's her B/N Nook Tablet! She can't have logged out, so just look
thru her emails, and see who she's been corresponding with."
Right now, my opinion of this beast is worse than the 'Hotel California':
"You can checkout any time you like, But you can never leave! "
Hell, on a Nook, I can't even checkout!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But you can lock the tablet.
The option is there. I don't have my NT in front of me, but there is an option to remove B&N account settings and wipe the device. That's what you want. It will remove everything that you set up.
As far as your opinion that this is the first such email program that doesn't log out...there has never been a smartphone OS email program that logs completely out, or one that allows multiple users. Android was developed for Phones. The expectation is that you will use your phone, not share it with 10 people with each of them having their own settings.
Something that you are referring to is available, but not from an Android, Blackberry or iOS device. You would have to get a Windows (not Win Mobile) tablet, which will not work as well (yet) as any of the other OS's because it was not designed specifically for the hardware it's running on.
Easy way to have what you want on this tablet: Don't set up email using the built in email program. Use the browser and don't have it remember the password.
@OP
Your expectations aren't unreasonable. It's just that Android-on-tablet is still very much a work in progress, and you along with all of us are beta testers.
Multiuser handling is just one of many issues that have arisen. In the Kindle Fire forum, there are complaints about not being able to disable one-click purchasing for when handing the KF to your kids. iOS has had the same issue, and has a partial workaround. Until Android supports multiuser, there is no good solution.
For e-mail, you can try various email clients to see if any supports discrete logins/logouts (and of course pulling mail from your webmail account).
http://google.com/search?q=email+apps+for+android
cookdav said:
Ah...'should' is the operative word. But, I do NOT see any such option.
Hmm...I'd characterize my expectations quite differently. This is the FIRST
(and I hope LAST) implementation of an 'email reader' that was designed
with NO WAY to log out/close down. Common sense SHOULD dictate
that they'd provide a way to log-out or reset to a different email-acct,
but so far, there's NO SIGN that anyone had any common sense.
Hey, maybe the 'crime-stoppers' (aka 'big brothers'/homeland-security) folks
asked for this 'feature'. It will make it easier now...they can just say:
"Great...there's her B/N Nook Tablet! She can't have logged out, so just look
thru her emails, and see who she's been corresponding with."
Right now, my opinion of this beast is worse than the 'Hotel California':
"You can checkout any time you like, But you can never leave! "
Hell, on a Nook, I can't even checkout!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jesus guy, it's not an 'email reader', whatever that means, it's a mobile tablet computer, and it handles email accounts the same way as all tablet computers that use a mobile OS (ones based on Android, iOS, and presumably webOS and Blackberry too), because they're designed for personal, individual use. Smartphones don't have a way to log out of your email account in the way you're expecting, and neither does a modern tablet.
If this is the first time you've used this type of device, you need to exercise more patience before you start stamping your feet, otherwise people are gonna be unwilling to help you.
I'm 100% certain there is a way to remove your email account from the device, you just haven't found it yet. This is very likely not the fault of the device! Did you even read the user manual? http://img1.imagesbn.com/pimages/nook/tablet/mediakit/userguide_NOOKTablet_111115.pdf
Reset the unit to factory standard and put it in the box, it is an option under 'settings' and will return it to the "as-purchased state" with all data wiped.
Then decide if you're returning it or wrapping it to give to your your wife.
In the future, consider letting the person receiving the gift having the pleasure of opening a unit in pristine condition. My wife would kill me if I "pre-opened" an electronic device intended for her "to familiarize myself with it". Let that happen on the day she opens it, after she's decided she needs help. I think it's deplorable that you've cracked the seals and denied her the experience of opening something new.
If you want to 'log out', then you have to shut the device down instead of leaving it in 'sleep mode'. No power means the apps aren't running (unless you or the OS have set them up as background processes). When you turn it back on, you'll realize quickly that there is no 'select profile' or 'choose user' function because it is designed to be one device for one user.
If the user wants security to prevent other people from reading sensitive information, they should set the screen lock code in the settings menu.
-=-=-
At this point, I believe you have all the information you need:
1) Devices are intended to be single user, by design, regardless of your desire to have them be otherwise.
2) Use the built in screen lock capability if you are concerned about sensitive information being viewed.
3) You should reset the device to factory settings via the settings menu to wipe all data you've entered and return it to a nearly 'as new' state.
4) You should not be playing with your wife's new device and instead allow her to experience the setup guide and walk through the configuration of the device in the way she desires.
If there is another specific question about how things work or operate, please ask. If there are further conspiracy theories I'm sure there are better forums for that than this one.
Wow. lotta words - no Solution...
You're going to have to factory reset the device:
Settings>Device Info>Erase and Factory Reset
Once its resets, enter your wife's information.
You seem to think that phones and Pads run like Windows where you can log out as yourself and no one can see your email. Phones and pads are single user devices and will not work like Windows. Even Windows phones and pad don't operate like that.

Android user asks questions

I am due for an upgrade later this month. I am an Android user of phones & tablets for more than 3 years so i am very used to the OS with its massive customisations, etc. But i have been noticing in the background that Windows Phone 8 is slowly gaining fans and i would like to know why. I'd like to convince myself. In particular i'm interested with the Lumia 920 and the newer 925/928 model:
1. Does the Lumia have a Bluetooth feature that can connect to any Bluetooth wireless speakers? And can one send files via bluetooth to any bluetooth-enabled Android phone?
2. Does the Lumia have a quick toggle to settings to instantly turn on or off settings such as wifi, Bluetooth, brightness, etc. (much like the notification drop down bar of Android)
3. Is there a customisable equaliser settings to the new Lumias? Surround sound? Bass? Preset EQ settings?
4. Can I set a Playlist, edit a Playlist name and set songs to a Playlist on-the-fly? If no then what app can do that?
5. Can I drag n drop files from my Mac to a Lumia with a need or no need of another software?
6. Can I still access my Google apps & services such as YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Currents, Chrome, etc.?
7. Is there a pinch to zoom feature in zooming objects for taking photos? Is there an option to easily share them via Email, Bluetooth, Twitter, Instagram, Dropbox, etc.? A way to set photos as a phones's lockscreen wallpaper? A way to edit photos and share them? if so which app do i need?
8. Any "swype to type" typing feature? (For faster typing)
9. Any good alternatives music player, video player for the Lumia?
10. Notification Centre - is it true that one can view a notification (from email, Twiiter, Facebook, etc.) on the lock screen? And how do i "access" or see my notification? Do i swype or just click it?
11. Is there a unified & a fully customomisable news app similar to Google Currents?
12. Sideloading apps - is this possible with WP8? Is there an alternative app store other than WP8's?
Android has tons of alternative/3rd-party app stores where one can look, download & install .apk files on almost any device available out there. Is this also possible with WP8?
13. Would the copy & paste capability be possible in almost anywhere ON THE device itself? How do i copy & paste btw?
14. A way to set Google as a default search option?
15. Software updates - found this "1308" update but it would seem there is the newer "1314" update. What's the real deal? Is it true the 1308 update vastly improved the camera's features and the battery life? ('cause i can't see that info on the website) And how often would those "minor" updates be like performance updates, battery life improvements, new features, etc.
16. Any good note-taking app?
17. How does one go back to view last viewed sites on IE10? Is it any way possible to save them on the hard drive of the phone so i can view them again & again?
18. A way or possibility to print wirelessly to a bluetooth wireless wifi printer?
19. Can one create folders (like a folder for Games, News apps, etc.) like in Android?
20. A very good .pdf viewer please?
21. Can i easily edit a Contact's name, phone number, details, etc.?
22. Can i set a Calendar event or note?
23. Is there a way to edit or change the tile icons on the "main" home screen?
24. Does the camera of the Lumias (in particular the 920) is BSI and HDR features?
Again, read of reviews that the camera is good but photos can sometimes be "washed out" and looks blurry when zoomed in.
25. Screenshots - With Android there is a way to take a screenshot of your phone's current screen. IS this possible with WP8? If yes then how?
26. A good alternative to Google Maps where i can check for transport updates and how to get from point A to B or how to find nearby shops or restaurants?
27. How often does Nokia or MS updates their phones?
28. The battery is only 2000mAh which compare to Android or iPhones is very tiny. How long does the phone lasts for Music? Video? Moderate use?
Please advice. Thanks.
1. yes
2. yes but via apps from market (Windows Store)
3. no but Lumia have equalizer setting and Dolby headphone settings
4. yes and no... you can add songs to playlist and you can with WP app for PC/mac you can make playlist but few things missing
5. yes
6. yes with IE or apps from Market, you cant have other browser, only IE (or Nokia Xpress Browser), maps also with IE or with other app (gMaps for example)
7. yes. yes (direct and also with apps from Market. yes. yes. in most case is enough Nokia apps but if you need more just search market or use App Highlights to suggest you apps
8. yes. WP keyboard is rudimentary but you can swipe with finger to type
9. no. in reality, all players from Market is only shell to original windows player...
10. when notification come, is shown short time in top of screen and if you click it, open it... if you dont click, notification closes and shown on lock screen (wallpaper all missed notification with icon and number)
11. is tons of many apps in Market, i dont use it but think no problem to find right one
12. yes and no.... can sideload but only original apps downloaded from Windows Store and loaded from SDcard if Lumia have SDcard slot. No other alternative stores. WP is most secure OS and in 2 and half year no any type of malware or viruses found on Windows Store because this restrictions
13. copy paste working, just select text and select copy icon, same with paste...
14. yes, in IE settings
15. 1308 is latest, 1314 is only AT&T update and not available for others...
16. a lot of them in market...
17. you can go back and you can bookmark but no save page option
18. not tried but think no...
19. you can create folders, anything like normal storage when connect via USB
20. official is good also others in Market
21. yes, on phone or on Live account on web http://mail.live.com/?rru=contacts
22. yes
23. yes and no... in basically you cant change tiles but also apps on market which can you make own style tiles and give him options
24. yes... Nokia 920 make great pictures...
25. yes, press windows button and power button... and this working where you want (apps, games, settings)
26. Here apps from nokia gives you most good navigation, travel and exploration features completely free with Maps, Drive, City Lens, Transit apps
27. booth... Nokia almost every week give new updates and improvements for their apps and settings
28. in normal use two day, less use 3 days for me (but i turned off many apps from working in background)... for music one day or little more is normal... all depend how many you use and set options in your phone. and newer let battery to discharged... this an brick phone... wireless charging is great thing, and if you can, get original Nokia plate for charging.
many of this answers is here
http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/how-to/wp8
I'm not looking for a Nokia Android phone here. Sure some questions i have been asking were"asked" before that is why i had to slightly change as to how i ask a specific question.
So far i like some of the replies in here. Very interesting OS compared to Android or IOS. For me one way to really know if i like a phone is to go to a shop. Which i've done today.
I went to an O2 store and saw the Lumia 920 & the 925. Both headphone jack were closed as i wanted to try out the vaunted Dolby headphones sound enhancement. The sales rep explained that he cannot do something about anything as he seem to suggest the brackets around the phone that covers the headphone jack is to "prevent the phones getting stolen". Jeez. An early turn off so i went to an EE shop instead.
EE had a working Lumia 920 so went to try it out. Camera seems slightly better than my S3 but noticed there were very few settings to dabble. Wasn't very much convinced with the Dolby sound enhancement (GSMArena were right after all); I wasn't sure if the software of the unit i was given was updated but i was using a mid-range 2-month old Sony earphones i must say. Even after changing the EQ to Custom sound was still somehow "flat" and lacking personality. Was able to try send a file from my S3 to the 920 with a bit of ease although it took about a minute which by todays' standards isn't great but isn't bad either.
What i still don't like:
1. Lack of an alternative app store
2. Lack of alternative browser
3. Lack of a really good altenrative music player with my above needs
4. Lack of .mkv and .srt support in video player
5. Slowness in transferring files via bluetooth
6. The need for a software in order to transfer files. Although someone did menttioned i can just copy & paste files and put them in a folder.
7. Uninspiring and seemingly flat audio/music quality when headphones are connected (even with Dolby On)
8. Non-removable & "low capacity" battery
9. Small 4.5" screen
10. Lack of or the inability to print to a wireless printer
11. Inability (?) for the phone to act as a wifi hotspot
12. Lack of swiping action for faster typing on keyboard
13. Inability to set Google as a search option
14. Inability to save a webpage as a .pdf file for future viewing
15. Few camera options & settings
16. No ability to edit a photo within OS/device
17. Inability to create folders tiles (for quick access to apps)
What also bothered me when i was in the EE shop was what the sales rep told me. She said that many people have been returning their Lumia 920s (i.e. rate of Lumias being returned were MANY!) for repair because of various problems such as bad incoming/outgoing call quality, screen issues and rebooting/crashing issues. She also bluntly advised me to get a Galaxy S4 or the HTC One instead.
Doesn't help with building up confidence does it?
Only the AT&T version allows you to tether and have up to 5 devices connected to it. But you have to have the second tier data package. Yes you can print to a wireless printer over WiFi (maybe another AT&T exclusive). It uses windows for godsake. If a PC can do it, this phone can do it. As for camera settings. It's a phone. If you want camera settings, then get a camera.
All app can be made into a tile simply by tapping and holding until the menu pops up to pin to desktop. The the file can be resized and positioned as you want it.
Google as a search option? Just make it your browser homepage. So what if it is just one more click. Has society really become this lazy?
That small screen is IPS and blows away all the other phones out there regardless of size. Also the gorilla glass is near diamond hard. Ok exaggeration but it is much harder than any other display out there.
You must have missed the edit photo option. You can cut, crop, change colors, and all kinds of edit options. Maybe that is another AT&T only feature.
My low capacity battery last 12 hours under full load and recharges in two with the wireless charger. Not sure what you want, but it is a computer in your pocket and you will not get phone life out of the battery.
Saving a webpage as a PDF. an Andy will not do that by default. So just wait for an app to be made. Or hey just bookmark it and view it over wifi.
There are alternative app stores for WP8. you just have to get into the right click. They are not made public since MS would shut them down.
There are three browsers that are free on the app store and six more you can pay for.
Did you even really try this out yourself or just let others opinions sway you like a typical sheeple? You know the site you keep referring to is biased against WP and MS products. So of course they will give this phone a negative review.
I am sorry to sound harsh but you tried one version from one provider. They are different. There are at this moment three types of 920 out there. The AT&T, The Rogers, and the all others. Each have some variations in functions and quality. As well as variations in the OS.
You also don't need software to transfer files. Not sure where you got that from but if the phone is plugged into a PC it behaves just like a USB drive and can be explored by windows explorer and you just drag and drop files just like another hard drive.
Bluetooth for file transfer is old school and slow. The S3 as well as the Lumia has a tap to send feature that when both phones are near each other you just select a file, select tap to send, find the other phone in the list and tap it. The other phone if feature is turned on will acknowledge a waiting file. You confirm it and it transfers over the TTS network between the phones. Faster than BT by the way.
There are several MKV players in the store, but they are not free.
I'm sorry but it just sounds like you are picking the phone apart and trying to convince yourself not to get one. If you are happy with Andy then the Lumia is not for you just to be blunt. Most Lumia users are tired of Andy or iPhone and that is why they switched. You will not get the customization of Andy with this phone. What you will get is a good rugged phone that has an OS that runs it like it should with minimal apps to perform most day to day things. You will get a camera that rivals lower end SLR's in quality even if it does not have all the bells and whistles. Yes there are SLR users here who have compared the pic quality and in some case it was better on this phone. You will get an OS that runs smoothly and fast and again does what it should. I will say it one last time. If you are happy with Andy or iPhone then this phone is not for you. This phone is a first phone, or a phone for those tired of the cookie cutter phones/OS's out there.
I do not think GSMArena is "biased" to WP & MS products. Why would they? Please enlighten me. The reason they have "negative" reviews of the Lumias is because its the truth i suppose. And the truth sometimes hurts isn't it?
And you might also ask yourself: why would the sales person be biased in saying the rate of returns is enormous because of such & such issues? Please enlighten me. Of all shops i went to (O2, EE & Carphone Warehouse) most of them sell (YES) Android phones (as many companies make Android phones...duh!), iPhones AND Windows phone 8 phones.
Again, let me ask (and challenge you)...why would the sales person be biased? I don't think its because they use Android phones most of the times. I simply don't think so. These people are trained to use and be familiar with ALL types of phones. The only reason i could think of is their reputation. Many returns (for repairs or otherwise) will ultimately have a negative effect on them.
I also heard of incompatibility with the EE network. If the phone is 4G-ready/capable it shouldn't be a compatibility issue. Its the issue of the maker of the phone (and OS) itself isn't it? If the phone is not up to what it can do or is capable of doing then i would rather go for a tried and tested and familiar phone & OS that is Android. I'm aware some companies release different versions of their phones depending on the country/market but still that doesn't help at all.
Also, the trouble with these shops is their phones are most of the times not updated so the software & other improvements are not there for you to experience. The headphone jack might be "locked" by the braces holding the phone or the phone isn't charged at all. Its a lose-lose situation.
Look i am not looking for a perfect Nokia Android phone as i will not find one. I know its either Windows Phone 8 or Android OS.
I made myself clear on my previous reply about my experience in the phone shops and the negative things i have known and read.
If i get the Lumia 920 right now on a 24-month contract with EE will they allow me to return the phone simply because "im not happy with it"? I guess we all know the answer to these question. All they care about is getting money from you and that's it.
Doesn't inspire confidence does it?
I know AT&T gives you a 14 day return period even on a 24 month contract. If you go beyond 14 days then they hit you with the phones full price if you break contract. The issue is not the phone, with 4G. 4G from provider to provider is on different frequencies. This phone like all others only supports 4G and LTE on certain frequencies. If your provider does not support those frequencies then there is nothing that you nor Nokia can do. You need to bust your providers balls to support the other frequencies as well. Good luck on that though since they will just tell you to use a phone they provide. If you want the Lumia to function 100% then you have to buy it from a provider who supports it and use their network. Buying it and trying to use it on a network that it was not intended for will result in fail most of the time. Or the very least a lot of flashing and tweaking and still may not be 100%.
I will say it again. If you like Android and are happy with it then stay with it. To me it sounds like you have already decided against this phone anyways. You Are not going to get somebody in a Lumia forum to flat out tell you not to buy it. So if you are looking for somebody to confirm your feelings you won't get it here. The bottom line is that this phone is not for somebody who is happy with their current OS. This phone is a phone for those just starting or those just fed up with the other stuff out there.
Well thank you all for your replies and insights.
If i get a Windows Phone 8 phone right now i feel it is a way backward not forward. I'm familiar with Android OS so i think i'll stick it out with them.

[Q] Kids phone ROM/App

Are there any ROMs or Apps designed for use with a phone for kids in the 10-14yo range? I would like for my child to have a phone for emergencies and i was going to pass down my old one, but i can't really find much to lock it down with. All i have really been able to find are "sandbox" apps such as kids mode, kids place, or the like that allow specific apps, but disable all cell/wifi features. These are more designed for letting your toddler play with your personal phone, which isn't what i'm looking for. What i am looking for is to still be able to have cell/wifi, but include: Approved/unlocked apps. Disable the dialer and restrict outbound calls to a predefined, non-editable list. Limited or no marketplace access. Lockout on settings.
There are a lot of tablets that i have seen designed with kids in mind that do this kind of stuff and I've seen similar phones like Kajeet or Firefly, but that would require the purchase of a phone, which i already have and a separate plan. There's stuff like cheap flip phones, but that would still need to be acquired and I figure with all the fun stuff Androids can do they will make sure they carry it around with them.
there was once an app call kytephone.com that did exactly this, but they where only around for like 6 months and then shut down. while the app can still be found in some places and side loaded, its no longer on play store, but it required internet access and a login to launch. since they are shut down, you can't create accounts or login anymore so even a side loaded version is useless.
If it could be done with separate apps to lock down stuff, that would be good too. I know the play store has content filtering and PIN for purchases, there also seem to be plenty of child friendly browsers out there for web filtering, and i could use app lock to lock out settings, but the difficulty i found was with the contact list and dialer.
I would prefer to stay with the stock ROM to keep T-Mobiles wifi calling, but if there's a custom ROM for this, that would work also.
Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?
Thanks.
Howdy. I realize that this is almost 10 years old but - did you find anything? (fingers crossed).
Thanks!
J

Free or low cost Android EMM /MDM for personal use

Hi all,
There are too many Android devices around me right now in my family members' hands and I'm tired to configure and troubleshoot them
Even the very basic setup implies to enter my very long and complicated WiFi password and next all logins and passwords for different accounts.
I need something to automate this:
1. The initial setup;
2. The remote help and troubleshooting. It seems TeamView and Visor can help here.
3. To get a list of installed apps. Once I needed to reconfigure my aunt's smartphone after a factory reset and have spent some time to figure out what app she used to use to contact a family that uses a red Icon. It was Viber and the icon was purple, but whatever. It seems that TeamView also has this option now.
Still looking to bypass an initial setup à la iPhone Configuration Utility with the profiles. Google Enterprise recommends a paid G Suite or some third-party EMM with $2 per device and per month payment plants. Too expensive for home use.
Any cheaper options available? I've seen some tutorials about apps batch install using ADB, but nothing to create the initial configuration profiles other than those expensive EMM.
Thanks.

Android phone / app for senior or child

Alright, here is the deal, I'm planning to upgrade my mom's phone, thinking about Nokia 2.2.
I want to severely restrict phone's ability to do things. Phone should be essentially frozen in time. She breaks any electronics in ways that boggles my mind. And unfortunately I don't have physical access to her devices.
I'll install set of apps that she can use. Set up phone properly with her google account. But beyond that, she shouldn't be able to:
1. move icons around.
2. Change anything related to the phone appearance, language, keyboard etc.
3. use most of the settings. She'll change screen brightness / volume at most.
4. install / remove any software.
Other than that, updates should work (both android and apps)
Ideally I should be able to access her screen remotely.
Looking for apps that can do that. I can custom rom flash/root/whatever the phone, so both google play solution and more hacky ways are accepted.

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