Does anyone know of a way I can block the market from my toddler? He just figured out how to buy apps and every time I look at my phone he has a new one on.
I'm thinking of making a script to copy the market apk somewhere and another script to restore it so I can use it when I want, but is there another way?
Wouldn't it be easy if you sign in with an google account which does not have credit card linked to it?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Ahhh..
My generation played with Light-Brights , now toddlers are buying apps from the market.
How about Airplane Mode?
Or something like APN on-off, and just kill the wi-fi connection.
This might not be the solution you're looking for, but if you use a third party launcher (LauncherPRO, ADW Launcher, GO Launcher, etc) you can hide the market icon, and showing it again is only a few clicks away.
It would stop him from accessing the market unless he finds out how to show hidden apps . Plus third party launchers can be a lot of fun, they add a lot of features and customization.
Why do you even let your kid use your phone?
Try DroidWall
Try DroidWall, I am using it to block my Market.
Zoodles KidMode is an app that locks the phone into a kids area, so they can only access age appropriate games and videos in a sandboxed environment. Might be worth investigating. It would mean they couldn't access other games on the phone they might be used to, but out does protect the phone somewhat!
You can get it for free on the market.
Mike
Garbled meaning induced by swype when posting from XDA app on SGS I9000.
Related
Rant:
Many developers are thinking that their applications are so useful and important, and have the bad habit to put them to autostart at the boot.
That will cause my g1 to take a lot of time to become functional, because it has to load useless applications like twidroid (i am in china now, and twitter is banned), "tag to do" (i use this app once a month!), meridian media player (if i need to listen mp3, i will prefer to wait 1 second when i really need to!), or sipdroid (my connection is gprs, why i would need to keep it in ram forever???? just open it when on wifi)
Unfortunately, my g1 does not have 1gb ram, so i prefer to NOT have ANY app autoloading
So, there is an app that will stop this from happening?
I found this app with google
http://www.cyrket.com/package/com.elsdoerfer.android.autostarts
But i am in china now, i have no access to the paid market, there is a freeware, or an easy way to prevent apps to load at startup?
Or otherwise, a way to buy that app from china?
I agree with you regarding too many apps starting and I do use autostarts for that same reason -- it's great.
To be able to download it in China, just use Market Enabler, which will trick Market into believing you're in the US.
So how do you guys figure to use your G1 w/o Google Market? With so many apps that are only available through the Market, and paid apps only recognizing your payment with Market instead of the developer.
I understand I won't have this problem since I have a "Google Experience" phone, but I'm curious. I don't see any alternatives here (SlideME doesn't even have the official Facebook app, and searching for "appmanager" turned up 0 result).
Once everyone using cyanogenmod is using SlideMe the devs will post their apps there. This is kinda funny cause it actually takes money from google. Also, I think we are going to have the option to keep our "google experience" apps.
Would really suck to have to pay for the same apps twice though.
Hmm, also, probably can't keep track of updates huh?
I have done a little searching but could not find an answer to the question I'm about to ask, please don't flame me.
I have an N1 (obviously) rooted and all that with custom rom on Froyo 2.2/
Now, my question is regarding the market.
Is there anyway of signing out of the market, I have flicked through the various settings but can't seem to find anything. The reason I ask is that I have entered my credit card details for when I buy apps, now if I were to lose my phone, the 'New' owner would be able to purchase apps with my card.
I have purchased a $1 app just to see and it goes through the payment process saying something like 'is this the card you wish to use **** **** **** 2414
So, is there anyway that when I use the market I have to sign in/out or something?
Pretty sure the market is attached to your Google account. Just wipe the phone to factory settings and make then login to the phone at the original Android screen.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
You bring up a good point, i never thought of this.
The only real way would be to go into settings and remove your google account. This would also disable the calendar sync and gmail sync.
https://www.google.com/accounts, Checkout, Edit Payment Methods.
Be sure to alert your credit card company too and keep track of purchases should this happen.
Oop, bit of an oversight on my part...
You can get apps for free from the market which will lock certain apps for you. So you can choose it to lock the Market app which you can only access after typing in a password of 4digit code which you set. This may be the simplest solution for you.
May also be good to lock the messaging app too if you have nosey friends or whatever.
log into google checkout and remove your card
Thanks cymru
I took your advise and installed the free version of App Lock.
I have locked Market, GMail, Settings, Contacts and SMS.
Many thanks for the help.
cymru said:
Oop, bit of an oversight on my part...
You can get apps for free from the market which will lock certain apps for you. So you can choose it to lock the Market app which you can only access after typing in a password of 4digit code which you set. This may be the simplest solution for you.
May also be good to lock the messaging app too if you have nosey friends or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow i didnt know this either! im just got this cuz u never know
I am interested in the build.prop file and its effect on the market. A number of my apps refuse to show/ download and it may be a fingerprint issue.
Also, I cant seem to buy Samurai 2 Vengence, despite its appearing in the featured tablet apps the market just sends a notification that the download was declined.
What am i doing wrong? Could it be the fact that im in the EU on a verizon xoom? I have in airplane mode...
Possibly not relevant but the Market App is by far the buggiest application on the Xoom, which makes running down your problem even more difficult.
Have you tried purchasing and pushing the app to the tablet through the Market on the Web.
Thats what I have had to resort to until they fix the POS thats on the machine right now.
Google is not doing themselves any favors as I have started hearing about market problems in reviews... really should be the one App that works right, it's the portal to all other applications.
hello with the new way of these phones andriod and others plus spyware .im wondering how do i know what apps samsung etc are spying on my phone maybe uploading my numbers and other infor without me knowing any of you guys got any idea whats the best way to stop it. tbh i hate even google assist even turning on by itself even when i diable it
Hello, first of all, please write in easily readable sentences, that way more people are going to help you.
Second, it is important to be and stay suspicious of the software you use, especially with android. But you shouldn't be worried too much as most of the data that is sent from your phone isn't sent with "evil intentions" or anything like that, it is often rather aggressive diagnostics.
Warning! The following paragraphs are filled with very radical means of removing suspected spyware! Almost all of these require root and knowledge in modding your Android! Beware!
As to how you can spot "spyware" or suspected spyware, there isn't one easy way.
First of all, you could use a custom ROM, so that your system is more open source and there isn't any suspected spyware (or any "ware" at all) from Samsung.
To go one step further, you could try to live without Google services:
Use a different search engine, for example DuckDuckGo or any other really
Use Firefox or any non-Chromium browser
Instead of using opengapps to install Google Play Services (when you install a custom ROM) you could use the replacement project "microG" (microg.org).
Get as many apps as you can from Open source app stores (F-Droid)
Don't use the official Play Store unless you really have to - it is a power hungry data collecting app (that can theoretically install any app without asking, just like the Google Play Services or any other /system/priv-app app with proper permissions) - Alternative for installing Play Store apps: Aurora Store
Replace Google Maps with OpenStreetMap (OSMand)
Use a anonymous YouTube client, for example NewPipe
etc.
These are of course only suggestions, I don't recommend doing them all at once, but if you really don't want any unnecessary data sent from your phone, these are the first steps.
For actually seeing which apps send what data you could either analyze the app bytecode with App Warden or look at all detailed permissions with AppOpsX.
Methods to neutralize spyware are rejecting the permission for the app to use internet access or even run in the background, disabling the suspected app or removing it with system app removers.
Be very careful with actually disabling or removing system apps! Many system apps are needed for the system to work and one can easily misjudge an app by its description and diagnostics! Before disabling an app you should research whether anyone else knows anything about the app and only remove it if you are really sure about it. You have been warned.