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?
Hi,
I would like to purchase a dual-sim phone for my father, but he wants the ability to switch from one sim to the other at a certain time.
For example, he works from 8:00 till 16:00 and he only wants to have the "work" sim active in that time, and at 16:00 wants to switch to the "family" sim (and then back at 8:00 in the morning)
I have seen an Adnroid app for this, but he is currently using a Windows phone, so I would like to buy him something with the same OS, so the question is: is there an app (or some kind of way) to do this switch automatically without manual interaction on a Windows phone?
Thanks.
Best regards,
Tibi
No. Apps do not have access to phone settings. Unless things change in windows 10 sdk...
Thanks for the clarification. With this in mind I bought him a dual-sim Android phone, which should be able to do what we are looking for.
This device caught my eye recently (Kyocera KY-01L):
https://uncrate.com/kyocera-ky-01l-card-phone/
Points of interest:
* Android-based
* e-paper display
* ultra compact
Personally I feel Kyocera made a huge mistake by not including the Play Store, or at least including an e-Reader application. A pocket-sized e-Reader that is also my phone just sounds awesome in theory (although the 380mAh battery might prove otherwise in reality...)
Since I use Hangouts and Hangouts Dialer for all my communications, I can't really use this unless I can get gApps installed.
Does anyone have experience hacking Kyocera phones? How difficult would it be to get root, TWRP, and gApps working on this thing?
I googled that phone and found your post. Most intriguing idea, but overpriced imho. I would like to test my developer skills on that but without adb or at least apk installer its useless
Android is not fully compatible (out-of-the-box) with e-ink and screen sizes under 3", unless it's heavily modified. Which is not worth the investmet, considering the target market. And even if Android were adapted, many apps wouldn't run anyway. They wrapped a layer around it to run essentials services. Note that there is a real browser though.
KY-01L Information
So i bought one of these myself out of curiosity and here's what i've found:
ADB can be enabled from the phones settings (the option is called "switch usb debugging") once it's enabled you can sideload APK's
APK's cannot be installed on the phone itself, when doing so you get the message than unknown sources are not enabled however as kyocera have modified the security settings there is no way to enable this afaik
The apps use AOSP icons and have some normal screens present which can be accessed with an activity launcher
When using installed apps the E-ink screen switches to a high refresh rate mode at random and the only way to get it back to normal is to launch cardphonehome (the default launcher)
The phone won't connect to any UK networks (i've only tried vodaphone and EE sims in it)
Bluetooth media audio seems to be removed entirely, even when sideloading a music player
The stock keyboard uses a 9 key input for text, you can sideload something like gboard but i haven't found the option to set it as the default input method
If you intend to buy one then i would suggest looking on YAJ proxy sites like buyee as they tend to go for ~£160.
Apps i'd recommend sideloading:
Activity launcher - lets you get into hidden menus and back into the stock launcher
Stealth music player - Plays music through the phones earpiece, can also enable the earpiece for use with audio from other apps
i'd also suggest lowering the DPI as some apps may be cramped
Dialer codes
*#*#4636#*#* - Android Testing menu
*#*#3878#*#* - Qualcomm FTM menu
*#*#225#*#* - Calendar info
Update: i've noticed the soc that CPUZ is reporting conflicts what others have said, ADB's CPU info command reports it as a wear 2100
I'm really curious if/how an ebook reading app would work on this. Did you try that out?
I'm considering buying a used one to try out as an ultra portable ebook reader.
eldritchgreene said:
I'm really curious if/how an ebook reading app would work on this. Did you try that out?
I'm considering buying a used one to try out as an ultra portable ebook reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the kindle app, Whenever it's opened it spams an error saying something about not being able to download image files for a few minutes, after that it works fine.
Phone density is set to 210 and kindle text size is on default
Harry99710 said:
I tried the kindle app, Whenever it's opened it spams an error saying something about not being able to download image files for a few minutes, after that it works fine.
Phone density is set to 210 and kindle text size is on default
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazing. Thank you so much Harry, this is great. I'm going to give my experiment a go!
any idea how to make it connect to EU 3g/4g ?
I have the Light Phone 2 which is very similar. I was able to root it and sideload apps on it. Harry is it possible to send over APKs from your Kyocera Card phone so I can test them on the light phone?
kennethashley said:
I have the Light Phone 2 which is very similar. I was able to root it and sideload apps on it. Harry is it possible to send over APKs from your Kyocera Card phone so I can test them on the light phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try, i used apkextractor to extract them but they won't install on another device and trying to install them on the card phone itself gives an error saying the package is corrupt
Nothing in that last post seems to have uploaded
Screenshots - https://imgur.com/a/Z8uCQ1t
APK's https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Qf0EB1I0IhmodnkINQFAdS7uBvtV785/view?usp=sharing
Harry99710 said:
Nothing in that last post seems to have uploaded
Screenshots - https://imgur.com/a/Z8uCQ1t
APK's https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Qf0EB1I0IhmodnkINQFAdS7uBvtV785/view?usp=sharing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea you are right I can't get the APKs installed.
paulmmm said:
any idea how to make it connect to EU 3g/4g ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nobody ?
paulmmm said:
nobody ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
root it
Derek163 said:
root it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill try and come back with results
Hi
First of all, I appreciate the above information where I could find customizing about KY-01L. I was able to install Gmail, Chrome, Line lite, Gboard, and other utilities into my KY-01L!
To be honest, it was quite a stressful process to load apk`s and configure them a number of times.
The first step, I installed the Square Home launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.squarehome2&hl=en&gl=us) and the Quickshortcut maker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sika524.android.quickshortcut&hl=en&gl=us) that I am able to configure 10 times easier (Maybe some similar types of the app should work). the default setting of KY-01L is not able to configure app by the screen that is how it is designed by Kyocera.
After setting those 2 apps, I can configure launcher/shortcut in the home menu.
My KY-01L is not stable yet... still need to minor adjustments of configuration but it works what I was expected.
Kaz_SP1200 said:
Hi
First of all, I appreciate the above information where I could find customizing about KY-01L. I was able to install Gmail, Chrome, Line lite, Gboard, and other utilities into my KY-01L!
To be honest, it was quite a stressful process to load apk`s and configure them a number of times.
The first step, I installed the Square Home launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.squarehome2&hl=en&gl=us) and the Quickshortcut maker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sika524.android.quickshortcut&hl=en&gl=us) that I am able to configure 10 times easier (Maybe some similar types of the app should work). the default setting of KY-01L is not able to configure app by the screen that is how it is designed by Kyocera.
After setting those 2 apps, I can configure launcher/shortcut in the home menu.
My KY-01L is not stable yet... still need to minor adjustments of configuration but it works what I was expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there,
Can you explain how you managed to connect it to the network? The one I have is SIM unlocked, I can see available networks but it won't connect. The X.... symbol is displayed in the status bar ("Out of service area") but I am quite sure that the frequencies match.
cheeseus said:
Hi there,
Can you explain how you managed to connect it to the network? The one I have is SIM unlocked, I can see available networks but it won't connect. The X.... symbol is displayed in the status bar ("Out of service area") but I am quite sure that the frequencies match.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I am using NTT Docomo carrier (in Japan) which is the preferred carrier for the KY-01L. KY-01L has limited bandwidth using LTE bands of 2.0GHz and 800MHz only. You would better check with your SIM carrier that uses those bandwidths or not.
Kaz_SP1200 said:
Hi
I am using NTT Docomo carrier (in Japan) which is the preferred carrier for the KY-01L. KY-01L has limited bandwidth using LTE bands of 2.0GHz and 800MHz only. You would better check with your SIM carrier that uses those bandwidths or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for replying!
Well, it seems that my carrier doesn't offer the exact same frequencies. 3G is at 2100 MHz (B1) and LTE is at 2100 MHz (B1) and 1800 MHz (B3).
Too limited, indeed. I've been using Docomo and SoftBank and AU phones for over fifteen years now and they all worked but not this one
Kaz_SP1200 said:
Hi
First of all, I appreciate the above information where I could find customizing about KY-01L. I was able to install Gmail, Chrome, Line lite, Gboard, and other utilities into my KY-01L!
To be honest, it was quite a stressful process to load apk`s and configure them a number of times.
The first step, I installed the Square Home launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ss.squarehome2&hl=en&gl=us) and the Quickshortcut maker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sika524.android.quickshortcut&hl=en&gl=us) that I am able to configure 10 times easier (Maybe some similar types of the app should work). the default setting of KY-01L is not able to configure app by the screen that is how it is designed by Kyocera.
After setting those 2 apps, I can configure launcher/shortcut in the home menu.
My KY-01L is not stable yet... still need to minor adjustments of configuration but it works what I was expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi I just ordered my KY-01L off ebay, and looking forward to doing what you're doing!
My question is - after you installed all these things (Square Home Launcher, Quick shortcut maker, Gmail, Chrome, Line lite, Gboard and other utilities), does the battery drain faster even when idle? If so, how much faster vs the vanilla version.
And what other utilities were you able to install on the KY-01L? Music player? Kindle? Youtube? Just curious to see what works...
Lastly, was the Square Home Launcher the only launcher that works? Or there were others that work but this is your preference.
Thanks!
Hi everybody,
I switched back to Sony and got myself a Xperia 1.
A few years back, when I had a Z2 and a Z3 I was a huge fan of the performance and the launcher and Sony add-ons.
Unfortunately Sony decided to go towards stock Android-ish (a bit too much in that direction).
What I am missing severely is:
1. to make a scrolling screenshot and then editing it with a pen or my finger to comment or whatever. Like any Samsung, LG, Huawei, xiaomi etc does.
Is there any way to do that on the Xperia 1?
Or is there an app you can recommend, that does not come with adverts and respects privacy?
2. I am missing to switch off network connection for apps seperately (like one plus allows)
3. A functionality to clone apps (like any chinese phone does). Having a dual Sim phone this is really mandatory in my point of view.
At the moment I use island and app cloner, but they both have their limits.
Thanks a lot for any help and suggestions.
Joe
Hi everyone,
I own a Huawei P20 Lite for 3 years now but only as my second phone (I'm a Pokemon GO player and I use this phone for playing on my second account, the one of my sister and the one of my friend ). I would like to unlock it faster when I'm using another profile than my main. I can use the fingerprint reader but with the original case it has, my finger doesn't fit the hole the reading surface.
That's why I would like to use face recognition on those two second user profiles, but it seems that the face unlock option is only available on main user profile. Do you know a trick I could use to enable it on those profiles or do I have to change the stock ROM for a custom one ?
Have a nice day
Livier