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I was wondering if anyone already tried to create a ROM wich is child friendly.
I have an old Wizard that I might give to my son of 5 to play with.
I also provided a SIM card into the device so that My wife or I can call him when he is at his grandparrents. But most roms provide so many applications and to easy access to the configuration, that it is too easy for my son to screw it up.
So I was looking for a ROM that has an easy menu with BIG buttons.
Most required items requested.
Windows Live Messenger
Games (like bubbe breaker, etc...)
Dailer with only programmed pictures (so he can not call to the bahamas : )
Configuration of the device should be possible after inserting a password.
Anyone any idea?
Bror
Bump great idea!!!
I really like this idea... really like it!
I suppose that with MANILA it is possible to set the contacts programs and and everthyng... I just don't know how to password protect the settings.
How smart is your 5 yearold?
Also, I know that the wizard was built to last, but how do you know he won't drop it?
I think that you should start collecting programs and games. I think that limiting the access to the settings can be done with initflashfiles.dat OEM_LANG.provxml.
You could access the settings via activesync or pocket controler on the computer, and you could also create shotrcuts to all the settings programs on a separate storage card.
If you know of any programs that limit settings for ppc let me know. I really like this idea!!
S.V.I said:
How smart is your 5 yearold?
Also, I know that the wizard was built to last, but how do you know he won't drop it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is smart enough to watch closely my actions and to copy them directly. Even experimenting and learning from the results. This last thing bothers me, coz I do not want to spend every night to put everything in order.
But I can assure you that he does take care for it. From time when driving I already asked him to pick up the phone and he knows to take care.
I do not think this ROM should need much fancy things...
Call firewall is nice to block unwanted incoming/outgoing phonecalls. So having this in the autostart would be fine.
A replacement for the startmenu but with a password which then gives access to the config settings... (could not yet find anything like this)
On the today maybe 2 manila buttons which is contacts and applications (just a matter of configuration)
Windows Live (so he can send voiceclips in stead of typing)
Lot's of games (sandbox, bubblebreaker)
Browser with youtube support (yes, he knows to handle youtube)
Camera ( He likes to take ugly pictures of his younger brother)
all the rest like mobile office and calculater, ... can be left away...
Of coarse a good configuration of the buttons will be important too
Do you have any idea which should be included ?
Cheers,
SirSkull
sirskull said:
I was wondering if anyone already tried to create a ROM wich is child friendly.
I have an old Wizard that I might give to my son of 5 to play with.
I also provided a SIM card into the device so that My wife or I can call him when he is at his grandparrents. But most roms provide so many applications and to easy access to the configuration, that it is too easy for my son to screw it up.
So I was looking for a ROM that has an easy menu with BIG buttons.
Most required items requested.
Windows Live Messenger
Games (like bubbe breaker, etc...)
Dailer with only programmed pictures (so he can not call to the bahamas : )
Configuration of the device should be possible after inserting a password.
Anyone any idea?
Bror
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Windows Live Messenger for a 5yo? Oh my...
Why not get him a mobile that was actually designed for kids of his age? I heard there is one on the market - makes calls to programmed numbers only, has a few games, plays music etc.
He fancys dad's phone and is keen on the games on it. So since I have a 2nd Wizard here where the screen is slightly scratched, I do not mind giving this to him. He knows how to use the messenger voiceclips, so when he is at home he can use messenger to chat with me. This would reduce the MobilePhone calling costs. And no, skype is no option since I am not aloowed to install this on my company pc + skype is blocked by the firewalls at my work.
Buy him a Nintendo DS. It'll be more expensive, but it'll also be a lot less work at your end, because I guarantee something awful like deleting system files will happen more often than you care to realize.
I foresee many flashings and re-flashings to this phone...
That said, I'd put a manila-flavored ROM on it, and unless you have an unlimited data plan, I'd load Modaco's NoData, lock out all data transmissions except the phone, and remove the shortcut to make NoData harder to find (along with any other settings-related functions. You can also hide the whole Settings directory in QuickMenu, and then turn it back on when you need to adjust something for him.
Parental Controls
I am thinking about givign my 13 y/o one of these as a cellphone... I have an 8925 and so does my older stepsone... MY 13 y/o needs a little more constant supervision.... I am not too concerned aobut bigger buttons and such.. but about child frendly as in parents can have some sort of parental password before the kids do certian things (like Vista does)... Say before he calls someone outside of his contacts list or adds someone to it.... makes a call after a certian time... or even limit the number of min he can use or something.. Any suggestions on any of that?
there is a way to get rid of the file explorer as well as the settings menu. without the file explorer you have no access to the windows folder... but you should also realize that you can not delete files that are in rom... however you still have access to the settings apps in the windows folder.
This is what I would do:
1: delete the shortcuts to file explorer and other program shortcuts and move them into a folder to a blank storage card.
2: set the last programs shortcut in the start menu to "total commander on this storage card. since the program can not be activated without the storage card inserted, you have no access to settings.
3. gather all of the "parental control programs" and post the cabs here on thos thread so that they can be cooked in to the rom, without the shortcuts... shortcuts can be made into a cab... or manual copy/paste shortcuts or even autorun CPY1/CPY2 to storage card upon hard reset (hardware buttons)
I think that the most important part for the parents to realize, is that the child should not be limited too much. this is an opportunity for these youths to get a first hands on experience of technology, as well as understanding of computers.
Up untill now these devices were too expesive to hand off to children, now that they have gotten old and cheap, they are perfect tools to help with a child developing their inteligence (problem solving, writing, counting, organization... etc)
there are enough repressed children without life exerience out there. no sex no drugs and no rock and roll unless it is 20 years old and have been tested and proven by Dysney Corp (who put phalic symbols in every movie)
dont be a fashist parent and keep in mind that kids need to learn from experience. I will not cook a rom that limits that.
S.V.I said:
3. gather all of the "parental control programs" and post the cabs here on thos thread so that they can be cooked in to the rom, without the shortcuts...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call Firewall v1.4 can block selected incoming and outgoing calls. It only needs a macro application in order to minimize (and maybe save) the application after it started up.
S.V.I said:
there are enough repressed children without life exerience out there. no sex no drugs and no rock and roll unless it is 20 years old and have been tested and proven by Dysney Corp (who put phalic symbols in every movie)
dont be a fashist parent and keep in mind that kids need to learn from experience. I will not cook a rom that limits that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My son is free to experiment with my second device (my wife will become angry when she would read this. She thinks I making a geek of him. I call it technological self deployment )
As a mom of twin 8 year olds...
I cannot cook, however, having 8 year old twins, I know exactly what you are asking for. My kids are techies and love to play around with my wizard, so I think it is safe to say that I understand where you are coming from.
NTS made a WM6 rom quite some time back, which is crazy stable and fast. It is a dinosaur by today's rom standards, however, my kids mess with my phone and it has yet to freak out, crap out, or anything. I would be happy to upload it for you. It is pretty minimal to begin with, and if you add HTC Home, delete a few shortcuts, add one or two programs like tcpmp and call firewall, and some games, I think it would fit your needs. This rom is NOT fancy, does not have manilla, sliders, or any real bells or whistles--it is close to 2 years old, but again, it is crazy stable and seemingly twin proof. The rom is called Jaguar 3.1 if you want to search the threads for it to read up...the links are all dead though. I still have it on my wizard, and while I have tried updated roms, I keep going back to this one because it plays well with children.
Always happy to test this Jag 3.1 Rom. Maybe we can adopt this version into WM6.1
Crazy stable, childproof= yay Jag!!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=314660&highlight=jaguar
This link is for Jag 3.1 rom. The rom download links are dead, but if you want to read about it...
As far as childproof roms go, I absolutely swear by Jag!
I can upload it if you want to give it a test drive.
Looks promising... Can you make the rom available too? I'll see what my son thinks about it then.
Linky...
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SO1U6CLF
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
This is a link to the Jaguar 3.1 rom-- created by nottoosmart.
As I said, it is an older WM6 rom, without any real bells or whistles, but it is amazingly stable and kid-friendly. You can install HTC Home (the version for WM5 works best), call firewall, tcpmp for movies and cartoons (using an sd card for storage) and some games and it would be pretty much ready to go.
I do not know if Manilla will work on this rom as I have not tested it myself, but HTC Home can be customized, thanks to the program by emunutz.
It does support Google Maps, Skype, Skyfire browser and those types of "grown up" apps-- so just because it plays well with kids, doesn't mean it isn't capable of kicking ass.
Enjoy.
I got my new HD2 and was delighted, but then tried to get the software that I have been using previously to work on it.
As I travel around and look in second hand book and record shops, I am never totally sure from memory whether i have a particular book or cd. Publishers keep changing the covers and synopses.
On my Psion, it had as standard a lovely card database / rolodex type of program. It was easy to input, easy to search.
When I moved to the hx4700 on windows 2003SE I lost that. Eventually I found Data On The Run which is fully access compatible. So I've converted all of my lists to access, and was happy enough. It wasn't great as it tries to get too much on, and portrait only.
Now on the HD2, the software does not like fingers, only styluses. Scrolling is virtually impossible, as it won't drag to scroll. The pop out scroll bar helper does not show. The developer is one guy and hasn't time to continue developing.
I've looked at stuff like Bookbag plus and someone mentioned "My Collection" but I cannot find it anywhere on the net. There are serious commercial pieces of software that are in effect full database programs, but that is a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.
I know this may only help in the short term, and doesn't solve the software issue.
Have you changed the original theme on the device? If so the Pop out function on the theme is lost in order to return it without going back to the original theme you could try this. please remember to backup
Hope this helps in the short term.
Try this
Try ListPro.. it's a great application..
Neville.Holland said:
I know this may only help in the short term, and doesn't solve the software issue.
Have you changed the original theme on the device? If so the Pop out function on the theme is lost in order to return it without going back to the original theme you could try this. please remember to backup
Hope this helps in the short term.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for hte idea, but Nope, original theme. Pop out scroll is there for other apps.
Klaus1960 said:
Try ListPro.. it's a great application..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THanks. I had seen Collectorz which has templates for this, but had not found listpro. It looks a fairly steep learning curve, and I need to import my existing lists. However, its great advantage is that it is only one program that covers a multitude of lists, so i won;t be paying out twice or three times for basically the same thing.
I've installed and imported my book list, so can now try and get it synchronised. I had to install the cab file separately. I can set up the synchronisation in the Windows MObile Device Centre, but that has to be done through "files" and unless i have missed something that only lets me synchronise to the machine, not the storage card. That is no damn good.
It occurred to me the other day that when on a windscreen mount the camera in the hd2 could be useful for in car video footage.
Seems to work fairly well but what would REALLY be great would be if you could set it to record a continuous loop so it only uses a fixed amount of card space unless you tell it save the file and start a new file.
Any idea if there are any apps that could do that?
Anyone?
Would be super useful to have. I nearly witnessed a nasty crash today and wished I had video to report the moron that nearly caused it, but can't just leave it recording at about 500-600mb per 15 minutes or so!!
+1 - Good idea, soon we're all going to have in car recording
Well I want to be able to show that if I'm ever involved in an accident exactly what happened and so on.
But kinda mainly because I just want to be able to do it to see if we can.
I suppose it needs to record to a set file size, then once that is done, to use an extra buffer amount of storage briefly while it deletes the file it just finished and begins recording again over the same space. Or something.
If you want it to keep anything you stop it and save it, then it starts from scratch.
Might be better if it actually keeps the current and previous file before deleting anything, then that way it's less likely to immediately/accidentally delete anything useful before you tell it to save. For instance you could maybe have a video screen overlay with a couple of large basic controls for save current recording and a couple of other bits.
Basically the important bit is the automated control over only using a specified file space then re-using it once it's used it up.
search forum... already discussed topic
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=597003
Yep. Shame those options don't seem to work that well....
No other options for this then?
This has been bothering me for quite a while, so I conjured a little story to help sooth my frustration.
Lets say my Android device is the new tenant of a nicely formated loft, this loft being 16gb of square space. To commemorate this new exciting space my device throws a house party. Most of the Apps he invites are pretty well behaved, but some start spilling drinks, then puking on the carpet, then having an orgy, then bukkake-ing the root directory. After discovering such acts, the device politely requests the disruptive guests force quit and leave. "I need more space on my phone." the device replied as each questioned on their way out. To his disbelief, NONE of the Apps cleaned up their mess! Even worse it seems some of the classier Apps, though more organized seem to have been influenced too. Unfortunately the device is forced to live with it, as the police force stopped responding to calls in his neighborhood. One man tries, but it always returns to a mess.
I hope that entertained someone.
i know exactly how you feel... there is at least 7 unused folders just wasting space on my phone. not to mention random mp3's hidden deep within my phone...
PhxkinMassacre said:
i know exactly how you feel... there is at least 7 unused folders just wasting space on my phone. not to mention random mp3's hidden deep within my phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you understand about the unused folders and NOT the bukkake-ing!!
hello, nice story!
I won't say that I am even close to being a developer but I do develop some apps and the thing that I wan't to point out is that apps do not run when they are installed or uninstalled. It's not each application job to clear up the mess it may have created but package manager's which apparently leaves some files be just in case you would like to reinstall the app later(?)...
I would propose to look for a more efficient package manager or doorman/janitor for your loft
That's why I don't invite the guy whos only existence is to make farting noises!
Very good point. However, one thing I don't know is if uninstalling through the market cleans up the SD card better than using a third party mass uninstall app. Something you may want to experiment with.
Back at it again...
Here I am again, and I still don't flippin get it!
After reading some of your comments I realized my main point kind of got glazed over(no pun intended @Scudderb)
My big issue is that there's no hierarchy in place for this crap. In windows, program files are stored in the 'Program Files' directory. In Android (and I credit google and the developers for this sloppy BS) Apps are just throwing all their **** in with my stuff on the ROOT.
How is this acceptable. Seriously, HOW? And if its all cache files and/or temporary documents than WHY THE **** ISN'T ALL THIS CRAP BEING PUT INTO A TEMP/CACHE FOLDER.
I'm PISSED! Why does every app I install get to put their own folder on the ROOT WITH the FOLDERS and FILES that actually matter to me ex: like my music, pictures, movies, documents (OH and by the way, a lot of apps developers do a REALLY ****ty job with their NAMING CONVENTIONS so the folders being created may or may not even look related to the app that put it there!)
::end rant::
My apologies for the colorful language, folder structure and hierarchy are something I design as a web designer so when I see this crap going on in my phone like the inmates are running the asylum... I get angry.
Today I was cleaning up my SD card for the umteen'th time, and found that Foursquare was dumping its temp files directly onto the root of my directory. I blew my top and had to get it out of my system... so..
A MESSAGE TO ALL THE APPS PULLING THESE SHENANIGANS: GROW UP!
The problem here is that it's hard to do it right
For custom data, files are supposed to be saved into "/data/data/com.appname/blah" (that's from the top of my head, could differ slightly). That's the directory to use for data files, but there's one big issue with it: it's on the internal memory storage. We all know that internal memory on Android (without custom ROMs) is.. limited. That's probably why most devs are using SD for larger files.
There's also the "Android/data/com.package_name.blah/blah" directory on the SD card. This directory should be used by apps to store files into and is automatically deleted when the user removes the associated app (but only when you're running Froyo or greater).
The issue with this approach is that users (and developers too, when testing the app) will lose all their data when removing an old version of a specific app. Let's say there's a bug with the Market again and the app suddenly gets uninstalled. User will have to reinstall, result: data will be all gone. That's only one of the many doom scenarios.
I can't speak for other developers, but that's more or less the reason why I started to use a common directory outside of the preferred ones when I was doing apps. It's not a great situation, I fully agree. But would you rather have your data accidentally deleted?
If anyone knows a good way to get around this issue, I'd love to know more about it...
orly
Thanks for the reply @Stripeymilk
I can think of multiple solutions:
#1 Development community adopts a universal directory for files deemed 'User' or 'Save' data that should be stored for future use. (or Google creates this for developers)
#2 Development community adopts the practice of allowing users to pick the directory users want to store an apps data in. (prompt at app's first start)
#3 Store files/data in the cloud.
#4 Users dump trash in the lobbys/living-rooms of developer's and see how quickly they find a solution.
#5 USE THE "Android/data/com.package_name.blah/" FOLDER WHEN ALL YOU'RE REALLY DOING IS STORING CACHE/TEMP FILES!!!
BOTTOM LINE: Its not hard to do it right, Its just hard to get people to do it.
You make it sound so easy
1) I'm all for it, but Google needs to put its weight behind an approach like that because otherwise people will say "I like /Data better than /data or /Mydata or /MyData". It's a bit like coding conventions: everyone wants to be different.
2) Good for techy people, not so good for "normal" users. Could make it easier with a small "file manager", but that's too much work for indie devs. Could be a nice idea for a new open source project though.
3) Great idea, could actually work if the associated account would be created automatically (like in Cut the Rope for Android with Scoreloop), but:
- The backup functionality in Android for storing data in the cloud is available for API level 8 and greater, making it of not so much use when you're targeting API level 5 or 6 and greater. Could be fixed by using something like Google Storage combined with Jets3t instead, but that would be useless for apps written in C++, like many games are.
- Cloud storage isn't free. Developers can't pay for that as it would be too expensive. If every Android user would've gotten free cloud storage from Google it could be a nice alternative, but (yeah, there's always a but) most current users don't have that.
4) If you're prepared to send your trash by plane to another country, go for it!
5) Agreed. Useful for temp data.
I'm not trying to make it sound easy, believe me I know how it isn't. I'm trying to make it sound simple, because really.. it is...
In response:
1) I agree and this is exactly what I mean by the real hard part is getting people to do it. This requires widespread endorsement by developers big and small - that this is a 'best practice' that should be adhered to. I think the gate swings both ways though.
example: Twitter didn't invent hash tags, their users did, and with its widespread adoption, Twitter adopted/implemented it too.
2) Another good point, though this process can be curated to drive the user in the right direction (holding their hand). The XBOX 360 does this for every game you play, the first thing it does is ask you which storage device you want to use for game saves.
example: in combination with solution # 1, the default folder the app saves to could be '/data/theAppsName' and the prompt could say "This app saves files to your SD CARD in '/data/theAppName'. Would you like to choose a new location?" [Yes] [No] [?]. The [Yes] option brings up a simple file manager, the [No] option uses that location, the [?] option brings up an easy to understand write up on what its asking and why its asking it.
3) We'll get there eventually, my point really was if you've got the resources, why not. Its a solution better than #1 and #2
4) I plan on sending human clones to create trash individually and exponentially
5) AMIRITE~!
In all seriousness though, thank you @Stripeymilk for taking the time to go in depth and have a conversation about this. I seriously think it doesn't take an act of Godogle to solve this (to what I beleive) is a big issue!
I can't agree more with you.
As developer (Windows, iSeries) I try to make my programs as structured and readable as possible. The same goes for the files and folders used used by the programs, but sadly, even with all the available resources, some people (colleagues) make a complete mess of it, cause "that's not/less important", as long as the program does what it's intended to do ...
It's all about the resources and people using them the right way!
Cool, didn't know about the hash tags on Twitter
Well, we're on a great site here with developers on it. If everyone here would adhere to the same standard, it could at least be a nice push to make the Android SD card world a better place.
What's the directory we're going to settle on? Any pros and cons?
Ok so I have a mystery to solve..
I took a pic with the stock camera on rom 6.3.6 earlier tonight. For some reason the pic before it and the pic after it saved into the Gallery, but not this VERY IMPORTANT pic. The pic did in fact take successfully though, I looked at it on the phone after taking it and saw it had shot successfully. But it's not saved in the Gallery. In my mind, though, I'm thinking that even though it might not have saved properly in the Gallery folder or whatever, that it must be still held in some temp memory or folder, given that it did in fact display on the screen..and that as long as I don't turn off the phone, it must be in there somewhere still...
So you xda sleuths..any ideas where it might be stored? As I said, this pic is VERY important and I'd really really like to recover it. I'm scrounging through every folder however small with Root Explorer right now trying to find it..
If it's there it will be in dcim/cammera/
That would be where it was stored if it was saved to the Gallery, right?
Where are pics stored in the interim ie between the taking of the shot and then saving it there? While it's being displayed briefly on the screen?
acrobat69 said:
That would be where it was stored if it was saved to the Gallery, right?
Where are pics stored in the interim ie between the taking of the shot and then saving it there? While it's being displayed briefly on the screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had this problem multiple times acrobat69.
I have had to play with the OC speed and vsel - 800/64 seems to work the best for me for camera and video camera.
If I go more .. or sometimes less I get things lost, or lock up.. and just not work.. sometimes crash the phone.. this is on 6.3 rc3 - I have not upgreaded to 6.3.6 yet.
James
Hey James fwiw I've found 6.3.6 really stable for the most part. Its not that the camera crashed, it just didn't save that one time for some reason.
Sent from my Milestone XT720 using XDA App
Is there a grey icon with a ! in the middle of it? Use the search button on this General forum a look for my thread called Failed to read/write on sdcard. It should help out with the cause, when and solution to get your picture back. I am mobile so I can't link it for you, sorry.
Hey acrobat69,
Did you try importing the pictures using Motorola Media Link? If you are sure that the pic still exists on the sd card and you did not see the error message "Low system memory" (which is when pictures generally do not save) you should try importing pics with the media link. Or, if you think you have deleted the pic accidentally or something of that scenario,try "Recuva" for windows, restores pics from sd cards, if deleted accidentally. Hope you find the pic!
---------- Post added at 09:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:39 AM ----------
The link Woodrube mentioned http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1262030&highlight=failed
Try downloading QuickPic from the market too. I use it as my gallery. In fact I have completely deleted my gallery.apk. QuickPic will scan your entire card for media files as long as there isn't a .nomedia file blocking it. Might be easier to find out where it is being held, if at all.
Much thanks to everyone who has tried to help in this thread, some really good tips, all of which Ive tried, including Recuva.
Woodrube I did the thumbnail thing and although I gained back two other pics I previously couldn't see, alas neither of them was the one I needed.
I did notice that there were more than 2 thumbnaildata files as you described..one was big like 400+kb and the other two were identical sized, 4kb. The two at the top were time stamped right about the time that I know I took the lost shot, and the third 4kb was located down towards the bottom, with a time stamp of just 2 minutes before the other two. I deleted all 3, but now I'm wondering if maybe I goofed there. Actually..just typing that out sounds like I did goof, majorly.
Maybe I'll try and recuver that third thumbnaildata file and unmount remount..damn hope I didn't screw it up
ETA: I did use Recuva and returned the 3rd file I was nervous about. It was actually called image_last_thumb and I guess I deleted it because it looked sinister being at about the same time stamp of my "issue" and also because I was working on this at 3 am and not thinking straight. At any rate, no change even once I returned it to it's proper spot. My image is lost, I think.
On the upside, I too have to recommend QuickPic. Really like the speed of it and it seems to be more stable, so far. Thanks Woodrube!
Q Pic not in gallery so where is it
None of the above, Kenny. In fact, your dash work is exactly the kind of thing we want to highlight in the Gallery.
<snivelling excuse>Weve been working hard on a new release, and support, and the Gallery has not been getting any love. </snivelling excuse>
Please email a link to your clip, and Ill get it into the list for the next Gallery update.