My main daytime phone is a motorola defy, however ive recently bought and received a nexus 5, obviously a slight step up.
however during my working day i am still using my battered /well used and knocked about defy, as a: i dont want to damage my new nexus as it wont stand up to the rigors of my job/daytime use ( plus im still waiting for some protective cases for the nexus)
Is it possible to connect an older android phone ( ie a motorola defy) to a newer android phone that would be no more than 10-20 metres away (50feet) and use the old phone as a slave handset ( internet/calls/wifi)?
2Pints said:
My main daytime phone is a motorola defy, however ive recently bought and received a nexus 5, obviously a slight step up.
however during my working day i am still using my battered /well used and knocked about defy, as a: i dont want to damage my new nexus as it wont stand up to the rigors of my job/daytime use ( plus im still waiting for some protective cases for the nexus)
Is it possible to connect an older android phone ( ie a motorola defy) to a newer android phone that would be no more than 10-20 metres away (50feet) and use the old phone as a slave handset ( internet/calls/wifi)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have Sprint and use the Google Voice integration with your Nexus 5, this may work:
http://www.pocketables.com/2011/06/how-to-enable-wifi-calling-on-your-htc-evo.html#more
The Sprint-GV integration is necessary so that when you make calls from the Defy, it will show the same phone number as your N5. This option is only available to Sprint subscribers.
Briefly:
1. Install the Google Voice (GV) app on your N5
2.. Activate the Sprint-GV integration on the GV settings website. Be sure to choose the option that makes your Sprint number your GV number. After the system calls your N5 and completes the integration, run the GV app on your N5 to finalize the process.
3. Install the GrooveIP and GV apps from the Play Store on your Defy and follow the instructions listed on the link I provided above.
4. Connect your Defy to a wifi hotspot (and turn off the cell phone radio/put in flight mode but keep wifi on). If there is none nearby, you may want to create one with your N5 and tether the Defy to that.
5. You will now be able to make wifi calls with your Defy (they will show the same number as your N5), surf, and text (as long as its done through the GV app).
Related
I need to know if I can use an Android phone JUST for the PDA functionality - It would be used on WiFi only, and never for phone calls.
I know the simple answer seems to be 'yes', but has anyone actually done it? I'm worried that some phones might require activation before even getting into the phone (like my Fascinate did.) I know you can dial a keypad combination in the dialer to override that, but this is going to be for my 68 year old father who just wants the advanced GPS functionality (logging, geotagging photos) for use with offline GPS programs like CoPilot or Sygic, along with whatever other non-internet-connected apps he might want to use.
Furthermore, I've heard that AT&T & TMo phones will display an error about a missing or inactive SIM, but I've not heard whether you can move past that and just use the device as a mini-tablet.... I've been a VZW victim since the Droid's hit the market, so I don't know if this is a concern or not.
So, bottom line, my question is this - if I buy a no-contract phone (even [gasp] one with a bad ESN from eBay) and never activate it with the cell provider, can I use the device as just a PDA, and are there any special considerations I've overlooked?
Thanks to all who offer help!!!
lenknermj said:
I need to know if I can use an Android phone JUST for the PDA functionality - It would be used on WiFi only, and never for phone calls.
I know the simple answer seems to be 'yes', but has anyone actually done it? I'm worried that some phones might require activation before even getting into the phone (like my Fascinate did.) I know you can dial a keypad combination in the dialer to override that, but this is going to be for my 68 year old father who just wants the advanced GPS functionality (logging, geotagging photos) for use with offline GPS programs like CoPilot or Sygic, along with whatever other non-internet-connected apps he might want to use.
Furthermore, I've heard that AT&T & TMo phones will display an error about a missing or inactive SIM, but I've not heard whether you can move past that and just use the device as a mini-tablet.... I've been a VZW victim since the Droid's hit the market, so I don't know if this is a concern or not.
So, bottom line, my question is this - if I buy a no-contract phone (even [gasp] one with a bad ESN from eBay) and never activate it with the cell provider, can I use the device as just a PDA, and are there any special considerations I've overlooked?
Thanks to all who offer help!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an att Captivate NO SIM that I play with all the time. I even use GrooveIP to make phone calls via wifi over Google Voice! You dont HAVE to have a SIM in the phone for it to function!
I have an old HTC Evo Design 4G phone (Boost Mobile) that I no longer use. Is there a way to turn it into a tablet like device with lets say Skype via wi-fi? No need for an actual phone capability because I will never reactivate service on this phone. I could give something like that to my kid to play around with. If there is a wi-fi, he could use it with Skype or some internet messenger. The only caveat is that the current software (stock rom) doesn't work well and I would have to flash it with something else (custom rom). Unfortunately, the old guides are full of old and non-working links. Any easier way to reuse old phone for something that's kid-friendly?
I own an Urbane 2nd LTE, and really like the build quality, look, and the promise of having a real "watch phone" However, I am quite disappointed with the need to tether to another phone. I desire a truly, tether free, stand alone, Adroid watch Phone, not android wear 2.0, which accepts nano sim cards. As I am aware of a number of Chinese watch phones, with similar specs, running full android 5.1 ( but I am assuming the build quality is limited with these watched), I am wondering if anyone has considered, attempted, or have been successful in loading full android on the Urbane 2nd? I scoured the threads as best I could, but did not find anything related to this.
My use case, I have a business phone and a personal phone. For evenings, weekends, and vacations, I would like to mostly disconnect, not carry a phone in my pocket, but still have the ability to take personal calls and access the internet in a pinch.
The cpu's plenty capable but isn't the screen size a problem? An older version, cupcake or donut or eclair, one that supports smaller screen resolution maybe
I've tried to install multiple phone apps (not their wear versions) on AW2.0 and even though some of them worked, their UI is not prepared for such a small screen. So even if you manage to run regular Android on the watch, many (most?) apps will be unusable due to the inability to correctly show their UI. I'm an Android developer and I don't test my apps on such small screens and I doubt any of them would work - buttons placed out of screen etc.
Kopec69 said:
I own an Urbane 2nd LTE, and really like the build quality, look, and the promise of having a real "watch phone" However, I am quite disappointed with the need to tether to another phone. I desire a truly, tether free, stand alone, Adroid watch Phone, not android wear 2.0, which accepts nano sim cards. As I am aware of a number of Chinese watch phones, with similar specs, running full android 5.1 ( but I am assuming the build quality is limited with these watched), I am wondering if anyone has considered, attempted, or have been successful in loading full android on the Urbane 2nd? I scoured the threads as best I could, but did not find anything related to this.
My use case, I have a business phone and a personal phone. For evenings, weekends, and vacations, I would like to mostly disconnect, not carry a phone in my pocket, but still have the ability to take personal calls and access the internet in a pinch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't the purpose of the lg urbane 2nd edition LTE that it doesn't have to be tethered to your phone and that you can take it with you without your smartphone? I'm looking into buying this smartwatch but i don't know if i should wait a few more weeks/months when android wear 2.0 smartwatches come out.
froggerman said:
Isn't the purpose of the lg urbane 2nd edition LTE that it doesn't have to be tethered to your phone and that you can take it with you without your smartphone? I'm looking into buying this smartwatch but i don't know if i should wait a few more weeks/months when android wear 2.0 smartwatches come out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With AW 1.5 it was never meant to be completely standalone with all services functioning. With a SIM in the watch you can make calls/texts from the watch without any connection to the phone but in order to receive all notifications and use all services you need to be paired, but you can pair through cell data and still leave the phone at home. I leave my phone behind a few times a week and forward my calls to the watch. With 2.0 I'm sure it will be even more standalone but I haven't tested the DP yet.
mward1995 said:
With AW 1.5 it was never meant to be completely standalone with all services functioning. With a SIM in the watch you can make calls/texts from the watch without any connection to the phone but in order to receive all notifications and use all services you need to be paired, but you can pair through cell data and still leave the phone at home. I leave my phone behind a few times a week and forward my calls to the watch. With 2.0 I'm sure it will be even more standalone but I haven't tested the DP yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With AW2.0 it can be really a separate device, but most of the apps don't support that and won't work without a phone. It will definitely get better with the final release and soon after.
rastik said:
With AW2.0 it can be really a separate device, but most of the apps don't support that and won't work without a phone. It will definitely get better with the final release and soon after.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If DP5 does come with Android Pay, I may give it a try. I like the direction it's heading, but worry about the data increase. I'm using a pay as you go SIM in the watch and use very little data with 1.5. Of course I currently only activate the SIM when running. Curious to see if my usage/habits change much with the new standalone features.
Yes it is possible .
What is possible?
Running Android 5.1?
How?
Just curious - is there a list of compatible / working apps that can be side loaded onto the Urbane 2nd edition? Thanks
bchliu said:
Just curious - is there a list of compatible / working apps that can be side loaded onto the Urbane 2nd edition? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A list of working sideloaded apps but mainly for wear 1.5 and not maintained anymore..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-wear/general/list-sideloaded-android-wear-apps-t2908106
and from another thread on XDA my personal quest to find a working satnav app to sideload (as Google Maps is not in any way standalone...)
"...sideloaded Navigon 4.6.2 and its works and is useable standaone on my watch (a LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition).
No back button means I need to use Wear 2.0s force close an app ability each time I change a setting in the program but once its set up it works. Maps all downloaded to the watch via wifi.
Screen is a little cluttered but useable, and it does take up a big chunk of memory on the watch, but for driving it works pretty well. (walking navigation screen is, sadly, unuseable). For the record it seems to use 1% of battery power every 2 minutes...meaning it could potentially last 3 hours!!"
I also run (sideloaded full android versions) es file explorer, bs player and imediashare (to dlna videos on the watch to a tv via wifi). They are all older versions but are all still usable on Wear 2.0.
ruggs1234 said:
A list of working sideloaded apps but mainly for wear 1.5 and not maintained anymore..
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-wear/general/list-sideloaded-android-wear-apps-t2908106
I also run (sideloaded full android versions) es file explorer, bs player and imediashare (to dlna videos on the watch to a tv via wifi). They are all older versions but are all still usable on Wear 2.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.. Just wondering where did you get the USB driver for the Urbane 2 from? I've looked everywhere and cannot find it specifically. Doesnt appear on my device manager properly..
bchliu said:
Hi.. Just wondering where did you get the USB driver for the Urbane 2 from? I've looked everywhere and cannot find it specifically. Doesnt appear on my device manager properly..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To sideload full android apps I use ADB on my laptop. This uses the laptops usb link to my phone, my phone then "pushes" and installs the apk files to the watch via bluetooth. You start with the apks on the laptop and use the correct ADB commands to install to the watch. Slow, but it works.
The watch will not install apk files sideloaded directly to the watch.
Most full android apps will not run at all....but some do.....
I want to start by saying thank you to everyone on this forum. I have learned so much from reading the guides and resources (particularly those by @Gawd, @spanna, @Heisenberg, @EddyOS, and @Timmmmaaahh. I know some may have moved on but you legacy remains.).
This issue seems to have come up before on the forum, but I have not found one that matches my own situation with a solution, unless I am missing something. I am also lucky in that I have access to another near identical OPO without the issue for comparison. I am visiting my family and we all have OPO.
I have noticed that my phone will have decent to good signal (1-4 bars of Tomobile LTE) be able to use cellular data and send SMS, but not make and receive phone calls in certain areas. I would have been content saying this was a reception/carrier issue. However, I am visiting family for Memorial day and have been able to troubleshoot this with their phones. I bought my parents OPOs when it came out and my brother has a Find7, so we all have essentially the same hardware. For my troubleshooting I used primarily my mother's OPO (not updated since CM11S) and occasionally my brother's Find7. Both my mother and I have the 64 GB edition of OPO purchased around Oct-Nov 2014. Both are cobranded with Cyanogen, though mine was purchased a month or two prior to hers. When comparing the OPOs I notice her phone is able to send and receive calls in places where mine is not able. We have similar reception. I have cellular data and can still SMS. The issue is just with calls. I have tried the following (i have bolded things which I noted were different):
Basic stuff:
1) Making and receiving calls with both phones side by side. Her phone can send and receive calls in all areas (even with just one bar), while mine can only make and receive calls in some areas. My brothers Find7 has identical performance as my mothers phone.
2)Toggling airplane mode. -- Same result.
3)Toggling LTEonly, 3g only, and 2g only. -- Same result.
4)Verifying APN -- Identical for all three phones
5)Swapping SIM Cards -- both phones perform the same irrespective of which sim card is in it.
6)Verfied IMEI -- present in all phones.
7)Verifying signal strength (dBm/asu) in phone settings (*#*#INFO#*#*) -- near identical between phones. Our dBm numbers were the same but my asu number was sometimes triple her phone's asu. Her's was identical to the Find7.
More advanced stuff:
8) Removing the back cover and making sure the terminal are making contact to the backplate antennae.
9) Changing roms and firmware. No success.
- I had recently upgraded from the final release COS 13 to the latest Oreo RR with a clean wipe using TWRP. I was running RR when I first started this.
- First I tried flashing my recovery file with TWRP. It says it ran successfully, but didn't make any changes to the system.
- Since my mothers phone has no issues I tried to replicate her setup. I fastboot flashed the cm-11.0-XNPH05Q-bacon-signed-fastboot.zip provided by spannaa.
- I found some similar posts to my problem which linked to gawds firmware. I verified that both my mother's working OPO and mine had the same OS (XNPH05Q) and baseband (c7-00020) I also tried flashing different firmwares with no benefit.
- I tried fastboot flashing back to COS 11 XNPH33R (what my OPO came out out of the box with).
- I then used EddyOS guide to return device to stock COS 13.1.2. with no change.
- Thinking another new ROM may include a better firmware. I most recently did a clean install of AOSPExtedned and currently have baseband c6-0241.
Going forward:
- I was thinking of flashing gawds firmwares with AOSPExtedned. Is this safe?
- Looking to disable/unlink my google voice account from my cell number. My mom does not have this set-up. I noticed a delay in making calls, and that my google voice account has a log of all my missed calls (those that never make it to my cell). Maybe it interfering with my calls going in and out.
- Any suggestions on diagnostics I can run while I have access to my Mom's functioning OPO.
Much thanks for everyone's help.
Here, check this out.
Me:
When two BT devices capable of telephony functions are connected, the second one connects as "Connected (no phone)", and its telephony function cannot be used.
Example (picture attached). If Huawei Watch is already connected, when Jabra Talk attempts to connect, it will connect as described above, and one cannot make or receive phone calls on Jabra Talk (but still can on the watch.)
Oneplus support:
Thank you for taking the time to send us this email as well as the screenshot that you provided. I understand that you want to use both of the Bluetooth devices for easy access and getting in touch with loved ones for helping us keep on track with our daily activities.
I would like to inform you that the OnePlus 6 can actually connect to two Bluetooth devices. However, by default, you can only choose one for making and receiving calls. Just choose which you preferred to use by toggling the "Phone calls" under each setting of the Bluetooth devices.
This bug was not present in 5.1.5. They introduced it in 5.1.6/7.
This bug is present in all Pixel phones because it's a buggy Google code that Google simply does not care to fix.
Samsung fixed this in their phones.
So, I am guessing OP had this fixed in 5.1.5, but then they just lazily copied and pasted that Google garbage code.
And they don't know how to fix it now. So now it's a freaking feature.
UNBELIEVABLE!
I have the same problem with my Huawei Watch and my cars hands free system
I tried to disconnect the watch with Tasker as soon as my hands free system connects, but it never worked reliable (because the watch connects again immediately and takes over the call functionality)
I guess we need to wait until we get Android Pie because as far as I know this problem is solved with Android Pie
MJFox78 said:
I have the same problem with my Huawei Watch and my cars hands free system
I tried to disconnect the watch with Tasker as soon as my hands free system connects, but it never worked reliable (because the watch connects again immediately and takes over the call functionality)
I guess we need to wait until we get Android Pie because as far as I know this problem is solved with Android Pie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope so. But I'm not that hopeful - I think it's a Google bug, and they simply don't care to fix it.
Meanwhile, I have to disable the phone functionality on the Watch so I can use my hands free car kit.
It's so disappointing, especially since this stuff always worked with Samsung phones, OOS 5.1.5 (the bug was introduced in 5.1.6/7) and even the early Pixel, pre Android 7.0.2.
nabbed said:
Here, check this out.
Me:
When two BT devices capable of telephony functions are connected, the second one connects as "Connected (no phone)", and its telephony function cannot be used.
Example (picture attached). If Huawei Watch is already connected, when Jabra Talk attempts to connect, it will connect as described above, and one cannot make or receive phone calls on Jabra Talk (but still can on the watch.)
Oneplus support:
Thank you for taking the time to send us this email as well as the screenshot that you provided. I understand that you want to use both of the Bluetooth devices for easy access and getting in touch with loved ones for helping us keep on track with our daily activities.
I would like to inform you that the OnePlus 6 can actually connect to two Bluetooth devices. However, by default, you can only choose one for making and receiving calls. Just choose which you preferred to use by toggling the "Phone calls" under each setting of the Bluetooth devices.
This bug was not present in 5.1.5. They introduced it in 5.1.6/7.
This bug is present in all Pixel phones because it's a buggy Google code that Google simply does not care to fix.
Samsung fixed this in their phones.
So, I am guessing OP had this fixed in 5.1.5, but then they just lazily copied and pasted that Google garbage code.
And they don't know how to fix it now. So now it's a freaking feature.
UNBELIEVABLE!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if Google's code is garbage, I suggest you stop using android and start making your own good code!
nabbed said:
I hope so. But I'm not that hopeful - I think it's a Google bug, and they simply don't care to fix it.
Meanwhile, I have to disable the phone functionality on the Watch so I can use my hands free car kit.
It's so disappointing, especially since this stuff always worked with Samsung phones, OOS 5.1.5 (the bug was introduced in 5.1.6/7) and even the early Pixel, pre Android 7.0.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disabled the phone functionality too
I had a Samsung phone before as well (Note 8) and with that I had no problems with my hands free kit but instead the smartwatch lost the phone functionality after a few hours so I always had to reconnect it (basically the same problem but the other way round)... it's very frustrating that such a pretty basic thing doesn't work properly
I also tried this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.myklos.btautoconnect
but it didn't seem to make any difference, it didn't seem to make anything at all
I read that Android Pie is able to connect to more than one Bluetooth headset at a time so this should fix the issue after all
kewlest22 said:
if Google's code is garbage, I suggest you stop using android and start making your own good code!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Pixel XL for over a year. Only kept it for Project FI. Bug ridden POS.
Sold it for half going price just so I could feel clean again.
Even if Samsung *used* to have sluggish Touchwiz in the past, at least it didn't have deal breaking bugs.
Don't even have to make my own code - some XDA roms had fixed this bug, as opposed to Google.
MJFox78 said:
I disabled the phone functionality too
I had a Samsung phone before as well (Note 8) and with that I had no problems with my hands free kit but instead the smartwatch lost the phone functionality after a few hours so I always had to reconnect it (basically the same problem but the other way round)... it's very frustrating that such a pretty basic thing doesn't work properly
I also tried this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.myklos.btautoconnect
but it didn't seem to make any difference, it didn't seem to make anything at all
I read that Android Pie is able to connect to more than one Bluetooth headset at a time so this should fix the issue after all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am almost positive that if you had a somewhat similar problem on a Note 8, it's probably Google's fault.
I don't really use the 2 BT phone functionality for more than 30 min on average, but I've never had any problems on Note 7, GS6 or GS9, or even on a Pixel pre 7.0.2 android, when this bug was first introduced.
After 7.0.2, bluetooth stuff just broke everywhere. This bug, constant disconnects and reconnects, for some people music skips, for some doesn't even work, BT UI in Settings just crashing etc.
It's like Google replaced their BT programmer with a monkey at that point, or even a monkey's nephew.
So just because you cannot use 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously to make phone calls, it's a deal breaker??? Lmao please please please go back to Samsung so we don't have to hear the whining anymore. Good luck with those bootloaders