pixel for a kid - Google Pixel Questions & Answers

Im giving my old pixel to a kid, but due to problems derived from lack of control over the info checked from last celular, id like to know what ROM and soft could be the best to monitor the phone remotely, if its free the better. Thanks

Reasons for Dead-Stock
Alphabull said:
Im giving my old pixel to a kid, but due to problems derived from lack of control over the info checked from last celular, id like to know what ROM and soft could be the best to monitor the phone remotely, if its free the better. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Set the kid (or any user that you want to keep tabs on) as a secondary user - not Administrator. And you'll want dead-stock 10 for this (for other reasons, I recommend dead-stock 10 for ANY Pixel).
For the first time ever, I unhesitatingly recommend dead-stock Android 10 (if your phone can run it); in fact, I'm running dead-stock 10 myself. Before I got my Pixel 3a, I had never (as in "at all") run dead-stock Android on a phone; the last time I ran dead-stock Android - on anything - was dead-stock Ice Cream Sandwich - on a tablet - which I rooted within a week. It's not that I can't root Android 10; it's rootable (though not TWRP-able - yet); however, there has to be a reason TO root - for the first time ever, I don't have a reason to do so. Backups? I can do that dead-stock; in fact, it's the default (and has been since Oreo); if you run a Samsung device, you could do it in Nougat and later. Security is massively improved merely since Oreo (which is - conversely (if not perversely) why it's gotten harder (but not impossible) TO root). Thus is leads to the question - why root if you don't have to? Throw in a non-admin user (such as a kid), then there's far less reason to root; however, even for ordinary usage, the usual reasons to root (and especially in the case of 10) aren't really there.

Related

[Q] Why do you root your device?

I like using a rooted phone/tablet. Ever since I learned all about rooting on my Galaxy Note 2, I always root my Android devices (no toolkits, btw). The learning process was fun (I'm a tinkerer by nature) and it unlocks all kinds of awesome possibilities. I've only owned Samsung (many) and Nexus (5, 7, 10) devices.
Lately, with things like KNOX and Google trying to close the gaps that allow rooting to happen, I've been pondering WHY I root. Turns out it's only for very few specific reasons, and for some of them, I don't think the sky will fall when/if rooting is no longer possible in the future.
Reasons in decreasing order of importance:
1. AdAway - self explanatory, I hate ads.
2. Remove bloatware - I really like Samsung hardware, but can't live with the bloatware they put on their devices (TW is the least of my problems).
3. System tweaks - I love squeezing every last drop of performance (or battery life, in case of phones) with things like Android Tuner, ROM Toolkit, and junk cleaners.
4. Ability to power off / reboot / recovery / bootloader without pushing any buttons - I hate Power + Home + Volume up/down
5. ProxyDroid - for the rare months when I blow past my data cap.
I'll be pretty damn upset if I can no longer have #1 and #2 and might just reconsider Android platform altogether in favor of iOS or whatever else is available at the time. The others are just nice to have, but by no means absolutely necessary.
So, what are YOUR reasons for using root?
Nothing to add to that video
This great video says everything: This is Why XDA-Developers.com Roots Android – XDA Developer TV
I mostly use it for backups.

Does it worth to update TF300TG if you need it for work?

Hi all,
As you may assume, I'm the owner of an ASUS TF300TG, since summer'12. During this time, I kept the device updated only with official ROMs. This leads to have currently Android 4.2.1 with what I consider low performance. This pushes me to think on a new ROM, maybe KatKiss with Lollipop or Marshmallow, or even Xubuntu.
The things that take me back from this are the following:
1. I use this device to connect to my company's network. The policy for connecting to such network is no root and no jailbreak. Would it be possible to install a rom without root? I assume so, indeed xubuntu should be recognized as Linux PC.
2. I'm not a programmer, but not only a user. I have installed several PC (window and linux), and flashed once a mobile phone. I'm able to open a command line window and write some commands. But I started to read the xubuntu post, and I wasn't able to follow the messages (at least, the first pages). Is there any place to follow the detailed steps to install a new rom?
3. I would consider a pitty to loose the 3G functionality. Here, I find some kind of contradictions.
a) http://forum.xda-developers.com/transformer-tf300t/accessories/tf300tg-rom-3g-t3270011
Here it's said that asus hasn't released the source code for the 3G module.
b) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2190847
But there's also the xubuntu post, that is stated (if I understood it properly), that 3G module is working. This totally misleads me...
4. After all this, will the effort worth it? I mean, I don't know if the performance improvement will be enough to make up the risk of loosing functionality (or even make it as usable as a brick). I saw some videos over Marshmallow, and it totally encourages me (have to further consider three topics above); I don't find some over xubuntu, and I don't see them so promising...
Thank you in advance for your time reading and answering. I expect your coments [emoji1]
Enviado desde mi ASUS Transformer Pad TF300TG mediante Tapatalk
After more than 150 reads, and no reply, I asked myself what went wrong. I realized that a post with title "Update for TF300TG" that maybe most users would open the post only to check if the there's any update they would like to know. That's the reason why I edited the title into something that avoid misleading.
If this is not the reason not to answer, please let me know.
Regards.
Update TF300TG?
I think you answered your own question in #1. You need it for work, unchanged.
If you were to do anything in the way of changing your ROM, even to xubuntu, then your TF300 would need to be rooted.
Your Asus is old and slow. Nothing you can do will change that.
Maybe you need to get something new and much faster and use it for work.
Then you will still have your TF300 to play with and learn how to root and change roms...
just my opinion,,,, Bob
YMMV but not many custom TF300 ROMs actually lead to a performance gain in the long term (although most may seem very fluid on first few uses). Mostly what they provide is a way to run a more recent Android version on the aging TF300. Gray-Beard phrased this painfully well. It's old and there's nothing you can do to change that.
At the end of the day, Cromi-Xenogenesis 5.4 may just be the best TF300 ROM around. It's great, but make no mistake: this also is just Android 4.2.1
I must say this company policy of "no root, no JB" is absolutely ridiculous. Not only do I doubt this to be verifiable from network perspective, but is the infrastructure THAT insecure that your machine-local EP may pose a security threat to the extent that such a policy is pertinent? And if there IS a BYOD mechanism in place, what happens if you have a windows machine with local admin? Is that also a big no-no? I mean ,God forbid you should have EP on your own bloody device....
On the other hand, xubuntu (or most other linux) isn't that great on TF300, you won't be able to run recent Xorg due to limited ABI support of NVidia's closed-source Tegra3 drivers (thanks NVidia!), probably won't be able to use kernels beyond 3.1.10 (if you do then pls show me how) and the whole thing is just not that stable.
chemizt said:
YMMV but not many custom TF300 ROMs actually lead to a performance gain in the long term (although most may seem very fluid on first few uses). Mostly what they provide is a way to run a more recent Android version on the aging TF300. Gray-Beard phrased this painfully well. It's old and there's nothing you can do to change that.
At the end of the day, Cromi-Xenogenesis 5.4 may just be the best TF300 ROM around. It's great, but make no mistake: this also is just Android 4.2.1
I must say this company policy of "no root, no JB" is absolutely ridiculous. Not only do I doubt this to be verifiable from network perspective, but is the infrastructure THAT insecure that your machine-local EP may pose a security threat to the extent that such a policy is pertinent? And if there IS a BYOD mechanism in place, what happens if you have a windows machine with local admin? Is that also a big no-no? I mean ,God forbid you should have EP on your own bloody device....
On the other hand, xubuntu (or most other linux) isn't that great on TF300, you won't be able to run recent Xorg due to limited ABI support of NVidia's closed-source Tegra3 drivers (thanks NVidia!), probably won't be able to use kernels beyond 3.1.10 (if you do then pls show me how) and the whole thing is just not that stable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will share my experience.
I'm on the Cromi-Xenogenesis 5.4, with standard configuration I got a flawless system at the begging, but after few months I got a laggy device, so then I made a full wipe then I reinstalled everything from the scratch. I did it two times in 2 years.
The last time, before I was willing the third wipe, during first days of January 2016, I tried to make some change in the config with Kernel Adiutor and Developer option.
In kernel Adiutor:
- Governor CPU: perfomance
- Internal Memory => Scheduler: cfq
In Developer option:
- disable animation: Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale
- force rendering on GPU.
Other important suggestions could be:
- use stock browser
- use Nova launcher
- use Twlight for night use (it's a red filter for screen)
- use Swifteky and reduce the keyboard dimension
- use Adaway to remove useless banner
- kill autostart app (like Amazon, Aliexpress, Weather app... etc)
Now maybe my little guide it's useless, but I have a usable tablet still in 2016 for Web, Gmail, little editing of documents, Telegram, Imgur, Youtube (maybe it has little problem here) and Netflix.
I tried KatKiss 6.x (don't remember the exact version number) for TF300T without 3G, then installed "ppp widget 2" (or "ppp widget 3"?) from Google Play and started 3g manually from this application (widget). Android will not automatically switch from Wi-Fi internet to 3G internet (as like in stock), you must switch it manually. Some bugs discovered, for example, I could connect 3G and disconnect only once, when I want to connect 3G again, I had to reboot. device. Maybe will work on some other firmwares?

Pixel 3a Android 9 vs Android 10

Hey guys!
First, my apologies if I am in the wrong section posting. I was not sure where to post. Please move my thread if needed. Thanks!
Second, would someone recommend and/or suggest Android 9 over Android 10 or Android 10 over Android 9? For myself, I really do not like Android 10. When I am referring to Android 10 and I am referring to the original in September and the two updates in September where that last update has a C3 in part of the name, as well as the October Android 10 update. I just do not like any of the updates. Would I be better off going back to Android 9? It is not an issue because I can flash the factory images via ADB when the phone is powered on than Fastboot once the phone is in the flashing mode
Can you explain why you do not like the update?
I personally don't find that there is a lot of difference between 9 and 10, but offcourse 10 has the latest security updates, which might be a reason for you to stay with 10.
Personally I think the biggest noticeable difference between 9 and 10 is the gesture based navigation. However you can turn the Android 9 style navigation back on if you so desire (Settings/System/Gestures/2-button navigation) or even the older 3 button navigation.
Other changes - like dark mode - are also optional. I see little reason to stay on Android 9. Especially since it is not being updated with security updates.
It would be nice if we could continue to use a preferred version but that comes with considerable security risks. If your dislike is purely asthetics, you can try other launchers.
For the sake of security I'll stick with Q10 for now. I have yet to succeed with a direct OTA update even under full stock. If the pending November OTA updates without needing to sideload, I might then install Magisk.
Cool I w up - Micr
alliance1975 said:
For the sake of security I'll stick with Q10 for now. I have yet to succeed with a direct OTA update even under full stock. If the pending November OTA updates without needing to sideload, I might then install Magisk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The majority of pushback comes from people USED to Android 9/Pie. I get it; I really do - when folks get comfortable, change scares the bejeebers outta them. Because I never ran Pie before the Pixel 3a came along (and Android 10 was halfway through its beta when the 3a arrived) I was able to go from 8/Oreo to 10 pretty much directly with only one migration issue; the gesture support. Simply not using them (even with Gboard) was an option, however - and one I adopted.
Launchers - Pixel Launcher was one I was already familiar with (from my Android 6 and 7 days); returning to it was therefore rather a relief.
The even bigger surprise is that I'm not rooted - or using a non-stock recovery; the first time I've done that on a smartphone (or any Android device since Android 5). TWRP was a certain install on a smartphone (as certain as doing tax returns every year); now - I could, in fact, care less. I follow TWRP development (and Magisk development as well); however, it's more a case of looking for a reason to install either - so far, nothing in Android 10 has given me a reason to move away from dead-stock. (Basically, it's a NEW sort of comfort - dead stock - for the first time in my Android phone history - IS actually good enough to run un-stepped-on.)
Dark mode requires neither; it's an option in Settings. Same with VoLTE/VoWiFi. Basically, so much for Magisk.
The thing is, you have to be comfortable with dead-stock; being as this is, after all, a developer/tweaker-targeting community, how many folks are actually comfortable running dead-stock?
If you CAN get comfortable running dead-stock, Android 10 on your 3a or 3a XL (or any Pixel, for that matter) makes a ton of sense.
Follow up - Due to Microsoft Launcher changing it's code base, I installed the beta on my Pixel 3a, replacing Pixel Launched as default. Due to new features, Pixel Launcher is in trouble! It is not the support for Dark Mode, third party launchers either have or are adding it. It is being able to use apps as plug ins; two I use now are Word (expected) and Google Calendar (unexpected). How many third party launchers let you use a system app - even Calendar - as a plug in directly. While Outlook for Android does, it is still nice to have Launcher do so as well. This very post is another example - I have added the XDA app as a plug in. Depending on how often you use an app, using it as a plug in May be faster than as a shortcut.
Im a new pixel user, i come from Nokia 7 plus (Android 9 - android one program, almost the same as pixel) and simply cant go back to 9...
Im glad my nokia also updated to 10 today , i really like the gestures. And i have been on 9 for 1 1/2 year now...
Nova launcher, gestures work fine on android 10, dark mode is not everywhere but its coming....
PGHammer said:
The majority of pushback comes from people USED to Android 9/Pie. I get it; I really do - when folks get comfortable, change scares the bejeebers outta them. Because I never ran Pie before the Pixel 3a came along (and Android 10 was halfway through its beta when the 3a arrived) I was able to go from 8/Oreo to 10 pretty much directly with only one migration issue; the gesture support. Simply not using them (even with Gboard) was an option, however - and one I adopted.
Launchers - Pixel Launcher was one I was already familiar with (from my Android 6 and 7 days); returning to it was therefore rather a relief.
The even bigger surprise is that I'm not rooted - or using a non-stock recovery; the first time I've done that on a smartphone (or any Android device since Android 5). TWRP was a certain install on a smartphone (as certain as doing tax returns every year); now - I could, in fact, care less. I follow TWRP development (and Magisk development as well); however, it's more a case of looking for a reason to install either - so far, nothing in Android 10 has given me a reason to move away from dead-stock. (Basically, it's a NEW sort of comfort - dead stock - for the first time in my Android phone history - IS actually good enough to run un-stepped-on.)
Dark mode requires neither; it's an option in Settings. Same with VoLTE/VoWiFi. Basically, so much for Magisk.
The thing is, you have to be comfortable with dead-stock; being as this is, after all, a developer/tweaker-targeting community, how many folks are actually comfortable running dead-stock?
If you CAN get comfortable running dead-stock, Android 10 on your 3a or 3a XL (or any Pixel, for that matter) makes a ton of sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know that I had to, but I sideloaded the December update. However, the January update downloaded and installed w/o problem. I have had time to get used to full Q10 stock and it does many nice things. I don't think I'll do root until major changes happen.

Question What is the benefits of Rooting these days?

I used to do it to flash firmwares but that does not seem to be prevalent any more, so why do I need to root?
I know this is a developer/modding site but I have to agree with the OP.
I come here for the general forum information that is "usually" more technical for obvious reasons. But to risk a very expensive tool for unlocking and modding....the risks far outweigh the benefits...IMO...YMMV
App & system theming (with Substratum + Swift Black, Repainter for pure system AMOLED black & Project Themer for different notification styles, lockscreen clock etc.). System-wide equaliser (currently with JamesDSP but will await VIper4Android working on A13 hopefully), system-wide ad-blocking. Revanced Youtube for background play etc.
Plus with AOSP Mods via Magisk it adds tons on features like customisable quick toggle column/row quantities + label text size, clock position, removing carrier label from status bar, long press power button screen off for torch and so much more! Plus not to mention custom rom support which whilst sometimes buggy, come with a wealth of benefits. I like to stick to stock these days with AOSP Mods & Magisk, as that module has many features and saves having any custom rom bugs (e.g. on Pixel 6 Pro, a custom rom would lose Magic Eraser whereas having a modded stock, retained it)/
I get the risks, but we do plenty of research and tread carefully and all is generally ok!
Got my Pixel 7 Pro just today and bootloader unlocked after the first OTA came through. It's now rooted and without passing safetynet currently, all cards successfully added to my Google Wallet.
Running like a dream
I used to root every one of my previous phones, but I've not done so on my Noted 10 Plus as I find Samsung Pay too useful. And rooting destroys it forever. Not sure if Google Pay still works when rooted, that may nudge me to do it.
I have no plans to root my 7 Pro when it arrives. But that may change.
Naughty boy client for Pokemon GO and system-wide AdBlock
For me the main thing is working app backup, since the Google solution is absolutely unreasonable (I have several non-play-store apps that I have had on every smartphone I've owned, and data generally isn't saved with Google anyway) But also tons of little things like being able to set a limit on battery charge level, full (to the extent still possible) filesystem access, a floating CPU monitor I like, Greenify, Island, Tasker stuff, etc.
System wide as blocking since 2012. No other phone does it better and easier.
How about Banking? I ditched rooting since all Banking apps denied to work. Workaround didn't work anymore.
Custom kernels that save on battery
Better Internet Tiles
ACC (Advanced Charging Controller) and AccA (Advanced Charging Controller App)
@siavash79's thread [MOD][Xposed+Magisk][Pre-Release] AOSP Mods - System modifications for AOSP-based Android 12+. This is a big one for me, personally.
Classic Power Menu
Swift Backup
hey_malik said:
How about Banking? I ditched rooting since all Banking apps denied to work. Workaround didn't work anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use their website? Or switch banks? I have my primary bank with a local outfit that doesn't care about rooting (although that's not why I got them, it certainly helps keep me there) if I need to deposit a check and everything else can be done on their mobile website.
My main reason would be for the custom Kernels and for Viper4Android. I didn't have a bunch of $ to fork out for 2 new phones so I went with Verizon so I won't be getting either unless I hit the lottery and then buy a Google Version of the P7P.
Anyone remember what made us able to root/ unlock the bootloader On the OG Verizon pixel?
Any chance of that happening on this device or should I just go ahead and do the system update that's waiting? For instance, I know the Samsung Galaxy Note Ultra 20 5G on Verizon(The Device I'm switching from) was locked down but apparently some guy on XDA started an Unlock service and would unlock it for ~$100.
I root since it's my XDA addiction!
Also add Titanium to the attached list!
bryan1854 said:
Any chance of that happening on this device or should I just go ahead and do the system update that's waiting? For instance, I know the Samsung Galaxy Note Ultra 20 5G on Verizon(The Device I'm switching from) was locked down but apparently some guy on XDA started an Unlock service and would unlock it for ~$100.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From memory on the Verizon Pixel 1, there was a bug on Android 7.10, I believe it was, that fully just allowed us to toggle OEM unlocking on. From there it was a done deal. They patched it in 7.11. Again, from memory but it was either that or 7.11 before and 7.12 after.
And no, not likely to happen again. It would be very, very rare and like hitting the lottery. Didn't happen on the Pixel 6 Pro.
roirraW edor ehT said:
From memory on the Verizon Pixel 1, there was a bug on Android 7.10, I believe it was, that fully just allowed us to toggle OEM unlocking on. From there it was a done deal. They patched it in 7.11. Again, from memory but it was either that or 7.11 before and 7.12 after.
And no, not likely to happen again. It would be very, very rare and like hitting the lottery. Didn't happen on the Pixel 6 Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I will contact the guy doing it for the note 20 ultra and see if he thinks whatever he's doing to those phones is possible here.
Thanks for the reply.
galaxys said:
I root since it's my XDA addiction!
Also add Titanium to the attached list!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
holy crap, when you mention "Titanium", do you mean the backup?! or even the "tweaker"? either way, aren't those EOL for years???
EtherealRemnant said:
Just use their website? Or switch banks? I have my primary bank with a local outfit that doesn't care about rooting (although that's not why I got them, it certainly helps keep me there) if I need to deposit a check and everything else can be done on their mobile website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see how that again helps with tan apps. But sure just don't use it is always an option.
hey_malik said:
I don't see how that again helps with tan apps. But sure just don't use it is always an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reality is that forced hardware attestation and the Play Integrity API will soon put an end to the tricks used to get around detection so people will have to figure out what root is worth to them. I decided awhile ago that I can live without it. Adb pull /sdcard does a nice enough backup job for me and Google's cloud backup pulls partial app data and will restore it where applicable.
Of course it does seem that there isn't a way to disable 5G SA on Pixels without disabling 5G altogether so I may have a use for root in the end anyway, time will tell, as I get sick of being stuck on T-Mobile's slow as molasses SA when midband is available.
Well i have rooted every other phone and rooting, installing kernel or roms solve some problem where oem is lazy or will not solve. Previously i was using OnePlus 7 pro with unlocked bootloader initially with Android 9. During Android 10 i prefer to lock bootloader again as during that time i was damm busy and getting time for root and transfer data was not possible. During Android 11 Oneplus had really ****ed up, device was getting hot like frying pan in summer. I really had no choice but to unlock bootloader and installed a stable custom rom(CR Droid) . Everything was perfect. After 9-10 months i thought i willl go to stock again and lock bootloader. But to my surprise cts profile was not getting matched. My phone was constantly recognized as Google pixel 6 pro (no NFC payment and play store dont recognize netfix) . Only safety net fix with Magisk was able to fix it. What really surprise is when i again installed Oxygen OS 10 cts profile was showing match with locked bootloader and with Oxygen OS 11,12 will show CTS profile mismatch. I really don't know what i had done wrong and there is no solution for locked bootloader.
So my suggestion is if anybody really want to unlock bootloader and have magisk prefer with your secondary device.
Is it possible to unlock 5G in another countries with root while having functional google wallet?
I only do it for AdAway. Would be wonderful if I could avoid rooting for blocking ads since it makes a few apps unusable (specificly Norwegian with no rooting community support). But I'll probably root my P7P when I get it on monday.

Question Internal Storage Inaccessible after updating to One UI 5/ Android 13 Update (Canada). Please Help!

We received a notification to update to One UI 5/Android 13 with baseband S908WVLU2BVK1. Seeing as we never had any issue with any update, my wife updated the device AND then the problem started.
Problem: Immediately after the update, OneDrive started crashing which was odd. Then my wife complained that she can't see the images in Gallery and she can't download Whatsapp messages. I tried checking storage using X-plore file manager and I can't see any mounted storage. Trying to update apps in google store results in "Not enough space" message.
If I go into the Settings > Storage section, all I see are 0 B everywhere. Calls, and receiving & sending messages in WhatsApp/SMs app works fine too. All apps that needs to store on internal user storage can't do it because its not there.
I am attaching some images if they can be of any help to anyone. If you have any cmds to do over ADB, please do let me know. I have used ADB years ago, and I hope nothing much's changed since then.
Try clearing system cache.
Try in safe mode.
I hope all your critical data was backed up redundantly on hdds... before this happen.
If worse comes to desperate factory reset.
If that doesn't work you can probably roll it back to the last working version if the bootloader wasn't upgraded too.
Go to the Samsung members forum (Google search it) and see who else has this issue and if they have a fix.
Rule #1 - if an OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be! I'm still running Pie on my stock N10+; current load is over 2.5 yo, last update was 3 years ago. Still fast, stable with minimal maintenance. Security is not an issue.
That's what Android is capable of... or should be.
blackhawk said:
I'm still running Pie on my stock N10+; current load is over 2.5 yo, last update was 3 years ago. Still fast, stable with minimal maintenance. Security is not an issue.
That's what Android is capable of... or should be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I reach this mental state Mate?
I'm a flashaholic, and I need even the tiny weeny apps updated to the latest.
Hell, I wish I could be like you.
JazonX said:
How do I reach this mental state Mate?
I'm a flashaholic, and I need even the tiny weeny apps updated to the latest.
Hell, I wish I could be like you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, don't get me started It's easy to be like me over time. Android's are (or were) the easiest OS to use. Almost crash and burn proof. Didn't like where Samsung or Google was going with their products so I dug in with the best Note they ever made and Android 9/10. I'm good for another 2-3+ years as is. The newer Samsung's are less capable, have worse form factor, get worse SOT, have less memory (I have a 1.5tb dual drive device in my hand) and are only marginally faster by milliseconds doing most tasks. Not much bang for the buck even after 3 years. Not buying Samsung's marketing hype.
I had a S4+ running on Kitkat. The last cirmware update for Kitkat blocked the ability to use quick root. That's all it did. No rollback. The Lollipop update completely screws up the S4+, the playlist and contacts format is altered from line to awkward squares although an Edge running on Lollipop retains the line format. Really?
Thanks for that garbage Samsung. Samsung claimed to S4+ lacked the resources to support the line format on Lollipop; it uses less resource than the grid pattern does. Samsung lied to me.
Lesson learned, the hard way.
Then I heard the endless Google scare hype about how one needs to upgrade from 9 to 10, then 11, then 12 and each one was worse then the one before with cpu cycle sucking scoped storage being fully active on 11 and up. Google has wanted to kill expandable storage and force you to use inferior cloud storage. Just like MS they want control through cloud apps. It's an old ploy. Didn't buy the vaccine hype or Google's security scare hype. I use/do what works.
I have 2 N10+'s the newest one is running on 10. The Pie variant is more capable though, far less system apps (about 100) and a very stable platform. This 3yo N10+ is the most stable and longest lived load I ever had with only minimal maintenance. My free 6 yo copy of WPS Office (the ony free none cloud office app that can write Windows Office files) runs on both 9 and 10. I know 11 would not load it, security you know. I simply firewall block WPS Office to neutralize it, but it remains 100% functional.
Security simply isn't an issue with just a few modifications and common sense. I go everywhere on the internet but vet all apps but don't allow updates (apps that pass Playstore can latter download their payload as an update evading Playstore security). I firewall block all apps that don't need internet access and monitor those that do. Karma Firewall's logging feature is fully active on Pie but 10 blocks it. I also disable wifi since I don't need it and bt when not in use, 2 potential vectors for hackers. I hawk the download folder daily for anything I didn't authorize and vet everything before it leaves the download folder. All email is kept in the cloud, I rarely download anything from there especially jpegs and png's. Another vector plugged. I back out of bad websites, close the browser if needed and if needed I will delete the cache or even browser data. Brave browser is my primary browser and it's pretty much bulletproof, so far. No social media or shopping apps are ever installed, they are malware.
No OS can protect you completely if you do stupid things. My critical data is redundantly backed up so even if my SD card (used as a data drive) gets wiped by malware I can recreate it. Pie and 10 are impervious to the worst partition worming rootkits so a factory reset will kill them. If I can't eliminate malware within 2 hours, factory reset. So far that hasn't happened.
You get the idea; upgrades/updates do more damage and waste more of your time than malware. As long as the firmware and software are fulfilling their mission I leave it alone. It's almost all play time rather than chasing down loose ends and finding work arounds (if they even exist). Spent a lot of time optimizing this system and it runs like a bat out of hell. Upgrades are nothing but trouble for me.
2x post.

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